If you are travelling widely in the UK buy a Britrail pass before you go. Makes rail travel less expensive and easier.
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If you are travelling widely in the UK buy a Britrail pass before you go. Makes rail travel less expensive and easier.
I'm surprised that no on mentioned it, but if you travel after 9:30 the prices are less than half.
Also, in many cases, it is cheaper to get a "cheap day return" than a one way ticket.
AND learn how to read a British rail way timetable. You will save a lot of money. The 9.35 you took might get to your destination before the 9 am and much cheaper as well.
I sure miss the days of Herbie at Enfield lock and Nottingham.
Herb and I were sitting on the bank of Enfield lock with a pint in each hand when they announced the closure of the Enfield site.
The pub at the gate. RIFLES, sounded like a beehive and we both imagined a thousand plots by the workers to take things of value home.
I sure miss the Pattern Room, Herbie and the characters that I got to know through there over the years.
Thank you all for the information. I may take a trip to Maldon based on Nigel's suggestions. I'm only in London for three days and then heading to Italy. If get back there again, I will start earlier so that I can see the NFC at Leeds'
Brian
Indeed.
Only this week I was called by an agent asking if I'd be interested in a contract job in Bath, only wanted in office one per week, 4 days wfh. I can drive to Reading station in about 20 mins, which is only a 53min train journey to Bath station, then a 5min walk to office. But...........train ticket would be £160 return :madsmile: and when added to the £25 car charge for parking at Reading Station car park, it made no sense what so ever, even for just one day per week in office. Driving would about a quarter of that cost, but take a lot longer, and Bath city are doing its best to discourage use of the car, without a viable cost effective alternative.
When I graduated from High School in 1972 a good friend and I planned to tour Europe in camper van. We heard of a car park in London where you could buy a used van or car from other tourists who were ending their trip. There were mechanics on site to check out the vehicle and others who would help you with paperwork and insurance. It was a well known option to tour ol' Blighty and the continent and we started saving for the trip. We were both avid skiers and fell asleep every night with dreams of schussing down the slopes of Chamonix, Val d'Isère, Courchevel, Kitzbuhel, and Cortina d'Ampezzo to name a few. We worked hard to save up enough money and were fixing to leave when my friend announced he was engaged and needed his saved up money for the wedding and honeymoon. Drat! I couldn't afford the costs alone and looked for a compatible partner but never found one so I did the next best thing, I went to college.
No1 Son did something similar after University.
He took (most of) a year touring Australia - he started on the 'bottom right' of the country. He was staying in hostels and saw a car (small peugeot) advertised for $150, he called me up and asked if he should buy it - after some discussion we agreed that he would have it properly serviced and carry, plenty of water and 'off he went'.
He was pulled over by the Police for travelling with his window down and his arm 'outside' resting on the top of the door - apparently thats a big NO-NO !
Worked his way along the South Coast starting at Canberra, up the West coast (past Perth) picking prickly pears and castrating bulls (amongst other jobs), went off roading down dried up river beds & finally across the top to Darwin where he finished the trip and sold the car on a 'backpackers noticeboard, for $150.
Perhaps we should compile a list of "economical modes of transport in the UK" for those of us on a tight budget?
The cheapest form of transport has to be walking and for those who want to get from A to B in more haste try running. Then there is the bicycle option, being careful to avoid the many potholes and motorised vehicles.. There is the four legged option such as a horse, camel or elephant, assuming that one has access to such a beast. If none of those options appear attractive then, if one is willing for a little financial outlay, there is the bus.
I am sure that there are more options for the thrifty traveller in the UK that I have missed, please add.