October 14, 2025 • 33 mins
The Night Riviera is one of only two UK sleeper trains, and it might be the most relaxing way to wake up in Cornwall. UK Travel Planning’s rail expert Doug Collins shares his first-hand ride and the small choices that make a big difference to comfort and views.
In this episode
- How to book simply and avoid common pitfalls
- When to arrive and how lounge access can upgrade your night
- What berths are really like and how sleep felt in practice
- The easy breakfast strategy for a picture-perfect arrival
- Exactly which side to sit for the best coastal views
Plus
- What to do when plans change and seat reservations are not in place
- How the Night Riviera compares with the Caledonian Sleeper
📝 Show Notes - Episode 171
🎧 Listen to next
- Episode #157: 15 UK Train Travel Mistakes First-Time Travellers Make and How to Avoid Them
- Episode #141 – Caledonian Sleeper Update [+ Route Choices and Travel Tips]
- Episode #151 – Essential UK Train Travel Tips and Q&A for First-Time Travellers
⭐️ Need help planning your UK trip? Choose the option that works best for you:
- Video Reviews (available anytime) — send us your itinerary for detailed feedback.
- 1:1 Consultations - live Zoom session with Doug & Tracy.
🎤 Leave us a voice message via SpeakPipe
➡️ Sponsor our show by clicking here
➡️ Leave us a tip by clicking here
Work With Us - Contact info@uktravelplanning.com for brand partnerships and business inquiries.
Thank you ❤️
Disclaimer: Some outbound links financially benefit the podcast through affiliate programs. Using our links is a small way to support the show at no additional cost. I only endorse products, programs, and services I use and would recommend to close friends and family. Thank you for the support!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are you considering an overnight sleeper train in
the UK?
Well, in this episode, dougtakes the Night Riviera and
shares the need to knows.
So your journey is smooth,comfortable and memorable, and
keep listening to learn exactlywhere to sit as you head down
the Cornish Riviera intoPenzance.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
tracy Collins.
Each week, tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
(00:39):
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Hi and welcome to this week's edition of the UK
Travel Planner Podcast.
I have Doug here this week.
Hello there.
Now Doug is in the UK and hasbeen travelling a lot.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I am.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
You are, yeah, and you've been travelling a lot
around by train.
He's trying all these traintrips out so he can report back
for you on the podcast and onYouTube Now in this week.
Yeah, you're having a greattime, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Oh I am.
I'm a fantastic time.
Am I happy place on train.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
You are.
You are Now.
So what we're going to betalking about this week is an
overnight sleeper train in theUK, and we're going to be
talking about the Night Riviera,which runs from London,
paddington to Penzance.
So in this episode, doug'sgoing to cover the practical
bits that you need to know, sohow to book it, what birth
passengers can use, stuff aboutthe first castle lounge at
(01:38):
Paddington, what time boardingstarts, what the check-in
process is like, all that sortof stuff that you need to know.
So Doug's gonna talk about allof that stuff with you.
And how to order breakfast,which is very important, so you
can roll in a cornwall with acoffee or, more importantly for
us, a cup of tea in hand soyou're also gonna hear, are the
(01:59):
day-to-day details from Doug'strip, including you, had a bit
of a small engineering diversion.
That meant a slightly laterarrival, but not too bad yeah
yeah, and you're going to sharewhere to sit on the train to get
the best views, aren't youspecifically of St Michael's
Mount.
And then a little bit aboutwhat happened on your return
journey, because the there's abit of a change with the train,
(02:20):
so seat reservations weren't inplace, so Doug's going to talk
to you a little bit about whatto do if that happens.
Well, that's, those sort ofthings happen.
And if sleeper trains are yourthing, you must, must, must
listen to our Caledonian sleeperepisodes, because we've got two
episodes about the Caledoniansleeper.
I will put links to thoseepisodes in the show notes, and
(02:44):
Doug's actually done a video aswell about a Caledonian
sleepover, if you are interested.
And obviously I know you'regoing to do one about the Night
Riviera too.
But should we head intochatting about the trip and how
it went?
So anybody who's thinking aboutit, if you're listening and
thinking, oh, I quite fancy this, I quite fancy taking a trip on
the Night Riviera, or maybeyou're listening to this and you
(03:04):
don't know what the NightRiviera is.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, so do you want to tell everybody what the Night
Riviera is and why you wantedto do this particular?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
UK sleeper train.
Yeah, okay.
So the Night Riviera is theGreat Western Railway sleeper
service, as you say.
It runs from London, paddingtondown to Penzance, which is in
the tip of Cornwall.
So the night Vivio is one ofonly two sleep services, one in
the UK you've got the Caledoniansleeper, which runs from London
, houston to what severallocations.
(03:39):
In Scotland you have thelowlander or the Highlander
sleeper.
So the night Riviera Sleeper isone that I've never taken.
I've travelled on the sametrain route many, many times
over many years but I've neveractually got round to taking the
Night Riviera.
Now, the reason that this runsis because Cornwall is quite
remote.
I think it catches a few peopleout when we've done consults
(04:00):
just how far from LondonCornwall is.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I think it catches most people out when we do
consults.
It's always a surprise.
It's always when people askquestions in the group as well.
We're kind of like do yourealise how far away Cornwall is
?
And yeah, I just yeah.
I think that people don'trealise actually.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's true, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So where does the service leave from and travel to
?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Okay.
So the service leaves fromLondon Paddington down to
Penzance.
It leaves at 23.45 or quarterto the midnight Sunday to Friday
.
It doesn't run on a Saturdaynight but it does leave five
minutes later on a Sunday night.
Now the service is run by GreatWestern Railway and it takes
between seven and a half eighthours ish.
(04:45):
So the stops include reading,exodus, david's, new nabot
plymouth list cars and hosteland then stations down the
cornish mainline to penzance.
So you're right what you saidearlier the, the one I caught,
had about 10 minute delayheading into Penzance.
There's some engineering worksjust cause a little bit of
(05:08):
delays.
So I checked this in advance.
I knew exactly what to expect.
I check on real time trains, soa bit more sort of technical
information about the train.
So a typical rail nerd I waslooking at actually how it was
running, where it was going,what the load codes were, et
cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Okay, so you got you kind of arrived a little bit
late, but not very much, but didyou, did you leave on time?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
left on time okay perfect.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Let's bang on time okay, so how easy was it to book
and how far in advance did youbook it?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
so this is actually really really incredibly easy.
So the great western railwaywebsite you can book it on there
or, if you went throughnational rail inquiries, it will
direct you to that site.
So if you're on to the greatwestern railway site, it's just
for all train tickets andthere's a little search box on
the right hand side.
It's like a little green box.
Just type in that riviera thereand it just takes you straight
(06:04):
to the page and you're bookingwhen you want.
I think I booked it about amonth ago, do you think?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
yeah, I think so.
I know.
Yeah, because, well, we didbook the flight for you to the
uk until not that long ago.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, so it's one of the first things I booked,
though, wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I think, yeah, it was because I know you wanted to do
it and because we've been askedquite a lot in the Facebook
group and we actually have hademails asking about wanting to
know a little bit more about theNight Riviera, so that was
another reason.
You were kind of like no, weneed to do this one, and
obviously as I mentioned before,you're doing a lot of videos,
so this will be going on YouTubeas well.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I took a lot of videos and sort of video footage
, footage.
He just needs me to edit it nowthen, yeah, well, you will get
it edited and it will get put onon youtube on the uk travel
plan and uh youtube, uh channel.
So do look out for that.
If you're listening to this andthinking, oh, I want to
actually see what this lookslike, right, so let's, let's go
to paddington station.
So you arrive at paddingtonstation and you're going to
catch the train, so what sort offacilities are available for
passengers when they arrive atPaddington, before they actually
(07:06):
get on the train?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Okay.
