WHY USE THIS COACH SERVICE?? Expressway/Eurolines from London to Dublin with Irish Ferries
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- Опубліковано 27 чер 2024
- Catching the Expressway/Eurolines coach from London to Dublin, crossing the Irish Sea with Irish Ferries, is roughly double the price of flying, and twice as long. Why would anyone use this coach service? I board at London Victoria to find out, and I'm pleasantly surprised.
Filmed September 2023 | London, UK.
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*** TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:03:36 Depart London Victoria
00:06:10 Approaching Birmingham
00:06:49 Shifnal Services, Telford
00:08:12 Holyhead Ferry Port
00:09:46 On board Irish Ferries
00:15:11 Dublin Port
00:15:55 Conclusion
This used to be very popular in the 80's. I remember as a kid getting it with my parents over to Luton from outside Dublin. It was nicknamed the "magic bus" and was operated by Slattery's if I remember. I can still remember stopping at a Little chef and getting food. The reason it was so popular is because Ryanair didn't exist and Aer Lingus were charging €300-400 per person as there was no competition. That €300-400 was massive money at the time. Say what you want about Ryanair but without them you'd still be getting fleeced to fly.
Fair point but it was actually Virgin brought cheap flights to the Dublin-London route, (well Dublin-Luton to be accurate), using old viscounts (for £35 each way I think).
Yes it cost an arm and a leg to fly across the irish sea in the 80's /90/s - glad to see its back😊
I remember Ryanair offering return flights Luton to Dublin for £58 around 1988. That was considered a bargain
@roisinkelly1509 but times have changed now its much much cheaper to fly instead of drive there although I'm not old enough to remember it but all I can say is that flying was expensive back then I'm only 24 so I can't really remember it
This trip has the unusual ability to make travelling by Ryanair seem attractive!
and everyone said that would NEVER happen, they gone and done the IMPOSSIBLE… 🤯
I have done a bus from Copenhagen to Calella near Barcelona.
Never again.
Nothing could make me choose Ryanair again.
Nothing in the world makes ruinair attractive. It's the worst airline ever to disgrace the world.
@@colblimpwhy? It’s cheap and gets the job done. If you’re expecting high quality service then go take a stroll on British airways or KLM
Re: Why people choose this over flying? Much like the London to GLA/EDI coach trips, the coach is also an (uncomfortable) but free hotel for the night. You wake up in the morning at your destination! I've made a few trips that Scott has also completed. London to GLA by Megabus for £10 arriving in the morning, meeting friends for the day and taking the evening bus back to London for £10. That's £20 and 2 free hotel nights!
Good points about the ' free hotel '
That's such a mad trip. Two nights in a row on the national express. Respect 😮
I presume you are about eight inches tall and can sleep inside a hat.
I've never been able to sleep on a coach. Overnight coach trips feel like a form torture
But you can’t bring girls back to that hotel 😂😂🤦🏽♂️
CityLink drivers are not allowed to play music while driving, shame it wasn't the same here! I was also speaking to a coach driver who said they use the trick of putting the heating up for the first hour of an overnighter to get everyone to fall asleep quickly. Great video mate, but once again 'rather you than me'! :D
That heat trick makes sense. I'm yet to travel on a coach where I've not felt the need to peel off layers.
They do this with drunk football fans on trains as well.
Steve, you've got your own You Tube channel, what are you doing here?
@@pulchralutetia Yeah. How dare he watch other UA-camrs. Nicking ideas for content no doubt.
Little hint for Dublin airport - if you ignore the aircoach and diverse other services that depart right outside terminal 1 you can cross the zebra crossing, go through the multi storey car park little arcade to the other side to the other side you will find the bus station, buses 16 and 41 also go for the city (Takes twenty minutes/half an hour) at a fraction of the costs! ;-) Interesting video topic by the way, curious to see how it goes.
€2.50 or there abouts. The 16 is very frequent and goes right through the city to Ballinteer Co Dublin.
Takes more like 1hour i think with traffic now in Dublin ..but it is a brilliant alternative and they are more frequent than other coaches
Also, If you are getting the train on the Sligo line west you can get off the bus at Druncondra station.
@@roisinkelly1509 Just to clarify for those unfamiliar with Dublin. The 16 and 41 are "Dublin Bus as opposed to aircoach.
