How did I find my Second Coach Trip Experience? London to Bristol with National Express.

Hello once more guys and as promised (probably against my better judgement), I'm back on the coach, this time travelling from London to Bristol on leg 4 of my long weekend 'trip-fest'.
After much comment following my initial outing with National Express, I took up the challenge of another journey in a different type of coach to see how it compared with my earlier experience.
This route was recommended to me as one to try and it fitted in quite nicely with my plans. Ultimately, I really wanted to see an improvement in two areas and those were comfort and price.
How did I get on? Well I've certainly got lots to say in summary at the end of the video! So I'll let you decide what you think of my views and please let me know of your experiences and whether you agree or disagree in the comments below.
Enjoy the video!
Mark
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[@Gl33D]

Heh, i used to get this coach almost every single weekend. Ever since I got a higher paying job and a railcard i switched to the train and man do i not miss that 3 hour journey. I had no idea this was one of the better ones lmfao

[@richardnei]

Definitely a great price, even for upgrade to the premium seating! Lovely view and good way to see the city sights in comfort. ✈️

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes, you can't go wrong and one of the most enjoyable things was it didn't stop anywhere en route. I wonder if there are many more routes on the network that do this?

[@mikedown1250]

fair play that's an amazing deal...glad you had a nice trip

[@nickyruso2786]

Love the music, drawing me in and I’m learning! Win, win!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

This was, I must admit, a great coach. If they had these going up to Scotland I would be much more tempted to do that route - even overnight.

[@garymorgan9977]

Enjoyable video again, can’t believe the cost. Looking forward to another journey.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Plenty coming mate 👍😊

[@Timstravels01]

Super video. However having had a particularly grim coach trip many years ago I get a cold chill down spine just thinking about coach travel. You’re a braver man than I am!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Tim, thanks for the comment, much appreciated! Yes the coach thing I did feel quite brave initially but I planned this second trip a bit better following a few comments on the first video. That’s the value in people’s contributions I think because it’s helping me out personally by taking better trips and hopefully making better content. Apparently the Scottish coaches are worth trying now, so next time I’m up that way I may well be doing that. I’m thinking about trying to get to Ullapool by public transport so that might be a challenge in itself! All the best mate 😊

[@theglobalpeasant]

The shots of Victoria station brought back memories from my trip to the UK, 6 years ago (can't believe it's that long!) Used both National Express and Megabus. Thought NE was more reliable overall. Nice video cheers!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers GP, yeh I’m sure I’d been through the front of Victoria Station before at some point (I bet it’s not always looked that clean either!). I’m feeling increasingly drawn to trying Megabus or Flixbus. Not sure I’m that keen tbh but maybe that’s what makes a good video! 🤣

[@ameerali.ouarda]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I find Megabus have nicer bigger coaches

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@ameerali.ouarda I’m going to be trying them out next month Ameer so watch this space 👍

[@davidbishop8228]

Wow what a great journey and a great price. An all day bus ticket where i live is £5.25. You got a great deal. I said i would never get the coach but at them prices i would. Brilliant Video Mark Thanj You

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yes David, a total bargain. I would say it's not hard to find these prices either. I think they've stopped doing to 90p ones for now but there's plenty of £2.90 fares available! Cheers for the comment and support as always 👍

[@antellis5904]

Good to see you gave nat ex another go. I have just left working for national express/worthing coaches.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Ant, yeh I thought reading the comments on the first one it was fair to have another go. The coaches certainly vary from one route to another which I didn’t realise initially (you’ll know way more than me about stuff like that). I’m going to do one or two more: Lux Express is one I’m keen on providing I can get over to Latvia ok next month 🤞

[@NonstopEurotrip]

Excellent Mark! Much nicer than Flixbus imo and a great price, I'd definitely upgrade too. You're driver isn't obviously familiar with the 'keep left unless passing' rule 🤣 the seat looked great too! 😎🇺🇦

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yeh we spent most of the trip in the middle lane! I’m gonna struggle to beat this coach in the UK I reckon but I’m sure you could recommend some coaches in Europe I could try? 👍

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Living in exile in Cornwall for many years, National Express provided me with an escape to London (via Heathrow) on many occasions. One could also book hotels in London and the airport at very reasonable prices through NE. They were brilliant, in my long experience with them, and a million times better than the train, which I took on one occasion. National Express saved me from insanity.

