London Weekend Break

Coach breaks to London

For anyone who lives in the United Kingdom, one of the cheapest ways to get to London is to have a coach break.

If you want a London based weekend, but you also want to avoid the hassle and aggravation of driving, travelling by coach is a great option. You will not incur the high costs of a rail fare or an airline flight and coaches are comfortable and relaxing. Furthermore, with pick-up points in most cities and towns in the UK, taking the coach is simple and convenient.

Different kinds of London coach breaks

There are two types of coach break. The first is where you book your seats on the coach for the dates and times that suit you. From your arrival in London through to your departure back home you make all the necessary arrangements for your accommodation, eating, sightseeing and entertainment. In other words you have an independent self arranged weekend break where your means of transport is the coach.

The other option is to take aproper London coach break where you pay for a package that includes not only your travel arrangements, but also your accommodation, dinning and even some entertainment. This is, in effect, a mini package tour and you will stay in the same hotel as your fellow travellers and you may even have some pre-arranged coach excursions to the city’s attractions during your stay.

With these package tours all of the organisation is done for you and you will have an itinerary which the tour company will follow. This is one of the best ways to get the most out of a London weekend break, especially if it is your first proper visit to the city.

The accommodation arrangements usually see the coach party completely take over a small hotel and, although there is a fixed schedule, the feel of the break is relaxed.

One of the big advantages of this kind of break is that, because you spend time with fellow travellers, you have the opportunity to make friends and get to know people. If this is something that you would rather not do, then the coach break holiday is probably not for you. If however you like the idea of getting to know fellow weekend breakers, these coach breaks are ideal and you will probably get ideas for similar trips to other cities from your fellow travellers.

Who these breaks suit

Many of these coach breaks take place during the mid week period rather than the weekend. This is for economy reasons. The result however is that these coach holidays tend to be frequented by older retired people rather than families. The general mix sees couples, single and often groups of two, three or four friends.

Some years ago, after my father died, my mother went on one of these coach breaks with a friend and was able to make two new friends with whom she now holidays with every year. They can be a great way of meeting people and anyone who travels on their own inevitably finds themselves fitting in with one or more of the other travellers.

Also don’t make the mistake of thinking that people who take coach break holidays do nothing else. Most enjoy overseas holidays, staying in villas, and cruising and the short break is something that they enjoy during the off season, or when they have a gap to fill in their holidaying schedule.

If you are planning your coach trip independently, these pages may offer some tips and help on things to see and experience during your visit
Sightseeing ideas in London
Theatre ticket and box office information
Where to shop in London
Seasonal and special events