The C1 Route

Monday 9 November 2009

If B stands for Bexleyheath, then we assume that C stands for Central, and so we had travelled these routes somewhat earlier in the project.  Actually, here's an interesting summary from TfL in answer to someone's question about this.  There are only 5 'C' buses, though in the 1990s there was also a C12, which made its way from Kings Cross to Finchley Road Station.

The C1 is a more West End creature altogether: this was our  fourth route of the day, and it brought us back from the White City Bus Station, in its attractive setting behind Westfields, to Victoria Station, from where it is comparatively easy for both Linda and me to return to normal life. We got started at 14.10, wondering whether it really would take us 60 minutes as advertised.

A single decker of the old fashioned kind with one door, it retraced part of the 49 route, carrying a number of obviously successful shoppers and passing several churches including St John the Baptist, home of the Ripples Montessori School.  We liked the autumn colours in Cadogan Gardens. 

We regularly regret the demise of the Commonwealth Institute, scene of enjoyable times when the children were young, especially the mechanical cow;  but it does seem odd that such prime real estate should still just be crumbling.  It seems that this is all about the change and by the time you read this it may be a whole new world.

We passed a pub called The Prince of Teck.  We have complained before that pub websites never explain the names, and this one is no exception, so I have put in a link to some information about the man.  On we went, along the Earls Court Road, and then along the Old Brompton Road, and the Royal Society of British Sculptors. We assume that by the time this blog is posted, the huge unoccupied house at 88 Queen's Gate will have been squatted in or otherwise restored to proper use. Actually, it seems to be a hotel, now.

Back to South Kensington Station, where the traffic flow has much improved since our last visit and then past the V and A  and the Brompton Oratory to reach Harrods and the forthcoming Moncler shop with an interesting photo in its window.

Our bus was held on three occasions to 'regulate the service', but even so, as we passed Jenny Packham's little shop front. we realised we would be in Victoria in much less than an hour, and we were, pulling in at 14.55.

It is a reminder of how long our project has been going, that we had no idea what this 'love your bank' stuff was about, and were more interested in the window cleaners.  To think that the Metro Bank was justr a gleam in someone's eye...