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Somerset forums
Bath forum We will be flying into Gatwick and want to head to Bath for an overnight. There will be four of us-- are there independents who could do a pick-up tour or would it be better to just rent a car? how bad is the traffic from Gatwick to Bath as we are used to driving on the other side of the road. Thanks for any information!
You won't need a car in Bath, in fact it would be more of bind than anything (unless you were planning on exploring the countryside). The cheapest option is train - there is an hourly service, takes 2hrs 20 mins with one change (at Reading), with 'Advance' tickets costing £8.50pp each (£22.50 1st class). You need to order these tickets in advance and can purchase them 12 weeks before travel date. Book as soon as you can, as prices go up as tickets get sold. Allow plenty of time to get through immigration, etc
The other option would be a private hire service - not too sure how much that would cost, but it would be a great deal more expensive than £34.
What time will you be landing ? frankly I don't think it a good idea to drive on a busy motoway system after an 8 hour flight, but if it is an overnight flight it is a definite no-no.
If my flight from the States lands at Gatwick at 6:45 AM, do you think it would be a safe bet to book the 9:00 AM train departure from Gatwick?
I would think that 09.00 one should be OK (but flight and immigration delays are impossible to predict).
If the train prices aren't as good as you'd hoped, check out the National Express coaches. There are frequent services to Heathrow, from where you can pick up the service to Bath. Depending on the connections it'll take a little longer but gives you a choice.
I agree - definitely avoid the M25 and M4 after an overnight transatlantic flight.
When looking at train fares, have a look at the 'Off-peak' fare. It will cost more than an 'advance' fare, but If you were to be delayed, this would allow you to take a later train without any financial penalty.
Thanks to you both for the advice.
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