National Express: a big surprise on the overnight coach from London Victoria to Glasgow!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
- I had travelled overnight between London and Glasgow with Megabus, Flixbus and the Caledonian Sleeper (seat) and so decided to try National Express to 'complete the set'. I may have just left the best til last. This journey was with National Express from London Victoria to Glasgow, stopping at Heathrow T2 and Carlisle.
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*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:40 Victoria Coach Station
00:03:03 Heathrow Airport
00:03:29 Knutsford
00:03:54 Carlisle
00:04:44 Glasgow
The NE is an amazing service now. I used to make the London to Glasgow journey around 15 times a year back in the 90s and it was hell. Cramped, full of smoke and the bus would overheat like a tin can. Took the journey recently after a 20 year break and I was vastly impressed. Boy has it moved on since then
Not as many party's up the back?
Bad memories for me. Vic to Edinburgh with NE in the 90s. Midnight bus. Stank of backed up toilet even before we left. The stewardess came up the stairs and asked me to put my shoes back on! Unbelievable stupidity. Haven't used them since. Glad to hear they've improved.
i love the national express cos i feel like wherever i go i can express myself nationally
take your upvote and leave.
😂😂
I hate everything about this. Take a like and sod off
Does the floor have carpets?
Nice one 😂
I think national express is doing great job, one of best transport services in uk. Even on other seats there is still some space for legs.
They're very generous on leg rooms. And their bus have toilets on it too, so when you're in need you don't have to wait till you reach those service stations.
There is one thing to note regarding the toilet. If this is long journey or a return journey (I mean back to Victoria or the bus's home depot), the tap in there can run out of water. So a bottle of water to wash your hands will be handy.
@@chnet968 all long bus trips have toilets on board
@@josephodonnell8982 but mega bus toilet is clean.. National bus toilet is derty
@@parmjitsingh4560 on
@@chnet968 sxnxyexxn
I've travelled National Express from London to Birmingham. Ontime, good value and comfortable journey. As a tourist I think they're great.
When I was a student, I used National Express almost every week from 1987 to about 1998 - mainly travelling on the London to Birmingham route (for 6 years) and then from Cambridge to Birmingham (5 years). In the late '80's - they were still doing the tea trolley and video on the Rapide coaches. I loved the double decker Rapide coaches - they were luxurious - blue velour seats and carpets. All the London to B'ham coaches had a toilet. The Cambridge to B'ham coaches were single deckers, a bit more spartan - and the journey was much longer (3 hours!). Anyway - it was cheap, reliable and stress-free.
i remember those days! the 525 to newcastle, gallowgate. the stewardess that came along with the trolley of sweets and drinks. shame they no longer do that
I always use National Express when travelling between London and any other city in England. The buses are comfortable and I have never had a single issue with the service. I will do the London-Glasgow route someday.
My go-to service directly from Uni of Notts to London every other week!
Cheap and reliable!
National express doing a great job. Had a wonderful experience travelling From Cardiff to London.
Your videos are always great, discovered your channel by accident, many years ago (early 2000’s) I was a driver for parks of Hamilton (based in Rochdale) doing national express services, we just had the neoplan skyliners when I started and I used to do Manchester airport to Aberdeen service, I’d go as far as Hamilton and then another driver took over from there to continue to Aberdeen, it seems like the modern day national express isn’t too bad at all, I don’t think I could do that job now but like how it works, keep up the great content, it’s just simple easy to understand and no nonsense, I really like that, all the best.
I travelled by coach from London to Munich, was a 24 hour ride but as I was under 25 at the time the cost was a big saving. I think then it worked out being something like £35. For what it was, a fantastic service, truly an experience I will never forget. I will do it again.
Here is a tip for you on the national express coaches. On the drivers side towards the back of the bus, their are 2 seats with more legroom. Because of the toilet on the other side, their is enough room on that side for an extra row of seats but not enough room for 2 extra rows. If you don't believe me check it out next time you are on one of their coaches.
It's because it is the emergency exit door row
Unless I was really tall, I'd always avoid being next to the toilet door.
I do love the coach journey vlog's. It enables me to reminice about my non stop over journeys to Spain from Hull in the 80s with siesta travel. 33 hours with the occasional service station stop, and ferry crossing.
