UK Trip - help

[LadyCassandra]

Hoping for some on-the-ground knowledge as I'm feeling v overwhelmed right now.
I'm heading back to the UK for the first time in 8 years because my dad is sick. Its all happening very quickly and I've literally just booked my flight for Saturday to arrive at Heathrow Saturday night.
I arrive 8.20pm
I'm going to stay in the Heathrow Premier Inn - I think this is in walking distance to the airport - can anyone confirm this?
My dad and stepmum live in Ipswich (I have never been there) and I'll need to get across London to get there, either on public transport or hire a car. Thoughts on this?
I'll be staying in a Premier Inn in Ipswich for a few days before travelling up to BIrmingham where the rest of my family are.
Do I rent a car for the whole time? Train fares look expensive!
Once I'm in Birmingham I may not need a car, so is it worth hiring one for the whole time?
I'll be in the UK for 3 weeks so will probably spend the last week back in Ipswich again and have to get back to Heathrow.
The whole thing is literally being planned between me (at work) and my DH (at home) and we are on a huge budget. I can't really afford to even come, so I need to do things the most economically. I'll have approx 1000 pounds to spend over the 3 weeks, to pay for transport and accommodation (but won't need accommodation in Birmingham).
Thanks in advance, this is the only place I could think of where there would be some sensible advice.😁

Sorry about your dad. Car hire for 3 weeks is going to be about a grand so that's your budget blown right there.

Cheapest way is going to be to buy advance train tickets online - you have to take a specific train but it cuts the price substantially. Get returns for each bit of your journey (London - Ipswich, London - Birmingham, London - Ipswich).

The cheapest way to get into London is the tube. It's slow but the Heathrow express is £££

try getting coaches, for example just looked up heathrow to ipswich, £16.80. Will take longer than train.

I live near Ipswich

When we went to Heathrow we got a taxi, took 2-3 hours first thing in the morning - cost £135 - so probably quickest but not cheapest

Hiring a car is an option, but expensive

I would think National Express coach / train would be your best option

If I can help in any way please let me know, I am just up the road

Oh yes coaches are cheapest. But slow.

Thanks @BritInUS1 Can you give me an insight into the public transport once I get to Ipswich? The premier inn is about a mile from my dad's place so I'll be happy to walk there.

Agree coaches are the way to go if budget is a priority. Look at the National Express site.

There's several Premier Inns called "Heathrow" so it depends which one you have booked but some will need a shuttle bus or taxi. Hopefully you've booked the one closest to the terminal you land at!
For train planning use www.nationalrail.co.uk and book direct with the rail operating company. Do not use a ticket agent such as the trainline as they often charge a booking fee and can be a pain to get refunds off if there are delays or cancellations. An "advance" ticket is the cheapest option but these are only valid on the train you book. Trains to Ipswich depart from London Liverpool Street so you'd need to get the underground in from LHR, or use the Heathrow Express with is faster but pricey. There's advance tickets to Ipswich for £14 on Sunday.
Ipswich to Birmingham isn't an easy journey by train - you need to go into London and back out again so it might be worth looking at the bus for that leg of your trip.
For Birmingham back to LHR you could do the bus or train to Reading and then the "railair" coach to avoid going into London and back.

Thanks all for your help.
Managed to get cheap train tickets to Ipswich from Heathrow and super cheap car hire in Ipswich for 3 weeks that can be dropped back to Heathrow (Heathrow car hire was insane!) so all sorted for the first week. Then I'll know more about what I need to do.

I think I just needed to vent as I was completely overwhelmed! Now I have my ducks in a row I think it will be ok!