British Car Hire

Hello

I am off to the UK end of October and I have my bikini packed?

Its been a longtime since I visited sunny Cardiff and beautiful Bath.

I have rented a car from the not very originally named britishcarhire.com, after Jon my Aussie friend recommended them. I have rented a small Fiesta? one-way from Gatwick airport to Cardiff and no extra fee either. Then by train all the way to Glasgow via Liverpool.  The point of this post is to ask , has anyone used this rental car broker and also, any must see recommendations in Cardiff, Liverpool and Glasgow?  I don’t have much time in Bath unfortunately.

I found Uxia Olsson’s blog useful on Cardiff
http://uxiaolsson.blogspot.com.es/

Regards
Vikki

I don’t know anything about that particular car hire company but I certainly wouldn’t bother bringing your bikini with you!

Try wellies and a rain coat.

Liverpool, well you’ve got the beatles museum which is well worth a look. In the docks there is another museum I believe about the history of liverpool and the docks. The docks as a whole are pretty damn nice you are also 5 mins from the main drinking area. I personally find scousers to be pretty welcoming especially to females.
Cardiff - the millenium stadium is great if there is any sport or a concert on there I would recommend getting down there. I can’t remember the name of the ground but cardiff blues(rugby) but if they have a game on then try and get down to it. Again by the millenium is the main drinking area and I find excellent for a jolly up. I believe there’s also a largeish church in some nice grounds along there somewhere. I walked through it once on my way to a rugby game so I was fairly pissed and the memories a bit hazy.
Also try and get down to Barry Island just a short train ride away 15-20 minutes it’s well worth it and will definately be the highlight of your trip ;)

Glasgow i have no knowledge

Thank you both for your comments and recommendations.

Barry island sounds intriguing.

So no bikini it is , just raincoat and wellies and nothing else…

How long are you in Glasgow for? If you’ve got more than a few days I’d definitely suggest driving north out of Glasgow and into the highlands. Growing up I always visited my grandparents holiday home in Shieldaig, Strathcarron. It’s quite far north in Scotland but it’s within the highlands and I can personally vouch for how nice it is up there (except for the weather). You’ll be disconnected from everywhere though so if you are more just looking for a city break, probably best to give it a miss.

As for what to pack. Definitely throw away your bikini. Instead pack thermals, a raincoat and waterproof footwear ;)

Hi Vikki,

If you need another hire car I would try holidayautos.co.uk. I just tried a search for 7days rental from Gatwick to Cardiff in October and got a quote of £92 (plus £33 total damage excess waiver); how does that compare? You can also normally get at least 10% with online discount codes (just google ‘holiday autos discount code’). I’ve used them a few times and found them really good including needing to change my booking on one occasion and having to cancel (due to the volcanic ash cloud) and got a full refund.

I was a bit disappointed with central Cardiff when I visited a few weeks ago. The new waterfront is all nice and modern regeneration but it’s just a load of cafes really, which had no soul (even on a hot sunny day). The Millenium stadium is just that, a big modern stadium and the castle has had so many changes through the ages it’s not a great example of British castles.  I never made it out there but ‘St Fagans: National History Museum’ is 4 miles out of the city centre, has free entry and sounds interesting. It’s a living museum with people demonstrating historic working life and they have transported lots of historic buildings to the site from throughout the ages. A much better castle to visit is Caerphilly Castle, which is just a few miles north of Cardiff. If you’ve still got the car or can work out the public transport, The Big Pit and Blaenavon is a world heritage site where you travel into a real Welsh coal mine, guided by men who served as miners (before Thatcher made them redundant) and see how coal has been mined throughout the centuries since the start of the industrial revolution. On your way to Cardiff you could stop off at Caerleon (just off the M4), where you can see the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre (okay it’s not the Colloseum) and Roman baths (they’re not in great condition but well presented with audio/visual enhancement).