National Express is great! I haven't taken a very long route, as I do London - Stansted Airport and Stansted to London, but always find it very comfortable and always manage to sleep a bit!
I do think you could have done a bridge piece between the start and and end of your journey. Maybe you could have shown what it was like in the motorway services the coach stopped at for example. Just a minute of that would have be long enough.
I've done return trips from Newcastle to London, Nottingham, Cardiff and Manchester (several times). Never had an issue. Tickets are always clear. The buses clean, the seats comfy and the traveling fine. Every aspect is 100% brilliant and far cheaper than the overrated and overpriced trains. No wonder on many videos I've seen recently about travelling on trains up and down the country, more than half the seats are empty
Very sad that they cant make prices for trains more affordable. It will see the end of trains
I travel between Scotland and England regularly, 2-4 times a month. And I've recently used a coach. I'm afraid I'll take the train every time. Its so much faster for the journeys I do (Retford to Perth) by HOURS not minutes. And it's far comfier. Horses fo course and each to their own though.
@@typhoon-7 I'm with you on this Mike. I go to Inverness 4 times a year, and for me the only way is by the overnight sleeper. I always arrive totally refreshed.
Coach might be cheaper but it takes longer and less space
@@BibtheBoulder I'm thinking of taking the sleeper to fort William next year for my birthday. How does it compare now to the older stock? Better or worse?
I travel National Express every couple of weeks on the overnight London to Scotland service and they are so much better than the opposition.
I use the sleeper train. Always sleep like a log....
@@BibtheBoulder expensive now
@@s125ish Certainly not cheap, but you enjoy a far superior experience...
@@BibtheBoulder do you get a cabin or the seat?
I hitch hike the same driver picks me up he goes to Aberdeen to see his girlfriend I just buy him a coffee and sandwiches cost about £15 beat that !
Love National Express... Many a Good Journey. Thank You.
I know a few drivers on the National Express coaches and also some of the Mega bus drivers. My hubby is a bus driver in the west midlands 🙂. We have used national express coaches many times and they never let us down, always fair priced travel. All the best on your future travels my friend! Look forward to all of your new uploads 🙂
A lovely , gentle video for a Sunday morning
Used the 2A tip for a rail-strike avoiding trip from Heathrow to South Wales this weekend - made the journey so much better - cheers.
Have done the 595 London-Glasgow route a fair few times now. I always manage to get some sleep, I have never had a delay on any of the coaches and the drivers are always so friendly! NE do coach cards for some (young persons, disabled and pensioners I believe) and I pretty much made my money back in the first trip - well worth looking into if you use NE often!
Good looking Bus seats looked real comfortable always love your adventures 😁😁😁💟
Thanks for the upload, I find your cadence and videos in general very calming for some reason. Keep up the good work
A long time ago (1983) I travelled with Stagecoach from Glasgow to London overnight. We stopped near Preston where you could get out and have a coffee, and had another stop at Toddington services. Slept for an hour or two. Can't remember how much I paid, maybe a fiver each way, but it was a good trip.
I use the National Express often, doing a Swansea - Birmingham run a few weeks back only cost me just under £10, it'd been treble that amount in fuel if I'd driven instead. Plus my son loves a "coach trip" on the National Express every so often too. Again, the price for 1adult and 1 child for the journey still works out cheaper than it would for petrol if taking the car.
Interesting information thank you, and for a previous video where I wasn't even aware flixbus had UK operations ! Thanks again, safe travels 👍
I recently did Sunderland to Manchester on national express couple of weeks back was really comfortable & cheap aswell about £20
Great video, love your sense of adventure, keep up the good work
Great price and a new bus looked way more comfortable than i thought
I tried this for the first time the other night. Overall the quality of service is excellent. The driver and his colleagues were very friendly. Everything ran to time. Indeed we arrived into Glasgow early.
Apparently our bus was one of the older fleet - but it was fine. Was assured the new fleet is better.
I managed to acquire the desirable seat 2A. Thanks for the tip Scott. (Incidentally, seat 2A on the new fleet also has the best leg room.)
I have no hesitation in recommending it.
My only problem was that I could not sleep. It doesn’t matter if I use a train or plane, I cannot settle properly.
Planning this journey and thanks for your advice.
