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Scenic bus routes
I was travelling on the W3 the other day past Alexandra Palace, which
has great views across London, and I got to thinking - has anybody compiled a list of scenic London bus journeys (not the central London tourist sights, which are well documented)? My initial contribution - in no way exhaustive - would be: 20 - North Circular Road to Loughton 43/134/263 - Highgate to Archway (this direction only, and only if you're sitting in the front) 65 - Kew to Kingston 111 - Kingston to Hampton 210 - Archway to Golders Green, though it is compromised by being a single deck route 251 - Totteridge to Mill Hill (again loses marks for being single deck) 275 - Chingford Mount to Woodford 307 - Enfield to Cockfosters W3 - Wood Green to Crouch End A fairly blatant northern bias, because that's where I live! Any additions? Peter |
Scenic bus routes
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:47:14 -0700, peter wrote:
Any additions? R8 -- jhk |
Scenic bus routes
On Sep 24, 8:47 am, peter wrote:
I was travelling on the W3 the other day past Alexandra Palace, which has great views across London, and I got to thinking - has anybody compiled a list of scenic London bus journeys (not the central London tourist sights, which are well documented)? My initial contribution - in no way exhaustive - would be: 20 - North Circular Road to Loughton 43/134/263 - Highgate to Archway (this direction only, and only if you're sitting in the front) 65 - Kew to Kingston 111 - Kingston to Hampton 210 - Archway to Golders Green, though it is compromised by being a single deck route 251 - Totteridge to Mill Hill (again loses marks for being single deck) 275 - Chingford Mount to Woodford 307 - Enfield to Cockfosters W3 - Wood Green to Crouch End A fairly blatant northern bias, because that's where I live! Any additions? Peter The route 14 is the famous one - but you specified no central London routes. A bit of a cheat, but the rail replacement bus that occasionally covers the Met from Moor Park or so to Amersham is a great route. Thanks for those other ones. I'll definitely try some out. |
Scenic bus routes
Offramp ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying : A bit of a cheat, but the rail replacement bus that occasionally covers the Met from Moor Park or so to Amersham is a great route. "Occasionally"...? Seems like most flamin' weekends! |
Scenic bus routes
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:47:14 -0700, peter
wrote: I was travelling on the W3 the other day past Alexandra Palace, which has great views across London, and I got to thinking - has anybody compiled a list of scenic London bus journeys (not the central London tourist sights, which are well documented)? I think it all depends on your definition of scenic. There are places that might not be full of green space but which are interesting in terms of the architecture or "village" feel of the area you're in. My initial contribution - in no way exhaustive - would be: 20 - North Circular Road to Loughton 43/134/263 - Highgate to Archway (this direction only, and only if you're sitting in the front) 65 - Kew to Kingston 111 - Kingston to Hampton 210 - Archway to Golders Green, though it is compromised by being a single deck route 251 - Totteridge to Mill Hill (again loses marks for being single deck) 275 - Chingford Mount to Woodford You'll struggle to catch this at Chingford Mount! Either Walthamstow or perhaps Highams Park. The bit beyond Woodford to Barkingside is not too bad but more in terms of seeing what that part of London is like. 307 - Enfield to Cockfosters W3 - Wood Green to Crouch End A fairly blatant northern bias, because that's where I live! I don't disagree with your list btw - some good choices. Any additions? For a true "country" bus feel - W10 Enfield to Crews Hill. Doesn't run very frequently but it is like a rural local bus - people wave to the drivers and there is obviously a regular clientele. 468 Elephant - Croydon. Some of the "R" routes in Orpington - not used many of them but they do reach out in the Kent borders. R2, R5 and R8 are possibly the best bets. 146 Bromley North - Downe 246 Bromley - Westerham / Chartwell 465 Kingston - Dorking 3 Oxford Circus - Crystal Palace (interesting at the southern end) 358 Crystal Palace - Orpington 249 Balham - Anerley Station 185 Camberwell - Forest Hill 393 Clapton - Chalk Farm - if you want to see "behind the scenes" of Clapton, Stoke Newington and Highbury. Not done the bit to Chalk Farm yet. 19 Battersea - Finsbury Park. Great for a view of different London "villages". The 137 is also good for this as well. 24 Pimlico - Hampstead Heath. 268 Finchley Road - Hampstead 31 Camden - Notting Hill Gate - an interesting swathe of "gentrified" inner North London 107 Edgware - Barnet. Gets into the Hertfordshire borders. 313 Enfield - Potters Bar Possibly the U9 and 331 out at Uxbridge but not travelled on these. -- Paul C Admits to working for London Underground! |
