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That's what you get with the benefit of experience.

My planning is along the lines of "Right, I know changing at Green Park's a bad idea, and anything not involving too many stairs or escalators is good. Now where are the stairs and escalators. And I must not, repeat not, change from Jubilee to District/Circle at Westminster, no matter how much I like what I call the architecture there."

Along with bits of "Shit, I really can't remember if that change is a complete pain in the arse or not...."

I can confidently say I won't win tomorrow.

The direction of arrival at Paddington is crucial to a good time too ...

tubeguru wrote:The direction of arrival at Paddington is crucial to a good time too ...

Aye. I remember Anthony saying that going from H+C to Wimbleware/Circle is better than the other way around. Was he right, or just putting me off the scent?

All I know is that it's an awfully long way down that platform to get to the H+C.

Also, is a bus from Euston to Russell Square a fairly reliable option, if there's one there?

Of course it is better going from the H&C to the Bakerloo at Paddington (as that the running route is all down stairs/escalators, apart from the intitial stairs up from the H&C platforms)

Of course it is better going from the H&C to the Bakerloo at Paddington (as that the running route is all down stairs/escalators, apart from the intitial stairs up from the H&C platforms)

Yes, there will be a bus but it may be a long wait.

And yes, a nice run down the platform at Paddington mainline station is good for getting the heart rate up

In 2004, Geoff and I arrived there on the same H&C train as Adham. He sprinted like hell and was miles ahead as we got to the mainline station.

By the time he reached the barriers at the Bakerloo station, we had caught him up - proof that running fast doesn't always pay

Sorry, Tubeguru, would you be able to explain why the direction matters at Paddington? The eastbound and westbound platforms of each line are next to each other, and barring the difference one footbridge makes, there's negligible difference, no?

OK, you have to change from H&C to Circle/Bakerloo at Paddington.

If you arrive at the Circle station first, from Bayswater, and run to H&C, you would naturally take a H&C train to at least as far as Baker Street. This MAY mean changing at Edgware Road.

Need I go on?

tangy wrote:Of course it is better going from the H&C to the Bakerloo at Paddington (as that the running route is all down stairs/escalators, apart from the intitial stairs up from the H&C platforms)

So there's a different way to along that long platform (12? 13?), then?

In order to go from Circle to H&C at Paddington, you need to run up a footbridge and over some of the mainline tracks to get to the H&C platforms.

Going the other way it's only up ONE set of steps.

tubeguru wrote:OK, you have to change from H&C to Circle/Bakerloo at Paddington.

If you arrive at the Circle station first, from Bayswater, and run to H&C, you would naturally take a H&C train to at least as far as Baker Street. This MAY mean changing at Edgware Road.

Need I go on?

My circular route from last year involved changing at Edgware Road anyway (to the Bakerloo), but in the end that corner was the last section so I simplified the route to end at Edgware Road.

I'm not giving away any more secrets

Well, I'm pretty sure that you're right, even though I can't see it. But luckily my route doesn't involve the District/Circle at Paddington, nor a change at Edgware Road so it's probably okay after all!

But you still have to visit the Circle/District/Bakerloo station at Paddington so your route has to go through it somewhere

tangy wrote:Of course it is better going from the H&C to the Bakerloo at Paddington (as that the running route is all down stairs/escalators, apart from the intitial stairs up from the H&C platforms)

So there's a different way to along that long platform (12? 13?), then?

EDIT: Sorry, I appear to have said this twice - confusion on my part - it said "NO EMAIL SENT" or something, and I thought....well, maybe I thought, when perhaps I should have left well alone