‘A bit of escapism!’ Man travels by 14 local buses from London to Lancashire in just a day

Jo Kibble, an official at Ealing council in west London, challenged himself to a peculiar holiday. He travelled as far as possible from London by local bus.

The public transport enthusiast came up with the idea for the trip during lockdown.

After spending a few weeks planning his route, Mr Kibble left central London alone, with just the packed lunch his wife, Lisa, had made him for company.

Explaining his decision to take the unique journey, Mr Kibble said: “Having been denied any possibility of a more exotic trip, I thought it would be a fun way of getting a bit of escapism and seeing a bit of the country.

“One of the great things about buses is that you are high up: you can see over hedges and houses.”

Mr Kibble explained the highlight of the route was the stretch between Matlock and Buxton in the Peak District, which he described as “stunningly beautiful”.

As for the bus fares, the total cost of 14 buses was £56.95.

The travel enthusiast returned to London by train, costing him another £40.90.

Although Mr Kibble travelled more than 200 miles, he said he wasn’t “100 percent certain” if Morecambe was the furthest destination he could have reached in 24 hours.

He added: “I need to catch up on some sleep.

“I may as well head home to do that, rather than pay for a hotel room.”