Scenic bus routes
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 00:47:14 -0700, peter
wrote: I was travelling on the W3 the other day past Alexandra Palace, which has great views across London, and I got to thinking - has anybody compiled a list of scenic London bus journeys (not the central London tourist sights, which are well documented)? I guess the RV1 riverside bus would be the obvious one... Neil -- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply. |
Scenic bus routes
347 Romford Market - South Ockendon covers some pleasant semi-rural mileage I echo the 275 recommendation - a slightly odd route, but (away from Walthamstow) often a brisk ride through changing vistas. What about some of the routes in the Purley/Warlingham/Woodmansterne areas? This is fairly hilly territory, and I've often thought I could enjoy a ride on the top deck around these parts, but never made time for it. In fact, any route recommendations in this area? Chris |
Scenic bus routes
On 24 Sep, 09:56, Paul Corfield wrote:
For a true "country" bus feel - W10 Enfield to Crews Hill. Doesn't run very frequently but it is like a rural local bus - people wave to the drivers and there is obviously a regular clientele. 465 Kingston - Dorking Bit OT, but for a real country feel, just go one change beyond the 465. Change at Dorking for the Post Bus to Ockley or Coldharbour (8 seater, varies return route to suit regulars) or on a Fri get the Ranmore service (picks up elderly passengers for Dorking on the way out to Ranmore, to save them having to cross a busy road). Or one more step - Postbus Dorking to Forest Green then to Broadbridge Heath - every 2nd and 4th Tue. Free Tesco bus from there to Horsham and 93 to Dorking. Jon |
Scenic bus routes
On 24 Sep, 22:15, "Chris Read" wrote:
What about some of the routes in the Purley/Warlingham/Woodmansterne areas? This is fairly hilly territory, and I've often thought I could enjoy a ride on the top deck around these parts, but never made time for it. In fact, any route recommendations in this area? Try the 409 from East Croydon Station. It's a long lived survivor from LT Country Bus days and still goes to East Grinstead, miles out in the country, albeit via a very slightly different route these days. It's surprising how quickly you leave behind the very urban feel of Croydon as it trundles through leafy suburbs and heads off through very sparsly populated areas and zig zags across Surrey picking up various towns otherwise unserved by any buses at all. It even at one point back-tracks on itself along the same road in the Farleigh area! It's usually a single deck vehicle, although double deckers are sometimes used - despite the fact that it it usually only has a couple of people on board. Allow yourself plenty of time as it must be one of the slowest ways of getting anywhere, which is why almost no one uses it, apart from the fact that it only runs once an hour and stops running at about 6p.m. and not at all on Sundays. Welcome to public transport outside London! Peter |
Scenic bus routes
Paul Corfield wrote:
Possibly the U9 and 331 out at Uxbridge but not travelled on these. The 331 is a pretty good route, but again loses points for being a single decker. It's also one of the "Beyond the Fringes" routes that strays outside Greater London as it passes through Denham. Denham: Scene of much annoyance as the Post Office/Mini Market will quite happily sell you a Zones 1 to 6 Travelcard (valid on the 331 throughout the route), but if you want to get the Chiltern Railways service into Marylebone, rather than the 331 to Uxbridge and then the Met or Piccadilly, it'll cost you an extra £2.80 for the privilege, as it's outside the zones. Mind you, if it was up to me (which it isn't), I'd extend the Z6 boundary to include Denham, just to get rid of that anomaly. ;) And on the subject of Denham and anomalies, who's going to decide what counts as a "local" bus service for the purposes of free bus travel for over 60s from next April? Green Line Route 724, which generally uses Single Decker buses in the usual Arriva Turquoise livery, could class as either, depending on the journey being made, as it runs through from Harlow to Heathrow Airport, via Ware, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, St Albans, Watford, Rickmansworth, Denham and Uxbridge, with an end to end journey time of nearly 3 hours. Cheers, Barry |
Scenic bus routes
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:35:39 +0100, Barry Salter
