I spent 17hrs on 2 coaches- Megabus & National Express but which is best? Newcastle to London & back

[@jimjones2256]

I travelled to Edinburgh from South Yorkshire last week 2 adults, Fuel alone for the 5 hour trip 289miles each way cost me £118 total and I had to drive myself! £12.99 one way is incredible value.

[@maboelnreads]

The only thing I hate about National Express is their insistence on taking everyone to London, even when it’s not your final destination! It’s such a pain. At least Megabus go direct from point to point. Both services are nowhere near as good as they used to be though, with fewer stopping points, and some stops in completely random places, rather than sensible town centre bus stations. However, with the current prices of train fares, it’s the only way to travel long distance now - £100+ for a train vs £30 or less for a coach.

[@IanMacArthur-o5s]

😮

[@barbaralcharles]

It is lovely to see you in person. It adds to your channel when the viewer can make a connection with the vlogger.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi thanks for watching, appreciated and thank you for your comment. I’m quite a shy guy so putting my face and speaking on camera was a big change for me to do, but change is always good.

[@ianlove1215]

It's handy that the stop is close to The Five Swans, can get there early & have a drink before boarding, also somewhere warm & dry to wait if it is raining.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi thanks for watching, appreciated. It’s very handy, maybe a little too handy - I’d probably end up missing the coach 😂 but yes it’s a great place to wait.

[@jacquelinelam3022]

YES.

[@janer2709]

Nice to put a face to a voice. Really enjoyed this video. You always give a very balanced presentation. Thanks

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thank you very much and thanks for watching, very much appreciated.

[@rocksta456]

Mate this video was pure class, really enjoyed it. Just subscribed to you too!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching and subscribing - totally appreciated and welcome to the channel.

[@juliesmith5567]

Now I've seen more of that bus I like more the inside to now and the area it's interesting as others

[@opagodaswirling9383]

Thanks for the interesting video, Geordie . My first view of your channel and I will be back . Reasonable prices offered . Seemed like both trips were painless . I live in Hong Kong and have tried these bus companies when back visiting . Megabus have certainly increased prices on many routes . I suppose they are not alone . I couldn't help noticing that travel costs north from Newcastle to Glasgow and Edinburgh are substantially higher than tickets south to London .Good health !

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thank you for watching - very much appreciated. Yeah prices are on the increase but if you’re not tied to a certain date and a bit of searching there are some cheaper options out there. Good health.

[@roypaton5573]

Travel that route maybe twice a year from glasgow via edinburgh to shelfield on the m20 service from glasgow and it is a fantastic jounery all the way

[@lewis8407]

Great review! Glad to see/hear some voice and a person instead of subtitles. Nice one

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Cheers mate - appreciated as always

[@kevanhubbard9673]

National Express is a bit more comfortable than Megabus but generally Megabus is cheaper.Newcastle use to have 5 central bus stations run either by United or Northern with the exception of the Eldon Square one which was run by the PTE ; Marlborough Crescent (not sure if Northern or United owned that one?),Worsick Street (Northern), Haymarket (United),Gallowgate(United), the bus concourse (PTE). Only Haymarket and the bus concourse, renamed Eldon Square Bus Station, remain.

[@whathasxgottodowithit3919.]

To see, and hear you I feel is a positive aspect for the channel

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thanks for watching and thank your comment / feedback, appreciated.

[@truebrit3578]

Agree and with practice I think you will feel more comfortable with it

[@dgf1948]

Great to see you, and hear you...! Quite a few of the travel channel vloggers I subscribe to are alway anonymous....for some reason. Keep it up...!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thanks for your comments, much appreciated.

[@annmills3432]

Try Stranraer to Maidstone Kent

[@MrGeeyess]

I think your seat choice on National Express may have been the cause of the restricted legroom as there is a bulkhead behind the driver. Much better legroom in any other seat,

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi thanks for watching. Yeah, definitely a bad idea - next time I’ll certainly not book row 1!?

