October 2017
Jump to London 2015 postings.
Jump to London 2016 postings.
Our Virgin train leaves Edinburgh Waverley station at 8:30 a.m. There will be a few stops along the route and estimated time of arrival at London King’s Cross station is 12.50 p.m. Our ticket cost £25 as we’ve booked way in advanced, otherwise expect to pay more than £100. Better to fly then.
A short stop at Berwick-upon-Tweed.
Newcastle was also one of the other stops.
York was a busy station with lots of passengers getting on.
Outside York, you’ll pass by this power plant on your right. If I’m not mistaken, it’s located in Eggborough.
Although along the journey there was an 8 minute delay getting into some of the stations, we eventually arrived King’s Cross only a couple of minutes late.
King’s Cross London train station.
Fellow passengers getting off the train at King’s Cross.
Bicycles parked just off the platform inside the station.
The train head looks a little tired and aged but it got us from Edinburgh to London safely and almost on time.
Our accommodation in London will be at Point A Hotels, Praed Street, Paddington. This hotel was formally Tune Paddington when we stayed last year. We found the hotel’s location to be very convenient. Just in-front of this hotel, behind a row of shop lots is Paddington Basin where you’ll find Merchant Square. This is the spot where the movie Jason Bourne was shot.
Previously Tune Paddington, now under new management known as Point A Hotels.
After lunch, we headed to Merchant Square, in Paddington basin. Naturally we’ve been here last year (2016) and we can see there are some ‘upgrade’ project that’s been done. Notably is the ‘Pocket Park’, a 730 sq metre floating park in the basin that provides green space on the water for the public to enjoy and mooring spots for canal boats
Merchant Square, Paddington Basin.
Pathway leading to the ‘Pocket Park’ a small 730 sq metre floating green.
Further down, canal boat moored by the canal.
Something that wasn’t here in 2016. Free canal tour by water taxi from Paddington Basin to Bishop’s Bridge.
A clip from the movie Jason Bourne. Credit : movietrip.me
Photo taken from the spot Malcolm Smith (above) waiting for Bourne at Merchant Square. View towards St Mary’s Hospital in the background.
A short walk from Merchant Square we boarded a bus at Edgware Road and got off at St John’s Wood a few stops up. Across the road from the bus stop, you’ll find Clifton Court flats. These flats were built in the traditional black & white colonial design. We are here just to photograph these buildings and to pass our time for the evening.
The colonial styled, black & white designed flats.
Clifton Court is at the junction of St John’s Wood & Maida Vale.
The Clifton Court is quite a stretch.
Another view of the flat.
Having taken enough photographs of the Clifton Court, we headed back to Edgware Road. Before heading back to our hotel, we strolled along Cabbell Street starting just besides the Edgware Road (Circle & District) tube station. Hyde Park mansions is located on this street and the red-brown coloured facade is nice to photograph.
Hyde Park mansions along Cabbell Street.
The stretch of Hyde Park mansion.
The opposite side.
Posh cars lining the street.
