Anyone ever got the bus from Dublin to London?

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:08PM #1

Was in Busarus this morning and saw a brochure for bus trips from Dublin to London. Sounds horrendous!

Adult standard was 70e return. You can fly cheaper than that.

Anyone ever done it?

Mint Sauce · 10-08-2011 05:10PM

Done it a couple of times, From Donegal!

And yes, it's horrendous.

Dermo · 10-08-2011 05:10PM

I used to get the Bus to Leeds. Would take about 12 hours total but a lot of that was spent on the boat or sleeping during the early hours of the morning. I would do it for festivals because extra baggage charges for flying would be horrendous!
I've actually made quite a few friends from those travels over the years.

It's actually cheaper nowadays to do sail & rail instead:
http://www.irishferries.com/ie/index-uk-ie.asp
or
http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail

Minstrel27 · 10-08-2011 05:10PM

I got it from Waterford to London return. It wasn't a nice journey but it is much cheaper than a flight if you need it at very short notice. 13 hours of misery each way

Not liking boats doesn't help matters.

rednik · 10-08-2011 05:12PM

It sunk after about 20 metres.

recylingbin · 10-08-2011 05:13PM

yup. it used to be 18 quid back in the day. Flights at the time would have been about 200 hundred.
I have it in my head that it used to take about 14 hours - 6 hours london to holyhead, hang around for a while, 6 hours on knacker infested ferry and then back to busaras. then on to connolly and home.
Only did it the once unsurprisingly

mikemac · 10-08-2011 05:13PM

Minstrel27 wrote: »

I got it from Waterford to London return.

Do you go to Fishguard?
Or do you have to go to Dublin and then Holyhead?

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:14PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Done it a couple of times, From Donegal!

And yes, it's horrendous.

Any particular reason you didn't fly?

I know there are people that actually are afraid of flying and I get the point about extra luggage, etc, which actually makes sense.

recylingbin · 10-08-2011 05:14PM

Oh, did I mention that the bus had a toilet onboard that didn't flush...
ugh.

Alopex · 10-08-2011 05:14PM

I met with napper tandy
And I shook him by the hand
He said "hold me up for chrissake
For I can hardly stand"
The most disgraceful journey
On which I've ever been
The last time that I travelled on
The boat train

I had a couple of drinks in town
A few more at the port
I puked up on the gangway
But some kind folks helped me board
They helped me to a table
Poured whiskey down my throat
They sat me at a table
And I lost my watch and coat

First we drank some whiskey
Then we drank some gin
Then we drank tequila
I think that's what did me in
Then we drank some brandy
And the women had a dance
The steward then announced
That we could play the game of "chance"

We crowded round the table
With our money in our hands
I ended up on the other side
Without a penny in my pants
I woke up in the toilet
When we got to holyhead
The doors were all a-banging
And I wished that I was dead
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsfreak.com/p/pogues/boat+train_20109743.html ]
Then we went through customs
A couple of credited thugs
First they looked for [bombs] and joints
Then they looked for drugs
Stuck a flashlight up my arse
Told some Irish jokes
Said "**** off" now paddy
So I headed for a smoke
On the boat train

(or then we went through customs
With a couple of crazy thugs
First they looked for [bombs] and joints
Then they looked for drugs
Stuck a flashlight up my ass
Told some irish jokes
Said "**** off now, paddy"
So I headed for a smoke
On the boat train )

We got on board the train
And then we had a drink or two
Started playing poker
But the booze ran out at crewe
Some people started sleeping
Others looked for duty free
Some bastard started singing
"the little cottage by the lee"
He then sang "paper roses"
"boolavogue" "eileen aru"
Somebody started slagging off
The pakis and the jews

First I found some whiskey
Then I found some gin
I sat down in the corner
And I read the daily news
First I drank the whiskey
Then I drank the gin
I tried to make the toilet
And I broke my ****in shin
Next thing that I knew
I was in london in the rain
Staggering up the platform
Off the boat train

Chuck Stone · 10-08-2011 05:15PM

Surely the bus to London couldn't compete with Ryanair any more could it?

