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hannah40 | 14:36 Tue 18th Oct 2022 | Travel
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I am coming to London on a Saturday with 20 adults who have learning disabilities. We are coming into Victoria coach station and getting an underground to Westminster where we have planned activities.
After activities have finished around 3pm they were asking to go for Chinese buffet. So is there any where between Westminster and Victoria coach station we can go for a buffet or is it easy to get to China town from London eye and then Victoria. Remembering my group struggle to walk far ,over the bridge is probably the most they can walk.
So need underground to be simple.
Eg one stop . Anyone who lives in London can you advise please?
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China Town may be a step too far for your group, taking the tube or walking.
I would go to Victoria where there are some Chinese restaurants, unfortunately I cannot vouch for them.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g154945-c11-Victoria_Victoria_Capital_Regional_District_Vancouver_Island_British_Columbia.html
It's not going to be easy.

London (or, at least, the central part of it) is largely made up of fairly distinct districts. For example, nearly all of the financial institutions are in one area, whereas the majority of major theatres are all huddled together in a different one.

So it is with Chinese restaurants/buffets. They are, perhaps unsurprisingly, largely around Chinatown, which is served by Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square Tube stations. Neither of those stations is served directly from Westminster. (You'd need to change at Embankment unless you walked the half a mile from Westminster to Embankment to eliminate the first Tube journey). Most people would probably walk from Westminster to Chinatown but it might be a bit too far for your group. (The 24 bus runs from Westminster to Leicester Square though. It's only a coupe of stops).

If you can get to Chinatown though, MW Buffet (on Wardour Street, not far from Piccadilly Circus station) is inexpensive:
http://mwbuffet.co.uk/mw-buffet.html

Hong Kong Buffet (on Lisle Street, not far from Leicester Square station) hasn't got a price on their website but, given the amount of competition that there is in the area, they shouldn't cost an arm and a leg either.
https://www.hongkongbuffet.org.uk/
Sorry link is for Victoria Canada.
Try this one, London
https://www.zomato.com/london/victoria-restaurants/chinese
On Horseferry road at the other end near the river (not over) there is/was a restaurant called the Firecracker - not been there for a few years but they certainly used to do a decent buffet type meal.
will you have travel cards?
There are Chinese restaurants that do buffets in Borough Market on the other side of the bridge. Sorry I can’t post links. Perhaps someone else would be kind enough to oblige.
Sorry, Naomi, but I can't find anything suitable listed on the Borough Market website:
https://boroughmarket.org.uk/traders/?trader-cat=dine-and-drink

Further, Borough Market is three stops away from Westminster by Tube (or over a mile and a half to walk).
my travel card query is because i recently found out you can't pay for more than 1 person's journey on a contactless card. I'm not sure how many people in your group will have their own contactless cards, so it may be a consideration
No-one so far has mentioned that Victoria coach station is 11 - 12 minutes' walk for a healthy person from Victoria train/tube station.

if your group cannot walk more than over a bridge, they will find the trek to the tube station arduous.

That is along a busy road with many distractions.

Furthermore, the tube journey from Victoria to Westminster is not straightforward for those with learning difficulties. It depends a bit on how severe they are and how many helpers you have.

It is, of course just two stops along the circle/district line, but the process of getting from the surface to the relevant circle line platform at Victoria is far from easy.

it is further complicated by the lack of tolerance shown by many regular tube users for those who are not used to the many choices about where to walk through narrow, poorly sign-posted tube walkways and barriers and steps.

Emerging at Westminster is easier, as it is relatively close to the surface, but Westminster tube station has many exits.

My advice would be to get on the No 11 bus from Victoria Coach directly to Westminster Abbey. Sitting on the bus allows them to see the streets as they go by, rather than risk the tube, which is just fine, but, as noted, can be challenging, even for the able-bodied who do not use it regularly.

The best Chinese buffets are in Chinatown, just north of Leicester Square, but my goodness, I would not want to take your group there by public transport.

Others have advised about potential Chinese buffets around Victoria/Westminster, so I'll not add to that advice, but ask if you need more.

Personally, if you have the time (and money) I would strongly recommend that you or one of your helper team does a 'dry run' to check out all the potential difficulties.



Bednobs:
Groups of ten or more people can travel on a single Group Day Travelcard, priced at £9.40 per adult. The group leader simply shows the Travelcard to the person manning the ticket barriers, enabling the whole group to be counted through.

Rationalist:
I too was concerned as to how the group was planning to get from Victoria Coach Station to Victoria Underground. As you say, they're not close together. Many travellers (often with heavy cases) have struggled to get between the two - including me!
I don't know London so can't advise there but am worried about so many people descending on a chinese restaurant without booking?
I don't know the cost involved but wouldn't four or five taxi's be a more convenient option?
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The restaurants will not take bookings so we are having a rethink on that one.
I have no idea how much taxi would be from Victoria to London eye. I guess it depends on traffic.
The buses sound like a plan.
Thanks for suggestions.
Could you hire a mini bus to take you to the London Eye and then to a restaurant after. There is a Wagamamas in close walking distance to the Eye along the Embankment and then have the mini bus meet you close by for the journey back to Victoria
On how to get from place to place quickly, try a transfer service: https://atobtransfer.com/

Tell them that the car should be for 20 people and they will give you the right transport and you will get to the location directly.
Question Author
Our trip to London was a success. We got a group travel card and went through barrier together . Staff were very helpful.
The restaurant called pilgrims pizza near Victoria station were very accommodating and reasonably priced.
Thank you for advice.

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