Trip to Birmingham / London 17-05-2022

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
BV67 JXO	Hanley BS	Birmingham Coach Station	551	Selwyns
BV67 JXO	Birmingham Coach Station	Coventry BS	551	Selwyns
BV67 JXO	Coventry BS	Milton Keynes Coachway	551	Selwyns
BV67 JXO	Milton Keynes Coachway	Golders Green (Stop GE)	551	Selwyns

Today Matthew was in the residential unit and he was later on we were travelling up to London. Matthew got up around 06:00. He chilled out in his room in the morning and waited for us to taxi. As the coach was leaving from Hanley. We went downstairs and we set off onto Temple Street. In the distance we saw Temple Street church minibus RX18 GZW. We carried on along Temple Street and we turned left onto Christchurch Street. We went to coach in a Lucky Seven taxi. We set off Christchurch Street. We crossed over City Road and we ran along Manor Street. We ran down the hill through Fenton and at Joiners Square. We turned left onto Lichfield Street and we got out of the taxi and we walked up Lichfield Street. We continued onto Tontine Street and we crossed over Parliament Row. We stopped at McDonalds and we had breakfast. Matthew had a breakfast roll with Hash brown and orange juice. When we had finished we walked along Parliament Row. We walked along Tontine street and onto Lichfield Street and back to the bus station. We visited the toilet and afterwards. We had arranged with coach to London up near to the bus station. As we walked through the bus station we saw First Potteries 63179 on a #7A to Biddulph. A short time later the bus appeared and it was Selwyns BV67 JXO on a #551 to London.

Selwyns BV67 JXO in Hanley bus station

We got on the bus and we flashed the Smart Day ticket to the driver before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus waited for time before setting off out of the bus station. We went down John Street and onto Bethesda Street and left onto Broad Street. We ran down the hill and over the ring road onto Snow Hill. We ran forwards onto Stoke Road and down the hill through Shelton into Stoke. We crossed over the A500. At Sideway and we ran Southwards towards the motorway. We joined the M6 and we ran Southwards through Staffordshire into the West Midlands. We came off the M6 at junction 6 and we joined the Aston Expressway. We ran into Birmingham and forwards onto the A4400. We turned left onto Wrentham Street and we turned onto Rea Street and into Digbeth coach Station. We got off the coach and Matthew visisted the toilet. We got back on the coach and after a short wait we continued towards London. We joined the A4100 and we ran past Birmingham Moor Street railway station. We continued onto the A47 and we ran up to M6 and continued Eastwards. We left the M6 at junction 3 and we headed Southwards into Coventry along the A444. We turned right onto Foleshill Road and we ran down into the city. We got on the A4053 ring road and we came off onto Hales Street. We turned into the bus station and we had a short stop here. After a while we continued onto the next location. We set off onto Hales Street and we re-joined the ring road. We turned left onto the A4600 and we headed Eastwards out of town to the M6. We continued Eastwards until we joined the Southbound M1. We ran South for around 30 miles and we came off at junction 14. We joined the Southbound A509 and we turned left onto the entrance to Milton Keynes Coachway. After a brief stop we resumed the journey to London. We got back onto the A509 and we re-joined the Southbound M1. We ran Southwards over the M25 and through Watford to the very edge of London. We came off the M1 at junction 1 and we joined the A406. We ran under the Brent Cross flyover and we turned right onto the A502. We ran down to the small bus station outside of Golders Green tube station and we got up and got off the coach. We got our bags from underneath the coach and we had a look around the bus station. We saw Metroline TEH1109 on a #139 to Waterloo.

Metroline TEH1109 in Golders Green

Also seen was London Sovereign BCE47120 on layover.

London Sovereign BCE47120 in Golders Green

Afterwards we saw Metroline DE1629.

Metroline DE1629 in Golders Green

Another vehicle seen was Metroline VW1276 on a #245 to Cricklewood.

Metroline VW1276 in Golders Green

Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we came back out and saw Metroline TE979 on a #240 to Edgware.

Metroline TE979 in Golders Green

We went down into the Underground and we got on a train to Camden Town. We got off the train and we caught another train Northwards to Archway. We came back up to the street and we walked to the hotel and checked in. We put our bags away and we spent some time in the hotel room before getting ready to go out and see a show in the West End of London. Later on we went out of the hotal and we walked down the A1 to sainsbury's. We brought a can of coke and a chocolate bar. After we had finished in the shop we went outside and we saw Metroline TE1086 on a #263 to Barnet Hospital.

Metroline TE1086 in Archway

Also seen was Metroline VW1301 running out of service.

Metroline VW1301 in Archway

We had a walk around the Archway area and we stopped to pick up some food from KFC. We headed back to the hotel. Matthew chilled out in his room and ate his Chicken burger, fries and cup of tango. Matthew got changed into something more suitable and we set off to the theatre to watch a show. We walked to Archway tube station and we caught a tube train to Charing Cross. We came up to the surface and we walked along The Strand to The Lyceum Theatre. We went to a bar and Matthew had a glass of Coke. Matthew went to see the stage production of The Lion King. We made our way up to the seats on the balcony and the show started. Matthew really enjoyed watching this. After the show had finished we left the theatre and we walked back along The Strand to Trafalgar Square. After spending some time walking around Trafalgar Square we headed back to Charing Cross tube station. We went uderground and we caught a tube train Northwards along the Northern Line to Archway. We came back up to strett level and we walked to the Hotel. We went upstairs and back to the room. Mathew chilled out in the room and put his pictures on his Blog. He had a shower and got ready for bedtime. Matthew settled down to sleep around 00:30... Mark.