Virgin Upper Class

Interactive Video

British Museum

Open 10:00 AM - 5:30 Daily



From TripAdvisor Eating in London -- low cost and real experience:

Cafe at the British Museum

NOT the fancy, overpriced tea upstairs, just the cheaper sandwiches-and-tea cafe on the main floor rear. Not as cheap as in the States but passably priced, you can see the Rosetta Stone and have a light lunch or spot of tea at the same time, and at the large communal cafeteria tables you will meet locals, US tourists, students, and virtually everyone else imaginable -- and almost everyone willing to have a chat. You'll remember having tea at the British Museum, and you'll remember really meeting people on your trip, not just looking at things.

British Library & Beetles Lyrics

The British Library is a 4 minute walk from our hotel.  It was featured on Sunday Morning, with a story on the Beetles Lyrics.

The British Library building

The Exhibition Galleries, including the free Treasures Gallery are open to members of the public. You do not need to have a Reader Pass. Please check the opening times carefully.

Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun & English Public Holidays
09.30- 20.00	09.30- 20.00	09.30- 20.00	09.30- 20.00	09.30- 18.00	09.30- 17.00	11.00- 17.00

Guide to Train Travel

Using the train

The National Rail website along with overall detailed maps, has an information page for every railway station in Britain (however minor), with details of access , facilities, ticket office opening hours and recommended connection times. Also Wikipedia has detailed information regarding every British station. The 'live' Departures & Arrivals screen for every station can also be viewed online, with up-to-the-minute train running information.  The Virgin Train website is here.

At the station

British trains do not have publicly announced numbers; they are identified at each station by their departure time (using the 24-hour clock) and destination (eg. "The 14:15 to Manchester Piccadilly"). Only a few carry names, such as "The Flying Scotsman" between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh and "The Northern Lights" between London Kings Cross and Aberdeen.If you are unfamiliar with your journey, arrive at the station with time to spare. Stations in Britain are often architecturally significant, so if you are early, take the time to look around. Most stations have electronic departure screens listing trains in order of departure, platform, any delay, stations called at and the train operating company. At small or rural stations without electronic displays, signs will indicate which platform to wait on for trains to your destination. Platforms may not be announced until a few minutes before the train is due to depart, and can sometimes change if the train is delayed. Listen for audio announcements. Many stations now use automated subway-style ticket barriers - you insert your ticket which opens the barrier, and your ticket is returned. Platform staff are always in attendance with these barriers and can also advise where to stand if you are travelling with a bicycle.

London Euston Station

Birmingham New St. Station

Boarding the train

If you have a seat reservation, watch the outside of the train as it arrives for your coach number (some major stations will have signs on the platform telling you where to wait). Coach A may be at the front or back of the train (depending on direction it's travelling in), and some letters may not be included. Most trains have power-operated doors, however you must press a button to open it, and they close automatically when the train leaves. If the weather is cold and you are the last person to board, it is polite to press the 'close door' button to prevent cold weather coming in. On older trains with manual doors (particularly sleeper carriages and InterCity 125 trains), you open the door from the outside by pulling the handle downwards and pulling the door open. Close the door behind you and make sure it shuts properly (the handle will return to a horizontal position). When getting off, slide down the window and open the door with the external handle (having no internal handle is a safety feature aimed to prevent doors being opened with the train moving).

Finding your Seat

Seat reservations are marked either with paper tags on the headrest or an electronic display above the window, as well as on your reservation ticket. Usually not all seats are reserved unless the train is very busy - if a seat has no tag, it is unreserved and any ticket-holder can sit there. However, remember that unless you also have a seat reservation, your ticket does not guarantee you a seat. The reservation tag or display at each seat will specify the stations between which the seat is reserved (e.g. "DUNDEE - YORK"). If you do not have a reservation and all the seats appear to be reserved, look for one where the reservation starts at a station the train has not reached yet (and be prepared to move seats when it reaches there), or where the reservation ends at a station already called at. Sometimes you can be lucky, and the person who made the original reservation either doesn't turn up or finds another seat on the train, but don't count on it!

