Day 302 Two buses just outside the GL area, the No 441 and No 442.

 My journey began with the 1030 Victoria train as far as Clapham Junction.I then walked to platform 6 in order to take the 1113 train to Staines where I arrived at 1142. I then made haste to Staines bus station as the next No 441 was scheduled to leave at 1200.

Bus runs every half hour through the majority of the day

Bus stop No 8 which I used when riding the No 438

The bus station is a meeting point of many bus
operators. Here Falcon Buses and White Buses.

First bus who took over RATP, Carlone and WhiteBus

Carousel Buses, part of GoAhead group

Whitebus No 58 arriving to form my service to Englefield Green

At 1200 I was aboard Whitebus No 58 on the way to Englefield Green and the bus turned right out of the bus station on the way to Staines bridge. After crossing the river Thames we went straight over the roundabout to cross the level crossing along Thorpe Road.

Crossing the Thames

Thorpe Road level Crossing

At the mini roundabout we turned right along Pooley Green Road and then at the end of this where we met the B388 we went right, crossing the railway again at a level crossing under the M25. This enabled the bus to reach Egham High Street, albeit going around the bypass, called Church Road. Returning to the High Street the bus joined the A30 at the roundabout. 

Egham High Street

 

The Crown Egham

This road took us past Royal Holloway University and then the bus turned right onto the A328 and into the settlement of Englefield Green. The bus went left on Bond Street, left Kingsley Avenue, left at end into Larchwood Drive then right into Elmbank Avenue where the bus terminated at 1224.

Royal Holloway University

Englefield Green village sign

After a couple of minutes wait the bus started back clockwise around the estate via Cherrywood Avenue and Beechtree Avenue to reach Kingsley Avenue. I arrived back at Staines bus station at 1249.

Terminal point at Elmbank Avenue

Returning to Kingsley Avenue

Typical parched playing fields of Summer 2026

The next bus route, the No 442 was scheduled to leave at 1300 and precisely on time Carlone's RX75NXT minibus took me out of the bus station along London Road to the A30 roundabout. Heading northeast along the A30 dual carriageway the bus turned left towards Ashford Hospital at 1309. 

Two buses an hour for this route, too

Bus stop six which I'll see again on the No 446

Our bus laying over at Staines bus station

Carlone's RX75NXT arriving for my 1300 departure 
to Heathrow Terminal 5

The bus didn't enter the hospital grounds unlike many other buses continuing along Town Lane, where there were some roadworks. 

Under the Windsor line railway bridge

Passing the Ashford A30 McDonalds

Stanwell Church

The Anchor Stanwell Moor

At the 't' junction at the end the bus went left along Park Road and then right up the A3044 to the Stanwell Moor roundabout. Taking the first exit left towards the M25 the bus soon goes left down Spout Lane into the settlement of Stanwell Moor.arriving at 1319. Taking Horton Road the bus returned to the A3044 and then with the bus going left returned us to the Stanwell Moor roundabout. This time we took the third exit which enabled the bus to access the airport perimeter Road and we terminated at Terminal 5 Heathrow airport at 1327. 

RX75NXT heading off for its return journey.

After an hour and a half I went into the terminal and caught a Piccadilly line train. However, all Piccadilly line trains were only running to Acton Town today. That was because the new Piccadilly line trains were being run from Cockfosters to Northfields. So at Acton own had to catch a District line train to Victoria and then A southern train home from there at 1616 getting home just before five PM.

 

Day 301 After a long gap for various reasons the No 440.

 I had the choice of starting from Wembley or Turnham Green, both of which are not simple from Waddon. I chose to go to Turnham Green taking the 1030 Victoria train to Clapham Junction and then the 1113 from here to Richmond and finally an Upminster bound District line train to Turnham Green arriving at 1145..Ithen walked down to ther Chiswick High Road and turned west to reach the church on Turnham Green.

Chiswick High Road with No 440 waiting

Church on Turnham Green

Bus every 15 mins and takes 62 mins

FirstBus No 30362 soon to depart

Here an RATP firstbus No 30362 was already waiting and at 1209 we departed initially west but soon south across the green before resuming a westwards direction on our own at Fromows Corner. After the stop called Gunnersbury station we took a right turn up Oxford Road North. This road took us back to the Chiswick High Road but here we turned East past the other side of Gunnersbury station. 

View of line towards Richmond from Gunnersbury

Gunnersbury station on Chiswick High Road

Quite soon we headed North into the  Chiswick Park Industrial Estate where the No 70 terminates and when I rode it many years ago, the No 27 also began from. After transitting the estate we reached Bollo Lane and turned left away from the level crossing of the NLR and across that of the freight link from the NLR to SW Railway. 

Level Crossing for NLR

Heading east with Chiswick Park industrial
 estate beyond.