[@downonthestour]

Great Video Mark. Would love to see some coach journeys by yourself maybe by Megabus and Flix

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Steady on!! But I am seriously contemplating the Lux Deluxe coach from Tallinn to Riga next month. It has ‘business class’ seating, with seatback tv’s (believe it or not) and free tea/coffee. It looks amazing!! €28 o/w.

[@elliottg.1954]

Enjoyed that mate. You put a lot of work into these videos. NX wifi is a gimmick that rarely works. Liked the instructions to use messaging and voicemail, a clever way to stop all the constant yakkers on these coaches but it probably won't. That looks like a decent way to travel actually. I'll have to try these premium seats and thanks for your efforts.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Elliott, thanks mate it’s nice to know my efforts are appreciated. I will say now that these NX coaches (operated by Edwards) were recommended to me and are the best coaches in the UK esp with these premium seats upstairs. A fantastic coach - I wish they were on more routes tbh. All the best, Mark 😊👍

[@lindylou538]

I watched your last video, and couldn't understand your disappointment. My family and I have used National Express countless times. It's cheap, and gets you from A to B. We are next travelling on the National Express in 2 weeks. Leeds to London Victoria return for the bargain price of £27 return for all of us . I hope we get a fancy double decker like you did!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Dev and thanks very much for your comment and info. Yes for the Wolverhampton to London one as a solo traveller, I was comparing it to the train and I would still rather get the train for that particular route in terms of price and convenience. For this latest one, well what a contrast! I thought the coach was amazing value for money and a much better journey. Of course the other thing was it went straight to Bristol without any stops on the way. So I've got mixed feelings about it all really, I think it's just a case of what's right for you but yes £27 return is a no-brainer really isn't it - a great bargain. I'm not sure whether you get a double decker or not, you can probably figure it out if you're able to book seats online or not. Just out of interest, do you have the bus equivalent of a family railcard? Is there such a thing?

[@lindylou538]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Hello. No. I just book the tickets well in advance. No discount or anything. You don't really need them when the price is as cheap as it is. I was going to try FlixBus Leeds to London as it looked even cheaper but couldn't get the dates I wanted. Your videos are really good. Keep up the good work!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@Dev 1977 cheers mate, I don't do many coach videos - mainly because I don't know much about them! But I might try Flixbus next and I'm thinking about one in Estonia next month so watch this space!!

[@jordanjones7172]

I went on a national express from Chester to London Victoria coach station a couple years ago it was a night coach took 7 hours and omg I absolutely loved it cost me £28 for a return I will definitely be doing it again

[@debravwilson8050]

There are some amazingly low prices on some national express buses. I don't mind National Express. I usually try to book a very (very) early bus to London, and nap during the journey. Great video. I don't know how I missed this one?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hey thanks Debra and I appreciate your support 😊 I surprised myself actually on getting a bit of a nap on this coach, I didn’t think I’d be able to but the ride was quite comfortable on the open road. Wrt pricing, yes I think doing some research I’ve found decent prices across the board really with Flixbus and Megabus quite competitive. I might try Flixbus next, Cardiff - London: £2.99 (+£1 booking fee).

[@salvatorediprima943]

Well worth the cost,great video

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, my favourite U.K. coach trip so far - superb!

[@CreativeEm]

Another great video, Mark. My last visit to Cornwall... 6 years ago... was via National Express... Liverpool to Bodmin. The journey was longer than the train... just under 12 hours, changing at Birmingham and Bristol... but at £32 each way, it was waaaay cheaper than that would have been

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

12 hours, ouch! That's a long time on the coaches though yes the price was pretty good - you could praobably do that even cheaper now with Megabus, Flixbus via London but I reckon it'd take longer. Reminds me of the time I spent on the greyhound buses in the US, 48 hours from Toronto to Florida (and then back again). Never again I must admit!!

[@CreativeEm]

@@LetsMakeaTrip yep, it was tough... particularly dealing with a heavy cold on the return which my hosts had inadertently given me

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@CreativeEm food, coffee, paracetamol and Spotify is what you need on those trips!

[@CreativeEm]

@@LetsMakeaTrip you forgot the box of Kleenex lol

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@CreativeEm lol, yeh!

