Family travel from Thatcham to London on Saturday 7th December 2013

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

To be honest, you'd be lucky (based on my own experience over the last few months) to get the TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at Thatcham to sell you anything :-(

[BerkshireBugsy]

Just wanted to say a big "thanks" to every one for their advice regarding group save tickets. We were really impressed with the savings and are thinking of going further afield in the spring.

Great advice guys!

[Chris from Nailsea]

May I offer a 'thank you' in return, BerkshireBugsy, for your posting in this topic. 

This is another example of how the Coffee Shop forum can be a very useful resource for anyone interested in the possibilities and opportunities of rail travel - particularly in our Great Western area.

If any of our public readers would like to join in with such discussions or queries, please do apply for membership!  It's free, and easy to do: we have a couple of routine checks - just to make sure you're a real person, rather than a spammer/robot - and you'll be welcomed here as a member!

CfN 

[eightf48544]

How did your trip go Berkshire Bugsy?

[BerkshireBugsy]

How did your trip go Berkshire Bugsy?

Thanks for asking 8f ..and as you have asked

Our intention was to gave a group day out to London with the primary intention being to visit winter wonderland (hyde park) , a visit to harrods and possibly a visit to oxford street to see the lights.

Our party consisted of 5 adults (one of who was about 7 months pregnant) and 5 kids ranging from 1 to 14 years (and a pram)

The FGW^▸ (First Great Western) part of the visit went very smoothly with the slight issue of slow running through the Hayes area. I was hoping this would work in my favour as my sone wants to see Tornado parked up at southall but it must wasn't there.

Underground was very busy - in fact when we came out of hyde park and harrods) some stations were not allowing passengers down into the station due to overcrowding so we had an unexpected walk from harrods to Victoria

For those thinking of going to winter wonderland we enjoyed it BUT it was very busy and expensive. If anyone is thinking of going I can post our experience here but we did enjoy it and pins to go again next year

Once again thanks for the tips

[eightf48544]

Interesting you mention the very crowed the tube was. Friend of mine was at the Sceince Museum the other Saturday and remarked how crowded South Kensington station was and that they were not allowing people down onto the paltforms. In fact some his party missed their return A4 excursion back form KX.

He put it down to half the Tube being out of action that day Northern and Circle I believe.

It looks as if the Tube is very  busy at weekends which now rival peak weekdays but for most of the day.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Interesting you mention the very crowed the tube was. Friend of mine was at the Sceince Museum the other Saturday and remarked how crowded South Kensington station was and that they were not allowing people down onto the paltforms. In fact some his party missed their return A4 excursion back form KX.

He put it down to half the Tube being out of action that day Northern and Circle I believe.

It looks as if the Tube is very  busy at weekends which now rival peak weekdays but for most of the day.

If south Ken is near hyde park then it may have been to do with the event we were at. One thing is for sure, travelling on your own is way different to travelling with a party of 5 adults 5 kids and a buggy !

[johoare]

South Ken isn't that close to Hyde Park corner but close enough.. South Ken would have been affected by the museums and I am guessing they may have the ice skating in front of the science museum again to add to the people using that station..

I know I've said before on here but I'd recommend the bus if the tubes are really busy.. Having said that the buses can be busy also but they always seem to be less stressful...and there are more options..

Just out of interest.. I am assuming you walked to Victoria from Harrods as it was to then get the tube back to Paddington? Paddington was probably nearly as close if you were walking..

[BerkshireBugsy]

South Ken isn't that close to Hyde Park corner but close enough.. South Ken would have been affected by the museums and I am guessing they may have the ice skating in front of the science museum again to add to the people using that station..

I know I've said before on here but I'd recommend the bus if the tubes are really busy.. Having said that the buses can be busy also but they always seem to be less stressful...and there are more options..

Just out of interest.. I am assuming you walked to Victoria from Harrods as it was to then get the tube back to Paddington? Paddington was probably nearly as close if you were walking..

Thanks Jo. If I had been on my own I probably would have walked it or caught the bus but I know my way around the tube and had some nervous travellers with me so it was a case of "better the devil you know"