I Took the Megabus Coach from Birmingham to London (via Heathrow). What was it Like? 

The reason (probably) why the driver put up a 'not in service' sign is because he doesn't want people to get on the bus yet. Either because he wanted to have his breakfast/lunch/dinnner, because he had to clean the bus first, or simply because it's easier to keep track of both passengers and luggage if they all board the bus at about the same time. Or maybe he just doesn't like passengers. Yep, that's the one ! Trust me, I'm a busdriver. :)

Found your channel recently and glad of it. Great to see your journeys you’ve documented. your commentary’s are great too. Look forward to more.

This was something I tried b/c of the frugal cost of going from Bham to LHR in early September during a week day in the mid morning departure. I could see the train station I'd used before, but chose this method because of your recommendations. I did not have a good experience this time. The bus was late and the toilet was broken. I used the train for a medium price to travel in November from Bham to Euston, but it was such a better experience and wasn't that much more costly. Thanks for enduring these experiences for us to make good decisions.

I think one thing about coach travel is demonstrated so well in these videos. I watched the video of flixbus and anxiously booked one last Sunday from Nottingham to London (early start following the rail strike). The coach was on time, took a little over 3h to get to Finchley Road, and an easy onward underground journey. All for £7. The bus was owned by Tiger European, in flixbus livery, immaculately clean, the driver was friendly and humorous. I really couldn't fault it. The main risk seems to be variability of the quality of service.

Excellent review, and a great insight into the alternative to train travel.

Thank you for sharing. Much appreciated. I was thinking about taking the coach from London up north. Looking forward to more videos 🙌

Absolutely brilliant video mark thanks for sharing mate ❤ also you’ve gone that way to avoid the chaos on the M6 and such route I think also you had a coach pass you of same design 6:40 that was bound for Southampton as they have the contract for the cruise liners for most of north west I think taking them and bringing them home cheers mark 🤜🤛

Very impressed with Megabus, thanks for sharing your trip.

We tend to send a lot of our drivers down the A435 too. Especially during peak times when the motorways around Birmingham are pretty bad. M6 By J6 and the Airport Junctions in particular. May be slower to start with but end up joining a much quieter part of the network 👍

Enjoyed that as always … cheers for now 😉

Great vid and thanks for showing Kings Heath as it's where I spent the first 8 years of my life 🙂.

Hi Marc hope u R well. I have been with Megabus and they are really good. Great video btw.

My only non-charter coach trip from London to Birmingham was in the 1980s/90s when London Transport and West Midlands Transport set up a joint venture with MCW Metroliner double deck coaches. from Victoria Bus Station to Colmore Road. It was £5 then with use of all WMT buses for the day. The last time I used it was on a December day when on the trip back there was a delay as the nominated coach wouldn't start and a reserve that had been standing in the cold was used. It hadn't heated up much and didn't do so until half way back. The driver tried to make up time and the film that was being shown on TV screens around it hadn't finished when we got to Victoria so it must have taken between 2 and 3 hours. A Megabus trip from Exeter to London via Bath service station ( to change drivers) was so early back to Victoria coach station and I managed to get he train home (2 stops) and get to my front door by the time the coach had been due to get to London.

A very entertaining and informative video as always. Personally, if I’m travelling alone it’s the seat on my own option every time.

Great video worked for megabus out of Glasgow for 3 years when they 1st started good times cheers

Well done , Mark . Megabus ( like Wetherspoons and Ryanair ) are frequently knocked - sometimes deservedly so . However , that was a smooth journey . If it hadn't been for the 48 minute delay it would have been almost perfect . Decent price for a trip to a majot airport . Prices from London generally seem to be a real bargain with Megabus . Mind you , departing some northern cities ( Leeds to Glasgow for example ) it is a different story . Food for thought ! Many thanks and good health .

Great video. I live in Birmingham, and it is handy having the Megabus stop on Brunel Street. I won a competition to name one of the Buses Jenson Busson.

Heh, love the name, and is so like what Linburg's (Derby / Nottingham / Sheffield, was previously with Flixbus, but due to a contractual issue, they now drive for Megabus, mostly on the Nottingham route) often do on their coaches. I can remember rather comically referring to a driver as Baldric on the last Flixbus I took (Was the coach's name, which was an ex Sheerings Merc, and fantastic it was too), much to the guy's amusement.