[@Pmcknockiter81]

Seat 2 is best

[@benalowery]

I used to do this journey loads in the early 90s when it was the Rapide and the non stop clipper (remember them!) Journey times then we're about 5 hours so it's crazy how they've increased by a couple of hours since! I could only do it now via LNER although Lump have some pretty decent prices too! I've also flown with BA but by the time you've fannied on with check in etc it not that much quicker

[@Neash2]

You're absolutely right, Ben, for a while, I did some part-time driving with United which ran the Rapide service to London in competition with Armstrong Galley and a Durham outfit called Blue Bus (if memory serves me). We advertised a journey time of 5 hours non-stop but there was a bit of slack - we could usually do it 15 mins or so quicker, dependent on London traffic. In those days, we could use all three lanes of the motorway. The MCW vehicles we drove were the first in my experience to be fitted with speed limiters - set to 77mph - which was plenty on a windy day! You always had a co-driver - if you drove south, the co-driver would drive north and each of us would help serve tea and sandwiches when not driving. Happy days!! I doubt if you could drive from Newcastle to London in your car in less than 5 hours nowadays.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

OMG, the Nonstop clipper- I do remember that 😂, I think I may even have got it once back in the early 90’s. My prefer choice is the train but on the numerous occasions Ive had to drive to Southend that normally takes around 5hrs too.

[@markcollinson5665]

I used to travel on the 525 Rapide Plus from London up to Newcastle Gallowgate. The coach I got left Victoria at 12pm, arriving Newcastle at 5.10pm. The coach only stopped at Trowell Services on the M1 near Nottingham to change drivers. They also had a hostess serving sandwiches and drinks. Those were the days.

[@vincentmcclafferty87]

Megafus what a great coach. But luggage compartment is not very good. Compared to a nx coach.

[@BillyBob-xv3fu]

To put 8 hours travelling time in to perspective, you can fly from Heathrow to New York in 7 hours. The thought of doing a night journey and not being able to lie on the seats because you've got to wear a seatbelt puts me right off.

[@arthurvasey]

Can’t really use either service from Taunton to Middlesbrough and back - the Megabus/Flixbus goes from a place that’s inaccessible by anything other than a taxi - they leave any time between midnight and nine and no buses run at that time of night- and don’t get to Middlesbrough at a reasonable hour either - similar problems going back - and there’s at least two variable changeovers, making three buses each way - similar problems with National Express - too many changeovers, leave too early for me to catch a bus to town - or too late and don’t get there early enough! I usually take the train!

[@BIGV710]

only trouble with NE is leg room as im 6ft 3 theres not much room so i go by my motorhome or if working in my big rig 44 tons

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Yeah agreed - I’m 6ft 1 and the the leg room was canny naff

[@Neash2]

@@TheGeordieTravels This might've been because you were in seat 1D up against a bulkhead... other seats have a bit more leg room.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

@@Neash2 yeah I appreciate that. I did have a little sit in a normal chair nearing the end but there wasn’t too much difference.

[@johnstephens649]

Interesting and enjoyed the newer format which makes the reviews more personal. Interesting as my daughter travel quite often from Liverpool to London and whilst train is her first choice, sometimes takes a coach if no trains are available or stupidly expensive. Coach doesn’t seem bad but it is the time they take that would put me off.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thank you for watching - much appreciated and thanks 🙏 for the feedback. Yeah, I think for me I’d only take a night coach and try and sleep but during the day it would be train.

[@johnridpeath1728]

Great video

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thank you for watching and appreciate the comment.

[@LinkTheFusky]

i went on national express before but never been on megabus got sat next to the loo and some loud mouth guy used it and didnt flush i thought it just smelt bad until it got so bad i went to puke in it i was 9 couldnt sleep the whole night went from london to Edinburgh but thankfully the bus from Edinburgh to dundee was way better i got to take the train home, going on a megabus in February better not be stuck next to a toilet again but its worth it if i get to go to scotland

[@peterharrison6696]

Good to put a face to the voice!

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi Peter, thanks for comment - a big change and hopefully for the best.

[@SukhwinderSingh-qg2rl]

i have 2 things one i got on the mega bus and national express from the same place and 2 i saw u 1 day before u made ur first vid and became famouse🤣

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate, thanks for watching - appreciated. 😂😂

[@mikeyboy200606]

Never reserve Row 1 on National Express always try and go for 2A/B miles more legroom

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thanks 🙏 for watching - appreciated , I know for next time

[@markcollinson5665]

Newcastle coach station looked filthy. I used to work for National Express in Nottingham and that would never have been acceptable. What a bad impression for arriving coach passengers.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

It was appalling mate, rubbish everywhere and no staff on site!?

[@ziepie-m4x]

Yes it did look filthy

[@robharris5245]

Broadmarsh wasn't that much better

[@davecalvert6803]

Technically, it's closed now. It's now under the responsibility of Newcastle City Council. Was never that filthy when NX were responsible for it.

[@jay60092]

Blame Newcastle City Council, they can't even keep their own civic centre clean!

[@timbounds7190]

Never book a seat in the 1st row! Leg room is often less than other seats as there's normally a bulkhead or divider in front of you, rather than another seat you can get your feet under.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thanks for watching - yeah I know for next time I certainly won’t be booking row one.