As a person with mobility issues I always ring ahead time and book one of the front seats as I need the leg room because of my spinal injury/surgery. Sitting for long periods of time is difficult.N express have been very good to me
National Express's hidden jewel must be the quality and professionalism of their Driving Crews. Travelling from Portsmouth to Glasgow via Victoria Coach Station (on the day coach) my Coach got caught up in a traffic jam and was running slightly late but the driver called through to Dispatch at Victoria Departures explaining my position and where he was currently, keeping them informed all the way to Arrivals. On running (then I could do it!) to Departures across the road I arrived at the Stance to find the Coach had departed the Stance but had pulled in to the side nearby. On arriving breathless at the Coach I came across a smiling driver who said, "we knew you were coming" before taking my bag and stowing it in the hold". Brilliant Operators.
They are very courteous and professional, aren't they.
@@JK_Clark; Yes, 100% I would say.
Nice video, u look very rested at the end, good for u, love your videos, lol.
I did this trip three weeks ago though we only had one break at Knutsford for half an hour , still a good trip with National express I enjoy traveling with them.
Happy to see you so happy doing something you love! Still see your face and think @rustynails is ye name! lol Sending you my best Scott!
Thank you for the info I think its something a lot people might find useful cheers.
Thanks for your sharing!
I sometimes got the National Express to and from uni (this was about 10 years ago now). I discovered it was cheaper if you went mid-week and bought a ticket from the start point to the end point. What I used to do though was (in London) get off 1 or 2 stops early near an overground station which meant I got home quicker. In relation to coaches the Caetano Levante the drivers always used to say 'These are a piece of plastic, uncomfortable to sit in - we prefered the Scania irzia's.' Megabus used to do a Gold Sleeper service to Scotland. They don't do that any more but it would have been nice to try.
Thanks for sharing!
This is a really cute video, thanks for sharing! Chanced upon it while looking for reviews of the overnight from London to Edinburgh
Thank you for all your work. When I get myself organised, i
Enjoyed the video, and glad this travel arrangement is now a very distant memory. Mind you, the price is compelling.
Thanks Scott. I've only been on an overnight coach once in 1985, London Victoria to Glasgow. Looks like the coaches are much more modern now. I want to get to Edinburgh and may give NE a try, if I don't like it I can gly back to Gatwick.
I enjoy your videos, keep them coming
Great video, I tried Magabus & National Express, and think National Express tend to be better, but that's in part due to people are using Megabus due to it being generally cheaper, so different clientele.
Excellent !
Last time I got the bus from Glasgow to London was for a U2 Gig, possibly 1997 ish
Was ok going down but nightmare coming home, pretty sure it was with Citylink
Most drivers on those buses are extremely experienced drivers who sadly don't get the credit they deserve.
Used to be Eastern Scottish and Western Scottish did the routes into the UK, when Scottish Bus Group was Nationalised
It wouldn't have been Citylink in 1997. The other options apart form National Express back then were Bruce's Londonliner and Silver Choice Coaches.
@@katbryce Old memory not the same lol
That was surprisingly relaxing to watch.
In 2002 I did Edinburgh to Penzance with National Express. The bus drivers were shocked that we were going all the way. 19 & 1/2 hours on the one coach leaving at 9:30pm & arriving into Penzance at 5pm. The worst part was when it was morning & realising that there was still hours & hours to go.
Epic! Well done!
They stopped that service now. Only run to Birmingham from Scotland
The service (once it gets brought back) is still the 332 & it goes from Edinburgh to Plymouth.
@@markmcniven2625 not sure if they are ever bringing back the Scotland to south coast and southwest services
@@s125ish They run to London
I´ve used NE a lot of times to London either from Stansted or Luton airports, recencely I took NE to Bournemouth, Portsmouth and once to Plymouth and never had any issue. Good prices, comfortable buses, good ride.
Thanks very much for the insight of the National express, I quite enjoyed the way you put your self and explained in an easy manner. where is the next journey? thank you.
Great insight my friend. I had one of these booked as a back up for my train 🚂 journey from London during the heatwave. It was a mega bus tho which I can imagine is not a great as national !