I travelled on the M10 service between Heathrow and London Victoria with Megabus and not only the WiFi wasn't working, but even the charging ports. Yet at least I had booked an upper deck seat and could enjoy the view. The interdecks are indeed amazing coaches and I'd love to have another one on my next trip. It is cheap, but at the same time it has often good value for money Next Megabus trip I will have will be between Manchester and Leeds next week, then I'll be trying Itabus between Florence and Bergamo Airport in Italy next month

Thanks for a very informative video,

We generally check on Google whatever way is quicker before deciding which way to go out of Birmingham. It usually takes around 30 mins from Brunel St to the M40 whether it’s A435 or M6/M42 we use. I usually choose the 435 as if I get stuck in traffic there I can find an alternative but the motorway can be brutal if traffic grinds to a halt.

Good film as always.

I bloody love your channel , it helps no end, i'm planning my next trip to thailand in 2024, i always fly LHR/BKK direct with thai or eva airways, flight departure times are 11.50 am and 21.30 pm,.ive done the national express trip from telford @11.50 with eta LHR@18.00,.good service and good price , but i dont want to go into londons victoria coach stn to have to return to LHR, so this megabus route might be my solution, i could get train from gobowen station to b,ham new st and get the megabus to LHR, it would be ideal for catching the 21.30 flight and would leave an ample time for any en route delays,. The earlier flight times a different mater, i usually travel to stay at my sons house in barnes the night before, i dont like chancing an early morning trip from home, to many variables to go wrong and i like to be at airport at least 3 hours before flight,.cheers,.

I used megabus for years when travelling between Glasgow and Aberdeen. Cheap and cheerful

Nice to see you got the Stotts coach in the video at Birmingham.

honestly i agree ive really come around to coach companies the prices they offer are so much better than the trains and once you get on you can just sit back and relax. no stress of changing trains or ticket inspectors

Love the way you inspect the loos. Many of the long coach trips I have been on, the driver implores us not to do Number two's.! Seemed like a pleasant trip.! Yes, I would have moved seats once I knew nobody else was getting on. I suspect your next door companion was a stickler for the 'rules'. Probably had braces on his underpants.

Great trip. Your bus model/type in some countries called Low Drive, meaning only the driver cab is occupied the lower floor, meanwhile the higher floor is dedicated for passengers only. This type of the bus has advantage to bring huge luggage or even cargo inside the bagage compartment, suitable for bus company who also run cargo delivery. In my country, this type of the bus has various name, depend from body builder it manufactured, but mostly we called it UHD (Ultra High Deck). To be honest, if I have reserved seat but when the coach has plenty unoccupied seat, I will seat on it for a while until the original owner came or until onboard tickets checking (rare moment).

Awesome video buddy from Alan in Lowestoft

Hey, with the reclining leaver next to your seat, you have to pull it up and lean back in your seat so it can recline.

Mark I never thought I’d see you travelling on a megabus again after last time haha

Awesome video

The driver was on a break and the reason we go through kingsheath is the traffic on the m6 and m42 out of Birmingham can be like a carpark but I am glad you enjoyed your journey

I remember when Mega Bus first started and they advertised Birmingham to London for £1 plus 50p booking fee. Their first fleet were just old stock double decker buses (possibly West Midland Travel) spray painted blue.

Note the standard Stagecoach patterned seats and flooring! With Citylink there isn’t a seat reservation, just sit wherever you fancy, in Scotland Citylink and Megabus are combined in the same vehicle. Nice scenery in your video

Interesting watch I used to drive both Bussy Galore & Octobussy on the megabus network, the A435 is sometimes taken as an alternative in/out of Birmingham when traffic data on the likes of national highways is showing the M42 is at a standstill between junctions 3A-7 which can give a quicker journey time to the northern end of the M40

If you want to know anything cool, Sir Brian Souter the guy that founded stagecoach made his mark in NZ. With his investment company in 2015 and with stagecoach in 1999-2003. Story short he basically did Megabus in New Zealand and ran some local bus services. He made the competitors run cheaper services and only stopped when he got bought out. Do this day his fleet of buses still run intercity except with lower quality services. (Cracked windscreens, no stops for 12 hour rides).

Cheap can be good! Having compared prices for a trip I’m planning to Manchester this makes me think again about far cheaper coach travel!

Due to ridiculous train prices my partner and I used Megabus from Preston to Birmingham in January. On the way out it was over an hour late, coming back no complaints though.

That was one big thing to be said for social distancing; you didn't have people squeezing next to you. But freezing cold air or heating up to the absolute maximum seems to be a major problem with coach travel; that and the vogue for seats to be as firm as possible (also s major complaint on trains)

There *was* two that made me laugh - Bussy Galore and Octobussy, both owned by MP Travel on behalf of Megabus. They’ve since been sold and don’t do megabus services anymore. Good video!