@@marygunning5121 thanks Mary
Great video Scott, I was the megabus driver of the grey coach adjacent in Victoria was nice to have a brief chat with you in Greenline before your trip
Ulysses is a fantastic Ferry. Try a virgin tilting train (all the way to Holyhead) on a summers day. Takes longer than a flight ,but less hassle/stress than airport security/delayed flight. The scenery on the train is lovely and a smooth ferry crossing with clear views of the Wicklow/Dublin coast and mountains coming into port is a sight to behold! This would mean an early morning start from Euston meeting a n early afternoon Ferry.
I feel for you with the "music", having once had to endure a coach trip from London to Norwich long before the M11 existed with non-stop George Formby.
Maybe the coach was being used by a window cleaners convention
Well that turned out nice again then! 🎶 🎵
Leaning on a lamp post
I take this journey over and back to London a few times every year and the staff on Irish Ferries are very nice and friendly.
The Seafarers Welfare Charter it would be nice to see Irish Ferries signing, they may join P&O who end Dublin to UK service at the end of this year.
Done this trip loads of times, get on the coach, fall asleep wake up at the service stop, get out grab food, back on the coach for another snooze. Then you get to enjoy food aboard the Irish Ferry which is one of the largest ferries in the world, storms don't affect it. Cinema on board and everything.
I often took the bus between London and Dublin over 30 years ago. Back then it was the cheapest option because BA and Air Lingus had no competition from Ryanair on the route. They both charged the same, about £150 minimum (I once paid £400 to attend a funeral) which wasn't an option for me at the time. I distinctly remember it reminding of the Fatima Mansions song, "Losers take the bus" during one particularly depressing journey.
Ah memories of a twice a year trip. 18hrs door to door from home to the end point in the west of Ireland. Local bus, wait, coach, ferry, walk around the customs check block, coach, change at Rosslare / Waterford / Dublin (depending on route) then end at Limerick. Await car pick up. Ferry always the best bit. Regrettably, the service is a patch on what it used to be due to cheap flights and I think COVID nearly killed it off. Never used to have music - but then that's buses now! It's a reliable alternative to sail rail but I'd use flights at the moment. Suspect we will see a resurgence in these services with carbon emission controls.
That said, occasionally I did have to go through old Digbeth bus station ... bleugh. Any return to that and I'll swim instead.
Thanks for the video Scott. It's brought back some memories.
I once travelled on a freight only ferry and I liked it a lot. Fewer passengers, less public space and more utilitarian décor, but the food was good and cost less than on a tourist ferry, no screaming kids or shouty people. The ambiance was relaxed and peaceful - altogether a good experience.
Liverpool to Dublin is primarily a cargo ferry service but will accept cars but no foot passengers . Price for overnight includes a cabin , dinner and breakfast. Used it twice and loved it - quiet and slept well.
@@36814It's a shame they don't allow foot passengers as don't drive and Liverpool is nearer to me
@@36814 I used to go over as a passenger (helper) on my friends truck. Very comfy , dinner , breakfast, few pints , shower, good sleep.
I travelled a few times (late 1980's) . It was great fun and got me to Birmingham each time.
Went on a cargo ( cattle boat) to france 20 years ago ...great crack.😅
@@johnsometimeswrong8742 it's actually far more enjoyable than the "luxury" ones, or WAS, is their live exports allowed these days ?
I could also see this service being used for last-minute bookings when airfare and/or Rail&Sail are too expensive.
Yeah would have been good if Scott had managed to ask a few of the other passengers why they were using it.
Even SailRail is comparatively £55 (or £61 for the Irish Ferries Swift service) at the last minute - when ship reservations are of course available!
It also saves on a night’s accommodation.
@@Benjamin.Jamin. illegal migration some of them. but looks like that has been clamped down upon with the dublin port ID checks now, but was a major issue for a long time which is obviously why the authorities are now belatedly checking IDs on arrival
Sailrail is never expensive, it’s a fixed price up until maybe the day before.
Thoroughly enjoyed that. I would do it as I do not like flying.
I have been on a Holyhead - Dublin crossing in a gale force 9. That was rough, best thing though the café part was very quiet!
I loved it when i went from dublin to London in 2001. Nice relaxing trip, would definitely do it again to visit UK wirh my car...