[@JosephNoussair]

I've always liked National Express. I've never had a bad experience with it. Taking the bus really lets you take in your surroundings, and they're an excellent value. Thank you for doing this, by the way. If a viewer can see a route you've taken, they won't be anxious about the location of the stops, where they are to be found, and so forth. Your relaxed nature and being well spoken helps the presentation a great deal.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Joseph, thanks very much for the kind words. I definitely agree that, in my albeit limited experience so far, National Express come out on top. I’ve got some other stuff planned - not just the coach either and I think there’s plenty of scope for interesting bus/coach trips in the UK and further afield. They don’t all go to plan(!) but that’s travel for you 😊👍

[@telmomoreira7616]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Im very impressed by the fact you answer majority of comments, subscribed. Also if you want AMA im bus/truck mechanic and i even worked in ceatano altough i didn´t build the bus in the video.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@Telmo Moreira Hi Telmo, thanks for the comment. I try my best to answer most comments (apart from the abusive ones - they just get blocked 😂) and I'm really pleased it doesn't go unnoticed. Glad you're enjoying the coach videos, I hope I can do a few more as they're definitely the most popular ones on the channel and it's good to hear from people who are actually involved in their production and maintenance. Big overnight journey coming up on National Express so watch this space! All the best, Mark

[@telmomoreira7616]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Thanks, hope you enjoy your trip.

[@markc8956]

Victoria coach station is the most unsafe transport hub I've used in London. If I didn't have to,I would never use it. Haven't for some time (although used the mainline train station and LU station a few weeks ago)

[@TravelSignal]

Great vid as usual 👍 heading out our way, I'd usually pick up the coach at Stratford - it takes an hour to get that far 😮 but then straight onto the M11. Did yours stop at all, eg at Heathrow?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate! No it didn’t stop anywhere. I was looking at some coaches from Birmingham to LHR last night: £22 direct. Takes 3 hours as it still stops at Oxford and some other places just don’t have to change in London. Not sure it’s worth it though for me as I’d still have to get to Birmingham!

[@scottlee7542]

I'm on way back from Aberdeen to Sheffield as I write this. It's a class 43 but it was a smaller train on the way up. The yellow coaches Stagecoach use up in Scotland are quality. The old railway up to Peterhead and Fraserburgh is now a cycle trail.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Scott, hope the journey’s going well - bit of a long one that! Great to be on the HST though isn’t it? I’ve seen a few coaches up there I think I can get so far on the train but if I want to go north west (say to Ullapool) how does that fit in with the coach network? I might have to research that as I’d like to take the ferry over to Lewis at some point. Cheers.

[@scottlee7542]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Iv checked it's the Stagecoach 61 bus (coach) from Inverness to Ullapool. The coaches are quality like double decker (bonus if you get the front seat). They run past midnight aswell, I went to the Aberdeen game from Peterhead and last bus back is 11:30. It's 33 miles.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@scottlee7542 nice one Scott cheers mate 👍

[@scottlee7542]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Just got back to Sheffield. I enjoyed the way up to Aberdeen better than the return trip. Just wanted to get home. I prefer Aberdeen to Edinburgh as a city. Edinburgh Haymarket is easier than Waverley station to take a pushbike. I fancy a trip to Welsh Valleys next. Merthyr Tydfil looks to be the best base for a week I think.👍

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I don’t know much about Merthyr tbh but there’s plenty of valley lines down there to keep you busy!

[@simonc7947]

At that price, with those seats, I could be tempted onto a coach. Generally speaking I prefer trains though. I can remember years ago having to ask the driver to turn the lights & sir conditioning on. Maybe the WiFi is also driver enabled as well. I also remember once there were some rowdy youths on a coach. The stewardess said to the driver that if they were still like that at Golders Green, they'd be getting off. We didn't hear another peep out of them all the way to Sheffield.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I’ve got some long-lasting memories of bus travel (mainly bad): finding snakes melting on the tarmac at a greyhound station somewhere in the middle of America and being threatened with jail for not getting back on the bus by the local county sheriff! Drug addicts on Bus Eireann, Seat spreaders, you name it! God knows I still go back and this is one of the better ones tbf, I would do it again 😊

[@spark_6710]

Can we pick a double decker one ?? That's so ~nice that they've got those !! That's like a tour bus !! And those premium seats are looking very comfy !!! 👍👍😍💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💞

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hey Spark thanks for the comment. I’ve got another coach video coming out tomorrow. It’s not a double-decker but I hope you’ll agree, the seats and the facilities on board are awesome. Have a look when you’ve got time and let me know what you think. Cheers!

