Homeward bound
Summer Premium Adventures
In this Summer Premium Adventure (Warning: Long!)
- In the Summertime when the weather is hot…
- Off to Heathrow, British Airways Galleries North Lounge
- BA762 London Heathrow to Oslo – A321neo (EuroTraveller)
- Oslo Airport, OSL Lounge
- AY914 Oslo to Helsinki, Business Class
- Helsinki Airport lounging
- QR302 Helsinki to Doha (Business Class)
- Doha Lounge Stop Part 1
- QR946 Doha to Singapore (QSuites)
- Hotel Indigo, Katong, Singapore
- Exploring Hawker Markets
- Intercontinental, Bugis, Singapore
- Orchids Everywhere – The National Orchid Garden
- Off to Changi featuring the Singapore Pokemon Centre
- Scoot TR604 Singapore to Bangkok
- Dream Hotel, Bangkok
- Exploring the Wats
- Food Mistakes in Bangkok (Or Regrets. I have a more than a few)
- Back to Suvarnabhumi, Qatar Airways Lounge, Bangkok Airport
- QR833 Bangkok to Doha (QSuites)
- Another long Doha Layover
- QR175 Doha to Oslo
- Back at Oslo Airport
- BA767 Oslo to London Heathrow (EuroTraveller)
- Homeward bound
- Always Curious
Time to head home
With me off the plane, I headed for the UK border with a little haste – mainly to stave off any queues.
Everyone out!
Thank you A321. Have a good rest.
That’s some classic signage.
Thank you aircraft.
To the border.
The UK Border has changed since certain countries are now allowed to use Biometric passports. As usual, check the signs before you enter.
I skipped past the biometric gates and headed straight for a person. A look and scan of my passport and I was allowed to enter the UK
Annoyingly, this is after the eGates, rather than before them. A little annoying to say the least.
With that done, a perfect time for a small room break before waiting for luggage. Because it seems Heathrow luggage delivery only operates at slow these days.
To the baggage reclaim
I don’t think you can get Heathrow Rewards points on this machine.
A 15-minute wait and my bags spat out onto the belt.
All bags together!
Let’s head landside.
It was rather good timing too – as I needed to get a shift on for a train.
But not before stopping by Boots. Armed with more drugs and water – I headed for the platform.
Down to the platform
Thankfully, you can use Oyster and contactless payments to get through the gates at Heathrow Airport now. For me – that would be useful.
With a blip of my phone, I was in the fare-paying zone. I hopped on-board a Heathrow Express for the short ride to Terminal 2 and 3.
Heathrow Express train waiting
From there, I jumped off the Heathrow Express (because I don’t want to be bankrupt for using it), and switched to a TfL Rail service for the ride into London.
Whilst it maybe 10 minutes longer, it’s 50% cheaper. And I could continue my journey for minimal cost after.
The ride to Paddington hasn’t changed much, with urban London sprayed for all to see. The perfect time to try to wind down.
Quiet train thankfully after peak hours
New water. Because. Well. Do I need to explain at this point?
Except that would come to an end quickly, as I would have to either deal with the Underground or Taxi.
Part of the Paddington station mouth as a departure board system, with tracking.
And I’m still in a saving money mood. Underground it is.
To the Bakerloo Line!
STAND. ON. THE. RIGHT. Play that game at peak… and you wouldn’t survive the process.
Thankfully, knowing where to stand is half the battle with the underground. It’s then easy to minimise walking when you have to get off a train.
Three tube stops later, I was navigating Marleybone Tube station – to pop out at the Mainline railway station.
I looked up… and saw a train to Birmingham was just about to depart. I did a rough calculation – and realised I could not make that train for anything in the world.
It seemed like I had another 30 minutes in London then. Oh well. Time to slow down.
With a ticket in hand, I got comfy on a bench. In some ways, I was glad I missed that train (as it would be full of commuters).
Of course, when the next train to Birmingham was announced…. A sea of people headed to the gates.
Bugger.
Chiltern Railways
London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill
Class 168
I got on the train, and took one look – it was full of High Wycombe commuters.
I did the only thing I could do – I found a spot on the floor and got comfy.
I wasn’t the only one.
Put it like this: I didn’t get a decent seat until Bicester North – around halfway through the journey. Thankfully, the Chiltern service is a reasonable one – no matter how much Arriva tries to cut corners with it
With the train stopping at Birmingham Snow Hill, I bundled out and headed for the exit.
Hello Snow Hill
Whilst it was near enough 11 pm when I arrived, the gate line was still being managed at this time of night.
It seems that West Midlands Trains and Chiltern Railways are determined to ensure fares are paid. Which as a paying customer – I find quite welcoming.
A short walk, I was out at Snow Hill. I hailed a cab for the final part of the journey back to the flat.
By 23:15, I was at my front door. 15 seconds later – I was in the small room.
Yes. I have food regret still.
Finally: Always Curious.
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