Great video as always Scott. I used to use the national express/eurolines service from Victoria to cork which was 14-16 hours. Wish expressway/bus eireann would resurrect that service via the Irish ferries service out of pembroke. I used it only when the airlines were so expensive at the busy times of the year. Hope all is well, take care
That service originally back in 80s was galway to london national exspress and cie expressway ran it. Big crowds used it then
Thanks Scott for another excellent adventure. I did use this service for the luggage allowance, and I do like an overnight ferry. Thanks again, Tim
I’ve been living 21 years in Manchester, the proud holder of an Irish passport, an older gay man, with family in Rural Ireland and by far, the Irish Ferries Ulysses is my favourite ferry, which I’ve used summer and winter, daytime and overnight crossings, after I stopped flying in 2010, as I got fed up of the hassle of airport security - I always pay a bit extra for the Club Class Lounge too - most of the crew on the Ulysses are either Polish or Eastern European, who sleep and live in crew cabins on board the ship, while the staff in the Club Class Lounge and the Captain are generally Russians or Eastern Europeans, which I found out from chatting to the crew - at reception, for many years, there used to be a very handsome looking blond guy on the Ulysses (I think he was possibly Polish or Russian) but the Russian crew in the Club Class Lounge are very handsome looking young men too
God bless your stamina. I made a trip much like this in the early 1990s when Slattery's were still on the go. The buses and ferries have improved since then but it's still quite a journey. Having said that, these videos are awakening some sort of sail and rail wanderlust in me!
11:50 remember the P&O Ferries controversy a year or two ago where they fired their ferry workers and replaced them with cheap overseas staff thru agencies??? Irish Ferries did this in 2005, hence the need for their ships to be registered as berthed in Cyprus.
Ive taken this service a good few times, the last time in Summer 2022 with that same driver, a lovely chap. The main reason ive taken it is because of how cheap it is. Despite the number and variety of options to fly between the UK and Ireland it is often very expensive, especially at short notice, and the bus has at times worked out at about 20% of the cost flying. Sailrail is a similar option, and more comfortable, but with the bus you have the advantage of being brought straight into Dublin city centre rather than having to get another bus. I used to take it in a time when I had little money but lots of time (i.e. on the dole) so this was the perfect option for me.
Last time I took this bus I was returning to Ireland from Finland and wanted to travel overland the whole way so I opted for the bus. But in general I would fly these days, as I dont want to spend 12 hours travelling to London.
Lovely to see that old Routemaster in the background in your opening bit. I had thought they'd all been retired now.
I think that one was a sightseeing trip, serving a cream tea while touring the city
The chairs in the lounge do recline. Great trip that nice video
Ah the 871 service from Victoria, brings back memories from yesteryear when it was running a direct 17/18hr service to the west coast of Ireland, could leave work on time, jump on the bus and be ‘home’ in time for breakfast next day
Enjoyable video but for future reference, the 41 bus goes from Dubljn Airport to city centre for €2.60 and I’ve just flown from Newcastle to Dublin via Ryanair en route to the USA and the free carry on bag for Ryanair had more than enough room for my stuff for a week
So glad I found this channel. Love this content. plenty of vlogs to watch on over the dark winter months ❤😊
Nice! 🙂
Back in 2007 I did the trip by train and overnight on the Ulysses for a single day in Dublin and back the next night, took a cabin both ways as it was the only place to sleep for three nights. After three nights at Birmingham and excursions to the Welsh Highland Railway and the Swanage Railway I visited the Severn Valley Railway the afternoon before, went to Holyhead in the evening, overnight ferry to Dublin, some railfanning in Kildare, Dublin and on the coast south of Dublin, then back by ferry which sadly arrives around midnight so you don't get a lot of sleep, went up to Berwick-upon-Tweed for a day, then in the evening to London and by Riviera Sleeper to Exeter to catch the sunrise at Dawlish, then to Paignton and the Dartmouth steam railway and finally a B&B where I slept very well... ;-) Ah, still to be young...
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Another good and informative video Scott. There could be an argument from an environmental aspect as well, although the train would win out on time and cost. Good but brief bit of Moseley (Birmingham) footage as well.
Fantastic video Shifnal Services or as locals called it M54 Service Station its part of Telford which is the home of the world's first Ironbridge. There have 10 Museums in the Ironbridge Gorge
The Ulysses the biggest ship on the irish run..been on it many times with my coach.The driver gets a cabin so they can get some sleep
Both interesting and useful--thank you.
Done this trip hundreds of times, Bedford to Dublin. Never used to need a passport in the 80s90s
Thanks for posting this video, really enjoyed it.
I was actually waiting for the part where you asked some of the passengers on the bus why they choose it. I was dying to find out 😂
Hi,nice to see u stopped at shifnal services,we live in Shifnal and enjoy your videos,all the best Graham👍
Derren Brown gave the best advice for keeping the seat beside you free, instead of trying to hide and hope they don't see you, make direct eye contact, smile and pat the seat beside you, they'll be so freaked out they'll sit as far from you as they can.
