- London
- /
- transport
- (15)
-
United Kingdom
For wheelchair users, simply riding on a double decker bus is an excellent and cheap alternative to a special disabled tour. If you learn the routes and get a day pass, you can ride anywhere.
Additionally, in many taxis, you can just wheel in and go. The underground has many wheelchair-friendly stations and links to airports and the Chunnel, if you want a new and exciting way to explore the continent!
Contact any tourist info booth in London for details, or ask at the stations.
www.bluechairbook.com
North America's Disabled Adventurer
Tell all tourists to buy an Oyster Card rather than letting Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, rip them off!
A ludicrously expensive city, but a one day bus pass will take you anywhere for only £3.50.
I’m sure that most people see the London Underground as purely functional; a means of getting to one’s intended destination with the minimum of fuss, and passing the journey engrossed in a newspaper or audio entertainment, paying little regard to the world outside their carriage.
However, I suggest that one short stretch of the network is an attraction in its own right. In fact, a journey awash with history and all available to enjoy without ever having to depart outside the stations.
Harrow & Wealdstone to Queens Park on the Bakerloo line is unique in being the only significant stretch of the London Underground which runs parallel to the National Rail network.
Harrow & Wealdstone has two station entrances. Before boarding your train, it’s worth contemplating the memorial plaque outside the main entrance. This commemorates the UK’s second worst rail disaster which occurred in October 1952, loss of life exceeding 100 people.
The newish blocks of flats at the back of the station may look prosaic, but they’ve been built on the site of rock and roll history. It is generally accepted that one of the finest bands this country has ever produced were “discovered” at the Railway Hotel, which formerly occupied this site. Who are we talking about? The Who, of course. Listen very carefully and you may hear the ghost of Pete Townshend mashing up his guitar. Take a walk round the complex and note that the flats have been named after two of the band members.
At South Kenton station facing backwards and looking out to your left, admire the Betjemanesque view of Metroland. The spire belongs to the 900 year old St. Mary’s church on Harrow-on-the-Hill.
Wembley Central station has recently had a makeover to get it looking up to scratch for the new stadium. The line now dives under the national rail network, and it’s at Stonebridge Park, facing backwards and looking out to your right that affords you a fine view of the edifice.
Here you can dream for a few moments that one day your team might contest a cup final here.
Just after Stonebridge Park, you travel over the busy North Circular Road; on a winter’s evening in rush hour, the vehicle light trails can look impressive.
By the way, the tube map is misleading from here on. You train is travelling in a west to east direction, and not north to south as depicted by the map. Why? I don’t know. Send a polite enquiring email to the Transport For London people.
Approaching Harlesden, facing forward, sitting on your left, but looking out to the right, you may just see the blue corrugated biscuit factory. When independent local radio first took to the air in the 1970’s, it was to the United Biscuit Network that the stations looked to for many of their presenters and DJs, and a few later-to-become household names learned their trade at this factory.
If you’re a trainspotting enthusiast, then all along this stretch now, you’ll note plenty of activity involving shunting locomotives and their carriages. At Willesden Junction, it’s worth breaking your journey and climbing the steps to the overhead North London line, where on a clear day, good views may be afforded to the east and west, including a large car breaking plant. You can also watch the mainline trains speed on their way north to such places as Holyhead and the connecting ferries to Ireland, the picturesque Lake District, and bonnie Scotland.
It’s not really possible to see Kensal Green cemetery from the train, so here we break the rules and alight at Kensal Green station for a wander round London’s first commercial burial ground. Hopefully you’ll locate the final resting places of some famous people from the past, but one person you’ll not find is Louie The Ring.
Who’s Louie The Ring ? He got his own episode in that excellent 1970s drama Budgie, entitled: Louie The Ring Is Dead and Buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.
As the train trundles into Queens Park station via the train sheds, our journey is at an end, and you have a choice. Stay on the train which now descends into tube, and in 20 minutes you’ll be seeing the bright lights at Piccadilly Circus. Or you could cross over the platform and make the return journey and enjoy any bits you may have missed.
London duck tours is a tour bus company, but with a difference. They use world war two amphibious vehicles that were used in the d-day landings. First, you go on a land-based tour of London, with hilarious comedy, sorry did I say comedy?, I meant commentary. Then you go down a slipway right next to MI6 HQ and into the Thames where you chug up and down the river for a bit. Unfortunatly you cannot go too near the houses of Parliament due to terrorists, but of course there are always going to be terrorists on a bright yellow WW2 vehicle aren't there?
