From Scotland to London

London is one of the world’s great cities and offers so much whether you’re looking for museums, historical sites, theatre and so much more! We have a blog on things to do in London in 2023 you’ll find here for some destination inspiration.

Our services have their terminating stations at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen but we serve many more destinations across 11 council areas in Scotland, so you’re never too far from one of our services to London.

We’ve split up our services by council area, so you have an easy, at a glance guide to the stations we serve in your area.

Aberdeenshire

Picture of Stonehaven Harbour

With only one stop in Aberdeenshire, our Aberdeen service calls at Stonehaven.

Angus

Picture of Arbroath Abbey

Continuing south, our Aberdeen service serves the Angus council area at Carnoustie, Arbroath & Montrose.

Argyll & Bute

Tarbet

For people who live in Argyll and Bute we serve Helensburgh Upper, Garelochhead, Arrochar and Tarbet, Bridge of Orchy and Ardlui on our Fort William service.

Dundee

Dundee

For Dundonians, our Aberdeen service calls at Dundee.

Falkirk

Falkirk

Our Inverness route’s furthest south stop in Scotland is Falkirk Grahamston.

Fife

Aerial shot of Kirkcaldy

Fifers can join our Aberdeen service at Leuchars, Kirkcaldy and Inverkeithing.

Highland

Picture of Corrour Station

For people who live in the Highland council area our Fort William services call at Corrour, Tulloch, Roybridge and Spean Bridge. Highlanders can also catch our southbound Inverness services at Dalwhinnie, Newtonmore, Kingussie , Aviemore and Carrbridge.

North Lanarkshire

Aerial image of Motherwell

Our Glasgow service calls at North Lanarkshire at Motherwell.

Perth & Kinross

Picture of Dunkeld

Perth and Kinross is served by two of our services. Our Fort William service calls at Rannoch and our Inverness service calls at Gleneagles, Perth, Dunkeld and Birnam, Pitlochry and Blair Atholl.

Stirling

Dunblane Cathedral and River Allan

For people living in the Stirling council area, our Fort William services call at Crianlarich & Tyndrum.  Inverness service calls at Stirling & Dunblane.

West Dunbartonshire

Dumbarton rock

Our Fort William service calls at West Dunbartonshire at Dalmuir and Dumbarton Central.

 

See More of Scotland

Scotland’s scenery is world renowned and although we serve 43 destinations there are some places we can’t take you, so if you want to see more of our dramatic landscape we have some trip ideas for walkers, cyclists and drivers to see even more of our beautiful country.

West Highland Way

Glasgow – Fort William

Buachaille Etive Mor and West Highland Way sign in Scotland

One of Scotland’s most famous trails, the West Highland way is a favourite of both walkers and cyclists. Spanning 96 miles from Milngavie, just north of Glasgow, to Fort William, the route is normally completed from South to North, easing people in from the less strenuous stages near Glasgow to the more highly elevated stages near Fort William, which reach up to over 500m.

Great Glen Way

Inverness – Fort William

Hiker on the "Great Glen Way" in Scotland, with Scottish highlands and loch in the distance

Starting in Inverness and ending in Fort William, the Great Glen Way stretches across 78 miles, following Scotland’s greatest geological fault line and follows sections of the Caledonian Canal, including Neptune’s staircase – a series of 8 locks. The route takes in Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy and is accessible by foot, by bike or by boat. The route can be walked in 4-7 days and is a favourite of wildlife watchers with Golden Eagles, Ospreys, Pine Martens and Deer all spotted on the way.

East Highland Way

Aviemore – Fort William

Loch Laggan, aerial view, colour. Scotland

Devised by Kevin Langan in 2007, the East Highland Way links Aviemore with Fort William across 82 miles. The going on this trail is tougher than the West Highland Way or the Great Glen Way and is suitable for the more seasoned walker. Only some of the trail is marked and large sections follow forestry tracks, so good navigation skills are required.  The East Highland Way takes in a variety of woodland, with open sections where you can enjoy highland views, the picturesque beaches of Loch Laggan and the open moors of Strath an Eilich.

North Coast 500

Inverness – Fort William

Achmelvic Beach

For those who prefer to take in their scenery from the comfort of a vehicle rather than walking, the NC500 offers 500 miles of stunning scenery around Scotland’s north coast. Starting in Inverness, the route stretches across six regions as far as John O’Groats and Durness in the North and as far as Applecross on the west coast. The NC500 route is a loop which can be started and finished in Inverness, but if you want to see a bit more of Scotland then you could take a one-way car hire and start in Inverness, take the NC500 route westwards and travel over the sea (now by bridge) to Skye. From there you can head towards Fort William and rejoin the Caledonian Sleeper to head back south.

The Biggest Cycling Event ever is coming to Scotland in 2023!

The world’s largest cycling event, the UCI Cycling World Championship is coming to Scotland on 3-13th August 2023.  The world’s greatest riders will get together in Glasgow and across Scotland to compete at the highest level, make history, and show the world the power of the bike.

The Championships host 13 World Championships across 7 disciplines over 11 days at 7 different venues across Scotland.

Indoor track cycling

The Emirates Arena in Glasgow hosts the indoor competitions where the beautiful game is played on bikes in the Cycleball competition and the show of skill and strength in the Artistic cycling competition where riders perform handstands on handlebars and ride their saddles like surfboards in spectacular feats of bravery, balletic balance and physical strength on 11-13th August.