So I arrived probably veryearly, to be fair, about 8
o'clock.
I arrived in the evening, but Iwas taking footage of videos
and things like that.
So I came on the underground onthe district line.
So you walk straight up intothe concourse and then, as
you're standing looking at thetrains departing because it's a
terminus station paddington ison the left-hand side of the
(07:29):
station you've got platform one,okay, so on that side of the
platform you have the firstclass lounge for great western
railway.
If you are a paying passengerfor the uh night riviera, you
have access to those facilities.
That opens at 9 00 pm, 2100hours.
That opens and inside therethere is hot and cold drinks,
(07:54):
snacks, fruit, showers, which.
Are they going to have a lookaround?
I've got videos of them and Idid ask.
Yes, they do provide towels aswell and very good, good,
separate Wi-Fi to the station,wi-fi which is also very, very
good.
It's actually very fast and thestaff were absolutely lovely.
Everybody I met in there wasfriendly, it's well lit, it's
(08:15):
light, just perfect.
So that's there.
On the right-hand side of thestation is the public, the
toilets and the washrooms toeverybody, and there's showers
in there as well, if you shouldwant to use those ones instead,
but I don't see why you wouldwant to.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But I'm also going to mention in Platform 1 as well,
there's also something famousthat you'll probably want to
have a photo next to.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Which is right next to the first-class lounge.
Would that be a little bear byany chance?
Speaker 1 (08:44):
it is, it is.
So don't miss that.
Don't miss having a photo withpaddington bear.
You just can't.
And so absolutely go and takeyour picture with paddington
bear before you go into thelounge yeah, because you're on
the subject of that lovelylittle bear.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah, I will also mention I'll come on to the
shops and things later butinside the like the shops area,
the food area, there's an actualpaddington shop.
Now I went in there and, quitefrankly, I became a little boy
again because, there's so much,so much merchandise for
(09:18):
paddington.
It's actually a joy to be inthere.
And because I actually got inthere a bit later, I was the
only one in there so I wastalking to the security guard in
there.
And because I actually got inthem a bit later, I was the only
one in there so I was trying tothe security guard in there.
And you're saying you'd besurprised, you'd expect all
children to come in here.
But believe it or not, there'sas many, or if not more, adults
coming here than you ever seechildren yeah, but who doesn't
(09:40):
love paddington?
I mean I've been travelingaround the yeah, I've been
traveling around paddington.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
If you've been following on instagram, you'll
know that I've been travelingaround the whole of the uk with
paddington.
We've been all sorts of placesand if you don't know what I'm
talking about, you need to goand check out instagram because
it's been a lot of fun,absolutely a lot of fun.
Now, as well as paddington,obviously, there are shops, bars
, cafes at paddington.
Are they still open?
Because it's quite late whenyou're getting there to take the
(10:06):
train.
So, you know, can you get mealand drink before you're bored?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
You can.
What I did.
I went to the shopping shoparea two or three times just to
see what was open and then whatwas closing.
So obviously, when I got thereat 8 pm, all the fast food and
all the shops, everything'sstill open.
I went back about 10, 10o'clock, quarter past 10 around
(10:32):
that time and mark's expenseswere short.
The palatine shop was stillopen.
Some of the food stores wereclosed.
Sainsbury's, the supermarket inthe uk, that was open till
midnight.
So, yes, you can still get foodand drink in there and some of
the fast food shops are stillopen and I think there's a cake
shop still open as well.
(10:52):
So there is still some range,still some variety.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
You can actually get some if you want to at that time
of night that's good, so youcan go and stock up before you
actually board the train and getinto your room.
So you know what time does thatactually happen?
What time can you get on thetrain?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
OK, so the official time is 22.30.
That's half past 10 at night.
Ok, so I was led to believethat the train usually departs
off Platform 1.
, like I said, where the loungeis, where paddington statue is,
but also occasionally it leavesour platform eight, which is
obviously just further along.
So I walked across there justafter 10 o'clock, take some
(11:34):
photos and videos of the trainand have a look at the loco
locomotives.
But that's just me and I wastalking to two of the birth
attendants and they said, yes,it's 2230 rigid, but they let me
on sort of five to ten minutesearlier so I can walk down the
train and I can look at thephotos.
You know, take some photos andvideos, you know, ready for the
(11:55):
YouTube.
So it's very straightforward.
That's all I have to say.
Everything is straightforward.
There's nothing complex,there's nothing complicated,
it's open space.
The train arrives early.
You've got good, clear sight.
It's on the notice boards.
There's also departure boardsand screens within the first
class lounge so you don't haveto walk out to see what the
(12:19):
train's in.
They actually put it on thescreen in there.
The train has arrived.
So myself and a few othersdecided to have a walk out all
together to have a look at thetrain.
Some people were moving a bitslower.
They wanted to take more timeto actually reassure themselves
that they're heading to theright area for the train.
So you walk from platform oneto platform eight, a matter of a
(12:43):
minute or two to walk and thenit's open access on to the that
part of the station.
So there's no ticket check,there's no reservation check to
walk actually towards the trainitself.
That is done when you actuallycome to board and they open,
unlock the doors at 10 30 so youcan actually be led into your
(13:03):
birth.
Not room, not cabin, it is abirth on the train.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
That's the correct terminology so how do you get
into your birth, though?
Do they?
Do they give you a card orsomething?
How is it?
How does it work?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
yeah.
So I was allowed to board thetrain sort of five, ten minutes
earlier to take photos andvideos.
So at 10 30 they unlock thecentral, locking the lights on
the side of the train come onit's called a camp rail light
that comes on and then the birthattendant steps out and they
check your name, yourreservation and they here's the
(13:35):
thing I should really impress methey physically Guide you and
take you to your birth.
So there's not your own birth,number 15 is down there.
They physically walk on withyou, hand you a key card which
is similar to a hotel key cardwhich we've all seen, show you
how to open the door, show youhow to use the key, and then
(13:57):
they open the door and then giveyou a quick overview of what's
there and how it works.
You know, we all expect, youknow plugs, sockets and usbs,
but there's water, there's thesink in the corner and how to
use the blind.
Everything is explained to you.
And I asked about temperaturecontrol in there and it's just a
(14:20):
simple blue or red toggleswitch and you just move it up
and down as to how you want it.
Straightforward and simple.
The birth size is quite small,it's more for two, but because I
was traveling on my own.
It's just nice and cozy and thetop birth a bunk in the birth
is already put back, so it'sjust a one seating birth which
(14:43):
has had the um like a blanketand duvet and two pillows on
there.
I changed ends with it becauseI wanted to be the opposite end,
uh, to sleep, which obviouslyis your choice, and there's
three, lots of lighting in thereand they just find the perfect
one.
One's a reading light, so it'sall just nice and
straightforward.
You know there's nothingcomplicated about the settle and
(15:06):
so I left my things in the roomand I wanted to explore and got
some more photos and videos and, um, and actually I was talking
to two of the birth attendants.
There was a there's a lady inmine and there was one uh guy
further down who identifiedhimself as del boy with the.
Both of them was so helpful, sokind, and you know I just can't
(15:30):
sing their praises enough.
Actually, after the, after thejourney, I've actually been
online and given feedback onboth of them because they were
just so kind.
We wanted to make sureeverything for everybody.
I heard them.
It wasn't just for me.
I heard them introducing otherpeople.
A lot of trouble, uh, to makesure everybody was happy.
You know, before I sayabandoned that that sounds wrong
(15:51):
, but left them to their ownyeah, did they ask about
breakfast?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
because I know obviously when we get the
caledonian sleeper you getthere's a.
You have to fill in the theinformation about breakfast on
the door your menu card that'sit, so is it the same.
