Reading is an easy train journey from Paddington station, in west London. Depending on where you're going next, had you thought about collecting your car at one of the airports? There'll be plenty of choice, they're all accessible by public transport and from experience it's easier to get your bearings from a well sign posted airport than the centre of a commuter town in the rush hour!

Also bear in mind that some of the car rental agencies in towns like Reading & Oxford are actually located on the outskirts of said towns on industrial estates rather than next to the station. I know some offer free pick up and drop off but the time taken will eat into your day.

It depends on dates (driving in London isn't so bad at weekends but beware that many central London rental locations close on Saturday afternoons and Sundays) and where you are heading but generally I would agree with the airport suggestion especially if you were planning to fly home from that airport.

Hi, Dundonnell. It's nice to see your name here again.

I agree that collecting at the airport couldn't be easier. At Gatwick, the car hire is literally just across the street from the terminal, and at Heathrow there are buses that take you from the terminals to the car hire places. They give you maps for easy exit from the lots and voila, you're easily on your way.

Dear Dundonnelldreamer:

I agree about renting a car outside the frenzy of London. I've always rented my cars at Heathrow. It is so easy to take the Tube out there. As I recall, the last time I rented a car through Avis, I went to Terminal 1 by Tube. Just outside the door was an area where the car rental agency vans picked up car renters. The ride to the rental agency office was about 5 minutes away. Once I'd picked up the car, there was easy motorway access to the M25, etc.

Cheers!

Ok, that gives me more to think about. Assuming all the airports are accessible by train, what airport would be the easiest to get in and out of, I believe Heathrow is pretty frantic. Thankyou.

It would depend on what your plans are. I think someone on your other thread gave you some ideas but generally, unless you are heading for East Anglia or the South East (Kent, Sussex) then Heathrow would make more sense than Gatwick.

Yes Heathrow is busy but it's well laid out (in my opinion) with good signage. All you would need to do is to go to Terminal 2 (shortest walk from the tube station) or Terminal 3 (shortest walk from the Heathrow Express station) and catch the shuttle bus from outside the terminal to your chosen supplier.

Dundonnelldreamer, it's actually not difficult to get out of Heathrow, if driving away is what you mean. Both airports have well-signed entrances to the Ms, which are right there. Heathrow has a ring road, which if you miss your exit (which we did last time), just keep going, you'll get to it eventually.

I don't know about transport to Gatwick, if that's what you mean.

Where are you heading? Did you ask about Reading because you're going west?

Thankyou everyone for your helpful posts. Have decided to be very brave and collect at Heathrow !!!! If we miss a turn somewhere well we will see areas that are all new to us. Love this Tripadvisor forum. Have seen lots of posts about doing day trips to Paris from London on the Eurostar, what about Belgium? Is that doable?

Good for you, DDD! Be sure to ask for the map to get out of the airport if they don't automatically give you one. You'll do just fine.

"Have seen lots of posts about doing day trips to Paris from London on the Eurostar, what about Belgium? Is that doable? "

It certainly is. The journey time is about he same as are the fares although there are not quite so many trains.