Hiring a car and driver from London to North Yorkshire & back again

[CordeliaLOVEScocktails]

My daughter has been invited on holiday but neither her or her partner drive. They have a toddler.

They want to hire someone to drive them from Islington to the North Yorkshire coast and collect them a week later.

Uber is £500 one way.

She doesn't want to get a train or fly due to all the kit they have.

Can anyone suggest anything?

I think it’d make more sense to get the train and hire stuff they need and can’t carry when they get there- I’m assuming things like travel cot? One pushes toddler in a lightweight buggy which can be folded on the train and the other takes a large suitcase on wheels (with a holdall balanced on top if needed?)

Have they contacted a local taxi firm?

A train would be feasible, they’d just have to pack wisely.

Can they send their 'kit' on ahead? What is it - camping stuff? Can they hire it when they get there? Or what about going by coach? That's normally cheaper than a train.

The train is the most sensible option. A driver will be crazily expensive, as the Uber quote shows.

What kit do they have which prevents them getting on a train.

hiring a driver for that distance is not going to be cheap.
The only alternatives are train or coach, unless you drive them.
I don't drive, I've travelled all over the UK on the train with my son. It's not that difficult

What sort of 'kit'?

They're only going for a week. Surely they can pack wisely and go by train?

Having said that, train routes to the N Yorkshire coast are a bit crap. I looked into going from South Yorkshire to Whitby by train and it would have taken me about 6 hours via Newcastle as there's no direct line (it only takes 2 hrs in the car).

How much kit do they have. Can they send anything particularly bulky by courier in advance? Then one adult can manage toddler and buggy and the other can manage the luggage on the train / coach?

How much “kit” can they possibly have? Presume it is camping gear? If not, can they cut down?

Can any of the people who have invited them bring any of the kit? But it’s surprising how much stuff two adults can manage on a train between them if they need to.

Taxi from Islington to Kings Cross. Direct train to York with reserved seats. Maybe take someone along to help put the stuff onto the train.

Taxi from York if necessary.

Where in North Yorkshire? Train or coach are the best options. If it’s a smaller coastal town they will likely need to get a taxi at some point.

If they’re not camping, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to take what they need on the train. If it’s self catering, then most have washing machines so clothes etc can be packed very lightly and washed while away. A lightweight buggy for the baby, foldable when you get on the train, big handbag for baby stuff/a few toys, and a large suitcase plus a big rucksack to be worn/wrangled by the other parent.

I have travelled all over the country for years by train with children, including to the North Yorkshire coast. A driver sounds like madness to me! Imagine how great the holiday would have to be to make it worthwhile... Whereabouts is she going?

If they really don't want to do public transport have they got friends who might do it for less than the uber?

Also, Googling "private hire" vehicles in their area would probably be cheaper than Uber too.

Honestly, 2 adults on the train should be fine unless they’re really taking a crazy amount of stuff. I can’t see them finding a cab there and back for much less.

Kit suggests camping but I suspect that’s not what you mean.

What are they taking with them? Between a buggy, large rucksack and pulley-thing suitcase they should be fine on the tube and trains?

I’d get as close as I could by train, and then get a taxi quote from the closest stop. May as well get a quote from a courier for sending some stuff ahead - I bet in total including tickets it’d come in at less than the Uber quote, especially as the toddler will be free.

Islington to Kings Cross is almost walkable. Then train, and be met at the other end by those who have invited them.

Why are you fixing this?
I can’t help myself but they could have nappies travel cot and pram delivered for less

DH and I did family holidays abroad with a 3 year old and a baby for two weeks, getting a taxi to a train station, then train to the airport.

IME toddlers are better on a train than a car (or plane) for that length of journey as they can look out the window, have a walk to the onboard food shop etc.

Just make sure you book train seats with a table and bring a few compact games/activities.

As a pp said get the bulk of the travel done by Kings Cross to York (just under 2 hours) and then taxi the rest. Breaking up the travel also helps as a distraction.

Otherwise it's a hell of a long ride in a car.

In terms of stuff I'm not sure why they think the train isn't feasible. We used to take a big wheeled suitcase, two backpacks and a buggy. DH was on suitcase duty with baby in a sling and I'd have my hands free for the toddler in a buggy.

More than feasible with one toddler between two.

Indeed....

Why don't they ask a taxi firm in North Yorkshire for a quote to collect them? There aren't going to be any cheap-cheap solutions if she is set on a car and a driver but might be cheaper than an Uber?

It's probably close to 300 miles to drive. Someone would have to do a return journey. At HMRC rates of 45p per mile it would be £270 of petrol and wear and tear costs.

That leaves £230 to cover a minimum of 10 hours driving, plus rest breaks. Potentially an overnight stay as well, because it seems unsafe to do in a day.

I'd be amazed if you'd find anyone willing to do it for less than £600

*£500 each way

A taxi in North Yorkshire still has to do the same round trip with the same costs.

Northern folk are not magicians....

No shit. Except some taxi firms here have reasonable rates compared to Uber.