A village that likes to plan ahead
Claygate sits south of Esher, surrounded by green space, with a busy Parade of independent shops, cafés and restaurants at its centre. It's a close-knit village, and our bookings here reflect that. They tend to be planned in advance: the early flight booked a week ahead, the regular school run, the weekly trip to see family.
Claygate is about 12 to 15 minutes from our base in Tolworth, so we recommend booking ahead rather than calling for a car on the spot, particularly at peak times.
Claygate station
Claygate station has trains to Waterloo via Surbiton. It's handy for central London, but not so much for journeys across the capital or to the airports. For those, a direct car is usually simpler. We also collect from the station after late trains, when the walk home through dark lanes isn't appealing.
Early-morning airport runs
A lot of our Claygate work is early flights. Here's what makes them go smoothly:
- Book at least the evening before, with your flight time, terminal and flight number.
- Allow for traffic on the approach roads to the A3 and the M25, which can build early on weekday mornings.
- Choose an estate or MPV if you're travelling with lots of luggage or skis.
Heathrow and Gatwick are both usually under an hour. See our airport transfers for details.
Days out and appointments
For a day with several stops, such as a hospital appointment followed by shopping, hiring a car with a driver by the hour is often better value than separate fares. The driver waits and follows your plan.
Written and checked by the Tolworth Cars team. Last updated 22 September 2026.