London Travel Forum

OK I know I am being a pain about this transportation stuff but I am doing lots of research and it is a large part of my budget. We would like to take a bus from Stansted to Victoria Station. This seems easy enough and will only cost 28 GBP for 2 round trip. I am not worried that it is slower than the Stansted Express. Once we arrive at Victoria we will purchase a one week bus pass and take the number 9 bus to Hammersmith Road, another 28 GBP. Will I be able to take 2 smallish pieces of luggage along with 2 back packs on the number 9 bus? Thanks in advance for your time.

You should be fine on the No.9 bus. All London buses usually have space to put luggage although you may need to stand with it for a while if others have large luggage as well. Either way you will be allowed on, I've never seen anyone turned away because they have too much luggage.

Have a good trip
Clive

It depends on the driver and how crowded it is, but you might have a problem depending on how small your 'smallish' luggage is and how big your backpacks are (or do you mean small rucksacks, rather than full-sized backpacks?). It is very much at the driver's discretion, especially if the bus is crowded (or the driver is grumpy).

You might also have difficulty with the bus from the airport. Most carriers allow one piece of hold baggage and one carry-on, with additional pieces being carried at the driver's discretion (again, this will largely depend on how crowded the bus is).

If you mean a small rucksack and one piece of luggage (e.g. suitcase) then I'm sure it'll be fine. But if you mean a suitcase and a large backpack you may have difficulties.

If you try to avoid rush hour I'm sure you will be fine. Rush hour(s) will be a problem though.

check out terravision for the victoria tranfer - feel free to have a look at my stansted page for more info.

the weekly bus pass is a good idea, and there is no problem with luggage. on the other hand you may wih to go for an oyster card - which means you could use the tubes and trains and get discounts of water transport. check out the tfl website for details.

You folks are always so helpful. Thanks. If I get a grumpy driver I can use left luggage and transfer it bit by bit. I don't think that costs much. When I say smallish I am talking about a bag about the size one might take to the gym. We are getting excited about the trip.

Tips for grumpy drivers (or grumpy English people generally): be ultra-polite, smile sweetly and grovel a bit, don't raise your voice or get 'assertive'.

Doing the latter makes people 'in authority' here dig in their heels and become even more awkward, in my experience. I always put on the 'helpless middle-aged-female act if required (and trust me, it is entirely an act). I have no problem with being thought a silly old woman if it gets me what I want! :-))

I'm sure you'll be fine (although the number 9 may be very crowded at rush-hours, and that could be a problem).

i'm not sure if left luggage at victoria exists. if it does it will be expensive. better to get the lug over in one go. I've seen far bigger thigs on the tube in my time.

I am resisting making any comment about seeing large things on the Tube. :-)

But yes, there is left luggage at Victoria if you need it (platforms 7/8). And no, it won't be particularly cheap.

http://www.excess-baggage.com/contact.php

My experience with taking luggage on both the tube and Buses, has been if you can carry it, you can take it on. But non-rush hour would certainly make it easier.

The bus drivers are generally a grumpy lot and most want as little interaction with the general public as possible. Most passengers just stream on flashing their travelcards, bus passes or tapping in their oyster cards. Every now and then the driver has to deal with someone proffering cash, it had better be the correct money - £2 - or you will get the withering look.

I would just sail straight by flashing the bus pass, dump your backpacks on the luggage rack and try to sit next to them as if you had done it a hundred times before.

I think bus drivers are a curmudgeonly lot because there is usually a big sign on the buses for recruiting drivers with the promise of some outlandishly high wage that most of them never achieve.

Thanks to all of you for your information and comments. I plan on bringing my biggest smile with me. Our arrival time will be about 18:00. I hope some of the work force will already be home. I know the 9 is a tourist bus so I guess it is often crowded. We will do the best we can and one way or the other make it to our apartment along with our luggage.

Ahhh! The Number 9. That is the Routemaster bus. That one is open at the back and is manned by a conductor. This fellow should take your back packs and stow them under the stairs because there is precious little storage space on those old fashioned buses. I suspect that it does not go all the way to Hammersmith and they will ask everyone to get off and wait for a more modern affair to take you the rest of the way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Buses_route_9_(Heritage)