London Travel Forum

Hi,

I am planning to visit UK in coming Sept. As I will be arrived on 16:00 by plane at Heathrow and will stay in Oxford for one night. After check through the immigration and custom and get the car, is it feasible to drive to Oxford before before 19:00 or the sky getting dark

I believ so

Sept 01 sunset = 7.46pm
Aept 15 sunset = 7.14pm
Sept 30 sunset = 6.40pm

Hi, I think you will be pushing it to arrive in Oxford by 7PM. Chances are it will take up to 90 minutes after you land to get through immigration, customs & baggage reclaim. I assume you are then picking up a hire car which may take another 30 mins or more before you get away. Then you have to face the M25 which will be busy at that time of day. Don't panic though. September can be daylight until 9PM if it has been a sunny day. Enjoy your trip to Oxford, Darren.

I can't say when it gets dark there at that time of year, but if you allow 1.5 hours for getting from plane to rental car (you will have to take a shuttle bus from terminal to car rental office) that only leaves 1.5 hours driving time.

Normally that should be OK, but you'll be starting out just as the rush hour starts, so it may be tight.

I agree. You won't be out of Heathrow/done the paperwork for the car/out of the airport area much before 17:30 at the very earliest so you will be travelling at a very busy time.

Oxford usually takes just over an hour from Heathrow, but you should expect it to take more. However, there is good streetlighting for the majority of the journey (including some motorway sections), so you need not be over-concerned.

More road accidents happen during the twilight period than in darkness. This can be quite a lengthy period, depending on the weather.

I am thinking if we need to stay a night near Heathrow and drive to Oxford next day. Do you have any suggestion.

I really don't think that will be necessary, unless you think you will be really very tired after the flight and so not safe to be driving.

The journey itself is quite simple (mostly motorway, and you can always stay in the slower inside lane until you feel confident) and is well-signed.

Or you could easily get the train or bus to Oxford and start/end your car hire there.

There are plenty of hotels around the airport, but they are not cheap.

Yes that's right. Travelodge's are available at two places in Oxford from £29 per night if you book early. www.travelodge.co.uk