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:17PM

recylingbin wrote: »

yup. it used to be 18 quid back in the day. Flights at the time would have been about 200 hundred.
I have it in my head that it used to take about 14 hours - 6 hours london to holyhead, hang around for a while, 6 hours on knacker infested ferry and then back to busaras. then on to connolly and home.
Only did it the once unsurprisingly

And back to Busarus after all that. God, how grim. Busarus is so depressing!

I'm surprised they haven't revamped it. Tourists must get an awful shock when they arrive there for the first time.

Amirani · 10-08-2011 05:19PM

I've done a bus overnight from London to Paris. Very cheap but a bit long and uncomfortable.

Sail rail is a much better option in my opinion. Trains are far more comfortable.

recylingbin · 10-08-2011 05:21PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

And back to Busarus after all that. God, how grim. Busarus is so depressing! I'm surprised they haven't revamped it. Tourists must get an awful shock when they arrive there for the first time.

Certainly anyone there that day must have thought 'who is that tramp that looks like he hasn't slept for a week, carrying everything he owns on his back while smelling of untreated sh*te.'

Mint Sauce · 10-08-2011 05:21PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

Any particular reason you didn't fly?

I know there are people that actually are afraid of flying and I get the point about extra luggage, etc, which actually makes sense.

Because at the time it cost a fraction of the price the plane cost (in the 90's). Would never do it now.

Done the sail rail option from Sligo a couple of years ago, only because I had some much stuff with me. At least with that you can get up and walk around.

Dravokivich · 10-08-2011 05:23PM

Did it last year. The driver got lost as soon as he got into London and had to ask the passegners for directions.

haha, we ended up on roads barely wide enough to fit the coach.

teol · 10-08-2011 05:24PM

Did rail&sail to London. That was bad enough. Wouldn't even think of going on the bus. On that same brochure they advertise bus journeys to Amsterdam and Poland :eek:

jajjay · 10-08-2011 05:24PM

Travelled that route back in 1995............. never again!!

Minstrel27 · 10-08-2011 05:25PM

mikemac wrote: »

Do you go to Fishguard?
Or do you have to go to Dublin and then Holyhead?

Didn't go near Dublin. The bus went via Rosslare.

TwoShedsJackson · 10-08-2011 05:28PM

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Surely the bus to London couldn't compete with Ryanair any more could it?

It can if you need to get there at very short notice: that's how Ryanair are making a profit, they sell a bunch of seats for 20 quid then if you need to go in the next couple of days, say for a funeral or something they charge what they want.

Have a look on their site for flights to London going in two days, coming back Monday, cheapest I can see is €235 return, apart from the outward leg which is 15 less if you leave Dublin at 22:45.

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:28PM

I have got the ferry to Holyhead before and enjoyed it

How long is it to London on the train from there? Does anyone know?

I am meant to be going to London in a few weeks and am actually thinking I might do the sail/rail if the train is not too bad.

If the boat is only 2-3 hours to Holyhead, then maybe the trip after to London on the train wouldn't be too bad.

pragmatic1 · 10-08-2011 05:29PM

irish-stew wrote: »

Done it a couple of times, From Donegal!

And yes, it's horrendous.

Done it once from Letterkenny. Never again. Worst journey ever.

bijapos · 10-08-2011 05:30PM

I took it a good few times, as a poster above said about 20 years ago the plane was 5-10 times the price.

12 hours in total.
6-7 in the UK on the bus depending on traffic, 45 min break somewhere en route.
Boat was 3hr 45 min. and then 30 mins into Busaras.
The rest was waiting in the bar on the boat.

It was fine tbh, you met some great charachters, met some lunatics too. You always met someone on the boat that you knew, or they knew someone you knew, so it was good for catching up. My mates met on the bus around 1991 and married a few years later.

I hitched the same route a good few times as well, but the bus was better. To be fair as it was the best way to travel for the money. You never really thought about taking the plane as it was so expensive so I think most people were happy enough with it.