Great fun and so inexpensive, especially in awful weather. A rucksack with a flask, sausage rolls, ham sandwich, jaffa cakes, thornton's choccies, warm clothes and a travel card. In between peak times you can sit almost alone upstairs near the heater and you're warm and comfy while London rolls by. Enjoy festive decorations you can't see from street level. See lovely balconies and secret gardens. Meet gargoyles face to face. Marvel at the architecture. Read all the blue plaques and pub signs - hop off at a really interesting one, have a pint (and a pee) and get on a bus in another direction.
Watch London life unfold at the traffic lights. Read famous street addresses. Actually visit places you've only seen pictures of. Get lost somwhere amazing and ask the driver how to get back when you've had enough. Revisit. Take pictures, keep a journal. Do it again the next day.
Get your travel card at any news agents. The bus employees are great to deal with in most cases and ask other travellers at the bus shelters for directions. Read your A-Z and the fronts of the buses or contact the London bureau.
It may not always be the fastest (most times it is) but it will be enjoyable - the drivers know where they are going and you usually only have to tell them the name of the destination. Fares are regulated, metered and in front of you, they can go through places public transport never gets to go, allowing you to discover areas you never knew existed. Usually drivers very talkative when spoken to, will often provide you with insights to the country, city, people, along with their historical, social knowledge of the city, provides an interesting journey in the comfort of your own space at a reasonable cost.
London, anywhere on the streets
A serendipitous experience is to find a green bus at Victoria Station that looks appealing as to its destination, hop on and see where you land.
I've been in St Albans and through the Kent countryside and have seen parts of England and its heritage I might have never considered or known.
Victoria Coach Station
A personal website run as a hobby, not a business, with information about how to travel around the world by train or ship. It's extremely useful if, like me, you've stopped flying.
Destinations covered on the site are worldwide;
www.seat61.com
Reduce petrol pollution by car-sharing. Similar ogranisations exist in other countries.
The Transport Museum at Covent Garden is currently closed for refurbishment (until spring 2007), but in the meantime, you can see some of the exhibits while they’re being stored at the Museum Depot in Acton. There are guided tours and open weekends to see some of the old vehicles, uniforms, posters and photos normally associated with the museum.
Gunnersbury Lane, W3 - very close to Acton Town tube
www.ltmuseum.co.uk/collections/depot.html
A pleasant alternative to the fume-choked Blackwall Tunnel which offers wonderful views as a bonus! The loading jetty on the Woolwich side gives an amazing view of London, it takes in the Thames Barrier, Dome, Canary Wharf, Gherkin etc, right back to the West End and the Post Office tower, all linked by the shimmering thread of the Thames.
Woolwich/North Woolwich
The Eurostar is the super train that takes you from London Waterloo into Europe. Go to the ticket office during the week and try and find yourself a last-minute bargain to Paris. Either just for lunch or a long weekend. Superb train with great service all round.
London Waterloo train station
www.eurostar.com
If anyone is needing a cab from anywhere in central/greater London to any London Airport this company has a great website with all information including very fair prices based on postcodes. The website is so simple, its beautiful! Replies to emails are prompt and friendly.
Heathrow: The Heathrow Express (www.heathrowexpress.com) is a regular and quick shuttle service into Paddington Station, and at £13 is fairly reasonable. If you are travelling in a group of four or more, however, you may find that a taxi will be a more reasonable option. Travelling by tube is a cheap alternative, but with current disruption to the service (until work on the new terminal is finished in September 2006) it may prove far from cheerful.
Gatwick: Two services run directly from Gatwick into the centre of London. The Gatwick Express is a non-stop train into Victoria Station, taking only 30 minutes. Unfortunately at £20 for a single ticket the cost is fairly high. Check the website (www.gatwickexpress.co.uk) for various reductions and offers. Cheaper but slower is the Thameslink service which takes 50 minutes to reach King's Cross Station.
Stansted: Because Stansted is well beyond the outskirts of London, the train is the most sensible option for anyone with more sense than money. The Stansted Express is a regular service running direct to Liverpool Street in 45 minutes. See www.stanstedexpress.com for fares.
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
Your tips about London