Rental car Heathrow drop off Chunnel

[Crusin-Suzan]

We are looking to rent a car at the airport and drop off at the train station for the Chunnel? Any suggestions of who to rent from. We will be keeping the car for about 5 days. Thanks.

[NorbertsNiece]

I'm a bit confused when you say Chunnel..... do you mean Folkestone for the car carrying Shuttle or do you mean Kings Cross, London or another station for the Eurostar?

[sddsddean]

As NN says, you cannot get a Eurostar train at Folkestone. You must leave on a passenger only train (the Eurostar) from St. Pancras, Ebbsfleet or Ashford. Cars can get on the Le Shuttle trains at Folkestone, but I doubt you will find a hire car that you could take on the train. However, back to the original question...all the 'big' names are at LHR. Once you know where you want to drop off the car, you can search for rental drop offs in that area.

 

Simon

[Crusin-Suzan]

Sorry We would like to pick up the auto at the airport and drop it where you pick up the Eurostar. We will take the train to Brussels. I was not sure the best place to drop off the car. Which station stop would be the best to see if this is possible? Thanks for all the help.

[John Bull]

Sorry We would like to pick up the auto at the airport and drop it where you pick up the Eurostar. We will take the train to Brussels. I was not sure the best place to drop off the car. Which station stop would be the best to see if this is possible? Thanks for all the help.

 

In London you will find that a car is a liability, especially parking. I'm guessing (praying :D) that you're planning to use the car from a base outside London to tour the countryside & provincial towns.

In which case drop the car at any place on a mainline rail route to London, then from the London station where you arrive take a cab to St Pancras station.

Unless you are east of London (unlikely) in which case the intermediate Eurostar station at Ebbsfleet, which is mainly a park-and-ride facility for people from outside London who want to drive to the Eurostar station.

Or if you are in the county of Kent (Canterbury etc), the Eurostar station at Ashford, but only a few Eurostar trains stop there so check the timetable carefully. These are the only places in England where you can catch the Eurostar.

If you can let us know where you're planning to spend your time in England, we can mebbe give better advice.

Regards,

John Bull

[Crusin-Suzan]

Our last stop in the car before we drop it off will be in the town of Swindon. We are going to the Air Tatoo. Which station would be the ideal place to drop the car. We are not going to London. We love London but have been there quite a bit. Going to hang out in the lovely country side. Thanks for the info.

[sddsddean]

Our last stop in the car before we drop it off will be in the town of Swindon. We are going to the Air Tatoo. Which station would be the ideal place to drop the car. We are not going to London. We love London but have been there quite a bit. Going to hang out in the lovely country side. Thanks for the info.

 

Swindon station is on the main line to London. Avis, National and Europcar UK are the 3 big names near the station...about a mile or so away. Hopefully they will run you to the station. Get the train from Swindon to Paddington, cab across to St Pancras to get on the Eurostar.

 

Simon

[John Bull]

Our last stop in the car before we drop it off will be in the town of Swindon. We are going to the Air Tatoo. Which station would be the ideal place to drop the car. We are not going to London. We love London but have been there quite a bit. Going to hang out in the lovely country side. Thanks for the info.

 

The airshow is at RAF Fairford, about 10 miles north of Swindon, 13 miles north of the M4 motorway to London. Traffic will be stop-start away from the show, probably as far as the motorway although the road by-passes Swindon.

 

Several choices:

 

Any town along the M4 corridor with a station to London.

Swindon or Reading or Slough, or even back at Heathrow if charges for a different drop-off are heavy.

Or avoid Swindon & the motorway & cut across country to Didcot or Oxford.

Frequent trains from all these places take you to London's Paddington station, with luggage you're then best to take a cab for the 2.5 miles to St Pancras. Mention Eurostar to the cab driver.

 

For a train direct to St Pancras, you'd need to drop the car at Luton or St Albans, but that's going well out of your way.

 

Or you could drive Swindon to Ashford, Kent but that's 140 miles/2.5 hrs from Swindon as opposed to 60 miles/just over an hour to Slough. And as mentioned previously, most Eurostars don't stop at Ashford. But might be more cost-effective.

 

 

JB

[sddsddean]

Following on from JB's post, there is an Avis at Ebbsfleet Eurostar in Kent. This is dead easy to drive to as its right beside the M25. Problem is, not many trains stop there. From http://www.eurostar.com/pdf/timetables/UK_timetable.pdf

there are only about 3 Paris trains per day at a civilised time...0745,0912 and 1245. However, if this would fit in with your plans it could be a good alternative to mucking about with London.

 

Simon

[Crusin-Suzan]

Thanks, will look into all of the above. Should have mentioned we are taking the train to Brussels. Thanks Sue

[sddsddean]

Brussels trains leave Ebbsfleet at 0637,0845 and 1315. Should have mentioned this timetable is up to 3rd July 2010.

 

Simon

[John Bull]

Should have mentioned we are taking the train to Brussels. Thanks Sue

 

Makes no difference, same advice, same stations, same tunnel, different Eurostar. But the limited service will probably rule out Ashford

JB