More Mushroom Management On TfL Buses
After my experience in Mushroom Management On TfL Buses, I’ve changed my weekend breakfast routine at weekends, to one where on Saturdays and Sundays, I eat breakfast in London’s poshest Leon at Hanover Square, which I wrote about in A Quality Takeaway With A Station And A Large Garden.
It is a large restaurant.
It has comfortable seating.
It is within my not very long walking distance of the Bakerloo, Central, Elizabeth, Jubilee and Victoria Lines, and Oxford Street with all its buses.
There is a garden with seating in the square.
This picture shows the frontage of the building.
It’s certainly not your average takeaway or fast food outlet.
Normally, Hanover Square is a very easy location for me to travel to.
- I walk round the corner to the stop for the 38 bus.
- The 38 buses are usually every 3-4 minutes and I travel to Tottenham Court Road station.
- I go one stop on the Elizabeth Line, travelling in the rear of the train to Bond Street station.
- I’m then at the right end of the station to exit directly into Hanover Square, after riding up from the depths on a long escalator.
Leon is just a fifty metre walk away.
Today, there were no problems, although I did cut it a bit tight.
But all was fine in the end and I had a good full-English breakfast.
A Difficult Journey Home!
When, I set off from home, I wasn’t sure which way, I would come home.
In the end, I decided to come home the simple way of taking the Elizabeth Line to Moorgate station and then getting the 141 bus from there, as it stops close to my home.
But this route has the Elizabeth Line end-changing problem, in that the Hanover Square entrance at Bond Street station is at the Eastern end of the train and the Moorgate entrance at Liverpool Street station is at the Western end of the train.
So at some point in the journey, I would have to take a two-hundred metre walk, either on the platform or inside the train. The latter is not easy on a train to and from Heathrow, as it is often stuffed full with cases in the aisle. Why do people want to take all the contents of their house on holiday?
So I decided to go via a reverse at Whitechapel, where I positioned myself at the Western end of the train for exit at Moorgate.
It really was necessary to install travellators at Liverpool Street station on the Elizabeth Line, as between the two entrances is a long walk, as this graphic shows.
Note.
- Moorgate is to the left
- Liverpool Street is to the right.
But then Transport for London wanted a spectacular line with spectacular stations, that would win awards. Which it has!
I alighted from the train at the Moorgate end of the station, which meant that after two escalator rides and a short walk, I was at the 141 bus stop on the surface.
But there were no buses of any numbers calling at the stop.
This was because of the Lord Mayor’s Show, which meant there were no buses through the City.
But.
- There were no posters at stations saying that the show was taking place and buses would be diverted.
- Displays on bus stops were not saying anything about the show.
- The BBC hadn’t mentioned the Lord Mayor’s Show on the TV this morning.
- The BBC doesn’t have a local news at weekends, which would surely have mentioned the show and its effects on public transport.
- The display on the bus stop at Moorgate was still broken, as it has been for six months.
- There was a small information poster on the bus stop, but it was positioned too high for me to see.
- Taxis seemed to be avoiding the City.
There were a few stewards about and one suggested, that I walked to Old Street, which would not be easy on my legs.
In the end, I decoded that a retreat via Whitechapel and Dalston Junction was probably the best way to get home, as the Overground would be unlikely to be effected.
But I made the mistake of getting on a Circle Line train at Moorgate, so I didn’t get to Whitechapel.
Instead, I walked to the 141 and 21 bus stop at Monument station and caught a 21 bus North. I hoped that I would be able to connect to the 141 bus, that I needed to get home.
I did get safely home, but only after two long waits at bus stops, where I changed bus routes twice.
Conclusion
Transport for London need to devise bus plans for all major events and publicise them well in advance.
In London’s New 733 Bus Route, I described how Transport for London put in a temporary bus route between Finsbury Square and Oval stations to replace the Northern Line during the upgrade of Bank station.
As the Lord Mayor’s Show happens every year, surely the same plan can be rolled out each year, with any appropriate changes.
I’d be interested to know whether other large cities have plans for big celebrations in city centres.
Extra Capacity On The Elizabeth Line At Tottenham Court Road Station
When I go to Oxford Street, I generally use the Elizabeth Line from Moorgate.
- If I need the Western end of Oxford Street, I use the Western entrance of Bond Street station.