Now if its mad bus journeys you want there was the "Magic Bus" * which went from London to Athens. 3 1/2 days of psychos, alcos, druggies, drop outs, people on their way to the islands for the summer and what else. First thing the bus did was stop in Calais for booze, it stopped every 5 hours in a service station after that for about 20 mins and stopped once in Yugoslavia for about 2 hours to stock up on booze. The border crossings were epic in thier chaos. 2 drivers, I've seeen them change over at the wheel while the bus was still moving. Did it twice, never again.

* Yes, yes I know there were several "Magic Buses", most notably to Amsterdam, but this was the most hard core one I was on.

pragmatic1 · 10-08-2011 05:30PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

I have got the ferry to Holyhead before and enjoyed it How long is it to London on the train from there? Does anyone know?

I am meant to be going to London in a few weeks and am actually thinking I might do the sail/rail if the train is not too bad.

If the boat is only 2-3 hours to Holyhead, then maybe the trip after to London on the train wouldn't be too bad.

Hollyhead to London is the worst part of the trip.

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:30PM

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

It can if you need to get there at very short notice: that's how Ryanair are making a profit, they sell a bunch of seats for 20 quid then if you need to go in the next couple of days, say for a funeral or something they charge what they want.

Have a look on their site for flights to London going in two days, coming back Monday, cheapest I can see is €235 return, apart from the outward leg which is 15 less if you leave Dublin at 22:45.

Very true. I suppose that reasoning is behind a good few people that get the coach.

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:31PM

pragmatic1 wrote: »

Hollyhead to London is the worst part of the trip.

Ah OK. I was thinking if it was a nice trip it might be something worth trying.

steve9859 · 10-08-2011 05:32PM

sunflower27 wrote: »

I have got the ferry to Holyhead before and enjoyed it How long is it to London on the train from there? Does anyone know?

I am meant to be going to London in a few weeks and am actually thinking I might do the sail/rail if the train is not too bad.

If the boat is only 2-3 hours to Holyhead, then maybe the trip after to London on the train wouldn't be too bad.

You've got two 2 hour trips. Holyhead to Chester then Chester to London Euston. Or a 1 hour and a 3 hour if you change at Bangor (which is more common on the way there). 1st train is local, 2nd is Virgin express complete with wifi. It's a good comfortable train and a pleasant enough journey

recylingbin · 10-08-2011 05:32PM

bijapos wrote: »

Now if its mad bus journeys you want there was the "Magic Bus" * which went from London to Athens. 3 1/2 days of psychos, alcos, druggies, drop outs, people on their way to the islands for the summer and what else. First thing the bus did was stop in Calais for booze, it stopped every 5 hours in a service station after that for about 20 mins and stopped once in Yugoslavia for about 2 hours to stock up on booze. The border crossings were epic in thier chaos. 2 drivers, I've seeen them change over at the wheel while the bus was still moving. Did it twice, never again.

* Yes, yes I know there were several "Magic Buses", most notably to Amsterdam, but this was the most hard core one I was on.

Sounds like a nitelink I got once.

Good craic, I imagine.

Hawk Wing 2 · 10-08-2011 05:33PM

used to go from Ennis to London in the 90's with Slatterys, 16 or 17 hours...

sunflower27 · 10-08-2011 05:34PM

steve9859 wrote: »

You've got two 2 hour trips. Holyhead to Chester then Chester to London Euston. Or a 1 hour and a 3 hour if you change at Bangor. 1st train is local, 2nd is Virgin express complete with wifi. It's a good comfortable train.

Thanks for that

Trains are quite expensive in the UK from my experience living there. be interesting to see how much it costs

Mint Sauce · 10-08-2011 05:35PM

steve9859 wrote: »

You've got two 2 hour trips. Holyhead to Chester then Chester to London Euston. Or a 1 hour and a 3 hour if you change at Bangor. 1st train is local, 2nd is Virgin express complete with wifi. It's a good comfortable train.

Depending on the time tables you can do london to holyhead on the one train. Virgin all the way. Holyhead to london is trickier and will most of the time require a change or two.

Anyone ever got the bus from Dublin to London?

Comments