wrote: And on the subject of Denham and anomalies, who's going to decide what counts as a "local" bus service for the purposes of free bus travel for over 60s from next April? One would assume that the legal definition will apply - that it must be a registered local stage carriage service rather than a coach service. The former receives fuel duty rebate, the latter doesn't, so the definition is already there, though I believe some bus companies take the **** by registering a long route as two separate ones even though it operates as one. Neil -- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply. |
Scenic bus routes
Barry Salter wrote And on the subject of Denham and anomalies, who's going to decide what counts as a "local" bus service for the purposes of free bus travel for over 60s from next April? Green Line Route 724, which generally uses Single Decker buses in the usual Arriva Turquoise livery, could class as either, depending on the [...] I assume that 'local' means those that are currently valid on some local bus pass and that all that is intended to happen from the end of March '08 is the extension of geographical validity to the whole of England. The notes with the Surrey permit say Not Route 80 (no idea if this still runs) Not National Express Coach services Not special services Otherwise any route that passes though Surrey, so includes the 465 & R68. And more recently the new First 300 Windsor to Virginia Water Station via Windsor Great Park has been made an exception from the start (though there is a discount). -- Mike D |
Scenic bus routes
On 25 Sep 2007 15:32:46 GMT, "Michael R N Dolbear"
wrote: Not Route 80 (no idea if this still runs) Not National Express Coach services Not special services Interestingly, Megabus and Scottish Citylink are required to carry for free[1] within Scotland. Could well end up *including* NatEx... [1] Megabus still require their booking fee is paid, however, but not the fare. Neil -- Neil Williams Put my first name before the at to reply. |
Scenic bus routes
On Sep 25, 8:29 pm, (Neil Williams)
wrote: On 25 Sep 2007 15:32:46 GMT, "Michael R N Dolbear" wrote: Not Route 80 (no idea if this still runs) Not National Express Coach services Not special services Interestingly, Megabus and Scottish Citylink are required to carry for free[1] within Scotland. Could well end up *including* NatEx... [1] Megabus still require their booking fee is paid, however, but not the fare. Well, it's going to be difficult for anything in London to beat Fort William to Glasgow as a scenic route ... |
Scenic bus routes
I've always enjoyed Eversley Park Road on the 125, which sends you plunging into the bowels of the Earth before hauling you back out again - as I descend, I feel that the road climbing the far side of the valley is parallel with the front of the bus. I suppose it's an optical illusion, because the 3D views on WIndows Live Local suggest it isn't that steep at all. Shooters Hill on the 89 is another good valley, but you get a much longer and grander view. |
Scenic bus routes
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:35:39 +0100, Barry Salter wrote:
The 331 is a pretty good route, but again loses points for being a single decker. It's also one of the "Beyond the Fringes" routes that strays outside Greater London as it passes through Denham. Denham: Scene of much annoyance as the Post Office/Mini Market will quite happily sell you a Zones 1 to 6 Travelcard (valid on the 331 throughout the route), but if you want to get the Chiltern Railways service into Marylebone, rather than the 331 to Uxbridge and then the Met or Piccadilly, it'll cost you an extra £2.80 for the privilege, as it's outside the zones. Mind you, if it was up to me (which it isn't), I'd extend the Z6 boundary to include Denham, just to get rid of that anomaly. ;) There are plenty of other examples of this, such as the 258 to Watford Junction and the 81 to Slough (TfL tickets, including any-zone Travelcards, are valid throughout). Extending Z6 to include them all would make it rather large! |
Scenic bus routes
On Sep 25, 12:02 am, Peter Heather wrote:
On 24 Sep, 22:15, "Chris Read" wrote: What about some of the routes in the Purley/Warlingham/Woodmansterne areas? This is fairly hilly territory, and I've often thought I could enjoy a ride on the top deck around these parts, but never made time for it. In fact, any route recommendations in this area? Try the 409 from East Croydon Station. It's a long lived survivor from LT Country Bus days and still goes to East Grinstead, miles out in the country, albeit via a very slightly different route these days. It's surprising how quickly you leave behind the very urban feel of Croydon as it trundles through leafy suburbs and heads off through very sparsly populated areas and zig zags across Surrey picking up various towns