- If I need John Lewis or Leon in Hanover Square, I use the Eastern entrance of Bond Street station.
- If I need the Eastern end of Oxford Street or Marks & Spencer at the Pantheon, I use the Western entrance of Tottenham Court Road station.
- If I need Tottenham Court Road or the British Museum, I use the Eastern entrance of Tottenham Court Road station.
Today, as I was going to Marks & Spencer at the Pantheon, I used the Western entrance of Tottenham Court Road station.
It wasn’t very busy and the tunnels and escalators were easily coping with Christmas shoppers.
But if Crossrail 2 ever gets built, Tottenham Court Road station could be the only interchange between the Elizabeth Line and Crossrail 2.
So I was pleased to see that someone had had the foresight to leave space for a fourth escalator at the Western entrance of Tottenham Court Road station.
I took these pictures as I returned.
A fourth escalator could easily be fitted on the right of the escalator on which I descended.
A Quality Takeaway With A Station And A Large Garden
It was cold today and on walking from the Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station to the Marks and Spencer store on Oxford Street, I came across this Leon, where I had a hot chocolate.
Is this the ultimate pit-stop on the Elizabeth Line?
Into The Realm Of The Rabbits
The completed Bank Station Upgrade opened today and I went and took these pictures of what is now a rabbit warren of a station.
Note.
- There are now three cross passages between the two Northern Line platforms.
- There are two lifts between Cannon Street and the Northern Line and one extends to the Docklands Light Railway.
- The Northern Line and Cannon Street are now connected by two sets of three very long escalators.
- I took a walk to Cannon Street, whilst taking this pictures and from leaving the new entrance to being on a train out of Cannon Street, took mt five minutes.
- After photographing the station, I walked to the bus stop for the 141 bus, which took me home. As there is now a new passage between the gate-line and the bus stop, it took just two minutes.
The new Cannon Street entrance is a practical, stylish and well designed and built addition to the Bank station complex.
I would let the same architects and builders loose on Camden Town, Holborn and Oxford Circus/Bond Street stations.
Ducking And Diving Between Moorgate And Liberty
Liberty is one of my favourite shops. That probably dates from the times in the 1970s, when C and I didn’t have large amounts of money and three kids, so if she needed a new summer dress, I’d make it and we’d usually choose the fabric at Liberty.
I was doing some Christmas shopping today, so after breakfast at Leon on Moorgate, I jumped into the Lizzie Line to the Hanover Square entrance at Bond Street station, where it was a short walk to Liberty.
These pictures document the route.
Note.
- I took one stop on the Metropolitan Line from Moorgate to Barbican.
- I positioned myself, at the front of the train.
- This enabled me to take the lift at Barbican station to the Lizzie Line passenger interchange level at Farringdon station.
- I then got the escalator down to the platforms.
- I was able to get into the back of the Westbound train, which I needed to avoid a long walk at Bond Street station.
The Lizzie Line will bring out the best ducking and diving in us all.
But with my manoeuvres, I avoided a two hundred metre walk from one end of the train to another!
This Google Map shows my walking route from Bond Street station to Liberty.
Note.
- Hanover Square is the green space to the left of the map.
- The Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station is in the North-West corner of the square.
- Liberty is at the far right of the map.
Advantages of this route include.
- The Western end is in one of London’s best squares.
- All major road crossings have zebras or light controlled crossings.
- There are a few smaller useful shops like itsu, a Pret and a Ryman on Hanover Street.
- The route wasn’t too busy with pedestrians.
I would recommend using the Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station for places like Bond Street, Carnaby Street, John Lewis, Regent Street and The Palladium.
After I’d done my shopping at Liberty, I walked along Great Marlborough Street to the back entrance of Marks and Spencer’s flagship store, thus avoiding the crowds on Oxford Street.
What If I Want To Go To John Lewis On Oxford Street?
As for Liberty, you would take the Lizzie Line to Bond Street station and use the Hanover Square or Eastern exit, then follow these pictures.
Note the Leon, which will probably opening soon.
What If I Want To Go To Bond Street?
You take the Medici Courtyard by the side of the station.
Note.
- There is an upmarket hotel in the courtyard.
- The courtyard has some artwork.
- The floral entrance on Bond Street.
It will be interesting to see how the Medici Courtyard develops.
Posh Adverts At Bond Street Station
The new Hanover Square entrance to the Lizzie Line is built to a high specification.