Ah, is it the same yeah no, no,it's not.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
It's not so much, it's entirely different.
So, part of that introductioninto the into your birth, they
ask about breakfast.
To run through the the itemsavailable, it's your cereal and
your porridge, and it was asausage, a cob or bat any way
you're from in the uk and tea orcoffee or juice.
So I ordered a sausage and acob and obviously tea, just
(16:30):
without saying.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
I also asked could I possibly have it in the lounge
car?
Okay, which was further downthe trail.
I'll explain the trainconfiguration in a second.
But that was further down thetrain because I was in coach E
and that is in coach C.
Okay, so two down andabsolutely no problem whatsoever
(16:52):
.
So I ordered my breakfast of asausage, back pork up and cups
of tea, and I'll arrange thetime.
I was over at a quarter toseven in the morning and the
train should have arrived at tento eight, so I had an hour
thinking by that time looking atreal-time trains.
I knew where the train wasgoing to be at that time.
So just as we're approachingthe sort of the Cornish main
(17:13):
line, I'll be hopefully startingto get a bit light, so I'd see
a bit more than I possibly mighthave done sitting in the in the
cabin in the berth.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Okay, so how was the journey up to that point?
Obviously we're kind of you'vegot on, you've been in the birth
, you've you've sorted out whatyou did for breakfast, but so we
know what you're going to dowhen you wake up.
But tell us what it was like on.
Was it did it?
Was it rocky?
Was it how?
What was it like?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
well, I have to tell you, because we've experienced
many sleepers around the world,and not just the Caledonian
Sleeper on numerous occasionsthis was the smoothest sleeper
service I have ever been on.
Now, part of that is a bit of asad fact.
The two Class 57 Locos, one atthe front and one at the back,
(18:01):
they only have a maximum speedof 75 miles an hour.
So I think the slower speedactually contributes to it.
These are mark three coachesrefurbished.
I actually worked on these inthe mid eighties, but that
that's that's another story.
So it was not balanced that.
You know, when we've been onthe caledon sleeper, once or
(18:21):
twice you've had sort of severebig jolts, haven't you, which
just sort of made it a bittricky.
But this was smooth.
Okay, you've got the normalrock and rolling type thing, but
far less than I've experiencedbefore.
So, because the train leaves atquarter to 12, quarter to
midnight, I think, about halfpast 12, quarter to 1, I was all
(18:42):
tucked up in bed, then woke andwent to sleep and the next
thing I I woke up.
I think it was about half pastfive, quarter six.
So you know I had a good fewhours sleep, but I slept
straight through.
There was quiet, there was nonoise um I think we do.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
I think we do sleep pretty well on on the trains,
even if they're a bit rocky.
I mean, I think the first evercaledonian sleep I took was
probably a little bit more rockythan the ones I've taken
recently, but I think the firstever caledonian super I took was
probably a little bit morerocky than the ones I've taken
recently.
But I think we're both prettygood at sleep.
And then you wear your earplugs, so you anyway, you don't hear
any noise, so you make sure thatyou're kind of sorted for that
I'm glad you mentioned that.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Actually, about earplugs and masks where the
caledonian sleepers they providewith a little packet with those
in.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
There was none provided on the night riviera,
so that's one little take yourown yeah, take your own, take
your own yeah so talk about thatbit of that trip down that
cornish coastline and intopenzance.
So, um, I've kind of saved itto this point in the podcast,
but I did say at the verybeginning if you, if you
(19:44):
listened long enough, you'd findout which part of the train, uh
, which side of the train to siton, because we're asked this
all the time.
In fact I don't know how manytimes we've given that advice
heading up or up to Edinburghfrom London, which side to sit
on.
So which side do you sit on?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So before I answer that, keep you in suspense.
I said I was going to explainthe configuration of the train
and so that will help with theanswer.
So, the front of the train, youhave then two seating coaches,
coaches a and b.
They are normal seats which youcan use just to sit up all
night in essence.
So that's just a normal trainticket.
(20:22):
You can use your brick rail onthat without playing as playing
a supplement.
That's just normal seats, okay,the one behind coach C there's
a little guards van storage area.
I think there's a couple ofpush bikes in there with a
little through door and you walkinto a lounge area which covers
probably over half and there'sa array of types of seats on
(20:46):
both sides of the train,obviously.
And then, coming back, you'vegot coach d and the first cabin.
There is an accessibilityfriendly cabin door, so it's an
automatic door that opens verywide.
I've got videos that I'll showthat.
And then the rest of thatcarriage and the subsequent ones
.
They're all the same.
(21:06):
There's no first class on thenight riviera, it is standard
class throughout.
And I was in coach e, themidpoint.
So when I ordered my breakfasta sausage cup and a cup of tea.
I asked the birth attendantwhich side was the train was
best to sit on.
I did know this and keptcompeting this journey many,
many times, but I wanted to hearsomebody else say it.
(21:27):
He says, yes, sit on the lefthand side in the direction of
travel, so you've got a niceview of that cornish riviera.
So the train comes all the waydown the front and then arrives
into penzance, which is alsojust on the front, um on the
coastline there, which is reallynice.
So I got down there quarterseven for my breakfast.
(21:48):
But unfortunately on thismorning it was a bit cloudy and
a bit misty so it took me longerto actually try and get some
photos through the window.
But it is overall a betterexperience if you can sit there
and have your breakfast, becauseit's not takeaway cups, it was
proper cups and sauces and aproper plate to have your
breakfast because it's it's not,uh, takeaway cups.
It was proper cups and saucesand a proper you know a plate
(22:09):
without some, you know, if youhave your breakfast.
There was no quick conveniencetype, but I did notice walking
the birth tenants walk you pastwith trays and that's the same
trade that was given into burstif you ordered it in your room.
But the burst, as lovely asthey are, they're only a small
window which only give you alittle minuscule view of the
(22:29):
coastline.
So this is experience as taughtas this.
We've done this before on thecaledonian sleeper.
We like sitting in the in theclub cars, uh, to experience a
breakfast on arrival intoscotland, which is a bit
different if you're not goingthrough coastline, because you
know if you're going up to fortwilliam, inverness, you've got
beauty on both sides of thetrain, haven't you?
and so it was really, really,really nice and that it's just
(22:52):
so relaxing.
But there's one good thing I'lladd to that it was such a
lovely feel and vibe within that, within that lounge car.
It's hard to explain unlessyou're there, but there's a few
families, the staff the stewardin there was so friendly to
people and all the birthattendants walking up they were
just chatting to people.
(23:13):
It was just such a friendlyvibe.
A few people saying goodmorning as they walked past and
one lady says to me oh, you'retraveling alone, where are you
going?
And it was just nice.
I mean, that's one thing we loveabout train travel anyway.
It's just such a friendlyapproach from people.
(23:34):
But what I did do and here's alittle tip is I had all my bag
packed.
I mean I'll travel light anyway, but I left that in the room
and I did not hand my key carback in until we arrived.
As little bins like little postboxes throughout the train, you
put that in when you leave thetrain, which they expect you to
get out and vacate your roompretty soon on arrival into
penzance I was going to ask youthat.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
That was one thing I was going to say.
So you kind of do they?
Speaker 3 (23:56):
do they give you a bit of a warning, or sort of 20
minutes, 10 minutes before youactually arrive oh yeah, there's
announcements all the way,because when they hit those last
few stations on the CornishRiviera down there, there was
announcements saying no, we'rejust arriving here and we're on
time, we're a few minutes late,that sort of thing, apologies
for the delay.
And then, as we're comingaround the front towards
(24:19):
Penzance Railway Station,there's a further announcement,
very clear announcement, that weare arriving 10 minutes late.
Reason is given for the delay.
Please can you vacate your roomas quickly as possible?
So this gives you plenty ofnotice there.
