Jonathan Taylor attended the 2024 CPT annual conference and dinner on 18 January
Maybe it’s an oldie thing, but I have to admit that going to London is no longer one of my favourite things to do. However, London is where the CPT held its 50th anniversary conference and dinner, and they kindly invited CBW, so that’s where I headed.
How to get there? I’m definitely not driving into London, that’s madness and private motorists are positively discouraged from attempting it.
It could be that the GWR train to Paddington from Kemble is the best option. It’ll take 25 minutes to get there and park up. It’s about a £9 parking fee for the time I’d need. Then it’s £57.60 for the return off peak trip and a 72-minute ride to Paddington followed by a £25, 25-minute Uber ride to my hotel (I don’t much like the underground these days either). Total travel time each way, 2 hours 2 minutes. Total cost for the return trip £116.60.
Or, as it’s on CBW business, I could take the National Express (NatEx) coach, the direct competitor to the train.
The service for me would be the NX444, run by Bennett’s Coaches, which operates from Gloucester, via some local stops and London Heathrow, to London Victoria Coach Station, a short walk from the hotel I’ve chosen for my two-night stay. My nearest stop is just a 3-minute car trip from home, convenient. The travel time is 2 hours and 35 minutes inbound and 2 hours 25 minutes outbound. The total cost is £24. I book my tickets online and am duly dropped off 10 minutes before arrival as per instructions on the ticket.
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