Saturday to Monday 2-4 August 2025

Saturday, we booked into the Jubilee Victoria Hotel, close to Victoria Station. There are a number of small hotels here in Belgravia and Pimlico, in heritage buildings. We’re next door to a home that Winston Churchill once lived in. True. A plaque on the wall says so. We walked around the area and found a couple of pubs and it soon became apparent where we were. They were full of the YWE crowd (young, white and entitled). Sloane Rangers and Yummy Mummies as Lady P observed. Not so many hijabs or chadors in this part of town.

The weather has cooled down a bit and it’s cloudy but not unpleasant. So, on Sunday we walked 14,000+ steps, going down to Battersea. Here, they have redeveloped the old power station into a residential, retail and restaurant precinct. A very pleasant outing. However, a concerning trend in restaurants here. They add “A discretionary service charge of 12.5%  has been added to the bill.” It’s discretionary, right. So, if you don’t want to play it, say because you got totally crap service, you have the embarrassing task of taking on the server in front of everyone. So, the smart arse waiter says, “oh, I’ll get the manager.” Then with the charge removed he sarcastically says, “Well, you have a nice day.” Restaurant service here generally does not warrant a tip.

Dinner was at Kazan Turkish Restaurant, a short walk from our hotel. The service was excellent and the food really good. This time Flashy paid the service charge. It hurts though, as all pounds here cost two dollars.

Monday morning and the storm warnings for Scotland are all over the news. Cyclonic winds are forecast and our train to Edinburgh, while not cancelled yet, may be in jeopardy. We’re due to leave at 11.45 pm tonight, overnight to Edinburgh, arriving at 7.30 am.

Our Caledonian Express comes with a twin bunk and an ensuite, plus access to the club car for food and drinks. It is expensive but a bit of a treat, although you don’t have the cost of an overnight hotel. Nonetheless, it was a mixed experience. Wandering down the platform to the pre departure lounge, we meet our fellow ‘business class’ travellers. The lounge has no food other than a packet of crisps. A bit of grumbling but the Poms are sympathetic with the offered explanation of the ‘Storm Floris’ stranding staff etc.. Boarding time, and we drag six bags along the platform and look for the promised train guard or even a cabin attendant, to place the bags in the storage carriage. No one in sight. You see, they will fit in our cabin but then we won’t! Lady P finds a harried train attendant and asks for the big bags to be placed in the guard carriage. “We’re not paid to lift bags.” That’s OK she says, I’ll lift them, I just want to get them out of this room.” Not really a good start, Following the research about the train, we rush to secure a seat in the Club Car. Our very expensive drinks arrive in plastic bottles. Reminiscent of Jetstar service. The food however is OK. The cabin is quite good, with enough room to sit up in bed without hitting your head and very comfortable. 

The latest time for breakfast is 6.45 am and we make it for an unremarkable cooked meal. Two pieces of white bread with a slice of meat loaf half the size of the bread. Nothing else. A tad dry. That’s Flashy’s ‘sausage sandwich Scottish special.' He eats it. We arrive in Edinburgh to a clear day but cold winds. Out come the winter coats.

YWE crowd at the Thomas Cubitt pub.