[@someonenormal9460]

Hi mate I absolutely love ur videos so keep up the good work also do u fancy some company for ur trips?

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thanks for watching - appreciated.

[@DeepakVerma-cd4fe]

Can u get coffee on the mega bus and food to buy

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate, thanks for watching - appreciated, not on any of the servicves i have been on

[@owenmccall632]

I travel between north east/Scotland/south,coach travel usually quite a bit cheaper than rail,comfortable and reliable. The down side is often the menace with the mobile,sharing inane conversations with people trying to relax

[@jackcrawford3921]

How far is st James’s park from Newcastle central train station and Newcastle coach station do you know? It’s just I’m going there in October for the England vs Samoa rugby league World Cup match with my dad and we will have to get either train or coach from Leeds to Newcastle?

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate, thanks for watching - appreciated. The good thing about St James Park is it’s a city centre stadium so no matter which way you travel it’s accessible in a 10 minute walk or less. If you use the bus, the National Express station is on St James Boulevard which is literally 400 meters from the stadium. Megabus use a stop on John Dobson Street which about a 5-10 minute walk. Central station is about a 10 minute walk. Enjoy your visit.

[@jackcrawford3921]

@@TheGeordieTravels thanks!

[@garymacdonald7165]

A 15 min walk from both! You don't need transport!

[@jackcrawford3921]

@@garymacdonald7165 we did as we stayed in the Hampton hotel near Newcastle central train station

[@robharris5245]

I used to work for NX, if I was going to travel by coach I would use Megabus

[@pauljones-tj5vs]

Why?

[@robharris5245]

@@pauljones-tj5vs because National Express are a bloody awful company

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi, thanks for watching - appreciated. I’m back in NX tonight, let’s see how this journey goes 😂

[@vs-cd2jx]

As much as it was a good video, I have to point out 1 significant thing. As a coach driver there is nothing more infuriating than people calling them buses. They are coaches, there are some major differences between the 2. Buses are local between towns, coaches are longer distance between cities etc. Buses are full of fare dodgers, drunks, scumbags. Having done both bus and coach I can not stand people referring to coaches as buses, Its an instant roll of the eyes moment. Finally you even said Victoria coach station and still refereed to them as buses.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

First of, thank you watching - appreciated and secondly accept my sincerely apologies as you are 💯% correct - thanks for the advice and all future trips will be referred to in this way.

[@MrGeeyess]

Geordies always call them buses!😀

[@wolfie854]

So Megacoach?

[@NicholasEV1986]

F*ck me get off your high horse and lighten up. You're hardly setting the world alright, you're a f*cking bus driver FFS.

[@johnwarner6345]

hear, hear.

[@fishermansid8861]

What’s wor mean? & who’s Jacki?

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Wor is local dialect for ‘our’, Jackie as in Jackie Milburn.

[@therighttoreply4849]

The time you on the bus, a person could go to an airport , 3 hours before takeoff, fly to Hong Kong, , be there ,before you finished your travels

[@jay60092]

for less than £15?

[@michaelhayes6042]

I use to be contacted driver working on behalf of national express all the passengers compliand about them they have far too many pick ups if you did the London to dover trust me you would not be happy.

[@hhgttg69]

any snoring on the night bus?

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Haha, yeah - they guy opposite me, typically and that’s the need for ear plugs!?

[@JoJo-yt1ys]

Hi Geordie. Just found your channel. You mentioned your height. How tall are you as im tall and find travel uncomfortable

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Hi mate, thanks for watching - I'm 6ft 1 and find space difficult to come by.

[@jay60092]

book seat 2a on nx, huge leg room as it's at the front behind the assisted travel seat so nothing to obstruct your feet

[@SukhwinderSingh-qg2rl]

btw my journy started at 1am

[@mohammadislam2652]

Nice video Megabus and National express Bus I like National express Bus is good can you ride Flixbus Ecolines pinkbus bla bla bus Roadjet bus in Germany 🇩🇪 perfect 2 bus videos 👍 airliner bus

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Thank you for watching Mohammad - I will certainly look up these companies for the next trip.

[@vincentmcclafferty87]

Do you mean coach not bus. As buses don't have seat belts and toilets on board and of cause great drivers. Lol.

[@TheGeordieTravels]

Did I say bus? Sorry if I did as I know the difference.

[@me5425]

Actually some of stagecoach Aberdeen buses do

[@JayTransport1]

There was a weird kid looking at the camera