Dave61's Qype profile

The branch of Iceland in Woodley is much like any other branch of the chain - basically it’s a plainly decorated store mostly containing freezers full of frozen food! However the range of frozen food is good and very reasonably priced. There’s also some non-frozen products, e.g. tinned food, bread, cakes and milk. Also there’s a range of canned beers available (bizarrely some come in pint cans rather than 440 or 500ml ones which you see elsewhere!).

My main bugbear with this shop is that there never seem to be enough checkouts manned and queues are often long and slow. However the store offers a free delivery service to customers who register for it which can be very useful.

Although this new station is intended to serve the new Westfield shopping centre it’s also greatly improved access from the Tube to Wood Lane itself especially as there are numerous BBC buildings along that road. Additionally it’s provided an interchange with the Central line as it’s only 250m from White City station on that line.

As might be expected, the station is very clean and modern and access is easy. There are lifts to both platforms and the pavement outside is gently ramped to reach the level of the entrance (although that does mean that you can’t cross the road directly outside). However there’s no ticket office! If you don’t have an Oyster Card or a Travelcard, or you’re unable to buy a ticket from the machines, you’ll have to walk to the manned ticket office at White City station. Hopefully very few people will need to do this.

In spite of there being no ticket office the station is staffed at both street and platform level so security is good and help is always available.

West 12 might now be overshadowed by it’s much bigger neighbour at Westfield but it still has its advantages. In particular there’s a big Morrisons supermarket with a better range of stock and cheaper prices than Waitrose, but I wish there were more single-item offers than '2-for-1s’. There’s also a large Argos which is the best place in the area for toys and electrical items. Good-value clothing is available from two shops, Peacocks and The Officers Club. There’s also a branch of Boots although it’s much smaller than the one in Westfield, however it does have a dispensary for prescriptions. The Vue cinema upstairs is the largest in the area but probably will be upstaged next year by the new one in Westfield.

Motor Books has recently moved to new premises in Cecil Court which are a little larger than the old shops in St Martin’s Lane but are further away from Leicester Square Tube station. The new shop is rather less cramped but it’s still very full of books!

As the name suggests, Motor Books stock titles on cars and commercial road vehicles as well as motor sport. However probably the biggest section is devoted to railways with a large collection of British and foreign titles. There are also smaller sections on aviation and maritime subjects.

Prices are not always competitive with online sites but many of the books in stock are difficult or even impossible to find on the web.

Finally just to note that sometimes signed copies of books are available and are clearly displayed.

This Travelodge is fairly new and is kept clean and smart. The rooms are large and the beds are comfortable. A basic but filling continental breakfast is available to order from reception. There’s a McDonalds on the opposite side of the car park and a big Morrisons supermarket beyond that but if you want more substantial food you’ll have to go into the centre of Berwick about 2km away where there are pubs and restaurants. The hotel is close to the A1 so access from both north and south is good.

Clean and comfortable accomodation at a good-value price quite close to Weymouth promenade although it’s a few minutes walk away, however the park-and-ride bus is nearby. The hotel itself has a large car park alongside but the walk round to reception is slightly awkward with a narrow path. A serve-yourself breakfast is available in the next-door Brewers Fayre which is about 50 metres from reception.

Service at this Post Office is very slow, I never see all three windows open at the same time and there’s often a long queue. It’s the only place locally where car tax is available so I guess that’s why it gets busy but much more effort is needed by management to improve staffing. It could be so much better!

This is the largest of the three newsagents in the main Woodley precinct. It has a very large range of magazines which are clearly displayed along one wall. Opposite there are shelves of drinks, sandwiches and confectionery. At the far end are greetings cards and stationery. There’s a National Lottery terminal. The shop can get rather busy and congested at times but there are usually three staff serving so the queue moves quite quickly.

Little Chef restaurants have improved their image over the last few years and the one at Popham is clean and smart with plenty of tables. Car parking is right outside. Waitress service is quick, friendly and efficient. The burgers are quite large and come with a selection of relishes and a large portion of hot fresh fries. Desserts are tasty, the ice cream is delicious. A small selection of road maps and atlases is available to buy and there’s a large rack of free tourist leaflets. Outside there’s a petrol station. As a diversion while you’re eating your meal you can watch light planes take off and land on the airfield on the opposite side of the A303!

The Bodmin and Wenford Railway actually has two lines from Bodmin, one to the main line at Bodmin Parkway and one to a place called Boscarne Junction on the former line to Wadebridge. If you buy a day rover ticket on the railway you could do one line in the morning, have lunch and then do the other line in the afternoon. Bodmin station has a gift shop and a small cafe. There’s also a small shop at Bodmin parkway but nothing at Boscarne Junction. However the latter station has access to the Camel Trail cycle path from Bodmin to Padstow.

Bodmin station is well-preserved and has a good nostalgic feel to it. Car parking is available in the old yard but access by foot from the town centre is up a long steep hill.

A recommended visit for both families and railway enthusiasts!