M25 tour says goodbye (From The Argus)

M25 tour says goodbye

1:40pm Monday 17th December 2012 in News By Peter Truman

It gained headlines around the world and was met with both derision and intrigue.

But the chance to tour the M25 is now over as the bus company behind the scheme has decided to pull the trips.

Brighton and Hove Bus Company has declared it is “time for a change” and has withdrawn the infamous route.

The firm said some 200 people enjoyed the four trips organised around the London gyratory.

Highlights along the route included the Dartford Crossing, Heathrow’s Terminal Five and Lakeside shopping centre.

Advertised as “designed for lovers of modern coach travel”, the tour began in Brighton but hit the motorway at Junction 7 after a short warm-up along the A23 and M23.

The holiday brochure advertised the landmark as “the most hated place in Britain” as voted for by Radio 4 listeners and added that “Caterham Cars claimed it was the country’s worst driving road” but promised to “prove these judgements wrong with a flight of fancy”.

It said it included an “entertaining commentary” during the drive, including “interesting facts about the motorway’s evolution”.

'Time to move on'

Managing director Roger French said: “We had national and international recognition and success for our M25 tours, but it’s now time to move on and we’ve put together an exciting programme of days out on our fleet of luxury coaches for next year, as well as some short breaks which are proving ever more popular.”

Among the new days out planned for 2013 are “Under the Bearskin”, a look at the role of Her Majesty’s Household Division, and an Olympic Legacy Tour looking behind the scenes at the Olympic Park at Stratford.

There is also a trip to the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport.

Bournemouth or Poole are added to the programme, as are Bird World and Guildford, Guildford Flower Gala, Knebworth House, Royal National Rose Society, Saville Gardens, a Thames Cruise, the War and Peace Show and The Hope Farm.

The 2013 brochure is now available from the company’s new shop, 1 Stop Travel in North Street, Brighton, or online at buses.co.uk.

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