Today, when I went through, they even had posh adverts.
De Beers do have a shop close to the station at 46-50 Old Bond St, London W1S 4QT.
Moorgate To Grosvenor Square On The Elizabeth Line
The Grosvenor Square area of Central London is shown by this Google Map.
Note.
- Grosvenor Square is the green square in the middle of the map, with the former US Embassy at its Western end.
- A block to the East of Grosvenor Square is Davies Street, which runs North-South to and from Oxford Street.
- It is mainly an area of expensive houses, some offices, embassies and luxury hotels.
- There are at least half-a-dozen four or five-star hotels on this map, with the former US Embassy being converted to another.
- So as most of its residents and visitors are well-heeled, there has generally been little need for public transport.
- But on the other hand luxury hotels, expensive houses and embassies are large employers of staff and services.
So do many travelling to the area, have to use a taxi or walk from public transport on Oxford Street or Park Lane?
At the top of this map, just on the West side of Davies Street is a building site, which is labelled Cavendish Buildings. This building site is now the Western or Davies Street Entrance to the Elizabeth Line at Bond Street station.
This morning I took an Elizabeth Line train between Moorgate and Davies Street and then walked to Grosvenor Square,
Note.
- There are two triple escalators and a lift at Moorgate station.
- Travel in the front of the train to be positioned correctly for a quick exit.
- There are two triple escalators and a lift at the Davies Street entrance to Bond Street station.
It took me twenty-two minutes for the whole journey.
Will The Elizabeth Line Have Any Effects On The Grosvenor Square Area?
This is a difficult question to answer, but I’m sure that there will be changes.
Staff Will Have An Easier Journey To And From Work
The manager of a luxury hotel in London told me that good staff is a problem, especially, where public transport is not good.
So I do feel that the new Bond Street station will widen the pool of employment for staff commuting to the area.
I would certainly feel, that if your hotel, restaurant or club was within walking distance of an Elizabeth Line, you might well find, that the quality of your staff improves.
Will Light Cargo And Services Use The Elizabeth Line?
Some years ago, I had handrails fitted by a company from Sheffield. The salesman/designer came by train and walking and only for the fitting did the company use a vehicle.
It was certainly a job done well and efficiently.
I can see all sorts of goods moved into Central London, using the step-free and level features of the Elizabeth Line.
If the other Underground lines had improved step-free access, there would be more opportunities for improved services for Central London businesses.
The Hotels In The Grosvenor Square Area Now Have A Fast Comfortable Connection To The City And Canary Wharf
Since the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf station opened in the last years of the last century, there has been a reasonably fast Underground service to between Bond Street station, various stations in the City of London and Canary Wharf station.
But the Elizabeth Line brings this link to a much higher level.
- It is faster.
- It has much more comfortable trains.
- Access to trains is step-free and with level access.
- Soon, the trains will have wi-fi and 4G signals.
- The trains connect to Heathrow Airport and with a simple change to City, Stansted and Gatwick Airports.
I suspect that hotels on the Elizabeth Line will see an increase in business.
Conclusion
The Elizabeth Line is going to change London more than anyone would think.
Bond Street station will improve the Grosvenor Square area.
What will your local Elizabeth Line station, do for your area?
Elizabeth Line Bond Street Station And South Molton Street
South Molton Street is one of my favourite streets in London.
- It runs between Bond Street station on Oxford Street in the North and Fenwick’s department store on New Bond Street in the South.
- Many times, I bought my late wife; C’s Christmas or birthday present on that street, on New Bond Street or in Fenwick.
- One of her last purchases had been an Armani suit for work on New Bond Street.
- She also usually bought her shoes in Salvatore Ferragamo at the Southern end of New Bond Street.
- I would usually travel there by taking the Central Line to Bond Street station or the Victoria or Piccadilly Line to Green Park station.
C and I spent many hours happily shopping in that small area of the West End of London.
- We used to shop together for clothes, shoes and many other things.
- One day at a party in her barristers chambers in Cambridge, one of her colleagues expressed surprise that the following day, I was going clothes shopping with her in London.
- C replied to everyone’s amusement, that I was a transvestite-by-proxy. In other words, I am a man, who likes dressing ladies in appropriate clothes.
- I am also lucky, that my mother taught me to sew and in the early years of our marriage, I used to borrow my mother-in-law’s sewing machine and make some of C’s clothes.
