Finchley Road Coach Station National Express
Let’s talk amenities, because this is where Finchley Road flexes. There’s a little café kiosk that sells coffee that’s actually drinkable—not the usual brown water pretending to be espresso.
You can grab a KitKat, a surprisingly good pasty, or a bottle of water without selling a kidney. It’s not a five-star restaurant, but it’s a thousand times better than the vending machine of shame.
And the seating? There’s enough. Not luxury enough to take a nap, but enough to scroll your phone without doing a standing squat. Baby steps, people.
The Queue Game (Spoiler: It’s Fair)
National Express coaches usually have assigned seats now, but you still have to queue. At Finchley Road, they do this organized dance where passengers actually line up in a semi-orderly fashion.
You won’t get the “chaos scramble” you see at Victoria. It’s more like a polite British queue at a bakery, just with more backpacks and less cake. Civilization.
If you’re lucky, you’ll hear a cheerful driver who actually helps you stow your suitcase. One time, mine said “have a lovely day” like he meant it. I almost cried.