Holyhead to Folkestone - Where to stop and stay?

Berty

Im travelling to Folkestone Europort in the UK in a few months and looking for a suggestion for someplace to break up the journey on the way down.

Im arriving in Holyhead and plan on staying in Folkestone on the 2nd night(prior to taking the Train).

Where should I stay the first night?

Vic_08

Berty wrote: »

Im travelling to Folkestone Europort in the UK in a few months and looking for a suggestion for someplace to break up the journey on the way down.

Im arriving in Holyhead and plan on staying in Folkestone on the 2nd night(prior to taking the Train).

Where should I stay the first night?

Assuming you are travelling by train I don't see any need to break the journey for a night. It takes around 4 hours from Holyhead to Euston by train, (3h40 by direct train) a 5 minute walk from Euston to St. Pancras and 60 minutes by direct High Speed train to Folkestone.

Unless there is somewhere you want to visit I don't see any reason not do do the trip in one day, it would just depend on the times you want to leave/arrive.

Berty

Sorry I am driving.

For some reason I assumed that would be a given. Sorry.

The thing is. The Journey is around 5.5 hours from Folkestone to Calais. I was even planning on driving through Central London just for the laugh but then found out I would be driving a petrol car so decided against it(MPG reason's).

I had considered Chester but thought that it was not exactly half way so not the best option.

I also will have a bike on the boot of the car so stopping in Birmingham would not be great unless I could basically VERY SECURELY stow my bike either in my room or some secure area. Then again, do I really want a big city stop. Probably not.

I do want a nice pint and something nice to eat so anywhere will do really other than a motorway service.

Im not against staying in a Travelodge or Premier Inn for that matter so long as there is something to entertain me in the evening.

The following night in Folkestone will just be early to bed, early to rise to get an early Chunnel.

phog

Berty, I really dont see the need to stop in the Uk at all. I know this was in reverse order but when Munster travelled to Lille for the semi-final against Stade (the one where John O'Neill's try was disallowed :mad:). My return trip started at 07:00 in Lille, from Calais I crossed on fast ferry to Folkstone, headed up through England to Holyhead, fast ferry to Dun Laoghaire and was home in Limerick for midnight.

Cartainly one stop should be enough and depending wheter your going around London by the North or South, if Nth then I'd stay in Beford if Sth I'd head for Oxford.

Berty

Why not?

Im on holiday's.

You see I could easily get the 8:45 Fast Craft and drive the 6 hours and so to Folkestone, stay overnight and get the early morning train and then travel onwards but I don't want to. I want to stop in the UK, like we did as children, and relax en route.

I have found Coventry newly built travelodge for £19 on that night so that might do nicely.

Fratton Fred

hang on, I'm confused.

you are driving to the Chunnel and taking your car to France?

Holyhead to Folkestone is about a 6 or 7 hour drive so if you want to get an early train, I would head to somewhere like Maidstone or Ashford and stop there.

Le Shuttle takes 35 minutes to get to Calais though, you will be on and off in about 45 minutes.

as an alternative, have you though about getting nightferry from Portsmouth? it leaves about 10pm and arrives about 6am so you can get a good sleep and an early start on your journey the next day

Berty

Im spending 2 nights in the UK.

1st night half way down. Coventry happens to be 1 mile further than half way so that's why I picked it. It was either that or Northampton.

The 2nd night and last night will be spent in Folkestone, probably Premier Inn or the Holiday Inn Express for the early train.

About the ferry. It's more expensive. The tunnel is costing £11 each way and the Ferry is £109 each way.

ballsymchugh

jaysis, i never thought i'd hear someone looking for advice on folkestone. i lived in maidstone for longer than i should have. but seriously, i'd go as far as you can on the first day. if it's during the week then i'd say canterbury, it's a nice town with plenty to see walking about, and it's about 20 mins from folkestone. it's easily the nicest town in kent.

maidstone is a hole. please, don't do that to yourself.

also, central london is probably easier to drive through than dublin at the mo. so don't rule that out!!