The best thing about Liverpool is it’s not far by train from Manchester ;-) There’s the ‘Maritime Museum’ and ‘World Museum Liverpool’, which are both worth a look. The rest of the city in my opinion is mostly modern (60’s concrete) shops and cafe’s. Matthew’s St tries to suck every penny (lane) it can out of The Beatles coming from Liverpool, but the original Cavern Club is long gone and what’s left are a load of similarly named bars that IMO are a big disappointment and full of too many drunks and stags and hen do’s,

Manchester on the other hand has The Museum of Science & Industry (free and full of exhibits celebrating advancements made in (you’ve guessed it) science and industry throughout the ages. The Rylands Library is a ‘cathedral’ to science and learning with a great modern extension. The Lowry Art Gallery celebrates this fantastic artist who perfectly captured The North and society with his simple ‘stick people’. The Imperial War Museum North has interesting content but it’s the building and the way it’s presented that makes it a ‘must see’. The Manchester Museum and The Manchester Art Gallery are worth a look too. Nightlife in Manchester is varied and electric - whether it’s the laid back bars of the Northern Quarter (my favourite although they do get rammed at weekends), the ‘trendy’ chavtastic bars of Deansgate and Locks, live music in The Ruby Lounge, 80’s Cheese in Fab Cafe, Indie studentdom of 42nd St, or a step back to 90s Mad-chester at FAC251, there’s something for everyone. Okay, so I’m prejudice I do love Manchester, my adopted home.

Glasgow, I really liked as well. The Kelvingrove is a great art gallery/museum and is located in a great spot west of the city centre where you can find cheap hotels and backpackers. The Transport Museum is also out this way and they’ve done up the riverfront just south of here. Glasgow Cathedral is also worth a visit, as is St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art just opposite. The Modern Art Gallery does what it says on the tin. I liked the vibe of the city and found that it had loads of nice bars and restaurants. I’d agree that it’s worth trying to get out of the city too. Inverness would be a good base for the highlands or Loch Lomond is closer if the highlands is too far.

I seem to have got carried away, but I hope you find it useful.

Vikkitraveller - 25 September 2012 11:57 AM

Hello

I am off to the UK end of October and I have my bikini packed?

Its been a longtime since I visited sunny Cardiff and beautiful Bath.

I have rented a car from the not very originally named britishcarhire.com, after Jon my Aussie friend recommended them. I have rented a small Fiesta? one-way from Gatwick airport to Cardiff and no extra fee either. Then by train all the way to Glasgow via Liverpool.  The point of this post is to ask , has anyone used this rental car broker and also, any must see recommendations in Cardiff, Liverpool and Glasgow?  I don’t have much time in Bath unfortunately.

I found Uxia Olsson’s blog useful on Cardiff
http://uxiaolsson.blogspot.com.es/

Regards
Vikki

Cardiff Castle is quite nice, also might be worth getting out of the city a little, maybe head up into the Brecon beacons.

Also, no… Ditch the bikini lol!

Wellies and a raincoat/warm clothes are unfortunately the way forward. X

Thank you all for all your suggestions, it is much appreciated.

m.garratt - 27 September 2012 07:37 PM

Hi Vikki,

If you need another hire car I would try holidayautos.co.uk. I just tried a search for 7days rental from Gatwick to Cardiff in October and got a quote of £92 (plus £33 total damage excess waiver); how does that compare? You can also normally get at least 10% with online discount codes (just google ‘holiday autos discount code’). I’ve used them a few times and found them really good including needing to change my booking on one occasion and having to cancel (due to the volcanic ash cloud) and got a full refund.

I was a bit disappointed with central Cardiff when I visited a few weeks ago. The new waterfront is all nice and modern regeneration but it’s just a load of cafes really, which had no soul (even on a hot sunny day). The Millenium stadium is just that, a big modern stadium and the castle has had so many changes through the ages it’s not a great example of British castles.  I never made it out there but ‘St Fagans: National History Museum’ is 4 miles out of the city centre, has free entry and sounds interesting. It’s a living museum with people demonstrating historic working life and they have transported lots of historic buildings to the site from throughout the ages. A much better castle to visit is Caerphilly Castle, which is just a few miles north of Cardiff. If you’ve still got the car or can work out the public transport, The Big Pit and Blaenavon is a world heritage site where you travel into a real Welsh coal mine, guided by men who served as miners (before Thatcher made them redundant) and see how coal has been mined throughout the centuries since the start of the industrial revolution. On your way to Cardiff you could stop off at Caerleon (just off the M4), where you can see the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre (okay it’s not the Colloseum) and Roman baths (they’re not in great condition but well presented with audio/visual enhancement).

