Trip to Leicester / Coalville 18-01-2025

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3313	Leicester St Margarets BS	Groby, Stamford Arms	29A	Arriva Midlands
3108	Groby, Stamford Arms	Coalville, Ashby Road	29	Arriva Midlands
3300	Coalville, Memorial Square	Loughborough, (Stand LB)	16	Arriva Midlands
4579	Loughborough, (Stand LB)	Quorn, Station Road	127	Arriva Midlands
4424	Quorn, Station Road	Belgrave, Bath Street	127	Arriva Midlands
4562	Belgrave, Moores Road	Leicester, Stand BG	5	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to re-visit Leicester. We did very little research for this trip other than to check the available bus tickets and to chek the weather. The weather was forecast for cold, dry and overcast. Matthew woke up at 08:00 and had his medication. We got up at 09:50 and Matthew had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After getting dressed we set off around 11:50 to pick up uncle Dave. We got in the car and we set off through Blurton and we ran along Beaconsfield Drive and we turned left onto Church Road and at the roundabout we veered left onto Blurton Road past the former Coral shop which is new going to be flats. We ran through Blurton and into Heron Cross and over the A50. At Heron Cross lights we turned left onto Grove Road. We ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we picked up uncle Dave. Once we had picked up uncle Dave, we continued back up Wheildon Road and we ran forwards onto Grove Road. We turned right onto Blurton Road and at the roundabout we joined the Eastbound A50. We ran through Longton and Meir. We turned right to continued along the Blythe Bridge bypass and we went near to uttoxeter and we continued along the A50. As we travelled Eastwards we saw Stanton's of Stke 80 YCX and Seaward YJ24 AZO / YX19 MLL. We continued Eastwards for a few miles before joining the Southbound M1. Whilst travelling down the M1 we saw taxi minibus KO69 MVT and UK20 MTT. We came off the motorway onto the A50 and we headed through Groby into Leicester. On the edge of the city we turned left onto Sanvey Gate anbd right onto the A6. We ran forwards onto Church Gate. We turned left onto Gravel Street and we crossed over Abbey Street onto Garden Street and into the car park. After parking up and we walked onto Garden Street and across to the St Margarets bus station. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards we headed to the cafe. Matthew had a sausage and bacon bap washed down with a bottle of Cherry Coke. After we had finished eating we said goodbye to mum and walked around the bus station to see what we could catch. We saw Arriva Midlands 4547 on a #127 to Shepshed.

Arriva Midlands 4547 in Leicester bus station

The double decker wasn't due off for another 30 minutes so we decided to lok at something else. Wesaw another bus on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3313 on a #29A to Swadlincote via Coalville.

Arriva Midlands 3313 in Leicester bus station

We got on the bus and we booked an East Midlands duo day saver at £13 before we sat down at the front of the bus. A short time later we saw off out of the bus station onto the A594. We turned right onto the A6 and left onto Sanvey Gate. We turned right onto the A50 and we headed Northwards out of the city. We veered left to continue along Groby Road and we crossed over the A46. We turned left onto Leicester Road and we ran into the centre of Groby where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3313 as it continued towards Swadlingcote.

Arriva Midlands 3313 in Groby

We headed into the pub and Matthew went to the toilet. Afterwards we went to the bar and Matthew had a glass of Coke. After we had finished our drinks we went outside and met up with uncle Dave again. Whilst we waited Matthew had a couple of angel slices that were in the bag. We crossed over the road and we considered catching a #28 towards Leicester. We were watching the bus on the map and it went in a different direction. We worked out that there must we a road closure and diversion so the bus didn't come into the centre of Groby. We decided to cross back over and catch the next #29. The bus was running a little late, but a short ime later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3108 on a #29 to Swadlincote.

