which train from Gatwick? And rental car pickup
 

Is the Southern train or the Thameslink better to get from Gatwick to the Bloomsbury area? We will be arriving at 11pm, if that makes any difference. Also, can I buy the 7 day travel card from the Gatwick South train station?

We will be headed to Bath after London then on to the Cotswolds and want a rental car. Best place to pick up car on that route? London outskirts or Bath? Are planning to drop the car at the Luton airport to fly to Dublin.

Bloomsbury is a large-ish area. Take the Thameslink to KingsCross/St Pancras. Then depending on exactly where you are staying, the tube, a taxi, or even walk to your hotel.

The best/easiest place to collect a rental car is at Heathrow. Take the tube out to LHR and then the shuttle to the rental agency. That is assuming you want to stop places en route to Bath like Avebury and/or Stonehenge.

If on the other hand you are heading straight to Bath w/ no stops/detours - then take the train to Bath and then as you are leaving Bath pick up a rental car there. A car is a liability IN Bath and relatively few central B&Bs/hotels provide parking.

If your plane really lands at 11<b>pm</b> you don't have much choice. Unless you make it to the train in under half an hour your only option is the Thameslink to St. Pancras, and it is not frequent.

Timetables at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

If I were arriving that late I'd probably crash in the Yotel and go into London in the morning. Or use a local B&B, the one I stay at has 24/7 pick up

http://springwoodgatwick.co.uk/flying-to-from-gatwick/

Oh rats. -- I didn't even notice the arrival time.

thursdaysd is right -- stay at the LGW yotel or one of the several Premier Inns. The yotel charges by the hour so depending on how early you plan on traveling into London, one of the Premier Inns might actually be cheaper.

Hotel is already booked. Not too worried about being overtired as it will feel more like evening to us because of the time change. But do need to make sure there are trains at that hour. Also, I think Euston station is the one nearest to out hotel if that makes any difference.

I wasn't talking about being tired -- I was talking about logistics. With an 11PM arrival you won't likely be on the train until after midnight. Yes there are trains that late.

If you manage to catch the 00:39 train to St Pancras you won't arrive until 01:40AM. Euston is about half a mile and walkable from St Pancras.

After about 1AM the trains are only once an hour.

If you use the link I posted you'll see that if you miss the 00:39 the next train is not until 01:18, and then 02:18.

To take a train to Euston you would have to change at Blackfriars, and you only have three minutes for the change. The tube doesn't run at that time although you might get a bus.

Thanks for the input. I have been on the national rail site quite a bit and had already looked at times etc. just wondering how the two routes differ.
While staying at the airport might be nice, we have to get into town that night as my husband has to be in the office first thing in the morning. It will be a late night for sure, but I think we will be ok.

Thinking your suggestion to train to Bath and get a car there is a good one janisj

Thanks!

I would run (like Hell :) ) to catch that 00:39 train. Otherwise you are SOL. I wouldn't bother going to Eusto. It is just up the road from St Pancras and would be a 10+ minute walk. If it is pouring down with rain you can catch a cab. But where precisely is your hotel? Near Euston in which direction? .

Car services may be good at that time arriving, especially if plane is late?

I like janis' idea of taking train to Bath if that is your destination -score cheap tickets at www.nationalrail.co.uk and rent car when leaving Bath and its horrible traffic.

Define "first thing in the morning". In England it means (or at least did) 9:00. And where? If you catch the Gatwick Express at sevenish you'll be at London Victoria before eight. Staying at the Yotel would let you get cleaned up and get more sleep than if you try to schlep into London.

>>Car services may be good at that time arriving, especially if plane is late<<

A car service is almost never a good idea from LGW. Though there won't be much traffic at 1AM, it would still probably take 1.25 to 1.5 hours. LGW is a loooooong way from Euston Station.

thursdaysd is right, unless you DH's meeting is at 7AM I'd personally still stay at LGW that night. >>"first thing in the morning". In England it means (or at least did) 9:00<< IME morning meetings, especially with overseas staff involved, will be 9AM at the VERY earliest. Usually later.


Now --- IF you were arriving at 8 or 8:30, or maybe 9:00 PM it would be a whole different kettle of fish.

Also, can I buy the 7 day travel card from the Gatwick South train station?>

Can they?

But if leaving London right away why need to buy there - just buy when returning to London by train (assuming after Cotswolds you will return car in say Oxford or Heathrow rather than driving into London?