otherwise unserved by any buses at all. It even at one point back-tracks on itself along the same road in the Farleigh area! It's usually a single deck vehicle, although double deckers are sometimes used - despite the fact that it it usually only has a couple of people on board. Allow yourself plenty of time as it must be one of the slowest ways of getting anywhere, which is why almost no one uses it, apart from the fact that it only runs once an hour and stops running at about 6p.m. and not at all on Sundays. Welcome to public transport outside London! Peter The 409 is a rather long route; apparently it takes about 2 hours: Imberhorne School London Road / Yew Lane London Road / Sackville Lane London Road / Buckhurst Way London Road/ Newlands Crescent East Grinstead Fire Station East Grinstead Station East Grinstead Fire Station London Road / Railway Approach London Road / Rices Hill East Grinstead, War Memorial Sackville College Sackville School Woodberry Avenue / The Oaks Harmans Drive Estcots Drive / Sycamore Drive Estcots Drive / Court Crescent East Court Queen Victoria Hospital Holtye Road / Quarry Rise Stone Quarry Estate The Larches Wilderwick Farm The Approach Dormans Station Turning Dormansland School Dormansland / Memorial Dormansland / The Plough St Piers Lane Lingfield Racecourse Town Hill / Station Road Lingfield / War Memorial Lingfield / Church Road Little Lullenden Saxbys Lane / Crowhurst Road Lingfield Common/Hare & Hounds Meadowside Ray Bridge Tandridge Lane Blindley Heath / Albion House Blindley Heath / Blue Anchor Cottenhams Blindley Heath / Church Byers Lane Anglefield Corner South Godstone / The Mount South Godstone / RSPCA Centre Godstone Station St Stephen's School Woodlands Drive Harts Lane Leigh Mill Cottages Walkingstead Pond The Enterdent Tilburstow Hill Road Godstone Hare and Hounds Lindley Road Godstone Fire Station Quarry Road Tupwood Lane White Knobs Way Longsdon Way Caterham, Caterham Rail Station Caterham Hospital Court Road (Caterham) Golden Lion Westway Common/Douglas Blunton Court Road / Clifton Arms Hambledon Road Caterham Barracks Old Broad Street (Caterham) Addison Road (Caterham) Buxton Lane Macaulay Road Portley Lane Buxton Avenue Salmons Lane Green Kenley Radio Technical Laborat Badgers Walk Whyteleafe, Whyteleafe Rail Station Warlingham, Upper Warlingham Rail Station Oakley Road /Warlingham Westview Road Paddock Walk Westhall Road Homefield Road / Warlingham Hillbury Road / Warlingham Warlingham Green Marks Road Limpsfield Road Warlingham Sainsburys St Christophers Church Green Hill Lane Green Lane Parsonage Close Farleigh / The Harrow Inn Daniels Lane Great Park Chelsham Common Daniels Lane Beech Way Selsdon Nature Reserve West Ravenshead Close Hawthorn Crescent Dulverton Road/Selsdon Library Queenhill Road Brent Road / Farley Road Littleheath Road Farley Road / Croham Valley Rd Ballards Way Manor Way / Croham Valley Road Croham Hurst School Campden Road South Croydon Station Elmhurst School Birdhurst Gardens Coombe Road / Park Hill Road Selborne Road Fairfield Road Park Hill Road Garrick Crescent East Croydon Station Croydon / Fairfield Halls |
Scenic bus routes
On 24 Sep, 22:15, "Chris Read" wrote: The 409 is a rather long route; apparently it takes about 2 hours: --snipped-- Which is why I said few people travel on it. It's about 16 miles by road between Croydon and East Grinstead so is averaging 8 miles an hour. The reason being that the bus dives up side roads all over the place in the hope of finding passengers. It finds few people because it spends so long wandering about Surrey that they would rather drive if they have a car (pretty well essential outside Ken's Kingdom) or go by train if doing a large part of the journey. Peter |
Scenic bus routes
Peter Heather wrote:
On 24 Sep, 22:15, "Chris Read" wrote: The 409 is a rather long route; apparently it takes about 2 hours: --snipped-- ... It finds few people because it spends so long wandering about Surrey that they would rather drive if they have a car ... Not exactly scenic but on the theme of wandering Surrey buses an interesting sight is the 479 at Bookham station which religiously leaves one minute before the next train arrives (if it stops at all - it does like to scream in and out of the car park avoiding eye contact with anyone) thus avoiding picking up anyone who might conceivably like to use it as a connecting service. mf |
Scenic bus routes