Fairly soon afterwards the bus turned right in Bollo Bridge Road and followed right to the end of this road before heading left up Acton Lane which became Winchester Street to reach Acton High Street. Here we turned left and stopped at the Acton Old Townhall at 1226. Beyond this the bus turned well over half way around the roundabout and headed up Steyne Road which morphed into Horn Lane. This brought me to Acton Mainline railway station with the No 266 at 1233. Continuing on we reached Gypsy Corner where we crossed the A40. At Victoria Road we took Chase Road rather than pass in front of North Acton Underground station.  After crossing the Central line here there were some HS2 works opposite Acton Cemetary.

At Gypsy Corner

Standard Road, Bush Industrial Estate

Continuing up this road we took a left called Standard Road which was in the Bush Industrial Estate which eventually led to Park Royal Road which enabled us to access the front of the Central Middlesex Hospital. After doing a circuit here the bus took a sharp right along Abbey Road whch led to a bridge over the North Circular. We then took a road parallel with the A406 and at 1257 were going under the five bridges of the West Coast mainline to stop after the NLR bridge for Stonebridge Park station.

Crossing the North Circular with Wembley beyond

We continued to parallel the North Circular until the Harrow Road and then took this NW to Wembley Hill Road. From here we went right and passed the Wembley Stadium railway station and after this went right again into Engineers Way. This road led to Fifth Way then Fourth Way, which was the destination on the front of bus when in Turnham Green but after taking Great Central Way right we turned into First Way and terminated there at 1315.

Entering the Wembley area of extensive new
buildings

Main entrance to new Wembley stadium

At terminal point First Way wembley

What was the Wembley Arena

Wembley Park logo

I then walked against the flow of Bruno Mars fans to Wembley Park Underground Station where I took a Jubilee line train to London Bridge. I had just missed the Epsom train home so caught the Uckfield one to East Croydon at 1407 and then a tram to Church Street and a No 407 bus home arriving at 1440.    

New JustGiving Pages to Replace Expired Ones

While my Riding the Routes since September 2017 has been fun and done in memory of a close friend, it was also hoped that it would raise money for two good causes. 

My previous two JustGiving pages, which thanks to a total of 15 supporters, fundraised £108.00 for the WWF UK (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ridingtheroutesoflondon) and £183.00 for Cancer Research UK (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/RidingtheRoutes) until 2022 have now expired. 

I really appreciate all the donations I have received, and now this can continue - as I have created two new pages to replace the expired ones which can be found here:

For the World Wildlife Fund UK:

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ridingtheroutesoflondonforwwf 

For Cancer Research UK: 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ridingtheroutesforcancerresearchuk

                 Thank you very much for visiting my blog and for your continued support!

Day 300 A very local bus the No 439.

 This bus route is a fairly recent addition having started in 2024. Previously the number had been applied to a country area bus operated out of Dorking which disappeared in 1973. It made sense to do this route from the south end as my wife was driving to Caterham on the Hill in any case. Therefore at 1015 I walked down Burntwood Lane to the Wapses Lodge roundabout and then turned left past the Ann Summers factory to the stop labled Well Farm Road.

The No 439 arriving with the Wapses Lodge roundabout in the distance

Here I waited for London General's electric single decker SEe252 to pick me as I saw it terminate as I was walking north. I boarded the bus with one other passenger at 1052 and we set off along the A22 in the direction of Purley.

Approaching level crossing at Whyteleafe railway station

However, on arrival at the roundabout for Whyteleafe or Upper Warlingham stations we turned left across the level crossing passing Whyteleafe station. From now until we reached Purley the bus operated as hail and ride and it did get hailed quite a bit as it turned right and used Hornchurch Hill which as we crossed into the London borough of Croydon appeared to morph into Beverley Road.

The railway viaduct across the chalk quarry
betwixt Riddlesdown and Upper Warlingham

Once past Kenley Primary School we reached Kenley railway station and then instead of heading for the A22 the bus went left then right into Park Road and right into Oaks Way. These were all quite narrow roads with a plethora of parked cars on both sides. Oaks Way became Northdown Avenue and then turning into Higher Drive and then Foxley Hill Road we reached the A22 just south of the Purley station railway bridge. This journey had so far taken fouteen minutes but there were at least ten passengers at times, so frequent stops were made.

Passing Kenley railway Station

Looking up at Riddlesdown

We stopped at Purley Tesco and then took the A23 Purley Way towards Croydon Airport and the Waddon Leisure Centre which was reached at 1115.

Waddon playing fields

We continued along the A23 past what I used to refer to as the 'secret shops', as for a long time after moving to Waddon my wife didn't know of their existence. We reached Purley Way Sainsburys where we terminated at 1124. I then walked home through Waddon Ponds to see if any interesting wildfowl were present and got home by 12 noon.

Passing London General's next bus SEe253 at
Waddon Leisure Centre

A photo to timestamp this as it is during
USA/Iran war so 
petrol was £1.58 a litre and diesl £1.92

Journey's end with Waddon Marsh tramstop beyond

Purley way Sainsbury's

Male Tufted Duck