We are off to Nottingham today. We haven’t met up with my son and his wife since before the pandemic and we have arranged to meet halfway between our respective home towns. Nottingham is about on that midpoint.

Pentonville Road

We set off on foot down Pentonville Road, heading for St Pancras Station.

The two stations

We reached the bottom of the hill at the two railway stations, King’s Cross (right) and St Pancras.

Crossing through King’s Cross Station

The UK is currently facing a series of rail strikes. That is why King’s Cross Station was virtually deserted when we passed through. There were more station employees than members of the public in view.

St Pancras, busy as normal

By sheer luck, the line that we need, East Midlands, is not on strike today. As a result, St Pancras Station looks about as busy as usual.

Eurostar queue

The Eurostar was also operating and there was the usual long queue to check in.

EL & N

We went to EL & N for breakfast.

Aboard the 9:35

We went up the the upper level and joined our train. These trains are quite compact like a budget airline. Fortunately, the journey lasts only an hour and 39 minutes (if it runs on time).

On our way
Photo by Tigger

It’s another day of heatwave, expected to rise to 33°C later in Nottingham. It’s cool in the train, though, so let’s enjoy it while we can!

Arriving in Nottingham

We reached Nottingham a few minutes late but not enough to bother us.

Hop’s cafe

We paused at Hop’s Cafe for a drink and to work out how to meet.

Aboard the tram

We boarded a tram for Phoenix Park and got front seats. There is a park and ride there where our two can leave their car. It seems a convenient place to meet. Did I mention that we like trams? 🙂

Arriving at Phoenix Park

We arrived at Phoenix Park and looked for a suitable place to wait.

Beefeater

We found a Beefeater restaurant, ordered coffee and sat down to wait.

Old and new at Old Market Square

We all took the tram to Old Market Square where we looked for lunch.

Falafel

We found lunch at a restaurant called Falafel.

An old Burton’s store?

We spotted this building that, by the look of it, might be an old Burton’s store. (You perhaps remember that we “collect” old Burton’s shops.)

Aboard the southbound tram

We boarded a southbound tram as being somewhere to sit and talk in relative comfort on such a hot day. Unfortunately, the aircon was not working and it was very warm.

The Toton Lane Terminus

The tram terminated at Toton Lane. We got out and enjoyed the breeze. Our tram departed and we let it go, hoping that the next one would have a working aircon.

We were lucky: it did!

Costa Coffee

We travelled back to Old Market Square and went into the branch of Costa Coffee there. Here we stayed until it was time for us to start back to the station for our train.

At Nottingham Station

On arriving at the station we had a little time to spare so we had a little look around. The present building dates from 1904 and would deserve a more in depth survey. We saw only some of its attractions.

Art Nouveau ironwork

We did see these gates, designed in Art Nouveau style.

Platform 6A

We went down to Platform 6A, from which our train was to depart, and settled down to wait.

Our train – cancelled
Photo by Tigger

Then we received bad news: our train, the 16:12, had been cancelled. We had to transfer to Platform 7 and board the 16:50. Because this was not the train for which we had tickets, we did not have reserved seats. Fortunately, we found a pair of seats that were not reserved.

Aboard the 16:50 to St Pancras

All we have to do now is relax and wait till we arrive at St Pancras.

Evening sunshine
Photo by Tigger

Sun over water
Photo by Tigger

The return journey always seems longer than the journey out.

Arriving at St Pancras

We arrived at last at St Pancras and made our way through the ticket barrier.

Carluccio’s

Before continuing home, we stopped off at Carluccio’s restaurant for supper.

A view from the terrace

Leaving Carluccio’s, we first went out onto the station terrace and admired the view which includes King’s Cross Station and its clock tower.

Then we went down there and joined the mêlée, catching a bus which carried us up the hill to the Angel and home. Thus ended today’s outing.