Great trip
Did Leeds to Stockport many times as a kid…..loved them
good job guy!!!👍👋👋👋
National Express will always beat the train on price. The coach from Whitehaven to London was ended by the pandemic, but when it ran, the fare was a third of what Virgin quoted and the coaches were quite nice.
A lot of national express service s have been culled
That route should have them Japanese overnight coaches, so you can lie flat and sleep in relative comfort
@@v1v3k31 Megabus had sleeper coaches to Scotland
a lot of their shorter distance journeys are more expensive than trains I've discovered recently
I used to use that service. The 570 between Birmingham, Digbeth & Cockermouth Main Street to visit my Grandad & stay at his for a few days. It was always a pleasant journey between Birmingham & Cockermouth & back. Rapide service in the 90s too with coffee, tea & snacks served on board. & I was a smoker back then so Preston was my ciggie stop. So doesn't the 570 run anymore then? It may have been temporarily suspended like a lot of coach services because of the pandemic. But I'm pretty sure that the 570 London to Whitehaven service is running again now isn't it?
Excellent bit of advice that pal, I've used megabus quite alot over the last few years and I'm 6'4" so yeah a bit cramped. I will definitely be giving National Express a go 👍
I love video . Devon is good to visit 😀 😀
I use the same seat for my trips,,, loads of leg room 👍
Thanks for this video! I've actually just booked a long trip from Dundee to Cardiff, using National Express for Glasgow to London and London to Edinburgh on your recommendation. It was only a few pound more and I got seat 2A too. Hoping for a better trip (and quieter clientele) than the Megabus.
So was Dundee to Cardiff a direct service?
@@garethludowich3768No, I changed in Edinburgh and London.
About 8 years ago I had a car delivery job and I delivered a vehicle to the Norwich area coach depot.
They sorted me out with a free ride back to London which was excellent sat behind the driver to learn the route!
I’ll be working for NX in a few weeks. Moving over from bus driving. Am looking forward to a new adventure, driving these nice vehicles and meeting nice people. I’ve traveled as a passenger on NX. They are lovely coaches and really cosy at night with the interior low lighting.
thank you very much for the info best regards Martin King
I used to do this journey frequently, like twice a month, as I was dating a girl in Glasgow who was from Norwich (where I live). I also traveled from Norwich to Cambridge by train and from Cambridge London Victoria by NatEx coach, changing at Victoria before heading up to Glasgow. I did this twice a month (sometimes 3 times) for well over a year! All for the princely sum of £36 return each time (before travel card discount)
I've done overnight coach journeys to Europe but never been able to sleep even though the seats were comfortable. But on shorter National Express coach journeys in the evening I've managed to doze off a few times, probably because I can lean against the window. The other coaches have too big a gap between the seat and the window.
Great video
Really enjoyed your vid mate. Ray in London
Many Memories! Given that I worked in the Industry for many many years! All before privatation of local NBC bus companies, and then of Course actually National Express.... We were innovators back in the day!
Thanks , liked and subbed , I always travel NEX between Cornwall and London .
So many memories of trips to Scotland and the North of England and using Scottish Citylink Anglo-Scottish services.
And their drivers actually like and enjoy the driving, and having passengers too!
Some other companies don't!
🙂🙂🙂🙂
I have used this many times between LHR and Glasgow----they have a National Express card for different age groups ie Senior etc. I agree seat 2A or B is the only way to go. I find the other seats a little cramped regarding leg room and I am not tall. They have several breaks along the way when you can have coffee. The price is great compared to air or train prices. The trick is to book as early as possible, pay extra to reserve your seat.
Good information
That seat has tons of legroom. 2A is a great tip for everyone!
I used to work in Birmingham and used Digbeth coach station almost weekly for football and for trips back to Dublin (Where I'm from).
In the late 70's and 80's I worked for the Scottish Bus Group at a depot in Arbroath. We had a responsibility as a depot to provide a second driver for coaches from Aberdeen to London.
The vehicles we used were without doubt the most comfortable for passengers of the many types I drove and travelled on. The chassis and driving position were old Leyland Leopards and were pretty tough so since they were running at 70mph for most of the time were very low-stressed. The body was built by Alexanders works in Edinburgh and the seats were huge. To start with there were only I think 42 or 44 seats which meant plenty of legroom. The seats themselves were very well padded and relatively soft and for me the best aspect was that the headrest wrapped around your head. With the soft cushioning it stopped your head rolling around so sleep was easy.