But the train wasn't full, soeven when the train pulled into
the station, it glided veryslowly because it's a termless
(24:41):
station.
It's a very relaxed atmosphere,people getting out the births.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
So I know you had quite a quick turnaround because
you were heading back to London, because you wanted to do the
return as well for people, butwhat did you get up to anything
in Penzance?
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Well, when I was leaving the train, I was talking
to the birth attendant and theysaid they were going to this
particular baker's nearby.
And I said I was going to thisparticular baker's nearby.
And I said I was going to thewharf sign.
They said, well, it's up there.
So when I headed there to justget a meal deal and the sandwich
stuff to bring back for lunchtime though all the staff were
there it was like a reunion 10minutes later.
(25:18):
So I thought, well, that's agood advert.
That's where they all head tofor their breakfast and bring
things away as well.
I was looking at these cornishpastas.
I thought is it too early tohave a cornish pasty?
it's never too early for acornish in the morning never too
early for a cornish pasty sodid you do anything else apart
from getting some food?
well, I had a quick walk around.
It was starting to drizzle abit but I thought, well, I've
(25:40):
got, you know, three girlswithout to kill.
So I walked around some of thestreets and to the back of the
harbor, some little cobaltstreets and some back areas,
just so atmospheric and just socornish.
It was just so long, but youknow it's a bit gray and a bit
overcast, so, and then I'll walkback to the station.
I wanted to say a bit more fromthe harbor, but it was just too
(26:01):
gray, wet, but I thought I usedthe entire hour though.
Well, I well, I walked around.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Oh, that's good.
And obviously you took loads ofvideos and loads of photos, so
they're all going to beavailable on YouTube as soon as
Doug gets this put together,which is not going to be that
long.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
No, well, I think the point I'll add to that which I
missed to say, there's afirst-class lounge at Penzance
Station, similar, smaller butsimilar to the one that's at
London Paddington.
So on arrival, that is open andyou can go and have a shower
and you can go and have theequal, you know, snacks and
drinks, fruit.
(26:38):
You're in there just the sameas you can at Paddington.
Before departure.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Perfect.
So after you were in Penzancefor an hour or so and then you
hopped on the train back toLondon.
Now I know there was a littlebit of issues just want to give
us a quick summary of whathappened and what you did and
then how you got back to London.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Yeah, no problem.
So I'd got seats reserved.
But on arriving back at thestation they said that the train
was shorter than it should havebeen, so there was no seat
reservations working.
So the train left on time andwe arrived in time into
Paddington.
I sat on the right-hand side ofthe train so I could get views
of the Mount Spey and StMichael's Mount, because the
(27:18):
weather cleared a little bit bythis time.
I sat next to a lady who was anauthor and we had a nice shared
experience all the way back toPaddington.
It's just a nice journey sothat's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
So I know there was a little bit you mentioned about
the fact that the the seatreservations weren't working.
So if that happens to anybodyand they've got seat, they've
made the seat reservations andthey get to the station and the
seat reservations have beencancelled.
And this has happened beforewhen I've taken trains in the UK
as well, what advice?
Would.
Yeah, what?
What advice would you givepeople to how to deal with that?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
one of what.
If you can find a seat, sit init, and if you're unhappy to do
so and you don't want to boardthe train, talk to the station
staff about what options areopen to you perfect, and also I
think it's worth mentioning atthis point as well that on this
particular train, there was thenno refreshments.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
So I think that's again what we said earlier about
making sure that you know youwent and did all that shopping
and made sure you had stuff toeat and drink that it's very
important that you do take yourown refreshments.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Most definitely so.
There was a refreshment trolleybut the train was busy so we
couldn't get down, so they madethe announcement.
Ok, so could you go down to thetrolley to get stuff, or was it
difficult?
Speaker 1 (28:32):
you could do if you could get there right, so that
made it more difficult.
Okay, so there's a good coupleof points that you know from
doug there about if the suitreservations aren't working, and
again about taking your ownrefreshments.
But let's swing back to thenight reverie, because that's
what this podcast is all about.
So obviously you had a greattime and I'm really jealous and
I'm now gonna have to do thenight rivera when I'm back in
the uk, for sure I woulddefinitely recommend it yeah,
(28:53):
we'll do it together.
So we'll make sure we'll do ittogether next time and we'll
take more videos so you can haveanother youtube video.
But anyway, um, you will bemaking a youtube video of this
and you're getting this out assoon as you can and so do check
um, if you listen to thisepisode, to see if it's already
on our youtube channel.
Uk travel planning um.
But if somebody's consideringbooking on the night riviera,
(29:14):
what would be your one tip thatyou'd share with them?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
oh, okay.
Well, I think the best tipreally to get the most of the
whole experience is to arrive atpaddington in good early time,
because the first class loungeis worth sitting in.
There's some lovely comfortablechairs, nice relaxing area.
Um, you've got your food anddrinks, some snacks and fruit,
(29:39):
etc.
I've already said, and it'sjust worth embracing that whole
experience and in.
If the train departs onplatform one or eight, doesn't
matter, you're allowed to getnear the train and he is all
very relaxed and civilized, ifyou know what I mean.
There's no stress, there's norush, there's no hassle.
Um, the staff everywhere I cameacross, from the lounge and on
(30:03):
board the train, was so lovely.
So, yes, my big tip is getthere early, don't rush yourself
, just use the facilitiesavailable to you and you've
actually paid for yeah, and Ithink my tip sounds like go on
the night Riviera if you'regoing to head down to Penzance.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
It sounds like such a lot of fun and you know we love
we, we absolutely love umsleeper trains.
So, um, as I say, I'm reallyjealous that you've done this.
So if you're listening to thisand you have taken the night
rivera, leave us a message onspeakpipe and let us know about
your experience.
Or if you're listening to thisand thinking I now want to do
the night rivera again, jump onthe speakpipe and leave us a
(30:42):
message, because we love to hearfrom you about your trips or
about what you want to do.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
You know when you say just one tip.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
I've actually got another.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I would say also, a good tip is I've already said
get your breakfast delivered tothe lounge car.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah, okay, well, we'll definitely do that, so
you're only supposed to have onetip.
That's all we generally allow,but I'll let you off, thank you.
I only supposed to have one tip.
That's always generally allowed, but I'll let you off.
Thank you, I'll let you off.
So, um, yeah, so I'll put linksin the show notes to things
that you talked about, thedifferent websites that you
mentioned to find out about,kind of, what's going on with
the trains, to book the nightriviera train.
Um, yeah, so I'll put all thosesorts of links in there, links
(31:22):
to the video as well and somephotos that doug's from this
trip, so you can have a look atthose UK travel planning show
notes.
Otherwise, it sounds likeyou're just having an absolutely
brilliant time.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I am, because that's just one journey.
I'm out traveling by trainevery day.
I went to Stratford yesterday.
I've got Oxford, I've got Bath,so all of these things are
going in YouTube videos.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
I know.
So definitely go and check,honestly, go and subscribe to
our YouTube channel it's goingto be great and also check out
on the website as well, becausewe have a train travel hub on
the website which has got linksto all our articles and we've
got a lot of articles about that.
Doug's written all about traintravel around the UK.
We've obviously got we've alsogot our UK train travel as well
eBooks.
You can access that and we'reabout to this episode's going
(32:06):
out.
We're recording this a coupleof weeks ahead, but by the time
this episode goes out, we'regoing to have consults open for
January and February next year.
So if you want to chat to Dougabout planning your trip around
the UK by train or you've gotquestions, come and chat.
Book an itinerary review, booka consult and, yeah, come and
chat to us about your traintravels.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
I guess that just leaves me to say, as always,
until next week happy UK travelplanning.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK travel
planning podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
(32:50):
We love to hear from you andyou never know.