[@spark_6710]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Hello ! I'll be watching it for sure !! I am currently planning to visit Wales & England with mom ,possibly Italy & Hungary & a day trip to Austria !!! So ,I've been watching lots of vlogs on Y.T.reg.bus trips ,so on between our destinations !! Originally ,we were gonna take trains mostly ,but they're so expensive in U.K. ,so decided to use more busses than the original plan !! Lol.😅 I was very interested in Flexi in the beginning, but so discouraged now after reading many reviews & blogs & watching videos !! My mom said that they'd give her more stress than benefits of saving ££/ $$ !!! LOLLOLLOL 😅 ( rude bus drivers ,no proper bus stops & risks of being left in middle of nowhere 😱& left behind if we'll be late from our toilet break ...& their smelly toilets on their busses !!! 😨) So ,I restarted watching videos of National Express vlogs like yours !! We're Japanese, so ,we're accustomed to very clean & courteous services !! Lol. Though I've been living in the U.S.for over 33 years ,so I am used to their lower quality of the maintenance services here !! Lol. Thank you so much for your reply !! I'm looking forward to watch that video !!🚍 👍👍💜💜💜💜🥁🐉🎤🎵🎶💞

[@kevanhubbard9673]

I use their overnight buses to travel from the north east to the south but never on daytime services.The overnight one's are very useful although you won't get much sleep!As a rule of thumb National Express has better seats than MegaBus.Yes I had thought about coronavirus spreading by people blowing out hot air talking on phones and also to another person if they are not alone.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Kevan. I’m thinking about doing an overnight coach - probably between London and Glasgow/Edinburgh. I just haven’t plucked up the courage to book it yet 😂

[@oscarm2856]

I've been looking forward to this. I'm glad you found the seats comfortable and found the journey good value for money. :) I should mention a few things: - The premium seat upgrade is £4 if you book online. (If you book and later decide to upgrade, you can do so online rather than the ticket office and you'll still save £1) EDIT: I was wrong. I have since realized that it's £5 for the front seats and £4 for the others. - I'm mostly certain National Express are no longer selling 90p tickets on the 040 route. I believe they now start at £2.90. It's still great value for money in my opinion though. - I believe only the window seat in the premium rows reclines. I couldn't find anything to recline my aisle seat which was in a premium row. I'm not sure why this is the case. - About the wifi: I had a similar issue, but with USB ports. One time I boarded a 040 service and the USB ports on my coach weren't enabled. I could be wrong but I think it comes down to the driver enabling it. Overall, I find the route to be pretty good for what it is. I hope you feel the same. You said the journey was value for money. Just out of curiosity, what's the maximum you would pay for the journey you took? (Including sitting in the premium seats)

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hey Oscar, thanks for the VERY detailed reply. I hope everyone finds it useful. I agree on the price because tbh I looked at a few future dates the other day when I was putting this together and I could find any for 90p at this time. Maybe they’ll come back but yes lots of £2.90 fares still. I did the upgrade online, didn’t see the £4 but yeh I’m sure you’re right, I’m a total amateur when it comes to the coach tbh! Price-wise, well having now done the journey I would pay up to £20 I think for the premium seat upstairs. Yes, I think it’s just about worth that. As an aside, I’m looking at a Lux Deluxe coach journey from Tallinn to Rīga next month and that has seatback tv’s and free tea/coffee. About 4 hours I think - €28 ‘business class’. I might just be tempted!

[@oscarm2856]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Wow. I personally find the Premium seats to be decent but I personally wouldn't pay £20 for each way. The seats are definitely very nice, and I think there's a good chance they're more comfortable than the seats on GWR's IET if travelling between Bristol and London. Complimentary tea and coffee and a seatback TV provided on a four hour journey? If you think the seats will be really comfortable, for a ticket priced at around €28 I'd say go for it! On a side note, may I ask what camera you use?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@oscarm2856 yeh if I needed to get there I wouldn’t have any qualms about that for £20 (though I would probably check the train prices first). Actually, I didn’t look at this but any idea what the ‘pay on the day’ price is? I’m using a DJI Osmo Action atm, most of my stuff I’m doing in 2.7k this one was a quick upload tbh as I’m out travelling this weekend but hopefully the quality is reasonable 👍

[@oscarm2856]

