So, you’re going to giffgaff’s 10th Birthday party on the 7th of December but aren’t too sure about how to get there (or just want some general travelling tips!) – look no further. Here’s some tips and tricks to use when travelling to Uxbridge!
General Tips
- City Mapper is a great app to use. It’s similar to Google Maps though I’ve found it to be effective at giving me more information using a cleaner layout – giving information like the platform number of the tube and making your phone vibrate when you get close to your stop. Though, as with many navigation apps, the tube being underground sometimes means it won’t be able to tell you your location.
- Like City Mapper, Google Maps is very useful navigating tool. On the Android app, it now has Live View when you’re walking along the street so you can effectively just hold your phone up (as if you’re taking a picture of what’s in front of you) and they’ll be an arrow on the screen to show you where to walk.
- The Google Maps app also has quite a nice feature (that I found just today) that tells you the prices of the taxi services like Uber and Kapten in the Google Maps app itself. To actually order a taxi from the services listed, you’ll need to download and sign-up for their apps. If you’d like to keep things traditional, though, you can always just find a black cab 😊.
- Watch out for delays. There do seem to be quite a few delays train-wise in December for various reasons. If you’re using a train (or any other transport), be sure to check the company’s website before travelling.
- Having a contactless credit or debit card is an easy way to pay for the tube and for buses. You just tap your card on the terminal (put your card so it sort of sits on the terminal on one of its edges but with you still holding on to it for a few seconds) on your way in to the tube and on your way out – your card will automatically be charged. So, no need to ‘plan’ for that bit of your journey – presuming you have a card that’s contactless.
- As with pretty much any place in the world, be sure you don’t have your valuables on show and remember to take your valuables with you at each part of your journey.
- If you wanted to stay in Uxbridge, instead of using an hotel, you could consider using an AirBNB. These are pretty much hotels just set-up by an individual rather than a chain like Premier Inn. They’re usually somewhat cheaper than hotels. Generally, AirBNB’s aren’t for everyone but they’re worth looking into if you’re interested in a change compared to hotels.
- It’s courtesy to stand on the right hand side of an escalator if you’re not in a hurry. Think of it as slower and fast lanes on the motorway but the people in a hurry walk on the left rather than the right.
- The tube is generally a frequent service so don’t break a leg trying to get on the train you need to get on in the distance - they’ll probably be one soon after it!
Getting to giffgaff HQ
After getting to Uxbridge station, it's pretty simple to find giffgaff HQ. See the map below.
(The green marker is where you're setting-off from [Uxbridge station]. The red marker is giffgaff HQ.)
Here's the directions in text-form...
Distance: 116m. Time: 0:01.
Ascend: 0m. Descend: 0m.
1. Continue 20m
2. Turn right onto Bakers Yard 10m
3. Turn left onto Baker's Road 20m
4. Turn slight left onto Baker's Road 70m
5. Arrive at destination
-Directions courtesy of Graphhopper-
Click here for a link to OpenStreetMap with this information.
From the platform, take the nearest exit, which is somewhere on your right as you pass through the barrier.
Note that the entrance to giffgaff HQ will look like this...
Images courtesy of Google
Parking
Nearby carpark.
Google Maps navigation from Intu Uxbridge car-park (the car park above) to giffgaff HQ
Another nearby carpark.
Google Maps navigation from The Pavilions car-park (the car park above) to giffgaff HQ
Party Details
11:30am-4:30pm.
Belmont House, 148 Belmont Rd, Uxbridge UB8 1HE (NOT Hertz House - that was the previous location)
The Weather
The weather doesn't seem too bad though it's probably still best to bring a code or umbrella.
Up to date as of 2nd Dec. Image courtesty of BBC Weather. Click here for more
Credit
Thanks to @harrrrrry for providing specific details in getting from Uxbridge station to giffgaff HQ and for the idea of including the weather forecast.
Thanks to @kateegreen for providing advice on the Intu car park.
Thanks to @i_am_sy for the address.
And thanks to the giffgaff team for setting this up!
Disclaimer: I nor giffgaff nor the members that have added advice will be held responsible for any repercussions as a result of following the aforementioned information.
