Howdy all! In this blog I’m going to briefly write up my last few days or so in the UK leading up to heading over to mainland Europe from last year. From the UK I went to Amsterdam, and then from Amsterdam my trip undertook a new phase as I flew to East Africa. And so these blogs are not far away.

But my last blog about my 2025 adventure had me in Manchester. I spent a good portion then of a single day making my way back to Northampton on National Express, the bus service of the United Kingdom – similar I guess to Greyhound in Australia (also the US but that’s a completely different company I believe).

I just missed my first bus and so had to sit tight at the Manchester Bus Station for the next one (and book an entirely new ticket). Such is life. The bus service though has improved a bit from my memories past when I was in the UK. Taking the train, as I did from Northampton to Liverpool and then to Manchester, was the preferable way to go, but I just couldn’t find a decent price on it back to Northampton and so I thought I might as well try the bus, which cost a little under 30 pounds (maybe 26 or so) which was a LOT cheaper than the train, if slower and less comfortable.

That was also a same day ticket. I applied for cash back as they had some offer – I bought the ticket online at the station, but I never got the cash back so if you see that offer, I would advise not to waste your time sorting it out. It might have been because I was not a citizen of the UK. Oh and through the process of applying for it I got signed up for something I hadn’t agreed to and they took money from my card, my bank refunded the money and I stopped the direct debit – I had a few card issue in 2025 and this was one of the reasons I don’t keep any cards in my online ‘wallet’, because I never entered a credit card that’s for sure.

I spent time in Northampton after Manchester, only a few days but enough time to get in some walks, shoot a quick video about Northampton (which I wasn’t very happy with, so much closed at the time!) and see the sights of a town that doesn’t really see international tourists. Ever. But there are a couple of nice churches, there’s the River Nene with some locks which was cool as I saw a boat getting lowered into the next lock, and outside of the centre (but not too far) I visited a field where the ‘Battle of Northampton’ was fought in 1460 – part of the ‘War of the Roses’ next to an old nunnery.

Then one evening my mate and I headed to the nearby town of Bedford to a club called the ‘Bedford Esquires’ which sounds like something quite different to the simple venue it is. Upstairs is where I got to bop along to BETTY BOO. Now, kids, I know a lot of people who read my vlogs are a lot younger than I, but Betty Boo is a female artist from the UK who was big for a short period of time around 1990. Her biggest hit was ‘Doin’ the Do’, which was followed by ‘Where are you Baby’. She mixed vocals with rap, well she still does. It was a small gig – well I was expecting it to be bigger, but a great night. If you watch the video below you may hear me screaming out the lyrics. Best to turn down the volume I guess!

Soon though, it was time to head off from the United Kingdom. I’d been there around three weeks, maybe slightly longer, which was not as long as I originally wanted to, but hey, it is what it is. I caught the early morning train (thanks for ALL the lifts into Northampton Graham!) to London to connect to the Eurostar to Amsterdam.

The last time I took the Eurostar from London St Pancras I was going to Paris, and boy I remember how close I cut it. Not because I was super late, but because I hadn’t expected the lines to be so long to check in. So, I was well early this time. And guess what – check in took 10 minutes! There was basically no line!

The waiting area is packed. It was hot in there, although there had been a cool change over night. It was hot except when I was in Liverpool and Manchester last year, but from all accounts the 2026 Summer has been even worse! England is not built for heat (neither is Paris so I hear) – air conditioning isn’t common. The heat had not escaped from the waiting area, which would look big without people, but finding a seat is a major challenge.

It’s poor really, I guess they only have the space they have but it’s an important part of a train experience, especially when passports have to be checked (thanks Brexit!), bags x-rayed and the rest. There are a couple of shops to grab a bite before you go.

I had an hour plus to wait this time, and was glad to be let down to the platform and get on my fast train to Europe! Yes, there’s one that goes direct to Amsterdam! But Amsterdam… well that’s for next time!

Thanks for popping by and reading today! Take care whenever you are in the world and… May the Journey Never End!