@@LetsMakeaTrip National Express have 3 different fare types: Restricted (No amendments, but cheapest) Standard (Amendments for a fee) Flexible (Free amendents, but more expensive) In terms of on the day prices, the £2.90 fare is sold as restricted ticket. Restricted tickets are available online only, so if you're buying in the ticket office, your cheapest option is a standard ticket, but if you have a device with you it is possible to snag a last minute restricted ticket at bargain prices. I know this because I just found a £2.90 fare for a service departing in less than 30 minutes at the time of writing this. It all depends on demand. Some services could still be sold at £2.90, others could be sold out completely. I tend to find that the on the day fare still seems to be under £10 on the 040 route. If a service is sold out, you can still attempt to buy a ticket from the driver around 5 minutes before departure, as thats when they release seats for anyone who booked but didnt show up, but I dont know much it would cost there. I imagine it might be sold at a bit of a premium, but that's a complete guess.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers mate. I tell you what, looks like National Express could do with customers like me who are willing to pay over the odds for the service 🤣 if I need any help on my next trip though Oscar, I’m gonna give you a shout first if you don’t mind because you obviously know your stuff when it comes to coach travel. Much appreciated 👍👏

[@mikesey1]

A more human and interesting service to the West Country, is run by the company, Berrys. Hammersmith bus station to Glastonbury, usually I start there and return from Hammersmith. Tea, Coffee, sandwiches all provided by the courier ( fairly cheap) , a working loo. The coach passes Stonehenge, on the A 303, after an M3 initial journey.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks for the tip! I was looking at this last night so there may well be a video at some point. Looks impressive 👍

[@davidjohn64]

Used National Express many times, and enjoyed ..

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi David, I’m starting to enjoy them myself these days. Plenty more videos to come too hopefully!

[@mattwelch5343]

You should try getting on one of the Scania Caetano Levante 3 coaches. They are a cut above the Levante 2s which you have been travelling on. I should know as I drive them on a daily basis.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Matt, cheers for the advice. Yes definitely going to try some more. Any idea what routes they are on? I’m hoping to get on a Lux Express coach next week from Riga to Tallinn which has a ‘business class’ kind of seating area in the back which looks pretty smart. I think they’re Scania Irtzy(?) - you’ll know more than me about that I’m sure, but I’ll post up a trip review of that at some point. Plus I’m also threatening to travel on Flixbus sometime soon! All the best, Mark

[@mattwelch5343]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Deffo take a trip to Brighton from Victoria. That's a nice lil trip and it's onky a short walk to the beach from the final stop. I do Manchester from Victoria but that is a 5+ hour trip (on a good day) but we onky use levante 3 coaches on our scheduled services. Somwo their NX operators use the older levante 2 coaches.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@mattwelch5343 Yes, I'll have a look at that, maybe down on the coach and back on the train would be good. I think I was a bit unlucky with the Wolves - Victoria coach, the double-decker I did on this trip was superb! Thanks again for the info. Cheers.

[@derisleybrittain]

Excellent 😊😊👍😆👌👌👌👌

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thanks mate, appreciate your support 👏

[@dizzydevil547]

I Traveled twice by national Express in the 90s from Manchester (before i moved to Bristol) once was to London the day before Dianas funeral and the other to Penzance to see relatives the penzance on took AGES boarded at 6 am in Manchester with stops at birmingham and bristol ..was a quick Journey until we hit devon and Cornwall i thing it stopped in EVERY tourist resort along the coast! it added at least 2 hrs onto the journey! didnt get off the coach untill 4 pm in Penzance....never do that journey again lol!

[@juliesmith5567]

I surely would like to do that it is a trip to get to the coach before getting on iron in but yes please

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

The best coaches in the UK afaik, especially the front seats. Go for it 😊👍

[@raymondfunnel6856]

I use lNational Express from Swindon service 401 It is run by Edwards Coaches the drivers are always friendly and coaches are always clean

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Agree - best UK coach service I’ve been on so far 👍

[@jameswoodward2641]

Should try 121 service from Birmingham to Blackpool great journey I'm on it tomorrow

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Good suggestion James, I’ll add it to my 2023 list 👍

[@jameswoodward2641]

@@LetsMakeaTrip should tty get it when I'm driving it

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@jameswoodward2641 make sure you let me know if you see me climbing onboard👍

[@jameswoodward2641]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I will do I say hiya to u at the other end

[@still_guns]

I think Nick is the name of the coach Bloody hell, that base fare is mighty cheap. It cost me more to catch the 700 Coastliner from Brighton to Worthing, a journey of only 10 miles!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi still_guns, you’re not the first person to suggest this! It’s bugging me now, I’m gonna have to tweet Nat Ex for some help 😂

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Oh yes and there were plenty more £2.90 fares o/w last time I looked. Agree, it’s a total bargain.