- When long coats became fashionable in the 1960s, C had the first of any of her friends. Because I had made it!
So today, I just had to go and see how the new Elizabeth Line Bond Street station fitted in with my favourite shopping street.
I travelled to the new Davies Street entrance of the station.
- I walked through the tunnels to the original Underground station.
- I emerged onto Oxford Street.
- I walked down South Molton Street to Fenwick, with a couple of diversions.
- I then walked through Medici Courtyard to the Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station.
Finally, I took the Elizabeth Line back to Moorgate for a bus to my house.
Note.
- There are two banks of escalators to the surface at the Davies Street entrance at Bond Street station.
- The tunnel between the Davies Street entrance at Bond Street station and the original Underground station has a seat at halfway.
- South Molton Street connects to Oxford Street.
- South Molton Passage connects the Davies Street entrance at Bond Street station and South Molton Street.
- C had her unusual wedding dress made in Haunch of Venison Yard.
- The Medici Courtyard sign also says it leads to the Elizabeth Line.
- I couldn’t find a coffee shop selling a cappuccino and a gluten-free cake in Medici Courtyard. That is poor!
One of the station staff at Hanover Square indicated, that there may be additional passages to the West of New Bond Street, that will connect to the Davies Street entrance at Bond Street station.
I feel this could make the area even better.
Moorgate Station To Bond Street Station And Return
This morning, I went between Moorgate Station and the Hanover Square entrance of Bond Street Station on the Elizabeth Line.
I then walked to the Davies Street entrance of Bond Street Station via Medici Court, Bond Street and Brook Street, and returned on the Elizabeth Line.
Note.
- The Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street station, is a single bank of escalators and is only a short walk between platforms and street.
- Medici Court is a quick covered walk from the station to Bond Street. There is an upmarket coffee-shop.
- ~Brook Street can be used as a walking route between Bond and Davies Streets and on to Grosvenor Square.
- The Davies Street entrance to Bond Street station, is a double bank of escalators and is a slightly longer walk between platforms and street.
- I suspect that South Molton Street will become a walking route between the Davies Street entrance and the Southern section of Bond Street.
- Many times in the past fifty years, I’ve bought my late wife presents in South Molton and Bond Streets.
Andy Byford, London’s outgoing Transport Commissioner has called this new station is the jewel in the crown of the West End’s transport provision.
The Five Minute Walk Between Oxford Circus Station And The Hanover Square Entrance To Bond Street Station For The Lizzie Line
With Bond Street station on the Elizabeth Line opening tomorrow, I thought I’d take a reconnaissance today and find out how long it takes to walk.
I took these pictures as I walked.
Note.
- I started from the South-East entrance to Oxford Circus station.
- I walked a few yards down Regent Street and took the first right into Princes Street.
- Princes Street has a few cafes and restaurants, a toilet and a Timpsons.
- I then walked straight across the Northern side of Hanover Square to the station entrance.
- I passed Harewood Place on my right, which leads directly to the London’s largest John Lewis.
If the station had been open, the walk would have taken five minutes.
Hanover Square
Hanover Square now is a London Square with its own station entrance. I suppose that Sloane Square is the only other one, but that doesn’t have the formal garden that Hanover Square does.
The Medici Courtyard
Hidden behind the station building is the Medici Courtyard, which has been created by the developers of the station entrance.
These pictures show the courtyard.
Note.
- The Medici Courtyard leads between Hanover Square and Bond Street.
- It joins Bond Street, just to the North of Fenwicks.
- It contains a high-class hotel, an upmarket coffee shop and some shops.
- There is a courtyard, where you can sit and enjoy a drink.
- There were a lot of flowers.
It is a very unique station feature, that has been designed to attract visitors and shoppers to the area.
Would A Tunnel Between Oxford Circus Station And The Hanover Square Entrance To Bond Street Station Be Possible?
Consider.
- At some point Oxford Circus station will be remodelled to provide extra capacity and full step-free access.
- In a few years time, there will be reliable statistics on how many passengers will change between Oxford Circus Station and The Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street Station.
- There will be more pedestrianisation in the area.
- I wouldn’t be surprised to find out, that the The Hanover Square entrance to Bond Street Station has provision for a possible tunnel.
I suspect various proposals will be put forward for improving the connection, if it is needed. Some will include tunnels.
The Anonymous Widower 