Yh the state of that cabin was shocking 😮 we used Regiojet when traveliing to Cesky Tesin from Prague a few times and its always been a great service

Great video

great video as always thanks! Maybe your travelling companion knew who you were and wanted to be in your video too haha?!

Hello. Lovely scenery again and such good value. Looking forward to seeing your next video. Are u planning trips to Norfolk at all. Music was very soothing too. Do u have your wife on some trips now the weather is getting better. Best wishes David and Beverley Norfolk

To recline the seat, you push the button forward and push your back backwards. It doesn't go far. The AC always seems to blow cold down over the windows. I've done a nimber of trips Newcastle on Tyne to Brum - 6 hours, and a few back! I also have an hours bus trip either side of it to get to and from, so eight hours on the road altogether, but I'm not complaining. It's cheaper than the car, and someone else is doing the driving!

The reason why Megabus is so cheap is because it takes a longer route so it takes longer to get to your destination! Having said that in all honesty I don't mind that although I'm yet to take a megabus.thank you for your video I really appreciated learning more about how Megabus operate. Positivity peace and love ♥️

I drove the NX 160 service for a while (which is what you showed going in the other direction) I found that that way was the best way in and out of Brum if heading to the South..

Megabus has it's place. When I couldn't afford other popular coaches to go anywhere or Trains, the Megabus was my rescue as I didn’t drive for a longtime. Now I can drive I avoid public transport unless car is in the garage. I think the Megabus is cost efficient on your pocket if you have no other means of getting to somewhere or if your on a tight budget, which was why they came in effect in the first place.

Kings Heath I guess because of congestion elsewhere. Nat Ex usually use expressway but one came thru Kings Heath the other way

I took them overnight from London to Manchester which took the route you are taking in reverse with a stop at Heathrow, Reading, Birmingham Airport before Birmingham. I paid £2 extra for extra leg room which was generous. The coach was very good but the seat was not as comfy as National Express. Having said that I did sleep quite a bit. It would have been nice to stop at a services but unlike NE Megabus don’t.

I've never used the Megabus, I travel to London quite often using National Express, although I have seen Megabus in the coach station.

The prices on these coaches vary so much! I took the National Express from London to Bristol for £3.90!

A Lucketts Travel coach on the way out of Birmingham, parked . I work for them. The coach marked out of service as may of been changing Drivers , using the Toilet, cleaning g coach or just having a short break

I've been on the NE 210 Brum to Heathrow, and back on return, absolutely sound service but of course it was around £28-30 return iirc. Never tried the train for Heathrow trips. As much as I prefer trains it seems much easier via the coach.

Not sure why you did not move seats when it became clear that the person next to you wasn't minded to relocate?

I can answer the ventilation question as well. The Plaxtons for some reason blow continuous cold air out the sides to keep an ambient temperature as the Plaxton has underfloor heating ......it's supposed to keep it at a steady 22 degrees....Been a Coach driver for 31 years i'm a huge Plaxton fan....The Fainsa seats fitted are indeed some of the most comfortable seats you wil ever sit in

I love this trip report and think your coach reports are particularly strong. Can you live track MegaBus in the event of delays?

Checkout the city of Frostproof Florida someday, especially during the winter!!

