A day in Darlington

Well not quite, about three hours really, two and a half hours in the Darlington Railway Museum and about an hour in the town waiting for and catching buses.

Our plan was an adventure, using our newly acquired bus passes, to visit the site of the first steam railway in the world. Bus passes for grey power means free travel.

Our route involved 6 changes of bus and three hours each way, the same journey by car would have taken 50 or so minutes.

A comparison with the car would miss the point however, the journey was part of the adventure and you see so much more by bus.

The museum has just re opened after refurbishment and displays its unique exhibits in an easily accessible way.

Well worth the £3.50 (senior) entry to see where it all began.

A weekend in Greenwich

What a thoroughly wonderful weekend, 3 nights at the De Vere Devonport House in Greenwich with Gardiners Coach Travel. We didn't bother with the organised days as we headed off into London on the 188 bus. We were off for the matinee to see Mama Mia at the Prince of Wales, followed by drinks in Covent Garden then supper at Busaba Eathai in Wardour Street.

Greenwich is a great base when visiting London as it offers a place to stay, to dine and multiple options for travel all at reasonable prices. Buses, Docklands Light Railway, Thames high speed catamaran ferries, and trains can all take you to the centre of London within an hour. For those over 60 your bus pass allows you to travel all over for free saving lots of money. Make sure you get your copy of the bus, Tube and Rail map published by Transport for London which makes getting around very easy.

We explored Greenwich on foot on our second day, visiting the Royal Observatory in the Royal Greenwich Park, the Dome and a walk back to Greenwich on the Thames footpath. This a not a very nice experience in some places through the industrial area on the Greenwich peninsular, however it offers some magnificent views of the Isle of Dogs and the Thames.

We also found the Cutty Sark pub where we dined, overlooking the water, while the lights went on all over the city. Look up and you will see the laser that fires out of the Royal Observatory for some 15 miles along the zero meridian, how wonderful as you pass under from east to west.