visit south using Virgin trains

November 17, 2014

visit south using Virgin trains

Love the transport systems in the UK. Bus from Innellan to Glasgow via the ferry costs nothing. We are classed as old farts! Some may say we are.
Then first class train including as much food and drinks as you could wish for, before stumbling into the hotel.

We are heading down from Scotland to London for a long weekend to see the Christmas lights, visit the Turner exhibition and go to a few restaurants and bars along the way.

It’s now a year since we purchased the house in Scotland, and even though we have only moved in since June, we are really enjoying the experience. The weather has been glorious this year, so much sun, but this is unusual from all accounts, but we will accept what they give to us, we can’t do much about it.

This year has been quite hectic, what with shooting down to dover, bringing Gwen back up, having friends from France visiting, removing metal and rubble from the garden that the builders had left, along with odd trips in the campervan, visits to France and Spain and the frequent weekends and weeks away, either walking or visiting London. The rail trips to London are amazing. £32 each way first class including as much food and drink as you can consume. We normally get off the train rather worse for wear, but its only four times a year. Saying that we are considering doing some shorter trips down to Lancaster, Carlisle, Wales, Newcastle,. If you pick the time right the prices are amazing, although normally they charge £300 a single, so you have to be flexible.

Just talking to one of the stewards and he told us to go onto the stagecoach site and they sell off tickets on virgin as low as 50p per trip. But alas, not first class.

It makes a nice relaxing change to driving down, not that it’s a bind to drive through the Lakes and Lancashire, but it gets a bit boring once you hit Manchester and Cheshire which always seems busy, yet not as busy as Birmingham or the biggest car park in the world, the M25.

The events around the globe are not conducive to a sedate life, although up in Scotland you feel rather far away from reality, that is until you hear Alex Salmon spouting on about Scottish independence in a couple of years. You would have thought he had had enough in September.

Then you have the EU wanting even more money from the UK because we had been so efficient in reducing the debt.

Britain was asked to pay an extra £1.7 billion as our economic performance had out stripped our forecast. It seems that Britain had by far the biggest extra demand with other countries such as the Netherlands and crisis hit Italy and Greece facing paying more whilst Germany and France have their contributions cut.

Fortunately it has been reduced, but perhaps this is further evidence that the UK should leave the EU. I am sure a lot of people would be happy to be rid of the cost due to the duplication of the political and legal systems. The European gravy train.

Just fallen off my high horse and back into reality.

After a good nights sleep we head out on foot to a café recommended for its superb breakfasts, stopping off in Trafalgar square to see the soldier memorial. And the changing of the guards on horse guards parade

The Regency café, is not glamorous, but the food and experience is a must. Queue's are always long, but there always seems to be space once you get to ordering your food.

As you can see, a hearty breakfast of bacon, sausage, BBeans, fried egg and bubble and squeak. But they have lots of other combinations including fish cakes, smoked fish. In fact the list goes on for ever. Big mugs of tea or coffee and a women who's voice carries across the room once your order d ready for collection. Beautiful, really beautiful. Just the thing to start the day.

Then it was down towards the Thames and a visit to the Turner Exhibition at the Tate gallery.

A truly amazing collection of his later work. Unfortunately you were not allowed to photograph any of it. But some of his impressionistic paintings of the sea, Venice and the light, were just too much. When you see his work in books they are awe inspiring, but in real life they are magnificent.

Could have stayed all day. Only downside was the crowds. If we could have had a private viewing it would have been better.

Had another quick stroll around the other exhibits in the gallery. Need more time, need more energy.

Then its off out into the sun and more walking. This time along the embankment and past the houses of parliament and under BIG BEN. With a try at a selfy with our new iPhone.
Can't be perfect at everything. But one thing would be good.

Another self, with the glare of BigBen in my glasses. Must say that the camera on the iPhone is brilliant.

We continue to walk along by the Thames taking in the millennium wheel and the latest tall building in the distance, the shard, which is a five star hotel, The London Shangri-La.