I'm watching this on 19/9/22, and have made a return trip with Megabus this weekend. Norwich (home) to Brunel St Brum on Friday, back home on Sunday, and had a very similar experience. Coincidentally, it was the same coach both ways, but different drivers, both of whom were pleasant and efficient. Fridays Norwich to Brum leg was delayed by 20-25 minutes, most likely by traffic and roadworks on the Brum to Norwich leg (one return journey per day, with the Lye based driver (Although branded Megabus, this service is run by Stagecoach of Lye) having to take his statutory/legal 45 minute break in Norwich, irrespective of arrival and departure times, during which time he should be permitted to do as he pleases, including legitimately refusing passengers access to the bus, when they automatically become his responsibility, and therefore classed as work by definition of drivers hours laws, meaning that he would have to start afresh his 45 minute break, causing even more delay!. Everyone is entitled to an uninterrupted lunch break, and the driver would be in breach of regulations if he were to perform any of his work tasks during that time. Plus, who of us like our breaks being interrupted?! Some passengers were understandably disgruntled by the delay, and I could've done without it, but as a former HGV driver of 28yrs working under the same hours regulations, I twigged the situation and waited patiently, despite the blooming cold and rain!). We arrived at Brunel St at 2045, 35 minutes behind schedule, but in one piece, and courtesy of a driver who did all he could to make up a little time in circumstances beyond his control, and who, understandably, probably wanted to be getting home after a long day as much as we wanted to reach our final destinations. We experienced heavy traffic a couple of times on that journey. Typical Friday afternoon/evening stuff. Sundays return leg left Brunel St on time (1110) and arrived at Norwich bus station a couple of minutes before the scheduled time (1510 or 1515, can't remember already!). Spot on. Both legs include en route stops at Coventry Pool Meadow, Cambridge Jesus College, and Norwich UEA. From Lye back to Lye, that's a big day for the driver, and almost certainly getting close to the standard legal limit of 9hrs driving per day, which can be extended 2x a week to 10hrs which must include 2x45min breaks (4.5hr maximum constant or accumulated driving before 45 mins must be taken),, but then there is a fortnightly limit of 90hrs driving. eg: This week, 5 trips @ 3x9 + 2x10hrs driving (heavy traffic days) = 56 hrs. That means that last and next week's totals cannot be more than 34 hrs each.... They must rotate the drivers between short and long haul. Tricky business, given the nationwide shortage of all kinds of drivers. At a guesstimate, the drivers will be working 11-12 hours a day minimum. I hope that anyone reading this takes into account the long hours the drivers work next time one unintentionally snaps or causes offence when asked a daft question or given lip by a petulant passenger... (Edit 21/9/22: my mathematics are shamefully awry. 3x9 + 2x10=47.... Explanation in subsequent comment...) Had exactly the same issue both ways re the aircon. No idea what that's about, and along with slightly uncomfortable seats, the only gripe. Amusement was provided on the Norwich to Brum leg by a chap a couple of seats behind me who was obviously listening to a favourite songs mix and decided to practice his karaoke skills. Shame he was a key or two out! On the brum to Norwich leg, the driver treated us to commercial radio, including Smooth, Heart, and probably 1.5 hrs worth of ads on the 4 hr journey! £33.10 return, including reserving a window seat (unnecessarily, as it turned out) for £1 on the return journey. Would I do it again? Yup. Way cheaper than the train, and for my occasional social visits to the Midlands where time isn't life or death, no hassle. Thanks for another great video, and apologies for the essay!🤣😉👍

Doing Plymouth to London soon, overnight coach , it's a long ride , and as you pointed out the train was way too expensive !

I took the Megabus from Edinburgh to Durham and back a couple of weeks ago as train services are currently such a mess. I'm not a big fan of coach travel, but the coach was nice enough - it looked identical to the one in this video - and it was bearable for the just over three hours it took each way. I wouldn't dream of doing the full 10+ hour journey from Glasgow to London that the coach was doing though, unless there was absolutely no alternative and I really really had to be there. The service bears similarities to the EasyJet Edinburgh-London flights; OK for short journeys but you wouldn't want to spend an extended time on them.

I got delayed on the 900 , mins from Glasgow due to a Deliveroo on an e scooter, whilst on the m8. The words I could describe him by

After your last experiences on the bus I didn't think I would ever see you on one again, it would only be dire poverty and urgent need that would get me on one again, stay safe and cheers.

If you have the time and are on a budget it makes a lot of sense

The New Street Power Signal box at 1:15, brutalist concrete with white tiles at ground floor level.

Funny you thought that the other person in number 7 didn't want to move, you could have moved too. 🙂Great video but the traffic does make me think twice about doing coach.

Looks a nice way to travel I use it no rush

Nice one. So a much better experience than the last Megabus! I noticed the Pokémon McDonald's Happy Meal box on the floor - did it belong to the kids in front, or just rubbish that hadn't been cleaned up?

I’d definitely sit next to you all the way to Reading - I’d share my food… 😂

Nice video, there are loads of megabus coaches named on the coaches

the aircon on the windows are to stop the windows misting up

Not really comparison, but, I took Megabus from Detroit to Chicago in 2018, because Amtrak (which I usually take) was several times as much at that time, and I got a front row seat for only $8 (about 6+ quid) because I booked several months ahead! I liked the comfort of the seat and the WIFI did work well, we only stopped once on the four + hour trip, outside Ann Arbor. The bus stopped just 2 blocks below Union Station (rail) and a block from the Clinton Street CTA Blue Line (subway) which I take to O'Hare. I would have taken again but Megabus dropped Detroit when the COVID craziness hit, and they haven't returned. Sad I lost an alternative way to get to Chi-town cheap. I just have Amtrak, Greyhound takes forever, for some reason, to get from Detroit to Chicago, it takes a circuitous route, I suppose. Cheers!

spot on mark the person sitting next to you was strange , no problem moving if the bus is not full strange indeed , notice that eavesway coach that passed you was empty , long way from st helens to be going around empty .

