Which one would be best...,

[Alistair G.]

Hi everyone,

In thinking of a trip to one of 4 destinations. Swansea, Cardiff, Exeter or Bristol

I mainly spot the "major" bus companies (stagecoach, First & Arriva)

Which place would give me a good return for about 3 hours of spotting?

I was keen in Swansea but it's a long way (I'm travelling from Leicester into London first before heading west and I have to make the return trip the same day!)

So was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the potential locations

Thanks in advance

 

[THarris123]

Hi everyone,

In thinking of a trip to one of 4 destinations. Swansea, Cardiff, Exeter or Bristol

I mainly spot the "major" bus companies (stagecoach, First & Arriva)

Which place would give me a good return for about 3 hours of spotting?

I was keen in Swansea but it's a long way (I'm travelling from Leicester into London first before heading west and I have to make the return trip the same day!)

So was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the potential locations

Thanks in advance

Bristol is a good safe bet - closer than Exeter and more likely to see more buses in 3 hours than in Wales.

 

[Dai Corner]

If you're mainly interested in Stagecoach, First and Arriva remember that the majority of buses in Cardiff are (Council owned) Cardiff Bus. Oh, and with the current absence of a bus station finding the stop you want isn't straightforward.

 

[Great_Western]

I think you'll most probably be dissapointed by Swasea, Its First fleet is made up almost entirely of streetlights and darts, There is a few indipendants but not much else of note.

Cardiff is served by a large amount of stagecoach services, And its main local operator is Cardiff Bus, With a diverse and well looked after fleet. Local independant Nat Group also has a presense alongside a smattering of First Cymru services. It is also home to service 30 to Newport. Which is Britains last jointly operated municipal service. Best place to go is the top end of St Mary Street by the train station. Pehaps if you can spare an extra hour, Have a quick run down to Newport to see Newport bus and a lot of Stagecoach red & white services.

Bristol has quite a good first network, With a range of fleet types complimented by the good local independant Abus, and the not so good Wessex. Also has the advantage of having lots of good spotting places, With College green being a personal favoutite. Exeter on the other hand, my expirience is limited.

 

[Alistair G.]

Thanks for the information guys. I must admit I thought Swansea was probably out the equation.

I had no knowledge of Cardiff, so it's handy to know that there's not much there (although do need a few pacers so I was hoping that would have been better!)

Bristol sounds like the winner at the moment. As I'm catching the train to Temple Meads can anyone suggest best places to spot (happy to try a couple of spots!) and any location of major bus hub (bus station/high street etc)

Thanks

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Thanks for the information guys. I must admit I thought Swansea was probably out the equation.

I had no knowledge of Cardiff, so it's handy to know that there's not much there (although do need a few pacers so I was hoping that would have been better!)

Bristol sounds like the winner at the moment. As I'm catching the train to Temple Meads can anyone suggest best places to spot (happy to try a couple of spots!) and any location of major bus hub (bus station/high street etc)

Thanks

Bottom of Lower Maudlin Street junction with Lewins Mead. Almost pop Primark near Hot Dog Deli. All vehicles exiting bus station and many city routes. Should do you best

 

[D60]

Yes, the location recommended by TGW above is a good spot.. being a pedestrianised area at the congruence of Union Street, Horsefair, Haymarket, Lower Maudlin Street, Lewins Mead and Rupert Street, and all the routes and services that these thoroughfares carry...
From the Station Approach at Temple Meads, a gentle stroll along Temple Gate, Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Wine Street and Union Street will take you there... alternatively a ride on First's no1 or 2 routes will take you the same way... or even more alternatively, hail a CityFox cab from the station forecourt !
If you get bored there, the Marlborough St bus station is just up Lower Maudlin St, and serves Nat Ex services, and First's 'out of town' routes into Bristol.. (cross city services use on-street stops and routes, such as the recommended location above..)..
Another traditional location is 'The Centre' (formerly 'Tramways Centre').. at the lower end of Lewins Mead/Rupert Street/Colston Avenue/Nelson Street... though this once pleasant location is now totally churned up with Metrobus rebuilding work.. still an interesting location though...
Thence a return to Temple Meads can be via either Baldwin Street/Victoria Street, or Broad Quay/Redcliffe Way..

 

[daodao]

Thanks for the information guys. I must admit I thought Swansea was probably out the equation.

I had no knowledge of Cardiff, so it's handy to know that there's not much there (although do need a few pacers so I was hoping that would have been better!)

Bristol sounds like the winner at the moment. As I'm catching the train to Temple Meads can anyone suggest best places to spot (happy to try a couple of spots!) and any location of major bus hub (bus station/high street etc)

Thanks

Cardiff has more variety in bus operators than Bristol, which like Swansea is essentially just First Bus. It is not as much as when I lived there, as the municipal operators based in the Valley Towns have now all disappeared, the last to go being Islwyn (formerly West Mon). However, there are regular services by Stagecoach, First Bus, Edwards and NAT Group, as well as the remaining Welsh municipal operators Cardiff and Newport.

 

[PeterC]

In my bus spotting days I would have picked Cardiff but I believe that the trolleybuses have all gone now! The valleys certainly used to be a fascinating mix of municipal operations.

 

[carlberry]

Cardiff has more variety in bus operators than Bristol, which like Swansea is essentially just First Bus. It is not as much as when I lived there, as the municipal operators based in the Valley Towns have now all disappeared, the last to go being Islwyn (formerly West Mon). However, there are regular services by Stagecoach, First Bus, Edwards and NAT Group, as well as the remaining Welsh municipal operators Cardiff and Newport.

The problem in Cardiff is the local authority dont like buses! If you walk around enough you can see all the above however Edwards is one route in one area, First is one route in another area and even Stagecoach is spread around several areas.

Bristol does howevr have quite a few vehicles that were in Leicester until recently!