I think your theory about empty seats is spot on, I usually sit near the back on National Express as they are near the toilet and they always fill up first
I used to use the Manchester to Dublin Eurolines coach before it was discontinued as felt safe on it and because of the luggage allowance when traveling solo. And u don't have to lug your suitcase around the ferry as it stays on the coach. Ulysses is a great ferry and the lounge above the duty free shop is the best place to get a kip. It is an exhausting trip though especially if your hotel doesn't let u in the room early as mine often let me in at 7am.
Good point about lugging suitcases! I don't mind flying, just hate airports - not only the tedious security but the maze of shops you need to pass!
We uses to get the coach from Victoria all the way to Limerick every summer holidays to visit my grandparents. It was a lot cheaper than flying in the 90's and although it was a long journey as kids we loved it
You missed out on one reason- for the fun of it and the craic! And maybe nostalgia? I remember well when this (or train) was the only affordable way we plebs could manage the journey. Love it!!
Interesting video - I was always curious about this route but never brave enough to do it! thanks for taking one for the team 😂
Thanks Scott another great vid ...Rab
Done this Bham to Dublin return years ago.Arrived in Dublin with a migraine and all in double ! Very stormy November both ways. Intrigued by the country change on the mobile and the Welsh language radio on the bus in Wales.Ours used the M6/M56/A55.Destination Busaras.Bitterly cold.
Thank You for all the good things said about Ireland and the trip over🙂👍🇮🇪🍀
Thanks for posting
Once again, thank you for nice trip. I'd rather enjoyed it. That ship was truly lovely.
Overnight ferries like this would benefit from Japanese style sleeping pods, small, basic with just a bed
Enjoyed this one thank you very much.
That looked a decent method of travel, the ferry looked amazing
I bloody love this channel 🙏
Glad to hear it!
I remember going to Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire in the late 80s using Slattery's. Used to catch it from Victoria Coach Station. It was abysmal. One time, the driver punctured a tyre by driving over broken glass, another time everyone had to evacuate the bus as smoke was billowing in from the engine. Another time the driver dissappeared for ages leaving everyone sat wondering where he'd gone!! The ferry was a bit better. I prefer train and boat myself.
Are you sure it wasn't an IRA attack?
We did the Belfast to Glasgow ferry/bus last year (I saw your video on it!). We liked it, of course going from Belfast to the ferry is nothing like London to Holyhead. Nice video!
My guess for this service: people going home for funerals. In Ireland we make a big thing of going to funerals and we bury people within a few days, so funerals are all short notice. Short notice flights are very expensive.
Interesting journey. Loved it
Great video, thanks.
Outrageous that there is any music being played on a coach journey.
Great, informative video, enjoyed it :)
Something different again nice one scott yea wow what a boat in some rspects like a grand hotel great stuff thanks
Used this service in 1994 to get from Cork to London to see Pink Floyd at Earls Court, reason was there was no such thing as cheap flights back then and we were only 18,had great craic on route👍
Very enjoyable video. I like travelling by coach and ferry, very relaxing. The filming was superb, as usual
Why is this hypnotically good content...
Had a London girlfriend back in 92 and could only afford this service to see her and I lived 4 hours from Dublin. PAINFUL!!
Great video. Very interesting and informative. Thank you.
I travelled on an Irish Ferrier ferry from Holyhead to Dublin in spring 2022. It was a horrible ship. The decor looked like that of the old Irish Continental Line from the 1980s. I'm glad that this much more swish ship is on this route.
Done this back in 1999 for the millennium as a 12 year old. Was great!
Great vid, back before ryan there was at least 10-15 different coaches going every night to different towns and cities in Ireland. I use to do it every summer going to Galway in the west of ireland 6pm victoria arrive in Galway the next day around 12
Your note about where people sit on the bus is a very astute observation.
Brilliant video as always.
I’ve been waiting for ages for someone to do this trip so thank you! I don’t fly to London anymore for the environment’s sake as it’s so easily reachable by other means but I’ve always gone with Rail and Sail which is a fantastic deal, esp if you factor in the Dublin Swift ferry. I’ve always been curious about this though and I might try it once - I can sleep anywhere though 😊
The environment will be here long after you’ve gone.
Your trips on the bus contribute nothing to society despite what your brain washing says
One other reason people might use the coach is you don't need a passport. You don't need a passport to travel between UK and Ireland, but you do need one to board a Ryanair flight. Some people have difficulty getting a passport, or just don't remember to renew in time. Of course you still need some form of ID.