You may receive a shout out ina future episode, but, as always
, that just leaves me to sayuntil next week.
Happy UK travel planning.
Are you considering an overnight sleeper train in
the UK?
Well, in this episode, dougtakes the Night Riviera and
shares the need to knows.
So your journey is smooth,comfortable and memorable, and
keep listening to learn exactlywhere to sit as you head down
the Cornish Riviera intoPenzance.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to the UK Travel Planning Podcast.
Your host is the founder of theUK Travel Planning website,
tracy Collins.
Each week, tracy sharesdestination guides, travel tips
and itinerary ideas, as well asinterviews with a variety of
guests who share their knowledgeand experience of UK travel to
help you plan your perfect UKvacation.
Join us as we explore the UKfrom cosmopolitan cities to
(00:39):
quaint villages, from historiccastles to beautiful islands,
and from the picturesquecountryside to seaside towns.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Hi and welcome to this week's edition of the UK
Travel Planner Podcast.
I have Doug here this week.
Hello there.
Now Doug is in the UK and hasbeen travelling a lot.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
I am.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
You are, yeah, and you've been travelling a lot
around by train.
He's trying all these traintrips out so he can report back
for you on the podcast and onYouTube Now in this week.
Yeah, you're having a greattime, aren't you?
Speaker 3 (01:13):
Oh I am.
I'm a fantastic time.
Am I happy place on train.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
You are.
You are Now.
So what we're going to betalking about this week is an
overnight sleeper train in theUK, and we're going to be
talking about the Night Riviera,which runs from London,
paddington to Penzance.
So in this episode, doug'sgoing to cover the practical
bits that you need to know, sohow to book it, what birth
passengers can use, stuff aboutthe first castle lounge at
(01:38):
Paddington, what time boardingstarts, what the check-in
process is like, all that sortof stuff that you need to know.
So Doug's gonna talk about allof that stuff with you.
And how to order breakfast,which is very important, so you
can roll in a cornwall with acoffee or, more importantly for
us, a cup of tea in hand soyou're also gonna hear, are the
(01:59):
day-to-day details from Doug'strip, including you, had a bit
of a small engineering diversion.
That meant a slightly laterarrival, but not too bad yeah
yeah, and you're going to sharewhere to sit on the train to get
the best views, aren't youspecifically of St Michael's
Mount.
And then a little bit aboutwhat happened on your return
journey, because the there's abit of a change with the train,
(02:20):
so seat reservations weren't inplace, so Doug's going to talk
to you a little bit about whatto do if that happens.
Well, that's, those sort ofthings happen.
And if sleeper trains are yourthing, you must, must, must
listen to our Caledonian sleeperepisodes, because we've got two
episodes about the Caledoniansleeper.
I will put links to thoseepisodes in the show notes, and
(02:44):
Doug's actually done a video aswell about a Caledonian
sleepover, if you are interested.
And obviously I know you'regoing to do one about the Night
Riviera too.
But should we head intochatting about the trip and how
it went?
So anybody who's thinking aboutit, if you're listening and
thinking, oh, I quite fancy this, I quite fancy taking a trip on
the Night Riviera, or maybeyou're listening to this and you
(03:04):
don't know what the NightRiviera is.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
That's true.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Yeah, so do you want to tell everybody what the Night
Riviera is and why you wantedto do this particular?
Speaker 3 (03:16):
UK sleeper train.
Yeah, okay.
So the Night Riviera is theGreat Western Railway sleeper
service, as you say.
It runs from London, paddingtondown to Penzance, which is in
the tip of Cornwall.
So the night Vivio is one ofonly two sleep services, one in
the UK you've got the Caledoniansleeper, which runs from London
, houston to what severallocations.
(03:39):
In Scotland you have thelowlander or the Highlander
sleeper.
So the night Riviera Sleeper isone that I've never taken.
I've travelled on the sametrain route many, many times
over many years but I've neveractually got round to taking the
Night Riviera.
Now, the reason that this runsis because Cornwall is quite
remote.
I think it catches a few peopleout when we've done consults
(04:00):
just how far from LondonCornwall is.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
I think it catches most people out when we do
consults.
It's always a surprise.
It's always when people askquestions in the group as well.
We're kind of like do yourealise how far away Cornwall is
?
And yeah, I just yeah.
I think that people don'trealise actually.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
That's true, yeah.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So where does the service leave from and travel to
?
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Okay.
So the service leaves fromLondon Paddington down to
Penzance.
It leaves at 23.45 or quarterto the midnight Sunday to Friday
.
It doesn't run on a Saturdaynight but it does leave five
minutes later on a Sunday night.
Now the service is run by GreatWestern Railway and it takes
between seven and a half eighthours ish.
(04:45):
So the stops include reading,exodus, david's, new nabot
plymouth list cars and hosteland then stations down the
cornish mainline to penzance.
So you're right what you saidearlier the, the one I caught,
had about 10 minute delayheading into Penzance.
There's some engineering worksjust cause a little bit of
(05:08):
delays.
So I checked this in advance.
I knew exactly what to expect.
I check on real time trains, soa bit more sort of technical
information about the train.
So a typical rail nerd I waslooking at actually how it was
running, where it was going,what the load codes were, et
cetera, et cetera.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Okay, so you got you kind of arrived a little bit
late, but not very much, but didyou, did you leave on time?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
left on time okay perfect.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Let's bang on time okay, so how easy was it to book
and how far in advance did youbook it?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
so this is actually really really incredibly easy.
So the great western railwaywebsite you can book it on there
or, if you went throughnational rail inquiries, it will
direct you to that site.
So if you're on to the greatwestern railway site, it's just
for all train tickets andthere's a little search box on
the right hand side.
It's like a little green box.
Just type in that riviera thereand it just takes you straight
(06:04):
to the page and you're bookingwhen you want.
I think I booked it about amonth ago, do you think?
Speaker 1 (06:10):
yeah, I think so.
I know.
Yeah, because, well, we didbook the flight for you to the
uk until not that long ago.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
Yeah, so it's one of the first things I booked,
though, wasn't it?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I think, yeah, it was because I know you wanted to do
it and because we've been askedquite a lot in the Facebook
group and we actually have hademails asking about wanting to
know a little bit more about theNight Riviera, so that was
another reason.
You were kind of like no, weneed to do this one, and
obviously as I mentioned before,you're doing a lot of videos,
so this will be going on YouTubeas well.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
I took a lot of videos and sort of video footage
, footage.
He just needs me to edit it nowthen, yeah, well, you will get
it edited and it will get put onon youtube on the uk travel
plan and uh youtube, uh channel.
So do look out for that.
If you're listening to this andthinking, oh, I want to
actually see what this lookslike, right, so let's, let's go
to paddington station.
So you arrive at paddingtonstation and you're going to
catch the train, so what sort offacilities are available for
passengers when they arrive atPaddington, before they actually
(07:06):
get on the train?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Okay.
So I arrived probably veryearly, to be fair, about 8
o'clock.
I arrived in the evening, but Iwas taking footage of videos
and things like that.
So I came on the underground onthe district line.
So you walk straight up intothe concourse and then, as
you're standing looking at thetrains departing because it's a
terminus station paddington ison the left-hand side of the
(07:29):
station you've got platform one,okay, so on that side of the
platform you have the firstclass lounge for great western
railway.
If you are a paying passengerfor the uh night riviera, you
have access to those facilities.
That opens at 9 00 pm, 2100hours.
That opens and inside therethere is hot and cold drinks,
(07:54):
snacks, fruit, showers, which.
Are they going to have a lookaround?
I've got videos of them and Idid ask.
Yes, they do provide towels aswell and very good, good,
separate Wi-Fi to the station,wi-fi which is also very, very
good.