Arriva Midlands 3108 in Groby

We got on the bus and we placed the East Midlands Day Saver Duo under the scanner before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off Northwards up Leicester Road and we joined the A50. At the next roundabout we turned left onto Leicester Road and we ran into Markfield. We turned left onto Chitterman Way and right onto London Road. We turned right onto Main Street and we ran through the centre of Markfield. We turned left onto Asby Road and we ran northwards. We re-joined the A50 and we crossed over the M1 and we saw a grey former PSV coah conversion heading Southwards. We ran forwards onto the A511 and at the industrial estate we ran forwards onto the B585. We continued onto Beveridge Lane and we turned right onto Regs Way. We rejoined the A511 and we turned right onto Botts Way. We turned right onto Beech Tree Road and left onto Waterworks Road. We continued onto Cropston Drive and left onto Greenhill Road we turned right onto Blackwood and we crossed Meadow Lane onto Hall Lane. We turned left onto City of Dan and left onto Silver Street. We continued onto Hermitage Road and we crossed over the A511 onto Whitwick Road. We turned right onto Hotel Street and we crossed over the railway line. We continued onto High Street and Ashby Street where we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3108 before it continued towards Swadlincote.

Arriva Midlands 3108 in Coalville

The plan was to find a toilet. We headed towards a ghost sign and after taking a picture we went into Asda. There was no toilet in Asda so we walked back along Ashby Road to the pub. Matthew went to the toilet and afterwards had a small glass of Coke. We crossed over Ashby Road and we headed into the small 3 stand Memorial Sqaure bus station. In the bus station we saw Arriva Midlands 2530 on a #15 to Ibstock.

Arriva Midlands 2530 in Coalville

We also saw Arriva Midlands 3106 on a #28 to Leicester. The bus we weanted was already on stand. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 3300 on a #16 to Loughborough.

Arriva Midlands 3300 in Coalville

We got on the bus and we placed the East Midlands Day Saver Duo under the scanner. The rear of the bus was empty so Matthew took a picture of Arriva Midlands 3300 before we sat down towards the back of the bus.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3300

When it was time we set off we headed North to the roundabout and then did a 180' turn and headed Southwards. We turned left onto High Street and we crossed over the railway line. We ran forwards onto Hotel Street and we turned left onto Whitwick Road. We turned left onto Vulcan Way and left onto Comet Way. We turned right Thornborough Road and we crossed over the A511. We continued Northwards onto Brooks Lane and we turned left onto Talbot Street. We continued onto The Grn and forwards onto Loughborough Road. We joined the A512 and we headed Eastwards. We ran to the South side of Shepshed and we turned left onto Charnwood Road. The plan was to go to Shepshead and if the double decker was still at the stop we would get off and get onto that. As we approached the centre of Shepshed we saw the double decker pull off and headed towards loughborough. We decided to stay on the bus and headed the bus off at Loughborough as the 16 takes a more direct route. After a short wait for time, the bus set off onto Kirkhill, and we ran forwards onto Leicester Road. We turned left onto the A512 and we crossed over the M1. We continued along the A512. When we stopped at bus stops the engine shut down. We ran inti the West end of Loughborough and we turned left onto Greenclose Lane. We turned left onto The Rushes and we turned righ onto the A6. We ran around the East side of the town past Tesco and when we got to next stop we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3300 as it continued through the town centre back towards Coalville.

Arriva Midlands 3300 in Loughborough

Once off the bus we had about 15 minutes before the bus was due to depart. Matthew indicated he needed the toilet so we went to a nearby pub. Matthew used the toilet and afterwards had a small glass of Coke. We walked back to the bus stop and the bus was already there. As we got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 4579 on a #127 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 4579 in Loughborough

We got on the bus and we placed the East Midlands Day Saver Duo on the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off up the Northbound A6 and we saw Nottingham City Transport 641 on a #1 to Nottingham. We continued Left onto Leicester Road and we ran Southwards out of town and we crossed over the Great Central Railway. We ran forwards onto Loughborough Road and we ran a further 1/2 mile or so into the centre of Quorn where we decided to get up and get off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4579 as it headed Southwards towards Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 4579 in Quorn

Once off the bus we walked along Station Road to Bradley's Supermarket. Matthew had a couple of chocolate bars and a bottle of Dr Pepper. We paied for the items and we left the shop. We walked back along Station Road to Loughborough Road amd Matthew sat on a bench near to the bus stop. Matthew had a mint Aero and against advice had a bottle of Cherry Coke from the trip bag. Just before the bus was due we wandered over to the bus stop. Whilst we waited we saw Kinchbus 501 on a #2 to Loughborough.