Lol, we’ve all had that annoying passenger next to us, with a reserved ticket, but doesn’t budge - because it’s reserved despite the bus or train being empty!!!😅

Never been on a normal Megabus, it's sad they stopped their gold sleeper service. National express is more regular in my area so I get them normally.

... which is why I always get the train or bus before the best one, just to allow for delays...

Nice vid as always.megabus are a steady bus company never had probs with them but the worst is definatly flixbus shocking bus company.where were you flying to?

Top Tip for Megabus to make it cheaper. But a ticket to London Victoria but get off at Heathrow. The last time I went to London it cost £4 for Bristol to London Victoria but £12 for Bristol LHR. The bus goes through Heathrow before Victoria.

Why didn't you move, then reclaim seat no. 8 when he left at Reading?

Thanks a lot for this information. I can take MegaBus coach to London Heathrow from Birmingham 😊 #backtoSingaporeSoon

I always travel by coach normally NE... not used mega bus...I did travel to Shrewbury from LOndon via Birmingham great journey... then back from Lincoln through to Poole ..hahah long journey and of course changed at LVC. I find coach travel, safe, clean and friendly drivers, make such a difference ! also cost effective ! Got my coach card ready to use again this year !

LOL at the guy in seat 7 not wanting to move to obvious unused seats elsewhere

Taken Megabus from and to Manchester and London Victoria Coach station. Overall not bad. You might get there a bit late, wherever it is. Coach broke down once. And they NEVER give refunds. They say that if they gave refunds, they'd lose money. So if for any reason you can't get there on time. Or want to changed your reservation. Just tough.

There better be a Coachy McCoachface..... Well I'm glad you saw the good side of Megabus after the last shocking experience 😆👍🏻 and you could have always moved seats mate 😂

Superb 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Digbeth isn't far to walk from New Street,10 minutes if you know where you are going.When I first went to Digbeth it also use to be a bus depot for the Midland Red and was quite scruffy but it's much nicer now better than bus stops in the street and easier to find.The Megabus in Newcastle stops in the street but the National Express uses a little bus station which replaced the old United one at Gallowgate.I use to live in Oxford and that road you went on is probably the quickest way the other way is down the green sign motorway called the A34 but it comes out west of Reading nearer to Newbury.

Unbeatable price but taking the train need not cost £50 as you mentioned. Just now (2200 hrs Thursday) I checked Chiltern Trains from B'ham (Moor Street) to Marylebone for two weeks ahead (Friday October 7) and you can buy an Advance ticket for a mere £12. Price sourced from Chiltern's website.

Great coach video mate the reason why you didn't go on the m6 is because the was a petrol leak from a vehicle near Junction 10 I think so that's why an alternative route through Birmingham to the M42.

I had that situation at the cinema with the seating, my boyfriend and I were in our seats and a couple sat tight next to us, the cinema was practically empty 🙄🙄

Did it have loos? You could get train to Reading then the Heathrow bus?

That's a nice t shirt ;)

Assuming there was an issue Birmingham end of M42 if the National express was coming through kings heath as well

Might take a bit longer but saves all the hassle of carrying luggage up and down the tubes, changing at Euston and the crowded Picadilly Line. Good vid Man!

I took one from Newport to Sheffield and back.. There was no power on either of them (240v on 1 12v on the other both broke) thank god I use power banks

Never been on a coach since school days, interesting journey and reliability of Megabus but it seems they are not the fastest way to travel as I see many on the M4 going to London via Bristol and Heathrow ,cannot understand why they go to Bristol ,as National Express 501,502,503,504, 507,508,509 are direct services to London once they have left their last scheduled stop before London,my wife uses National Express from Bristol 040 when she want to go to London

I wondered about taking the train from Birmingham to Oxford and the coach to Heathrow? Would that work out quicker or more convenient?

I'd find that going such strange routes a bit annoying - adds so much to the journey time! Going anywhere near Oxford and Reading is just asking for trouble traffic wise.

Could the ice cold air conditioning be an anti-Covid measure for a crowded space?

Just checked prices for this trip for 23/05/2024 @ 13.30 departure £24.99,.also add on train from gobowen to new street station @ £23.60,. quite a bit more expensive than NX,.