Fratton Fred

Berty wrote: »

Im spending 2 nights in the UK.

1st night half way down. Coventry happens to be 1 mile further than half way so that's why I picked it. It was either that or Northampton.

The 2nd night and last night will be spent in Folkestone, probably Premier Inn or the Holiday Inn Express for the early train.

About the ferry. It's more expensive. The tunnel is costing £11 each way and the Ferry is £109 each way.

you might want to head a bit further south than coventry, maybe Warwick which is meant to be nice, or even further still and stay here

Berty

ballsymchugh wrote: »

jaysis, i never thought i'd hear someone looking for advice on folkestone. i lived in maidstone for longer than i should have. but seriously, i'd go as far as you can on the first day. if it's during the week then i'd say canterbury, it's a nice town with plenty to see walking about, and it's about 20 mins from folkestone. it's easily the nicest town in kent.

maidstone is a hole. please, don't do that to yourself.

also, central london is probably easier to drive through than dublin at the mo. so don't rule that out!!

Probably going to arrive in Folkestone at 9PM and leave on the train at 7am so not think about.

It's the night before and day before I was more concerned about.

I will also be driving through Dublin at 7:00am or so which will be fine.

ballsymchugh

actually, i'd agree with fratton, but stay a bit further down the road in oxford. you can't go wrong there! it's about 2.5 hours on to folkestone then max about the m25.

phog

Berty wrote: »

Why not?

Im on holiday's.

You see I could easily get the 8:45 Fast Craft and drive the 6 hours and so to Folkestone, stay overnight and get the early morning train and then travel onwards but I don't want to. I want to stop in the UK, like we did as children, and relax en route.

I have found Coventry newly built travelodge for £19 on that night so that might do nicely.

You're the master of your own destiny but I think spending two nights in the UK a waste when you're actually heading to the continent for your holiday.

Me, I'd head straight through and overnight in Folkstone or near Calais then onwards to my final destination.

BTW, the price for the tunnel is a great price.

kindalen

berty could you please let me know where you got that chunnel fare? sounds like a great offer. was it a case of the early bird?

Berty

phog wrote: »

You're the master of your own destiny but I think spending two nights in the UK a waste when you're actually heading to the continent for your holiday.

Me, I'd head straight through and overnight in Folkstone or near Calais then onwards to my final destination.

I will have 12 nights in France so while travelling through the UK I may as well make some time of it.

kindalen wrote: »

berty could you please let me know where you got that chunnel fare? sounds like a great offer. was it a case of the early bird?

http://www.eurocamp.co.uk

The times I was looking for would have been £138 on the Channel Tunnel website.

robinph

The journey is part of the holiday as well so why not drag it out into something relaxed and enjoyable. I would however just drive straight through the UK, but that is because I've seen it all before, but the idea of Oxford sounds a reasonable suggestion so far. Interesting enough place to potter around, and you could certainly make use of your bike to get about as well.

Berty,if it's holidays you are on...
Then stay a night at the four seasons Hampshire.
Try and get there by noon so you can relax for the day

http://www.fourseasons.com/hampshire/

Berty

Deleted User wrote: »

Berty,if it's holidays you are on...
Then stay a night at the four seasons Hampshire.
Try and get there by noon so you can relax for the day

http://www.fourseasons.com/hampshire/

Hmm. Travelodge £19............Four Seasons, afraid to look.

Apparently there is a large Primark in Coventry right next door to the Travelodge and a pub for me across the road with a nice outdoor area. Im sold. Oh and I can store my bicycle in my room.

mikewest

Why not just wing it. The journey down is about 6 ish hours so at about 4 to 5 hours leave the motorway and head in the general south direction on the A and B roads. Find a roadside inn doing B&B and food (preferably a free house for the selection of beer). Check in and have a bite. Look for a local recommendation of somewhere to visit for a few hours, wander back to pub, have a few pints with the locals, have a kip and leave for ferry and France refreshed. Some of the nicest places I've ever stayed in I've found this way and to be honest the very very few kips have made the best conversation pieces.