Kinchbus 501 in Quorn

A short time later we saw the bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 4424 on a #127 to Leicester.

Arriva Midlands 4424 in Quorn

We got on the bus and we placed the East Midlands Day Saver Duo on the scanner before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off Southwards out of the centre of Quorn and we headed down into Mountsorrel. We turne right onto The Green and we stopped behind the library before continuing onto Rothley Road. We continued onto Moutsorrel Lane and into Rothley. We followed the road to the left onto Halifields Lane and we continued onto Cossington Lane. We joined the Southbound A46 and after crossing the A46 we continued Southwards down the A6 through Birstall. We crossed the A563 and we veered left onto Loughborough Road. As we were heading through Belgrave Matthew wanted to get off the bus so we got up and go off the bus. Matthew let me know he needed the toilet but there wasnt anywhere around we could find. We walked Southwards down Loughborough Road and we turned left onto Windsor Avenue to try and find a busier area where that was a toilet. We got to Melton Road and I spotted a betting shop across the road. We went intio the betting shop and the obne toilet was already occupied. After a short wait Matthew was able to go to the toilet. Phew! When we had finished we went outside and we walked to the nearest bus stop. We didn't have to wait long before we saw an Arriva bus approaching. As it got closer we saw it was Arriva Midlands 4562 on a #5 to Leicester Haymarket bus station.

Arriva Midlands 4562 in Belgrave

We got on the bus and we placed the East Midlands Day Saver Duo on the scanner for the final time today before we went upstairs and sat down. The bus set off along Melton Road and we ran the last Mile or so into Leicester. We crossed over the ring road and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 4562 as it continued towards Haymarket bus station.

Arriva Midlands 4562 in Leicester

Behind us we saw First Leicester 63502 on a #25 Leicester circular service.

First Leicester 63502 in Leicester

We walked down to the main road and we walked around the outside of St Margarets bus station before entering from the other end. We met up with mum. We crossed over Abbey Street and we walked onto Garden Street. We were able to get into the exit we came out of so we walked around the corner onto Abbey Street and into the car park. We paid our fee and got in the car. There were no instruction on how to drive out so we drove to the top of the car park only to get to a dead end! We came back down the spiral ramp and out onto Garden Street. We turned left onto Belgrave gate and we turned left onto the ring road. We turned right onto the Northbound A6 and we turned left onto Sanvey Gate. We turned right onto the A50 and we ran out of the city centre. We ran North to the A46 roundabout and we turned left onto Leicester Road and we ran into Groby. We turned right onto Newton Linford Lane and we stopped near to the chip shop. Matthew had sausage ships and gravy washed down with 1/2 a small bottle of Cherry Coke. We I had finished eating I turned the car around and we turned right onto Leicester Road. We ran North and re-joined the A50. We headed Northwards up the A50 and we joined the Northbound M1. We came off the M1 and junction and we headed Westwards along the A50. We travelled Westwards along the A50 around Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge. We came off the A50 and we turned right onto Blurton Road. at the traffic lights we turned left Grove Road. We ran ran forwards onto Wheildon Road and we stopped at uncle Dave's. Matthew went in to use the toilet. He also updated uncle Dave's calendar with the details of today's trip. Matthew had a can of Cherry Coke. We said goodbye to uncle Dave and we set off back to Blurton via the petrol station. We ran down Wheildon Road and we joined the A500. We turned left Church Street and onto the one-way system. We turned left onto London Road and we stopped at Sainsbury's petrol station. After filling up we continued along London Road into Trent Vale and we joined the A34. We ran through Hanford and we continued into Trentham We turbned left onto the A5035 and we crossed over the railway line and into Blurton. We got back around 21:00. Matthew had his medication and afterwards chilled out on his computer and we sorted a few things out. We wrote the Blog and used the computer. Matthew went to bed around 00:30... Mark.