[@Rocky-lh4od]

The twin deck was supposed to run all the way to Cardiff but because of a low bridge I think it ends in always ends Bristol that’s what a driver told me anyway but I would love to travel on it for the expensive but I’m just about to watch your video so much dash 😂

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Haha, thanks I appreciate your support mate. Interesting about the bridge as well because the bus was really nice if you pay a bit extra for the front seat at the top it’s a great ride. Definitely need more of these on the network imo!

[@Rocky-lh4od]

@@LetsMakeaTrip hi mark I’ve just realised how bad the autocorrect was in my previous comment 🙈😂 sorry about that. I agree we should have these on the northwest runs they would go down great mate I always remember the skyliner neoplans on the overnight Blackpool to London via Liverpool etc but for some reason they took them away it really annoys me that they have to mess good things up. Take care mark all the best mate

[@terrywilkins5266]

Being a bit of a grump, I think they should put the premium seats behind a soundproof screen and, make it a quiet area. Listening to kids on the journey would have made me annoyed.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Terry, I would be crucified even more on here if I said that! 😂 (but I do agree 👍😉).

[@richardturnbull6333]

How does the coach drivers wages get covered at them prices lol.. Great video mate.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I spent most of my time wondering how much everyone else paid for the trip. Some less than me I would bet!

[@richardturnbull6333]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Good prices... makes you wonder though.... I do think though our railways need a fairer system though.... there must be about 15 different ways if not more to purchase yr tickets nowadays.... European railways I've heard are allot fairer. That run you done from London to Bristol..... it was in the news a few years back... A Guy priced it single by train on the day.... Given the price that he refused to pay.... he bought a virtualy nearly clapped out car... insured it... put petrol in... he done all that cheaper than the single rail cost lol.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Haha, that doesn’t surprise me! Actually something I forgot to mention in the video, the journey is totally direct (i.e. it doesn’t stop at all, not once) unlike the last journey I took which spent the first couple of hours dithering around the Black Country! Maybe I feel a challenge coming on: UK’s longest single coach journey 🤔

[@richardturnbull6333]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I couldn't do Lands end to John o grotes if there is such a service.... ohh...No.... Seated back side killer Definitely lol

[@adababalola3304]

Wow

[@third7715]

any idea why they only offer the double decker premium seating on the Bristol-London route ? If they offered this on more routes i would definitely use it.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Might be to do with the operator on this service (Edwards) as they’re all double-decker ones. Not sure how many other routes offer these type of coaches (if any) but I did find this useful resource on the internet: nebula.wsimg.com/b610f197e44238d20b86bc7bece7966d?AccessKeyId=8B7A174C4DD908996CD8&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

[@fargoboyle]

You mention travelling again but depending on the type of coach, how can you tell from booking whether the coach will be double decker?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi, yeh if you click through to ‘select my seats’ you will see it then. It’ll show an upper and lower deck if applicable then you can choose one or not depending on what you want. The 040 London to Bristol I know has them, not sure about other routes tbh. Might be a bit of trial and error involved. Cheers

[@brianrosson5659]

I've made a number of long bus journeys here in the US. They were all horrific. I made a train trip across Texas. I'll never do that again.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Ah Brian, I’m flying to Austin early next year. Then I need to get from there to Washington DC. What would you advise, bus or train?

[@brianrosson5659]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I would take a plane. Whatever you decide don't take the bus.

[@brianrosson5659]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Bus stations in the US are dirty, uncomfortable and dangerous places. Don't take a bus!

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@brianrosson5659 I took the Greyhound from Toronto to St Pete’s FL back in about 1993. I think it was around 48 hours on various buses and I remember there were some real rum bus stations about. From memory they tended to be in the more ‘questionable’ areas too. An experience that was!!