It's actually very fast and thestaff were absolutely lovely.
Everybody I met in there wasfriendly, it's well lit, it's
(08:15):
light, just perfect.
So that's there.
On the right-hand side of thestation is the public, the
toilets and the washrooms toeverybody, and there's showers
in there as well, if you shouldwant to use those ones instead,
but I don't see why you wouldwant to.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
But I'm also going to mention in Platform 1 as well,
there's also something famousthat you'll probably want to
have a photo next to.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Which is right next to the first-class lounge.
Would that be a little bear byany chance?
Speaker 1 (08:44):
it is, it is.
So don't miss that.
Don't miss having a photo withpaddington bear.
You just can't.
And so absolutely go and takeyour picture with paddington
bear before you go into thelounge yeah, because you're on
the subject of that lovelylittle bear.
Speaker 3 (08:57):
Yeah, I will also mention I'll come on to the
shops and things later butinside the like the shops area,
the food area, there's an actualpaddington shop.
Now I went in there and, quitefrankly, I became a little boy
again because, there's so much,so much merchandise for
(09:18):
paddington.
It's actually a joy to be inthere.
And because I actually got inthere a bit later, I was the
only one in there so I wastalking to the security guard in
there.
And because I actually got inthem a bit later, I was the only
one in there so I was trying tothe security guard in there.
And you're saying you'd besurprised, you'd expect all
children to come in here.
But believe it or not, there'sas many, or if not more, adults
coming here than you ever seechildren yeah, but who doesn't
(09:40):
love paddington?
I mean I've been travelingaround the yeah, I've been
traveling around paddington.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
If you've been following on instagram, you'll
know that I've been travelingaround the whole of the uk with
paddington.
We've been all sorts of placesand if you don't know what I'm
talking about, you need to goand check out instagram because
it's been a lot of fun,absolutely a lot of fun.
Now, as well as paddington,obviously, there are shops, bars
, cafes at paddington.
Are they still open?
Because it's quite late whenyou're getting there to take the
(10:06):
train.
So, you know, can you get mealand drink before you're bored?
Speaker 3 (10:10):
You can.
What I did.
I went to the shopping shoparea two or three times just to
see what was open and then whatwas closing.
So obviously, when I got thereat 8 pm, all the fast food and
all the shops, everything'sstill open.
I went back about 10, 10o'clock, quarter past 10 around
(10:32):
that time and mark's expenseswere short.
The palatine shop was stillopen.
Some of the food stores wereclosed.
Sainsbury's, the supermarket inthe uk, that was open till
midnight.
So, yes, you can still get foodand drink in there and some of
the fast food shops are stillopen and I think there's a cake
shop still open as well.
(10:52):
So there is still some range,still some variety.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
You can actually get some if you want to at that time
of night that's good, so youcan go and stock up before you
actually board the train and getinto your room.
So you know what time does thatactually happen?
What time can you get on thetrain?
Speaker 3 (11:10):
OK, so the official time is 22.30.
That's half past 10 at night.
Ok, so I was led to believethat the train usually departs
off Platform 1.
, like I said, where the loungeis, where paddington statue is,
but also occasionally it leavesour platform eight, which is
obviously just further along.
So I walked across there justafter 10 o'clock, take some
(11:34):
photos and videos of the trainand have a look at the loco
locomotives.
But that's just me and I wastalking to two of the birth
attendants and they said, yes,it's 2230 rigid, but they let me
on sort of five to ten minutesearlier so I can walk down the
train and I can look at thephotos.
You know, take some photos andvideos, you know, ready for the
(11:55):
YouTube.
So it's very straightforward.
That's all I have to say.
Everything is straightforward.
There's nothing complex,there's nothing complicated,
it's open space.
The train arrives early.
You've got good, clear sight.
It's on the notice boards.
There's also departure boardsand screens within the first
class lounge so you don't haveto walk out to see what the
(12:19):
train's in.
They actually put it on thescreen in there.
The train has arrived.
So myself and a few othersdecided to have a walk out all
together to have a look at thetrain.
Some people were moving a bitslower.
They wanted to take more timeto actually reassure themselves
that they're heading to theright area for the train.
So you walk from platform oneto platform eight, a matter of a
(12:43):
minute or two to walk and thenit's open access on to the that
part of the station.
So there's no ticket check,there's no reservation check to
walk actually towards the trainitself.
That is done when you actuallycome to board and they open,
unlock the doors at 10 30 so youcan actually be led into your
(13:03):
birth.
Not room, not cabin, it is abirth on the train.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
That's the correct terminology so how do you get
into your birth, though?
Do they?
Do they give you a card orsomething?
How is it?
How does it work?
Speaker 3 (13:14):
yeah.
So I was allowed to board thetrain sort of five, ten minutes
earlier to take photos andvideos.
So at 10 30 they unlock thecentral, locking the lights on
the side of the train come onit's called a camp rail light
that comes on and then the birthattendant steps out and they
check your name, yourreservation and they here's the
(13:35):
thing I should really impress methey physically Guide you and
take you to your birth.
So there's not your own birth,number 15 is down there.
They physically walk on withyou, hand you a key card which
is similar to a hotel key cardwhich we've all seen, show you
how to open the door, show youhow to use the key, and then
(13:57):
they open the door and then giveyou a quick overview of what's
there and how it works.
You know, we all expect, youknow plugs, sockets and usbs,
but there's water, there's thesink in the corner and how to
use the blind.
Everything is explained to you.
And I asked about temperaturecontrol in there and it's just a
(14:20):
simple blue or red toggleswitch and you just move it up
and down as to how you want it.
Straightforward and simple.
The birth size is quite small,it's more for two, but because I
was traveling on my own.
It's just nice and cozy and thetop birth a bunk in the birth
is already put back, so it'sjust a one seating birth which
(14:43):
has had the um like a blanketand duvet and two pillows on
there.
I changed ends with it becauseI wanted to be the opposite end,
uh, to sleep, which obviouslyis your choice, and there's
three, lots of lighting in thereand they just find the perfect
one.
One's a reading light, so it'sall just nice and
straightforward.
You know there's nothingcomplicated about the settle and
(15:06):
so I left my things in the roomand I wanted to explore and got
some more photos and videos and, um, and actually I was talking
to two of the birth attendants.
There was a there's a lady inmine and there was one uh guy
further down who identifiedhimself as del boy with the.
Both of them was so helpful, sokind, and you know I just can't
(15:30):
sing their praises enough.
Actually, after the, after thejourney, I've actually been
online and given feedback onboth of them because they were
just so kind.
We wanted to make sureeverything for everybody.
I heard them.
It wasn't just for me.
I heard them introducing otherpeople.
A lot of trouble, uh, to makesure everybody was happy.
You know, before I sayabandoned that that sounds wrong
(15:51):
, but left them to their ownyeah, did they ask about
breakfast?
Speaker 1 (15:55):
because I know obviously when we get the
caledonian sleeper you getthere's a.
You have to fill in the theinformation about breakfast on
the door your menu card that'sit, so is it the same.
Ah, is it the same yeah no, no,it's not.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
It's not so much, it's entirely different.
So, part of that introductioninto the into your birth, they
ask about breakfast.
To run through the the itemsavailable, it's your cereal and
your porridge, and it was asausage, a cob or bat any way
you're from in the uk and tea orcoffee or juice.
So I ordered a sausage and acob and obviously tea, just
(16:30):
without saying.
Speaker 1 (16:31):
And.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
I also asked could I possibly have it in the lounge
car?
Okay, which was further downthe trail.
I'll explain the trainconfiguration in a second.
But that was further down thetrain because I was in coach E
and that is in coach C.
Okay, so two down andabsolutely no problem whatsoever
(16:52):
.
So I ordered my breakfast of asausage, back pork up and cups
of tea, and I'll arrange thetime.
