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Post by LBOTG on May 12, 2018 14:18:00 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings!
In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that.
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Post by redexpress on May 12, 2018 14:31:02 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings! In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that. Good point about the N9 early am journeys. I'd say dawn and dusk are the best times to view the airport anyway.
Possibly stupid question - how easy is it to use the pods if you have no business at the car park? I've always wanted to try them out but I'm always conscious of not doing anything that might seem suspicious at airports.
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Post by snoggle on May 12, 2018 14:43:41 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings! In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that. And especially at this time of year when the sun is rising at 0500 so you'll certainly see the early Far East / Oz flights landing at Heathrow. I have been on the first plane of the day to land at Heathrow - quite an odd experience given so much of the airport is empty. Unfortunately it means the baggage transfer people are also asleep so you have an inordinate wait while someone pokes them with a stick to wake them up so they go and unload the plane.  |
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Post by DE20106 on May 12, 2018 14:46:24 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings! In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that. Good point about the N9 early am journeys. I'd say dawn and dusk are the best times to view the airport anyway.
Possibly stupid question - how easy is it to use the pods if you have no business at the car park? I've always wanted to try them out but I'm always conscious of not doing anything that might seem suspicious at airports.
Easy peasy, I’ve been on the pods myself, they’re free! You just press a button and you whizz off to a car park, get out at the other end and press the button to go back to the terminal, it’s completely accessible to everyone  |
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Post by snoggle on May 12, 2018 14:50:04 GMT
I rather like the ride on the 251 "across the tops" from Totteridge to Mill Hill. OK it's a single decker but you get some ruralish views. Ditto on the 298 / 313 out to Potters Bar. Metroline's 84 is good too but obviously not a TfL service.
From my one ride on the 240 that has some niceish views of posh bits of North London.
221 has some good views on the hilly bit around Bittacy Hill.
I know you're asking for "panoramic views" but if you've even a vague interest in architecture and how cities work or just watching people then almost every bus route in London has something to offer - parks, interesting houses, district centres etc etc. Even places like Peckham and Thamesmead that get a regular dissing on here have plenty of interest alongside whatever woes there are.
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Post by vjaska on May 12, 2018 15:07:27 GMT
I rather like the ride on the 251 "across the tops" from Totteridge to Mill Hill. OK it's a single decker but you get some ruralish views. Ditto on the 298 / 313 out to Potters Bar. Metroline's 84 is good too but obviously not a TfL service. From my one ride on the 240 that has some niceish views of posh bits of North London. 221 has some good views on the hilly bit around Bittacy Hill. I know you're asking for "panoramic views" but if you've even a vague interest in architecture and how cities work or just watching people then almost every bus route in London has something to offer - parks, interesting houses, district centres etc etc. Even places like Peckham and Thamesmead that get a regular dissing on here have plenty of interest alongside whatever woes there are. +1 for the 221, love the views around Mill Hill East and a route I've always enjoyed riding not just for that but the massive contrast between each end  I like Thamesmead as well as it's a bit different to other places, can't agree with Peckham though |
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Post by redexpress on May 12, 2018 15:09:13 GMT
Forgot to mention that the 7 is no longer any good for airport views now that it's been rerouted via Bath Road.
Will have to make a trip out to Heathrow to try out the pods (thanks rc131 for the info), and more importantly do the N9 before it's converted to LT  |
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Post by DE20106 on May 12, 2018 15:13:58 GMT
Forgot to mention that the 7 is no longer any good for airport views now that it's been rerouted via Bath Road.
Will have to make a trip out to Heathrow to try out the pods (thanks rc131 for the info), and more importantly do the N9 before it's converted to LT The 7 is definitely not good for airport views, I’d be mightily impressed if anyone had the eyesight to see Heathrow from East Acton EDIT: isn’t the N9 LT restricted? Oh god another route plagued with those heaps of junk, that really will be the end of SPs in Central London then, the 48 was the last daytime route though. |
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Post by redexpress on May 12, 2018 15:18:55 GMT
I rather like the ride on the 251 "across the tops" from Totteridge to Mill Hill. OK it's a single decker but you get some ruralish views. Ditto on the 298 / 313 out to Potters Bar. Metroline's 84 is good too but obviously not a TfL service. From my one ride on the 240 that has some niceish views of posh bits of North London. 221 has some good views on the hilly bit around Bittacy Hill. I know you're asking for "panoramic views" but if you've even a vague interest in architecture and how cities work or just watching people then almost every bus route in London has something to offer - parks, interesting houses, district centres etc etc. Even places like Peckham and Thamesmead that get a regular dissing on here have plenty of interest alongside whatever woes there are. Totteridge Village can be done on a DD if you're willing to put up with schoolkids on the 688 etc. I've caught the late pm journeys from Mill Hill a few times without any trouble. Also tried the 605 once but that was much less pleasant.