[@SoldierCivilWarYT]

Hey mark did you know that 040 (aka the wierd two floor double dec coach) also goes to London luton airport?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I didn’t know that, but now I do……🤔

[@Yeviscount]

I encourage text messaging rather than voice calling. It's not to prevent covid but to shut the ignoramuses up who want everyone to hear how important they are.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Agree 100% 👍

[@atulkelkar1296]

Hi loved your review of the London Bristol journey on the double decker sitting on the top , front seats. I could not find a way to book a trip which is using the double decker. How do I find that? I did not find any such option on their booking page. Please guide, Thanks.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Atul, when you look on the Nat Ex website, it’s the 040 service but they may have changed the procedure. I know for my next booking I am able to select a seat retrospectively so it may be that you need to book it first. I would check with them first. Good luck!

[@srfurley]

Why have they put that information desk in front of the departure screens which made it almost impossible to read them when I was last there in May? This was my first time there since before the pandemic.

[@IMATraveller01]

Hello I watch your videos

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Thank you sir, much appreciated 😊

[@airzulu2733]

Iam trying a trip to Newport in Wales by national express from Victoria for £ 12 not bad value.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yeh, I’ve seen Flixbus from Cardiff being advertised for £2.99 though (+£1 booking fee). Might be worth a look in the future. Cheers.

[@benimalachinestor8961]

I live next to the River I saw my house to

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hey beni, excellent stuff - glad you enjoyed it. That particular stretch was really enjoyable too. Cheers 😊👍

[@scottishbusspotter9757]

Well

[@KeyNation]

Any form of transport takes 40 mins to get out of London

[@nickhiscock8948]

why do these coach services exist if there are faster more comfortable trains on the route that offer regular departures all day? it seems to be duplication to me. its probably gaps in network coverage causing it to drop out the wifi. a typical problem on western Queensland routes no phone or data connection outside of towns.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Tbh, I would take this particular service again because it’s super-cheap, comfortable and it doesn’t stop anywhere. That latter point is important to me as some of these routes (like the Wolverhampton one) go all over the place before ‘getting on with’ the actual journey. It’s a bit of a mixed bag over here Nick I’m beginning to find.

[@johndean4765]

Have u seen the extortionate train prices ??

[@davidmcnally4773]

Can't believe the price

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Total bargain in my opinion and what a great coach for a scheduled service! Definitely worth a few quid extra if you can get a front seat on the top deck too. Cheers David 😊👍

[@satarmoradi3744]

Was there a wifi available on the bus or not?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

See 9:50 for the wifi explanation.

[@damonfootyvlogs]

How did you find that journey? Good or bad?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, pretty good. Best coach I’ve been on in the UK I would say.

[@damonfootyvlogs]

Nice to hear!

[@yusufraza7529]

Perhaps the bus name was nick

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Haha, yep that’s a good point tbf 😊

[@phantomyash8429]

8:18 not there just being a ferrari on the m4

[@robh8814]

1st of all its a Coach not a Bus 🙂But lets not get onto that :-) Wear a Facemask "unless you are exempt" which gives alot of people automatically an excuse to not wear one. Travelled as far as Penzance,Dover,Cardiff,Newcastle,Carlisle,Edinburgh,Glasgow & Inverness & Fort William in the last 30 yrs (notching up thousands of miles travelled) but not been on a Coach since Covid. As for the "Megabus Peasants".. Megabus have some decent Coaches but you will likely to find a "Younger Crowd" on the Megabus.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hi Rob, I'm always a bit wary when I read a comment that starts with 'first of all'! But I think (I hope) you got my general sense of humour when referring to the Megabus! Actually I haven't tried them yet, I keep threatening to do the London - Edinburgh or Glasgow one overnight, but I haven't plucked up the courage as yet. Also, why didn't they call themselves Megacoach? Anyway, of the few coaches I have tried in the UK, this one to Bristol was the best by far - really enjoyed it. Hopefully I can get some more trips done soon as they do seem to do well on this channel. All the best, Mark

[@robh8814]

@@LetsMakeaTrip When Megabus first started all those yrs ago.. They started with Buses which I think was Ex-Hong Kong Buses.. They were definitely of that type.. Megabus is owned by Stagecoach & certain routes operated by National Express like the Barnsley/Bradford route 560/564 uses Stagecoach Drivers out of the Chesterfield/Barnsley depot. If you liked the Double Decker experience then Megabus has a few.. National Express did remove the Double Deckers for quite a few yrs when one of there's crashed around midnight just after departing Heathrow on the M25 Spur road. The driver was trying to make up time as he was late & took the spur road quicker than he should. Needless to say they were removed & the one you travelled on is now a far more modern version of what was once the "National Express Rapide" brand from yester year. Good video though.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@robh8814 cheers, I’ve watched one or two of the old National Express videos - I think there was something on BBC2 or BBC4 recently about them too and the Rapide was featured quite heavily in those. Was it Megabus that ran a sleeper service to/from Scotland at some point. I’m sure I read about that somewhere but it is sadly no more. Megabus Gold I think it was called?

