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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

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

55 replies

CordeliaLOVEScocktails · 15/06/2022 17:06

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?

OP posts:
astoundedgoat · 15/06/2022 18:43

Well, she's just going to have to bring less kit, or spend £1k on taxis, then, isn't she? She's being ridiculous and you don't can't "fix" that.

I've done long train journeys with a toddler & a newborn and all the kit (I thought) I needed back in the early days and it was fine. She'll have her partner with her to put everything on the train while she holds the toddler, and once they pre-book seats it'll be fine.

Crikeyalmighty · 15/06/2022 18:53

Out of interest OP apart from a buggy and the usual clothes etc what do they need to take and that makes a train to York and then maybe a cab unviable? If they are factoring in toys etc- buy some cheap stuff when they are there- if we have a better idea of what 'stuff' it is that makes it difficult we can offer suggestions.

thesugarbumfairy · 15/06/2022 19:04

well it depends what kit they are on about, and where exactly they are going, but train is the sensible option. kx to york or darlington, followed by either more train or bus or taxi.
Buying a cheap travel cot and bedding and having it delivered to their friends in advance would still be cheaper than a return taxi the whole way. Im not sure what other kit is needed. Nappies etc can be bought there. You said toddler so im assuming steriliser not required.

Vodka1 · 15/06/2022 19:15

Done london - leeds many times via train/coach and car.

I've also done the return journey there and back in 1 day, and honestly, it was absolutely shite. I'm a big driver, loving driving but 8 hours in and I was fucked.

Granted it's the best option when you can stay over night somewhere though. But fuel costs right now, ouch.

Coach is boring and way too long i'd scrap that with kids.

You can get direct trains from london victoria through to leeds (not sure what part of yorkshire you need) which is the best bet because a) it's cheaper, b) yes they have to carry stuff but they can drop it all down almost the entre time,it's going taxi > train, train> taxi.

As previous people have said buy nappies/blankets/pillows up there. Donate them to a shelter before they head back ? It might seem like wasted cost but it's not really if you think about the fact train is probably going to save them a bomb on a private driver just to take their own.

Spanielsarepainless · 15/06/2022 19:46

Friend of a friend did Norwich to Exeter (roughly 300 miles) by taxi, £700 each way, and that was a few years ago.

HermioneWeasley · 15/06/2022 19:48

For £1000 the three of them could have an off season holiday abroad

Glendaruel · 15/06/2022 19:58

I'm just back from a trip on train with my 18 month year old. people tend to be helpful and help you on and most staff are helpful. Lots of accommodation providers have travel costs and high chairs.Depending on accommodation you can send a parcel from boots with nappies etc ahead. Obviously depends where in North Yorkshire they are going as you need to factor in transport from station.

MajorCarolDanvers · 15/06/2022 20:08

Travel cot etc sent (or hire locally) by courier then get the train and a local taxi.

Plus sensible packing

Original poster
CordeliaLOVEScocktails · 16/06/2022 16:46

Thank you everyone.

To those asking (quite rightly) why I involved, I'm just trying to be helpful as she's so busy,

I did ring a local cab company (Whitby) who said best route is taxi to station / fast 2hr train to York / taxi from York to Runswick Bay.

Cot/high chair etc is all there. It's a fully serviced cottage and all is free once they arrive.

I think she had a bad experience with him on the train when he was younger. Hence wanting to be driven.

OP posts:
BreadInCaptivity · 16/06/2022 17:39

CordeliaLOVEScocktails · 16/06/2022 16:46

Thank you everyone.

To those asking (quite rightly) why I involved, I'm just trying to be helpful as she's so busy,

I did ring a local cab company (Whitby) who said best route is taxi to station / fast 2hr train to York / taxi from York to Runswick Bay.

Cot/high chair etc is all there. It's a fully serviced cottage and all is free once they arrive.

I think she had a bad experience with him on the train when he was younger. Hence wanting to be driven.