I was over at a quarter toseven in the morning and the
train should have arrived at tento eight, so I had an hour
thinking by that time looking atreal-time trains.
I knew where the train wasgoing to be at that time.
So just as we're approachingthe sort of the Cornish main
(17:13):
line, I'll be hopefully startingto get a bit light, so I'd see
a bit more than I possibly mighthave done sitting in the in the
cabin in the berth.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
Okay, so how was the journey up to that point?
Obviously we're kind of you'vegot on, you've been in the birth
, you've you've sorted out whatyou did for breakfast, but so we
know what you're going to dowhen you wake up.
But tell us what it was like on.
Was it did it?
Was it rocky?
Was it how?
What was it like?
Speaker 3 (17:40):
well, I have to tell you, because we've experienced
many sleepers around the world,and not just the Caledonian
Sleeper on numerous occasionsthis was the smoothest sleeper
service I have ever been on.
Now, part of that is a bit of asad fact.
The two Class 57 Locos, one atthe front and one at the back,
(18:01):
they only have a maximum speedof 75 miles an hour.
So I think the slower speedactually contributes to it.
These are mark three coachesrefurbished.
I actually worked on these inthe mid eighties, but that
that's that's another story.
So it was not balanced that.
You know, when we've been onthe caledon sleeper, once or
(18:21):
twice you've had sort of severebig jolts, haven't you, which
just sort of made it a bittricky.
But this was smooth.
Okay, you've got the normalrock and rolling type thing, but
far less than I've experiencedbefore.
So, because the train leaves atquarter to 12, quarter to
midnight, I think, about halfpast 12, quarter to 1, I was all
(18:42):
tucked up in bed, then woke andwent to sleep and the next
thing I I woke up.
I think it was about half pastfive, quarter six.
So you know I had a good fewhours sleep, but I slept
straight through.
There was quiet, there was nonoise um I think we do.
Speaker 1 (18:59):
I think we do sleep pretty well on on the trains,
even if they're a bit rocky.
I mean, I think the first evercaledonian sleep I took was
probably a little bit more rockythan the ones I've taken
recently, but I think the firstever caledonian super I took was
probably a little bit morerocky than the ones I've taken
recently.
But I think we're both prettygood at sleep.
And then you wear your earplugs, so you anyway, you don't hear
any noise, so you make sure thatyou're kind of sorted for that
I'm glad you mentioned that.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Actually, about earplugs and masks where the
caledonian sleepers they providewith a little packet with those
in.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
There was none provided on the night riviera,
so that's one little take yourown yeah, take your own, take
your own yeah so talk about thatbit of that trip down that
cornish coastline and intopenzance.
So, um, I've kind of saved itto this point in the podcast,
but I did say at the verybeginning if you, if you
(19:44):
listened long enough, you'd findout which part of the train, uh
, which side of the train to siton, because we're asked this
all the time.
In fact I don't know how manytimes we've given that advice
heading up or up to Edinburghfrom London, which side to sit
on.
So which side do you sit on?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
So before I answer that, keep you in suspense.
I said I was going to explainthe configuration of the train
and so that will help with theanswer.
So, the front of the train, youhave then two seating coaches,
coaches a and b.
They are normal seats which youcan use just to sit up all
night in essence.
So that's just a normal trainticket.
(20:22):
You can use your brick rail onthat without playing as playing
a supplement.
That's just normal seats, okay,the one behind coach C there's
a little guards van storage area.
I think there's a couple ofpush bikes in there with a
little through door and you walkinto a lounge area which covers
probably over half and there'sa array of types of seats on
(20:46):
both sides of the train,obviously.
And then, coming back, you'vegot coach d and the first cabin.
There is an accessibilityfriendly cabin door, so it's an
automatic door that opens verywide.
I've got videos that I'll showthat.
And then the rest of thatcarriage and the subsequent ones
.
They're all the same.
(21:06):
There's no first class on thenight riviera, it is standard
class throughout.
And I was in coach e, themidpoint.
So when I ordered my breakfasta sausage cup and a cup of tea.
I asked the birth attendantwhich side was the train was
best to sit on.
I did know this and keptcompeting this journey many,
many times, but I wanted to hearsomebody else say it.
(21:27):
He says, yes, sit on the lefthand side in the direction of
travel, so you've got a niceview of that cornish riviera.
So the train comes all the waydown the front and then arrives
into penzance, which is alsojust on the front, um on the
coastline there, which is reallynice.
So I got down there quarterseven for my breakfast.
(21:48):
But unfortunately on thismorning it was a bit cloudy and
a bit misty so it took me longerto actually try and get some
photos through the window.
But it is overall a betterexperience if you can sit there
and have your breakfast, becauseit's not takeaway cups, it was
proper cups and sauces and aproper plate to have your
breakfast because it's it's not,uh, takeaway cups.
It was proper cups and saucesand a proper you know a plate
(22:09):
without some, you know, if youhave your breakfast.
There was no quick conveniencetype, but I did notice walking
the birth tenants walk you pastwith trays and that's the same
trade that was given into burstif you ordered it in your room.
But the burst, as lovely asthey are, they're only a small
window which only give you alittle minuscule view of the
(22:29):
coastline.
So this is experience as taughtas this.
We've done this before on thecaledonian sleeper.
We like sitting in the in theclub cars, uh, to experience a
breakfast on arrival intoscotland, which is a bit
different if you're not goingthrough coastline, because you
know if you're going up to fortwilliam, inverness, you've got
beauty on both sides of thetrain, haven't you?
and so it was really, really,really nice and that it's just
(22:52):
so relaxing.
But there's one good thing I'lladd to that it was such a
lovely feel and vibe within that, within that lounge car.
It's hard to explain unlessyou're there, but there's a few
families, the staff the stewardin there was so friendly to
people and all the birthattendants walking up they were
just chatting to people.
(23:13):
It was just such a friendlyvibe.
A few people saying goodmorning as they walked past and
one lady says to me oh, you'retraveling alone, where are you
going?
And it was just nice.
I mean, that's one thing we loveabout train travel anyway.
It's just such a friendlyapproach from people.
(23:34):
But what I did do and here's alittle tip is I had all my bag
packed.
I mean I'll travel light anyway, but I left that in the room
and I did not hand my key carback in until we arrived.
As little bins like little postboxes throughout the train, you
put that in when you leave thetrain, which they expect you to
get out and vacate your roompretty soon on arrival into
penzance I was going to ask youthat.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
That was one thing I was going to say.
So you kind of do they?
Speaker 3 (23:56):
do they give you a bit of a warning, or sort of 20
minutes, 10 minutes before youactually arrive oh yeah, there's
announcements all the way,because when they hit those last
few stations on the CornishRiviera down there, there was
announcements saying no, we'rejust arriving here and we're on
time, we're a few minutes late,that sort of thing, apologies
for the delay.
And then, as we're comingaround the front towards
(24:19):
Penzance Railway Station,there's a further announcement,
very clear announcement, that weare arriving 10 minutes late.
Reason is given for the delay.
Please can you vacate your roomas quickly as possible?
So this gives you plenty ofnotice there.
But the train wasn't full, soeven when the train pulled into
the station, it glided veryslowly because it's a termless
(24:41):
station.
It's a very relaxed atmosphere,people getting out the births.
Speaker 1 (24:48):
So I know you had quite a quick turnaround because
you were heading back to London, because you wanted to do the
return as well for people, butwhat did you get up to anything
in Penzance?
Speaker 3 (24:56):
Well, when I was leaving the train, I was talking
to the birth attendant and theysaid they were going to this
particular baker's nearby.
And I said I was going to thisparticular baker's nearby.
And I said I was going to thewharf sign.
They said, well, it's up there.