Keep your ticket and any reservation, pass and/or railcard with you when you move about the train (e.g. to go to the toilet or buffet car), as you may be asked to show it by the train guard or ticket inspector. It is also likely that you will need it to exit the platform at your destination station, because subway-style ticket barriers are in use at many stations. If you cannot find your ticket at one of these, you will be in big trouble and liable to a hefty penalty plus the cost of a new full ticket.  So don't throw away your ticket!

Station stops are normally announced over the public address system or on scrolling electronic displays in the carriage.

Travelling with Luggage 

Different trains vary in how much luggage space they provide. Nearly all trains (including all inter-city ones) have overhead racks suitable for small items like a small rucksack, briefcase, laptop bag, or other small luggage. Inter-city and regional trains have luggage racks suitable for larger suitcases. However, these luggage racks fill up quickly and on long-distance services there is usually not enough space for everyone, so board the train as early as you can to get a space. If you cannot get a space in the racks, and re-arranging the items there doesn't help, you may have to squeeze your luggage into any space you can find. This may be in the vestibule space and the ends of each carriage. Train staff do not tolerate luggage blocking aisles and doorways (this is dangerous in an emergency) and in extreme cases if it is an obstruction it may simply be dumped on the platform at the next stop. Theft of unattended luggage can be an issue so keep a close eye on yours.

Stations

Most stations are located in the centre of their respective town or city, or within walking distance. However, a station ending in Parkway (e.g. Bristol Parkway, East Midlands Parkway) means it is located far from the city/town centre, often in a distant suburb or even in the middle of nowhere. Usually there is a large car park so commuters can drive to it and then take the train to the city centre. Do not get off at a Parkway station if your destination is the city centre - for example, you would get off at Bristol Temple Meads and not Bristol Parkway - although it must be noted that Bristol Parkway is unusual as it does in fact have a rail connection to the city centre station in Bristol. An exception is if you are connecting to a bus service to an onward destination. For example, shuttle buses run from Luton Airport Parkway to Luton Airport. Another common idosyncracy is that some towns have two separate stations on completely unconnected routes - a trait of the network's early development when feuding rival companies competed to build duplicate routes, and something the Beeching reforms of the 1960s often didn't (or couldn't) resolve - the best example of this being London's massive St. Pancras and King's Cross stations which were built side-by-side by two competing Victorian railway companies literally trying to out-do each other.There are approximately 2,600 railway stations throughout the UK, excluding urban rapid transit systems like the London Underground, Glasgow Subway, Tyne and Wear Metro and the Docklands Light Railway. All stations belong to the state-owned Network Rail, who also manage day-to-day operation of the major stations (which comprises almost all of the central London terminals and those in major cities - such as Birmingham New Street or Edinburgh Waverley). Others are leased to the train operating company running most of the services there, who are responsible for the operation, upkeep and staffing of the station. Stations vary in their facilities (see information on the National Rail website) but you are likely to have difficulty finding a rubbish bin/trash can at major stations due to the risk of terrorism.

Travellers should be aware than many retail outlets at (larger) stations certainly do not offer bargain deals - which is putting it mildly - a sandwich costing £2 (or less) in a local supermarket can cost £4 or more at a station. For essentials (and treats) the traveller is therefore well advised to "stock up" before arriving at the station. There is no restriction regarding eating ones own food on a train; so sandwiches and drinks are best purchased beforehand outside of the railway station, perhaps at a local supermarket.

Scotland Portion

Day 1

Arrive in Edinburgh and stay 3 nights in a 4 star aparthotel.  You will share 3 apartments each of which have 2 bedrooms.

Your Aparthotel

For families seeking both contemporary style and value for money, this unique aparthotel combines the comfort and service of a top-quality hotel with the additional space and facilities you would expect from good self-catering accommodation.  Each family apartment offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge, dining area and fully-equipped modern kitchen complete with microwave, washer/dryer and dishwasher.  Secure underground parking is also available for a small extra charge.  The location is another bonus: just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, you can head up the hill to the castle, or down to Holyrood Palace and the new Scottish Parliament, less than five minutes’ walk away.