[@robh8814]

@@LetsMakeaTrip Megabus Gold was a think for a while but never travelled on it. I think it ran overnight with "Luxury seating" but not sure. Megabus at one point had "Bendi-Buses" on the London-Glasgow until they updated the fleet. That was an experience 😁

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

@@robh8814 yeh I bet! I think the Megabus gold had proper bunks on it, I may be wrong but I’m sure I saw that somewhere?

[@remy5110]

how old do you need to be to travel alone?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Hello Big mood. I had a quick look at the National Express website which states that 'Unaccompanied children under the age of 14 will be refused travel'. Link here: www.nationalexpress.com/en/help/conditions-of-carriage cheers.

[@remy5110]

@@LetsMakeaTrip so helpful, thank you!

[@vlogsbyrr14]

Where is the WC?

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Downstairs mid-bus

[@lindenbeck]

Deffitnetly cheaper as the train.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, didn’t stop anywhere either and the coach was pretty full so they can obviously get enough people from a to b.

[@SionsTrainVideos]

thats a good price lol

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yeh, I’m such a skinflint normally but even I had to get an upgrade on this occasion! 😂

[@SionsTrainVideos]

Lol

[@rahulrathod-vx6yv]

Station

[@IMATraveller01]

Pls s

[@brianbell4937]

With the greatest respect, the main problem with coach travel is people like you who wear the headphones and (cannot say if this applies to you of course) have no regard for other people and play them at top volume meaning everyone has to put up with the fallout.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Brian, you could have made exactly the same point without saying ‘people like you’ (which is just mildly irritating tbh). Fwiw, those very expensive noise-cancelling B&O headphones were being used so I didn’t have to listen to two idiots behind me constantly going on about their lives as if the rest of the coach wanted to listen to it. So that’s annoying too. But, the thing I find really annoying, I’m sure you agree, is people FaceTiming and/or playing games, watching TV videos WITHOUT using headphones. Thanks for the comment, all the best, Mark 😊

[@brianbell4937]

@@LetsMakeaTrip I totally do agree about this facetime rubbish, cannot possibly think why you want to see the person you are talking to.There is a bloke on the bus I am on at thr moment holding the phone at arms length and shouting at it. Maybe was a bit harsh saying about you wearing the noise cancelling headphones, my problem is people think they can play music at top volume without others hearing. That may well be the case with top range ones, but most people only have cheap ones that just don't work like that, so as soon as I see someone with them, I feel very uncomfortable. In my ideal world all music would be outlawed !

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Yep, I think it all boils down to there being a ‘time and a place’ for stuff. Actually I was on the coach the other day and all I could hear was this click…………click………..click going on from the guy opposites headphones. Unfortunately I didn’t have mine with me at the time. The other thing is, it’s harder to get up and sit somewhere else on the bus compared to the train. Anyway, I think we’re on the same page pretty-much 👍 in an ideal world I would have the bus all to myself 😂

[@HDsharp]

I detest Victoria coach station, its just too busy, hard to hear your coach being called. They really need another coach station close by to ease the congestion.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

It’s the connectivity that bugs me, a walk away from the nearest tube is not great.

[@asishmohanty4124]

Hi Sir Mam Please enjoy National bus service is leading by Michigan Huston Boston London Berlin frank fruit Paris Mascow Edinburgh Glasgow leadership !

[@6yjjk]

"Please use text messaging rather than voice or video calls, to avoid being disembowelled by your fellow passengers"

[@garrygreen3210]

Know what you mean re WiFi, but really they should not advertise it if it is not available or fit for purpose. They should really be taken to task, and deliver what they advertise and not get away with lame excuses like “oh, the driver must’ve forgot to enable it” ... Blx.

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

Cheers Garry, yes agree. I need to test that theory out tbh. OK on a shortish journey like this but on a long run I'd be asking the driver at the first opportunity.

[@siempre7489]

National Express is expensive

[@LetsMakeaTrip]

I’ve seen the same service for about £4 more.

[@simonnlaroche5438]

Wow so cheap!