Mystery Flyer wrote Not exactly scenic but on the theme of wandering Surrey buses an interesting sight is the 479 at Bookham station which religiously leaves one minute before the next train arrives (if it stops at all - it does like to scream in and out of the car park avoiding eye contact with anyone) thus avoiding picking up anyone who might conceivably like to use it as a connecting service. So tell Surrey CC, who, it seems, pay for it, what you want it to do. passenger.transport at surreycc.gov.uk But be very clear since your description suggests that it is currently usable for someone wishing to catch the 'next train'. (paper timetables, I haven't checked online) 479 Bookham to L'head & Epsom 29 & 59 479 To Guildford at 52 479 From L'head & Epsom 24 & 52 479 From Guildford at 59 Rail Bookham to W'loo, L'head & Epsom (from Guildford) 21 & 51 Rail to Guildford (from W'loo, L'head & Epsom) 29 & 59 -- Mike D |
Scenic bus routes
On 25 Sep, 00:02, Peter Heather wrote:
Try the 409 from East Croydon Station. It's a long lived survivor from LT Country Bus days and still goes to East Grinstead, miles out in the country, albeit via a very slightly different route these days. It's surprising how quickly you leave behind the very urban feel of Croydon as it trundles through leafy suburbs and heads off through very sparsly populated areas and zig zags across Surrey picking up various towns otherwise unserved by any buses at all. It even at one point back-tracks on itself along the same road in the Farleigh area! It's usually a single deck vehicle, although double deckers are sometimes used - despite the fact that it it usually only has a couple of people on board. Allow yourself plenty of time as it must be one of the slowest ways of getting anywhere, which is why almost no one uses it, apart from the fact that it only runs once an hour and stops running at about 6p.m. and not at all on Sundays. Welcome to public transport outside London! I quite often do almost the whole route, East Croydon Station to East Grinstead High Street, on Saturdays. I don't do it as often as I used to, because recently I have been doing my projectionist thing on many Saturdays. I may well go tomorrow; I will be at my main job next Saturday, and then projecting for the next three, so I won't be free again until at least the end of October. The last bus back from East Grinstead was at 16:50 until recently, but I think it runs a few minutes later now. What was the reason for it returning to Metrobus after just a short time with Southdown PSV? I'm doubtful how long this route will survive; it seems to load very lightly. It's £5 return from Croydo to East Grinstead. For a short journey, the 405 to Redhill can be quite a pleasant ride. I want to do the route from East Grinstead to Tonbridge one day; basically it's the replacement for the old railway. I'd also like to nominate a couple of routes that are nowhere near London, so a bit OT. Firstly, there's the X20 from Stratford-upon-Avon to Birmingham. There used be be a X50 route a few years ago from Stratford to Oxford, but that doesn't seem to run now, except for a couple of trips on Sundays. Lastly, to get even further from London, the MTA route S79 in New York. This runs from outside the Subway station one stop before the terminus of the R line in Brooklyn and almost immediately crosses the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Staten Island; that's why it's a 'S' route, not a 'B'. It runs to Staten Island Mall, near the centre of the Island. As I said, a long way from London but well worth doing if you happen to be over there. The Subway fare is $2 (about £1 now), but you then get a free transfer to the bus with a Metrocard, so the whole journey is only $2, even if you started from a subway station right up in the Bronx. How's that for value? |
Scenic bus routes
peter wrote:
I was travelling on the W3 the other day past Alexandra Palace, which has great views across London, and I got to thinking - has anybody compiled a list of scenic London bus journeys (not the central London tourist sights, which are well documented)? My initial contribution - in no way exhaustive - would be: 20 - North Circular Road to Loughton 43/134/263 - Highgate to Archway (this direction only, and only if you're sitting in the front) 65 - Kew to Kingston 111 - Kingston to Hampton 210 - Archway to Golders Green, though it is compromised by being a single deck route 251 - Totteridge to Mill Hill (again loses marks for being single deck) 275 - Chingford Mount to Woodford 307 - Enfield to Cockfosters W3 - Wood Green to Crouch End A fairly blatant northern bias, because that's where I live! Any additions? My favourites: H2 - Hampstead Garden Suburb circular H3 - Golders Green to Hilltop Quite "fun" hail and ride routes passing by some nice residential areas. The H3 also cuts round the top part of Hampstead Heath before running down The Bishops Avenue which must be one of London's wealthiest roads. -- Phil Richards, London, UK 3,600+ railway photos since 1980 at: http://europeanrail.fotopic.net http://britishrail.fotopic.net |
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