The toilet was in the rear corner and also had plenty of room - for the teenage child who managed to get himself locked in. I still bear the scar from trying to break in to free him...
The replacement vehicles looked nice from the outside but were much harder on the passengers feeble pink bodies so sleep was more difficult.
Wow...I remember those buses...they used to go past the end of my road every night on their way to join the M1...always wondered what it would be like to travel on them. They certainly looked special!
@@AntonyLvids We used to issue every passenger with a travel blanket for the journey. Always got most of them back too! People appreciated the effort we made to keep them comfortable back then.
Wow I used to do this travel 20 years ago it was £25 open return back then, always had a pleasant journey , tea trolleys and sandwiches available, 2 stops for 30-45mins each , National Express 👍🏻
Great vdo
Thanks
Like how you can see the border in the road at 4:31 with the visible change in road standard...
I do prefer National Express for long distance coach rides, but their fares can be a little steep; especially at the last minute. Was anything open at the services?
I always want to go on a long coach / train journey for the day . I'm in London . I love nice scenery of places . £21.50 feels cheap
I travelled two three time national bus very bored journey.. Now I traveld liner train London to edunburg great train great journey I love liner coach
Awesome video buddy from Alan Shelley in Lowestoft
legend.....i couldnt do that....love the video
Coach interior looks nice - apart from the ghastly blue lights.
Very nice, another good seat option to travel between Glasgow-London!
When I firstly visited the UK, I traveled from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Sheffield by national express.
The trouble with overnight to Manchester is the distance is quite short so the busses tend to stop quite a bit so they don’t arrive too early. I picked Megabus, with an extra leg room seat for £2 which should make for a more comfortable journey, as it stops the least. I am taking National Express on the way down as it virtually runs non stop during the daytime.
Assumedly at least some of that extra time is also to cover for any diversions/roadworks etc?
I relied on the National Express heavily when I lived in Manchester and had to visit my mum in Brighton . It was nice to see Victoria Coach Station again in this video , but I am very glad to be back home and not need the service anymore. But bless them , they saved me from shocking train fares .
Was that a direct Brighton to Manchester service?
@@s125ish No , there is a change at Victoria . Towards the end they were making me wait two hours between coaches in London ( if I travelled at my favourite times ).
Great video. I always use seat 1B myself as I get ample legroom a great view and a chance to interact with the amazing coach drivers of Bruce coaches of salsbrough who operate most of the Scotland-England routes onbehalf of national express
Do you usually get the seat free next to you at the front
@@s125ish 1B is on its own so yes
Love the video if you do I love travelling with National Express from going from Liverpool to London Victoria the travel time is only 6 1/2 hours or 7 hours if there's any traffic near London for otherwise my travel is good
Top tip usually if you go to rear of coach and sit by emergency exit door usually drivers side, Or offside , depending on vehicle they do vary, seats are removed by emergency door to allow for access, so you get huge space in front of you. ( yes I drive them for my job) unlimited leg room, although like I say vehicles do vary a little….
In the late sixties, early seventies I traveled from Edinburgh to London every summer. It would take about 12 hours, no motorway then on the A1. Usually at least one puncture on the trip. Always remember passing a RAF base, I think in Yorkshire, with many V bombers on the base.
A1 road perhaps you meant?
The only Yorkshire airfield visible from a trunk road was RAF Dishforth, right near to the A1.
Bruce 1956. You must have been really unlucky to experience punctures on trips. I used the Night Eastern Scottish services between London & Edinburgh extensively in the mid 70's to mid 80's and yes, it was a 12 hour trip each way. But reliability was key to their success and I never experienced any issues. There were route variations through England but centred on the A1 then then with the opening of the Motorways, new routes used the M1 / M6 then using the A Roads linking Scottish Border towns. The fare then was £3 return!
@@s125ish yes, fat fingers 😎
@@the_once-and-future_king. did they have V bombers based there.
Really enjoyed that 🏴🏴
Great 👍
And 2a is booked.. Thanks mate!!
I ve done loads of trip to Cardiff- Sunderland sector...😊
good video
And great tip 👍🏻
u soothe me .. thank u for soothing me