Great Western Coffee Shop

My initial thought was "via Salisbury to Waterloo" but I can't find the cheap fares that used to be there ... currently thinking of Grateley to Waterloo.   But ideas / prices would be appreciated.

National Express coach (london or Heathrow) with a Connect fare to Pad if the latter usually works out the cheapest for a visa queue...Plenty of early coaches along the M4 corridor....

Thanks, Chris ... that does look like a better idea than rail in this case!

Into Waterloo, assuming week day.

Earliest you can get in to London Waterloo would be 0739.

Westbury 0524
Salisbury arrive 0553
Salisbury depart 0606
London Waterloo 0739.

Cheapest fare would be an Anytime Return from a Severn Beach Line station of your choice! Say, Clifton Down - London Terminals (route: Salisbury) ^54.00 for the SOR. Perfectly allowable to start/end short at Westbury. Returns at xx50 until 1950 from Waterloo with additional 1220, 1720, 1920, then 2020 and 2120.

If your return is Off Peak (before 1640 after 1831) then you can come back to Westbury from Paddington on payment of a 'change of route' exccess. Half the difference between the SOR (route: Salisbury) ^54.00 and the SVR (route: Any Permitted) ^59.00. So ^2.50. Still allowed to travel short on the new routeing. London Terminals to Clifton Down (or other SVB Line station) via Westbury is a permitted route.

NatEx coach from Chippenham, 0500 arriving 0750 at Victoria would be a lot cheaper, possibly only ^7.50 each way (I've only looked at tomorrow, but there are still some 'Funfares' available) but you won't get me recommending coaches!

For a difference of only 35 minutes travel - I'd certainly be going on the coach - depending whether there was a suitable direct return - if that ^15 return can be got!

Advise appreciated and has been passed on and taken, I understand.   04:00 bus from Chippenham!   Rather C**** than me!   Got it for 20 quid.

Was that the 0355? I discounted that one when looking for fares. Thought a 0620 arrival into London was far too early for you!

If it's a visa queue, you can't be too early!

Unless it's the American embassy (which it clearly isn't seeing as that's not in Trafalgar Square!) where i you turn up more than half an hour before your alloted entry time they'll tell you to bog off, and not very politely!

Must be new zealand house then - only one I can think of near there

Could also be the South African Embassy (http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.co.uk/time-zone/europe/uk/england/london/central/wc2-covent-garden-trafalgar-square/embassy/south-africa-embassy.htm), the Canadian High Commission (http://www.londonlogue.com/travel-guide/canadian-high-commission-and-honorary-consuls.html), the Ugandan Embassy (http://uganda.embassyhomepage.com/) ...  ::)

To follow up on your speculations folks ....

http://inthefringes.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/travelling-to-london/

and many thanks for your inputs.   The author of the blog is my daughter-in-law ...

Edit to change link to one that permanently points to the page

Interesting that she ignored bus travel in London. Central areas can usually be accessed directly from most London rail / coach termini with no changes and loading wheelchairs are pretty standard too.

Ask her, on her blog, Chris.   ;)


may hold a clue as to the preference for rail at every stage.   Had it come down to her having to attend in person, I would have recommended train to Paddington (probably NOT from Chippenham due to the bumpity bump over the tracks) and then taxi.

Am I right in assuming that it had to be either her or Chris went to pick it up?

If something like that comes up again I'd be more than happy to go get whatever it is that time.. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be allowed though..

That's hugely appreciated, thanks, Jo.  I understand that there's considerable red tape ... even allowing hubbie was probably a special dispensation. Had it been a serious risk / issue for Chris too by bus, they / we would have found another way.  But ... I will / do know to ask in a crisis, thanks.