National Express

Missed the last train? Never fear! The National Express runs later and is often a cheaper and cosier way to get to your destination. I had a ball ache of an experience recently when I was sent to Manchester to review a gig for MEN. I found the venue ok after gettin the train from Liverpool, watched the gig, and made it back to the train station for 11PM expecting to catch the last train! Low and behold I’d missed it. and a taxi would have set me back £40!
So I walked around and asked if there were any buses around that ran back to Liverpool at that time of night and I was told that there was a National Express station down the road!
The National Express coach cost me just £10 and got me closer to home than any train would have done. I was made up, the driver was friendly and the coach was cool and spacious!

I have nothing against National Express, I hope and them understand that. 3 stars is pretty good I think because they just sort get the job done don’t they. I mean nobody who travels by NE, myself included, does so for the comfort or luxury because that’s not really built into th price is it? A very cheap price though I will state.
However the NE stop here in Liverpool is not quite the station that will evoke romantic images of reaching new destinations — unless of course you are leaving the bloody place! Found at Norton St just at the back of London Rd, the NE bus station is the least evocative travel stop ever with only a tiny station, built purely to function as a stop, on one side and a motorway on the other. I realise you can’t have it all but travel needs some sort of romance — then again an £80 train ticket will sap any romance from a train station too!

What I adore about National Express, isn’t that like all transport, it gets me from A to B, it’s the price. If I wanted to go to London tomorrow, I could for the ‘funfare’ price of £13. Now I know it’s non-​refundable and all that, but that’s So much better than paying last minute to go on the train even if it does take a few hours longer, just pack a good book and gloat about how much dosh you just saved.
Also, the last coach back from Manchester to Liverpool is later than the last train so if you’re going to a gig and don’t want to miss the encore then it’s a great idea to book a seat on the coach!
The station is quite slick even if a little cold in the evening, just a little glass box basically!
It’s better to get the ticket online before hand as I’ve made the mistake of getting it at the time the coach is about to leave and the price does go up quite a bit, so be savvy and sort it first!

The Liverpool national express station provides access to national expresses vast cheap and affordable network of coaches that criss cross the country. The best fares are the £2 ‘fun fare’ returns to Manchester, which have allowed my friends and I many a day out in Manchester for little cost. The station itself is well served by taxis for your return home so you needn’t worry about coming in late and tired from a long journey.
The station itself offers ticket sales but I would strongly advise buying these online in advance as it is much cheaper. If your unable to print them off yourself then you can collect from the station for a small fee and still make a saving.

I love National Express because I just have a passion for travel by road that every time I go away (within UK or Europe) I choose coach rather than any other form of transport. Obviously coaches take longer to reach their destination but for me, a personal favourite.
If you do choose coach, National Express is the way to go as they serve most major cities in the UK and also to some parts of Europe at affordable prices (much cheaper than the train).
National Express have a great, user-​friendly website where you can easily purchase e-​tickets or even have the ticket sent to your mobile for a small additional fee. This form of ticketing is very convenient and hassle free than having to visit the station. If you ever have to visit the station to buy your ticket, it is equally as straightforward with many friendly staff serving at the reception that know exactly every detail you require first-​hand. If you’d rather not wait or don’t have specific enquiries, there are electronic self-​service ticket machines so you can buy your ticket at the touch of a button.