London to Preston 30th Jun - 1st July

[roversfan2001]

Hi all,

I’m currently midway through the process of planning a day trip to London on Sunday. I’ve already booked the overnight National Express down on the Saturday night, however on Sunday night heading back north the coach is £23, which is possibly a bit too expensive (I could afford it but it’s not really value for money). There is however a rail option for less than £10, which involves a wait of just over 3 hours at Northampton (2am-5am roughly). I wouldn’t directly oppose this option, however that’s a long wait at a location I’ve only visited once (for the football a couple of years ago).

From reading other threads I’ve gathered that there’s a 24 hour McDonalds nearby where I could kill some time which would be fine by me, but what’s the area like? Is it worth the over 50% saving on the coach price?

 

[Starmill]

I would not describe the area as pleasant, and that's in the daytime. All the same, providing the McDonald's is open I think it would be very unlikely that there would be anything bad that would happen. The worst is that you would be very tired and bored.

Personally, for the convenience, I would probably rather have the through journey by coach, as this gives an opportunity to sleep, which there won't be in Northampton. I would probably pay £23 for the benefit of that. If the coach is bound for Scotland do not forget to set an alarm to wake up at Preston.

 

[Hadders]

The 24 hour McDonalds is at Sixfields which is a fair way from the station. Probably a good half hour walk.

 

[rg177]

The 24 hour McDonalds is at Sixfields which is a fair way from the station. Probably a good half hour walk.

The one on Drapery in the centre is apparently 24hrs. A 12 minute walk away.

Just mind it isn't like the one in Newcastle where they shut off seating past a certain hour.

 

[Hadders]

The one on Drapery in the centre is apparently 24hrs. A 12 minute walk away.

Just mind it isn't like the one in Newcastle where they shut off seating past a certain hour.

You learn something every day! I never knew that one was 24 hours, I'm from Northampton and The Drapery is one of McDonalds oldest UK locations.

As @rg177 says check there's seating open 24 hours.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I would pay the extra and not wait somewhere. A few minutes, maybe 20 minutes to change buses, but not three hours.

 

[mmh]

Even if the McDonald's has seating for 3 hours, wouldn't you end up spending more than, or a fair chunk of, the saving while waiting in there?