Day 4

This morning you travel by train from Edinburgh to Oban (changing trains in Glasgow).  From Oban you cross by ferry to Mull before catching the bus to Tobermory where you will stay 3 nights in a 3 star small hotel.  You will share 2 family rooms and 2 twin rooms.  Please note the 2 family rooms and 1 of the twin rooms are located in one corridor of the hotel, the family rooms are ensuite and the twin room has a private bathroom opposite.  The other twin room is on a different floor.

Your Hotel

Basking in the picture-postcard charm of Tobermory's stunning waterfront, your hotel has been cleverly converted from a row of fisherman's cottages into a delightful family-run establishment.  Comfortable lounges and bedrooms offer a warm welcome, just a stone's throw from one of the world's prettiest working harbours.

Day 7

Today you return to Oban by ferry before catching the train to Spean Bridge (you change trains at Crianlarich).  Stay 2 nights in a 3 star small hotel sharing 2 family rooms and 2 twin rooms.

Your hotel

This delightful highland haven manages to combine pine-clad luxury with a truly relaxing, laid-back atmosphere, where friendliness and informality are the order of the day. On arrival, you will be welcomed with fresh tea and home-made scones, before settling into your comfortable room to contemplate the tranquil beauty of the surrounding woodland. The cosy sitting rooms offer comfy sofas, quiet corners and shelves overflowing with books just waiting to be browsed as you curl up in front of the fire after an afternoon spent tramping the hills. An eclectic selection of DVDs is also available in case of wet weather and, for those who have come unprepared, wellies and maps are also supplied. In the kitchen, maximum use is made of local produce such as trout, salmon, Scotch beef and Great Glen venison and the hotel has its own organic vegetable garden. 

Day 8

Today enjoy one of the highlights of the holiday - a first class day trip on the famous Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig, by way of Glenfinnan, inspiring that ‘Harry Potter’ feeling at every turn.

Day 9

Leave Spean Bridge by train to Glasgow where you will stay 2 nights in a 4 star hotel sharing 2 family rooms and 2 twin rooms.

Your hotel

Situated right in the heart of Glasgow, this historic hotel has undergone a £20 million refurbishment transforming it into a leading four-star hotel. From the beautiful Champagne Bar to the stylish and relaxing bedrooms - everything has been beautifully renovated and loving restored.

Each room is themed around the hotel's Central Station location and its historic links to the Caledonian Railway. All rooms are en-suite and beautifully decorated in rich, warm colours and are equipped with Tea & Coffee making facilities, laptop size safe, Salon style hairdryer Iron and ironing board and include Plasma TVs with Freeview & movies on demand and free wifi.

The hotel’s Tempus Restaurant offers a simple, fresh and wholesome menu in a relaxed and informal atmosphere, and for a morning coffee or light lunch the Deli Central has a good range of sandwiches and light bites to eat-in or take away.

Ideally located in the heart of Glasgow's "style mile", the hotel is perfectly placed close to all of Glasgow's local attractions, shopping, bars and restaurants. 

Day 10

A free day to explore Glasgow or perhaps take a train to Falkirk to visit the Falkirk Wheel.

Day 11

Fly home.

Trip Map

Map 1

Map 2

 Map 1
    1 - London (Sat, Sun)
 2/4 - Birmingham (Mon)
    3 - Great Malvern (Mon, Morgan Factory)
    5 - Edinburgh (Tue, Wed, Thur)
Map 2
    6 - Oban (Fri, xfer to Ferry)
    7 - Craignure (xfer to bus)
    8 - Tobermory (Fri, Sat, Sun)
    6 - Oban (Mon, in transit to Spean Bridge)
    9 - Spean Bridge (Mon, Tue)
10/12 - Fort Williams (Tue, Ben Nevis Distillery {12})
  11 - Mallaig (Tue, via Jocobite Steam Train {Harry Potter's Hogwart Express})
  13 - Spean Bridge (Tue)
  14 - Glasgow (Wed, Thur, Falkirk Wheel on Thur)
Return to States on Friday.

Link to interactive Bing Map

First Class (TripAdvisor Recommends)



Coach (grabbed from blog Coloring Without Borders, see blog for more details)

 

Should get RailCard Discount.

 

London Eye

On Saturday (1st day) after a jet lag nap one of the sights we might want to see is the London Eye.

An interactive 360 degree view from the top is here.

We will have daylight until 9:00 PM.