The best thing about Liverpool is it’s not far by train from Manchester ;-) There’s the ‘Maritime Museum’ and ‘World Museum Liverpool’, which are both worth a look. The rest of the city in my opinion is mostly modern (60’s concrete) shops and cafe’s. Matthew’s St tries to suck every penny (lane) it can out of The Beatles coming from Liverpool, but the original Cavern Club is long gone and what’s left are a load of similarly named bars that IMO are a big disappointment and full of too many drunks and stags and hen do’s,

Manchester on the other hand has The Museum of Science & Industry (free and full of exhibits celebrating advancements made in (you’ve guessed it) science and industry throughout the ages. The Rylands Library is a ‘cathedral’ to science and learning with a great modern extension. The Lowry Art Gallery celebrates this fantastic artist who perfectly captured The North and society with his simple ‘stick people’. The Imperial War Museum North has interesting content but it’s the building and the way it’s presented that makes it a ‘must see’. The Manchester Museum and The Manchester Art Gallery are worth a look too. Nightlife in Manchester is varied and electric - whether it’s the laid back bars of the Northern Quarter (my favourite although they do get rammed at weekends), the ‘trendy’ chavtastic bars of Deansgate and Locks, live music in The Ruby Lounge, 80’s Cheese in Fab Cafe, Indie studentdom of 42nd St, or a step back to 90s Mad-chester at FAC251, there’s something for everyone. Okay, so I’m prejudice I do love Manchester, my adopted home.

Glasgow, I really liked as well. The Kelvingrove is a great art gallery/museum and is located in a great spot west of the city centre where you can find cheap hotels and backpackers. The Transport Museum is also out this way and they’ve done up the riverfront just south of here. Glasgow Cathedral is also worth a visit, as is St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art just opposite. The Modern Art Gallery does what it says on the tin. I liked the vibe of the city and found that it had loads of nice bars and restaurants. I’d agree that it’s worth trying to get out of the city too. Inverness would be a good base for the highlands or Loch Lomond is closer if the highlands is too far.

I seem to have got carried away, but I hope you find it useful.

Really useful. Manchester I hear good things about so I will try and include this on route. By the way I paid a lot less with British Car Hire and took the option of zero excess with Mondial Insurance.

Vikkitraveller - 28 September 2012 05:43 AM

Really useful. Manchester I hear good things about so I will try and include this on route. By the way I paid a lot less with British Car Hire and took the option of zero excess with Mondial Insurance.

Less than £120 for a weeks car hire in the UK; wow I never knew it could be that cheap. I just tried a search on britishcar hire.com (I was curious how much cheaper it is) and it’s coming out at £160 now, so may still be worth considering in future.

Manchester is definitely worth a look if you can spare the time (alas the world has too many places to see everywhere) and glad you think my ramblings will be useful :)

As much as I may have been joking about Barry Island if you can get round to Swansea and the mumbles then that is well worth it. Honestly go 20 mins outside of swansea city and it is fucking lush. I spent 3 years there at uni and the centre, well i like it for sentimental value but a 30 min drive and it is truly beautiful the beaches would rival Aus except for the temperature and the waves aren’t quite as violent

I see throwing away the Aussie gold medals has two votes ;-(

By the way I just did a search at British Car Hire for a small car from Liverpool airport, I think it’s called John Lennon, for one week starting Nov 7th for a friend and I was quoted £81 !!

I love the UK !!

Is there immigration at Barry Island?
Are there any sharks?

V

Vikkitraveller - 30 September 2012 09:39 AM

Is there immigration at Barry Island?
Are there any sharks?

V

Contrary to popular belief and the general consensus of the UK population, the residents of Barry Island have not yet been classified as a separate race. Therefore no immigration.

There’s also no immigration between Wales and England or England and Scotland either, just FYI.

Sharks aren’t a problem. They generally don’t like swirling water that rarely gets above 12 degrees. If you do go in, be sure to wear a wetsuit or you’re liable to get so cold your nipples fall off.

Unfortunately you’ll be visiting outside of summer season and Barry Island pleasure park won’t be open :(

Well most of them are pretty amazed by the cheap service of British Car Hire….well hope your trip goes well and you enjoy it!!

SIP