Completely agree about most parts of London having something of interest. I really enjoy routes like the N89 which give you a bit of everything - the West End, a central London bridge, inner south London (more interesting for the people than the architecture), then a huge contrast as you cut across Blackheath, nice views from Shooters Hill, and the route through the industrial bits around the Thames (Slade Green, Erith) is fascinating to me. I do understand that areas like this aren't everyone's cup of tea (and I'd never want to live there) but they are certainly interesting.
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Post by LBOTG on May 12, 2018 16:46:09 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings! In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that. Good point about the N9 early am journeys. I'd say dawn and dusk are the best times to view the airport anyway.
Possibly stupid question - how easy is it to use the pods if you have no business at the car park? I've always wanted to try them out but I'm always conscious of not doing anything that might seem suspicious at airports.
Yes as rc131 said it's really easy to get on the pods and I've been successful to some degree every time. However, I would discourage going in really hot weather as the pods often struggle during those conditions and there are controllers watching you so after one round trip last time they asked me to get out as they didn't want joyriding |
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Post by LBOTG on May 12, 2018 16:49:45 GMT
I totally agree about every route offering something interesting - obviously some are more extreme than others but with almost every bus they offer a differing perspective into the city and with the 320 routes I have ridden end-to-end I can say something positive about each one even if they don't offer a panorama as such (but if it does, there are bonus points!)
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Post by DE20106 on May 12, 2018 17:56:47 GMT
I totally agree about every route offering something interesting - obviously some are more extreme than others but with almost every bus they offer a differing perspective into the city and with the 320 routes I have ridden end-to-end I can say something positive about each one even if they don't offer a panorama as such (but if it does, there are bonus points!) Eehhh I agree to some extent, although the heavily residential routes that are just houses after houses I genuinely don’t think offer anything interesting. Most Romford routes spring to mind, I can honestly say there was nothing interesting to see on the 365, it was just houses after houses after houses, incredibly monotonous. Although one could say that the OmniCities on it are interesting although they’re not my cup of tea. I also didn’t like the W6 too much, incredibly residential but my word those new E20MMCs AL have on it are fantastic and really made it for me. |
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Post by snowman on May 12, 2018 18:15:49 GMT
Even though people might be put off from the N9 because it's a night bus, on a Sunday morning the last bus doesn't reach T5 until 8:15 and when I caught the last journey I saw loads of plane landings! In my opinion, the ultimate tour of Heathrow involves starting at Hatton Cross, taking an X26 to Heathrow Central, N9/7 to Heathrow Terminal 5, riding the pods especially when planes are landing on that side, 482 back to Hatton Cross and you do get some fabulous views from that. Good point about the N9 early am journeys. I'd say dawn and dusk are the best times to view the airport anyway. Possibly stupid question - how easy is it to use the pods if you have no business at the car park? I've always wanted to try them out but I'm always conscious of not doing anything that might seem suspicious at airports.
Very easy to use pods, jump aboard, there are 2 stations in the car park, easy to walk from one to other, to try both routings. Well signed from arrivals level of airport terminal. If you wear a suit (without tie) you will blend in with the business travellers I actually did it as a family, about 3 years ago, went away for weekend in November and pre booked the car park which was a fraction of its weekday business price, so didn’t just take a pleasure ride. It follows the diverted river around the end of the airport |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2018 18:47:55 GMT
492 of the Dartford Crossing through Stone.
89 Lewisham bound in Shooters Hill, great views of the city.
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Post by RandomBusesGirl on May 19, 2018 22:04:59 GMT
Forgot to mention that the 7 is no longer any good for airport views now that it's been rerouted via Bath Road.
Will have to make a trip out to Heathrow to try out the pods (thanks rc131 for the info), and more importantly do the N9 before it's converted to LT The 7 is definitely not good for airport views, I’d be mightily impressed if anyone had the eyesight to see Heathrow from East Acton He means the First Berkshire 7, not the Metroline one xD It goes Heathrow Central. Hey, how are 464, R5/10 and 320 not listed here yet?  |
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I like Thamesmead as well as it's a bit different to other places, can't agree with Peckham though 
