Movement restrictions to reduce the spread of the Covid-19 virus mean that trains and other public transport must only be used for essential journeys. Clearly it is not the time to be making leisure trips and many people are at home, including those self-isolating. So here are some puzzles and other activities to do at home.
I've compiled these anagram puzzles for you to try. Answers will be published here after Easter.
London & The Cotswolds anagrams
English Towns & Cities anagrams
English Counties anagrams
National Trust anagrams
English Heritage anagrams
Suggestions from other websites:
Things to do from the National Trust
Map Puzzles from Ordnance Survey
Nature Activities from Woodland Trust
Join BTO Garden BirdWatch
Help digitise historic UK Rainfall Records
Of course, you can also spend time planning future trips using this website!
For further ideas I recommend this blog which covers a good variety of topics including trips by public transport:
Chartwell, the home of Winston Churchill, is a popular attraction. It is not near a station but there are several bus services from stations to Chartwell and I have picked the easiest routes for visitors from London.
Chartwell is open from 29 February to 1 November 2020, Daily 1000-1700, House from 1130 by timed ticket (available on day from visitor welcome centre or see website to book in advance).
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chartwell
Buses from Oxted station stop ½ mile from Chartwell, please see the times below.
The nearest bus on Saturdays is to Westerham, then it is a 2 mile walk to Chartwell. Buses to Westerham operate from Bromley N/S, Hayes, Oxted and Sevenoaks stations.
Hourly buses from Bromley South and Hayes stations operate all the way to Chartwell when the House is open. This is the easiest route, please see the times below. The bus passes Biggin Hill Memorial Museum www.bhmm.org.uk which tells the story of the fighter station's important part in the Battle of Britain, look out for the replica Spitfire aircraft by the Museum entrance.
* The 2020 Bank Holiday dates are: 13 April, 8 May, 25 May and 31 August.
Chartwell
Taxis can be used daily from Oxted and Sevenoaks stations, both about 7 miles from Chartwell. For telephone numbers of local taxi operators please see the station posters:
29 February to 1 November 2020
| Train | ||
| London Victoria | 1020 | 1220 |
| Clapham Junction | 1027 | 1227 |
| East Croydon | 1040 | 1240 |
| Oxted | 1101 | 1301 |
| Bus 236 | ||
| Oxted Station | 1120 | 1320 |
| Mapleton Road* | 1137 | 1337 |
* = Chartwell is ½ mile (about 10 minutes walk) from the bus stop.
| Bus 236 | ||
| Mapleton Road | 1420 | 1720 |
| Oxted Station | 1437 | 1737 |
| Train | ||
| Oxted | 1453 | 1753 |
| East Croydon | 1515 | 1815 |
| Clapham Junction | 1526 | 1826 |
| London Victoria | 1532 | 1832 |
Travelcards and Oyster cards cannot be used to Oxted and on bus 236.
The times of trains and buses are provided in good faith but errors are possible and they may change, please check before you travel with National Rail (trains) and Southdown Buses (bus 236).
On Sundays and Bank Holidays* when Chartwell House is open bus 246 operates from Bromley all the way to Chartwell, passing Bromley South and Hayes stations (both in London Zone 5). Bus 246 is a Transport for London route so London Travelcards and Oyster cards can be used on the bus to Chartwell, despite it being several miles outside London.
Beware that engineering work sometimes affects Sunday and Bank Holiday train services so you should always check the train times with National Rail Enquiries before you travel.
There are slower trains to Bromley South from Blackfriars.
* The 2020 Bank Holiday dates are: 13 April, 8 May, 25 May and 31 August.
Chartwell Golden Roses
8 March to 1 November 2020
| Train | ||||
| London Victoria | 0840 | 0940 | 1040 | and |
| Bromley South | 0857 | 0957 | 1057 | then |
| Bus 246 | hourly | |||
| Bromley South | 0929 | 1028 | 1128 | |
| Chartwell | 1013 | 1114 | 1215 |
| Bus 246 | ||||
| Chartwell | 1220 | and | 1620 | 1720 |
| Bromley South | 1307 | then | 1705 | 1804 |
| Train | hourly | |||
| Bromley South | 1326 | until | 1726 | 1826 |
| London Victoria | 1348 | 1748 | 1848 |
The times of trains and buses are provided in good faith but errors are possible and they may change, please check before you travel with National Rail (trains) and Transport for London (bus 246). A timetable for bus 246 is available from London Bus Routes. Always check weekend and Bank Holiday train times because they may be altered for engineering work.
8 March to 1 November 2020
Trains operate from either Charing Cross and Waterloo East, or Cannon Street, plus London Bridge to Hayes. Please check train times for your date of travel with National Rail. Simply enter 'London' as your 'From' station to see the options on your chosen day.
| Bus 246 | ||||
| Hayes Station | 0940 | 1039 | 1139 | and |
| Chartwell | 1013 | 1114 | 1215 | hourly |
| Bus 246 | ||||
| Chartwell | 1220 | hourly | 1620 | 1720 |
| Hayes Station | 1255 | until | 1655 | 1754 |
FAQ: I have a 7-Day Travelcard for London Zones 1-2, can I really use it for travel on the bus to Chartwell?
Yes, you can use it because bus 246 to Chartwell is a London bus route and zones don't apply to buses.
However, you will need to pay for the train journey from the boundary of zone 2
to Bromley South or Hayes (both are in zone 5).
If your 7-Day Travelcard is on Oyster just make sure you have enough PAYG (Pay As You Go) credit
on your Oyster card (£6 will be sufficient for the two train journeys).
There are no barriers at Hayes so take care to touch-out and remember to touch-in when you return.
If your 7-Day Travelcard is a paper (National Rail) ticket show it at the ticket office and ask for a day return
from 'Boundary Zone 2' to Bromley South or Hayes. Use your Travelcard to start your journey in London, then switch to the paper ticket
marked OUT to exit at Bromley South or Hayes. Start the return train journey with the RTN paper ticket, then your Travelcard in London.
Complete London bus network
with enlarged central area.
pdf download only £1
printed version £2 post free in UK