I always find it odd that Ryanair are the only ones who look for a passport, Aer Lingus and BA don't mind other IDs.
Irish customs check
I was just wondering what type of ID is acceptable. Did you travel this rout lately? I have an older relative who doesn't have a passport.
For British born citizens, a British driving licence will do. The Common Travel Area requirements were devised before immigration and naturalisation were common.
Yes, in theory you don't need any ID to travel between UK and Ireland. Of course not everyone has a driving licence.
Amazing video!! Never fails to make me laugh 👍
Love this video some of the journeys you make are incredible and not good for sleeping. 🤣
Wow that was some trip. Interesting. Thank you Scott
This is brilliant 😂👍
Hi Scott. I think that a video covering how to get lower or bargain fares by rail and so forth would be very helpful. Where best sites are and so on.
Always brilliant video
Thanks Scott was nice to meet you in paisley couple of weeks ago
Many thanks for vid, and for enduring your interesting experience. Incidentally, after you landed in Dublin, just before the end at 16:48, over your left shoulder is the building where I used to work, many years ago.
Definitely want to do this journey
Nice video and overall I gotta say I am impressed with the Irish ferries and this bus service. I live in Dublin and part of my family lives in London so I used to fly there a lot.
Hope you have a great time in Dublin ☘️
Jesus I done this , Dub to London & return a decade a go on the same bus route- and there was No bloody legroom then! I’m 6ft 5 & my mate is 6ft , we were both in bits.
Our route was even longer tho because it was Holyhead to Rosslare to Dublin ,
It was hard hard work.
Nice to see this hoping to do it sometime when I can I was on the expressway service recently and I also took trains the weekend just gone and I have a nice travel i like your videos as well they are good
Nice boat!
Great tunes! ;-)
Excellent video 👍😊 I like long coach journeys. You want to try Istanbul to Bulgaria overnight it was very good 😊
Amazing video
Good shit.Keep it up.
Rail & sail saved me when my (last flight back to london) was cancelled by Ryanair... Rail &sail available as instant purchase and less than 50 euro.. also meant I got home overnight... Great vlog
Good video, 😊
WHAT A VIDEO!
Another reason would be.. flying is shyyyttteeee 😂 scenery, walking around on the boat.. just chilling and enjoying the experience 🙏🏻👍🏻
Loved the driver !
New subscriber here! Just stumbled upon your channel and after watching a couple of videos I had to subscribe? I myself loves adventurous travels and your content is inspiring! Thank you so much. Nuff Love
❤❤❤ I like your video.
Hi, Scott there's a very new service from Belfast glengall street to Dublin called Dublin express, it's part of national express, booking are tho Dublin express something to look into mate
The freeways look just as crowded and urban as my area--Dallas, Texas, USA. I enjoy watching your videos because, among other things, the scenery and the old cathedrals and other buildings we don't have here. But all freeways seem to be the same.
"IRISH FERRIES" 🤩 👌
9:44 took me too long to work out the subtitles were putting the radio announcement up. Was very confused for a second as I’m deaf so assumed it was you narrating for a second 😂😂
I would do that! What an adventure for the money, and you get into Dublin at a good time too.
I used to do the 880 overnight coach from Leeds/Bradford, Manchester and Liverpool to Dublin a few years ago and because I had onward connections from Dublin Busaras Coach Station with other Bus Éireann coach services, it was ideal for me, especially since onward travel options from the Irish Ferries/Stena terminals at Dublin Port (North Wall) are quite limited into Dublin City Centre, which I currently find through my use of SailRail from Manchester Piccadilly via Chester & Holyhead to Dublin - currently, the only way to use the 871 at Birmingham is via a connection from Manchester, since the 880’s withdrawal since before Covid, but since this change also, the 871 from Manchester/Birmingham is now twice the cost of SailRail, which makes no sense - and there are very few direct trains from Manchester to Holyhead either - flying into Dublin Airport does not suit me, even if on Ryanair from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which even with convenient transport links, is closer to where I live in Manchester and is closer to both Shudehill and Manchester Victoria
I used to do the Rail and sail from Crewe to Dublin on the Stena HSS in the early 90s. I recall it was something like £16 return via Dun Laoghaire with a free Dart into town. Used to leave at 8pm, got in to Dublin at 6am ish and then back at 4pm or so from Dun Laoghaire. I think it was any trains to/from Holyhead. Really nice little day trip we’d do occasionally. Those were the days.