I can't see why that wouldn't work fine.

They just need to book seats on the train.

That will be far less stressful than a massive car journey at £££.

emmathedilemma · 16/06/2022 21:42

£500 is about the going rate for private driver for the day. Bear in mine they have to drive back and the price of petrol is through the roof at the moment.

Honaloulou · 16/06/2022 21:54

As someone who has done holidays all over the place by myself with a toddler - she sounds a bit of a princess. Trains (planes, busses, whatever) are perfectly normal places to have to parent.

Singleandproud · 16/06/2022 22:01

Get a train, reserve what 'kit' she needs in the argos at where ever she is staying. Ask the cottage people if they want it or donate to local charity shop at the end of their stay, that would be a lot cheaper tha a taxi.

Take some sticker books, travel aquamat and a tablet for the journey loaded with kids shows the time will fly by. I used to take DDs shoes off and put slippers on instead so she could stand on the chair as children love to do but her feet were still protected incase we had to get off the train quickly.

MissDollyMix · 16/06/2022 22:04

What’s she going to do for transport whilst she’s in North Yorkshire? It’s quite a big county. She’ll be fine if she’s based in a city but if she’s staying out somewhere rural she’s going to struggle to get about without a car!

DisforDarkChocolate · 16/06/2022 22:10

I think the trick with the train and small children is to book the train with the least stops (usually leaves on the hour from King's Cross) and take things to distract the baby.

IggyAce · 17/06/2022 10:03

Taxi from York to Runswick bay is madness. She needs to book the train from London that goes to Middlesbrough and then they can either get a cab from Middlesbrough to Runswick Bay or swap on a train to Saltburn and take a cab from there. Also recommend booking a supermarket food delivery because there is very little in Runswick Bay.

user75 · 17/06/2022 10:08

Runswick Bay has very little in terms of facilities - no supermarket or anything. It's very ambitious to visit with a baby and no car! It gorgeous but she needs to think it all through - the rural north is very challenging without a car.

DaisyDozyDee · 17/06/2022 10:10

This seems like a case of a really bad choice of holiday destination. Who booked it and why?

Orangesare · 17/06/2022 10:22

It would be easier to get the train to Darlington or Thornaby wherever the mainline last stop is. Then train to Middlesbrough and change to the esk valley line to Whitby.
the esk valley line is as beautiful as the north york moors railway. But much cheaper.
after Whitby she could get a bus or taxi to runswick bay. There are loads of buses along that road.

easyday · 17/06/2022 11:25

Insane. I travelled from Paris with baby and toddler and pushchair and suitcase on my own. It wasn't the most pleasant of trips (and really annoying that a French train worker watched me struggle to get everything on the train without offering to help), but it wasn't that hard. Two adults and one child - piece of cake (as for previous bad experiences - on the outward journey of my trip the baby got sick all over the pushchair and in my bag as we went through security. We cleared our carriage pretty quick with the smell)!

LIZS · 17/06/2022 11:31

Seems like poor planning. No reason why train travel is not good enough, but destination needs to be accessible. There are plenty of other resorts which would be more suitable.

Ted27 · 17/06/2022 15:47

Im still bit baffled by what ‘kit’ they need. They are staying in a cottage with cot and high chair.
Surely all they need to take is clothes and a few toys? Its Yorkshire, there are shops if they forget anything

Youaremysunshine14 · 17/06/2022 15:53

Is going by coach feasible?

Orangesare · 17/06/2022 20:14

Could they send the luggage 24 hour courier each way? That would save carrying the bags

QforCucumber · 17/06/2022 20:20

train king cross to eaglescliffe (2.5 hours - we’ve just booked it for £52 return for 4 with a rail card)

another train to Whitby (1hr, about £12 for 3)

half the time of the drive and a much more relaxing experience than the drive.

we are doing the opposite next week to go to legoland and Windsor because I would much much much rather the train with 2 kids than a 6 hour deoce

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