So when I headed there to justget a meal deal and the sandwich
stuff to bring back for lunchtime though all the staff were
there it was like a reunion 10minutes later.
(25:18):
So I thought, well, that's agood advert.
That's where they all head tofor their breakfast and bring
things away as well.
I was looking at these cornishpastas.
I thought is it too early tohave a cornish pasty?
it's never too early for acornish in the morning never too
early for a cornish pasty sodid you do anything else apart
from getting some food?
well, I had a quick walk around.
It was starting to drizzle abit but I thought, well, I've
(25:40):
got, you know, three girlswithout to kill.
So I walked around some of thestreets and to the back of the
harbor, some little cobaltstreets and some back areas,
just so atmospheric and just socornish.
It was just so long, but youknow it's a bit gray and a bit
overcast, so, and then I'll walkback to the station.
I wanted to say a bit more fromthe harbor, but it was just too
(26:01):
gray, wet, but I thought I usedthe entire hour though.
Well, I well, I walked around.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
Oh, that's good.
And obviously you took loads ofvideos and loads of photos, so
they're all going to beavailable on YouTube as soon as
Doug gets this put together,which is not going to be that
long.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
No, well, I think the point I'll add to that which I
missed to say, there's afirst-class lounge at Penzance
Station, similar, smaller butsimilar to the one that's at
London Paddington.
So on arrival, that is open andyou can go and have a shower
and you can go and have theequal, you know, snacks and
drinks, fruit.
(26:38):
You're in there just the sameas you can at Paddington.
Before departure.
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Perfect.
So after you were in Penzancefor an hour or so and then you
hopped on the train back toLondon.
Now I know there was a littlebit of issues just want to give
us a quick summary of whathappened and what you did and
then how you got back to London.
Speaker 3 (26:57):
Yeah, no problem.
So I'd got seats reserved.
But on arriving back at thestation they said that the train
was shorter than it should havebeen, so there was no seat
reservations working.
So the train left on time andwe arrived in time into
Paddington.
I sat on the right-hand side ofthe train so I could get views
of the Mount Spey and StMichael's Mount, because the
(27:18):
weather cleared a little bit bythis time.
I sat next to a lady who was anauthor and we had a nice shared
experience all the way back toPaddington.
It's just a nice journey sothat's brilliant.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
So I know there was a little bit you mentioned about
the fact that the the seatreservations weren't working.
So if that happens to anybodyand they've got seat, they've
made the seat reservations andthey get to the station and the
seat reservations have beencancelled.
And this has happened beforewhen I've taken trains in the UK
as well, what advice?
Would.
Yeah, what?
What advice would you givepeople to how to deal with that?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
one of what.
If you can find a seat, sit init, and if you're unhappy to do
so and you don't want to boardthe train, talk to the station
staff about what options areopen to you perfect, and also I
think it's worth mentioning atthis point as well that on this
particular train, there was thenno refreshments.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
So I think that's again what we said earlier about
making sure that you know youwent and did all that shopping
and made sure you had stuff toeat and drink that it's very
important that you do take yourown refreshments.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
Most definitely so.
There was a refreshment trolleybut the train was busy so we
couldn't get down, so they madethe announcement.
Ok, so could you go down to thetrolley to get stuff, or was it
difficult?
Speaker 1 (28:32):
you could do if you could get there right, so that
made it more difficult.
Okay, so there's a good coupleof points that you know from
doug there about if the suitreservations aren't working, and
again about taking your ownrefreshments.
But let's swing back to thenight reverie, because that's
what this podcast is all about.
So obviously you had a greattime and I'm really jealous and
I'm now gonna have to do thenight rivera when I'm back in
the uk, for sure I woulddefinitely recommend it yeah,
(28:53):
we'll do it together.
So we'll make sure we'll do ittogether next time and we'll
take more videos so you can haveanother youtube video.
But anyway, um, you will bemaking a youtube video of this
and you're getting this out assoon as you can and so do check
um, if you listen to thisepisode, to see if it's already
on our youtube channel.
Uk travel planning um.
But if somebody's consideringbooking on the night riviera,
(29:14):
what would be your one tip thatyou'd share with them?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
oh, okay.
Well, I think the best tipreally to get the most of the
whole experience is to arrive atpaddington in good early time,
because the first class loungeis worth sitting in.
There's some lovely comfortablechairs, nice relaxing area.
Um, you've got your food anddrinks, some snacks and fruit,
(29:39):
etc.
I've already said, and it'sjust worth embracing that whole
experience and in.
If the train departs onplatform one or eight, doesn't
matter, you're allowed to getnear the train and he is all
very relaxed and civilized, ifyou know what I mean.
There's no stress, there's norush, there's no hassle.
Um, the staff everywhere I cameacross, from the lounge and on
(30:03):
board the train, was so lovely.
So, yes, my big tip is getthere early, don't rush yourself
, just use the facilitiesavailable to you and you've
actually paid for yeah, and Ithink my tip sounds like go on
the night Riviera if you'regoing to head down to Penzance.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
It sounds like such a lot of fun and you know we love
we, we absolutely love umsleeper trains.
So, um, as I say, I'm reallyjealous that you've done this.
So if you're listening to thisand you have taken the night
rivera, leave us a message onspeakpipe and let us know about
your experience.
Or if you're listening to thisand thinking I now want to do
the night rivera again, jump onthe speakpipe and leave us a
(30:42):
message, because we love to hearfrom you about your trips or
about what you want to do.
Speaker 3 (30:48):
You know when you say just one tip.
Speaker 1 (30:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
I've actually got another.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
I would say also, a good tip is I've already said
get your breakfast delivered tothe lounge car.
Speaker 1 (30:59):
Yeah, okay, well, we'll definitely do that, so
you're only supposed to have onetip.
That's all we generally allow,but I'll let you off, thank you.
I only supposed to have one tip.
That's always generally allowed, but I'll let you off.
Thank you, I'll let you off.
So, um, yeah, so I'll put linksin the show notes to things
that you talked about, thedifferent websites that you
mentioned to find out about,kind of, what's going on with
the trains, to book the nightriviera train.
Um, yeah, so I'll put all thosesorts of links in there, links
(31:22):
to the video as well and somephotos that doug's from this
trip, so you can have a look atthose UK travel planning show
notes.
Otherwise, it sounds likeyou're just having an absolutely
brilliant time.
Speaker 3 (31:33):
I am, because that's just one journey.
I'm out traveling by trainevery day.
I went to Stratford yesterday.
I've got Oxford, I've got Bath,so all of these things are
going in YouTube videos.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
I know.
So definitely go and check,honestly, go and subscribe to
our YouTube channel it's goingto be great and also check out
on the website as well, becausewe have a train travel hub on
the website which has got linksto all our articles and we've
got a lot of articles about that.
Doug's written all about traintravel around the UK.
We've obviously got we've alsogot our UK train travel as well
eBooks.
You can access that and we'reabout to this episode's going
(32:06):
out.
We're recording this a coupleof weeks ahead, but by the time
this episode goes out, we'regoing to have consults open for
January and February next year.
So if you want to chat to Dougabout planning your trip around
the UK by train or you've gotquestions, come and chat.
Book an itinerary review, booka consult and, yeah, come and
chat to us about your traintravels.
Speaker 3 (32:28):
Definitely.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
I guess that just leaves me to say, as always,
until next week happy UK travelplanning.
Thank you for tuning in to thisweek's episode of the UK travel
planning podcast.
As always, show notes can befound at uktravelplanningcom.
If you've enjoyed the show, whynot leave us feedback via text
or a review on your favouritepodcast app?
(32:50):
We love to hear from you andyou never know.
You may receive a shout out ina future episode, but, as always
, that just leaves me to sayuntil next week.
Happy UK travel planning.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.