Glasgow Green is the venue for the BMX Flatland and Freestyle competitions on 5-7th August, where BMX riders combine parkour with breakdancing. The flatland event is an open canvas where riders have to use their creativity to create medal-worthy routines. The Freestyle event allows the riders to use obstacles to fly like super heroes off of ramps, ride on walls and use the terrain to help them create their routine.

Glasgow’s BMX Centre in the West End’s Knightswood Park is hosting the BMX racing events on 12th and 13th August, where eight riders face off on a complex on a 400m course of high speed curves, big bumps and even bigger jumps.

The Gran Fondo will be held in Glasgow on 4th and 7th of August. The Gran Fondo (which translates as Big Race) is a long-distance mass participation event that celebrates competitive cycling for everyone, not just the professionals. The top 20% of riders from 30 qualifying events held around the world have been invited to compete in Scotland.

Glentress Forest near Peebles in the Borders will host both the Mountain Bike Cross Country and the Mountain Bike Cross Country Marathon events betwenn 6th and 12th August. Glentress Forest is legendary amongst mountain bikers for its technical climbs and fast, flowing descents.

Cross country mountain biking

Fort William’s Nevis Range is host to the Mountain Bike Downhill events where riders take on jumps, bumps, berms and rock gardens against the clock at white-knuckle speeds of up to 80km/h. The events are held between the 3rd-5th August.

Dumfries and Galloway will host the para-cycling road championships between the 9th and 13th of August, where the World’s top paracycling riders pit themselves in the time trials and the mixed relay races.

Eleven events make up the track championships, held at the Chris Hoy Velodrome between 3rd-9th August, where cyclists reach breakneck speeds and offer up some of the most thrilling races of the championships.

You can find the full schedule of events here.

Book your tickets for UCI World Championship here.

Our Glasgow and Fort William services will take you right to the heart of your destination and allow you a whole day to take in the events, so make sure to book with us now to make the most of the UCI World Cycling Championships.

 

 

23 things to do in London in 2023

The UK’s Capital city is one of the world’s most visited cities. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or a regular traveller, there are thousands of things to do. We have highlighted 23 of our favourite things to do in London in 2023.

1)    Tower of London

Built by William the Conqueror and standing on the site by the River Thames for nearly 1000 years, the Tower of London is steeped in history as a castle, fortress and prison. Get up close to the Crown Jewels, meet the legendary Beefeaters and learn about the fascinating history of one of London’s most important buildings.

Nearest tube station – Tower Hill

2)    The British Museum

A tourist taking photo of an egyptian status brought from Egypt and kept in British Museum of London

Home to over 8 million artefacts, The British Museum is one of the largest museums of its kind, documenting human history with a focus on art and culture. With over 60 galleries including collections from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Africa, the Roman Empire, Mesopotamia, China and Japan, it’s the only place to see treasures of the ancient world including the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone. Entry is free, though queues can be quite long, so make sure to set aside plenty of time as you could easily spend a whole day here.

Nearest tube station – Tottenham Court Road

3)    Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace at sunset in London, United Kingdom

One of the world’s most recognisable buildings and the King’s official residence, Buckingham Palace is open to the public for guided tours in spring, winter and for 10 weeks during the summer. One of the most popular free attractions in London is the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which happens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10.45am and lasts around 45 minutes. The best place to view it is at the Palace gates or the steps of the Victoria Memorial.

Nearest tube station – Green Park

4)    Natural History Museum

Whale inside Natural History Museum

Located in South Kensington, the Natural History Museum is dedicated to life on earth with over 80 million items including specimens gathered by Charles Darwin. The collections are based around botany, entomology, palaeontology, zoology, and mineralogy with famous items including moon rock from the Apollo 16 mission, the world’s most intact Stegosaurus fossil, Sophie, and Hope, the massive 25 tonne, 4 tonne Blue Whale skeleton. The museum is free but you have to book a time slot for guaranteed entry.

Nearest tube station – South Kensington

5)    Portobello market

Portobello market in winter, London

Portobello Road in Notting Hill has one of the most famous street markets in the world with a rich history dating back to the 19th Century. On Fridays and Saturdays, the market stalls stretch for a mile along Portobello Road and Golborne Road with hundreds of traders selling everything from antiques and bric-a-brac to music and books with everything in between. You’ll also find street food traders from all over the world if you get peckish when you’re browsing the stalls.

Nearest tube station – Notting Hill

6)    Tate Modern

The Tate Modern is host to the UK’s national collection of contemporary and modern art and is one of the top ten most visited galleries in the world. The gallery is located in the former Bankside Power Station and is accessible from the north bank of the Thames by the London Millennium Footbridge. One of the largest modern art galleries in the world, the gallery is home to works by Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Henri Matisse and Jackson Pollock amongst hundreds of others. Entry to the collections is free but there are some exhibitions which charge a fee and usually are booked out months in advance.

Nearest tube station – St Paul’s

7)    St Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral and red bus in London

One of London’s most iconic buildings, St Paul’s Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren after the original gothic cathedral on the site was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666. Hosting one of the largest domes in the world and standing at 365 feet tall, the Cathedral was the tallest building in London from 1710 until 1963. The Cathedral is an active place of worship and is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of London. Entry is £23 but you can reduce this cost by booking online ahead of time.

Nearest tube station – St Paul’s

8)    The National Gallery

The Trafalgar square in London, England, with National Gallery and St Marting on the Fields church in dramatic light

Located on the north side of Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery hosts a collection of over 2300 paintings dating from the 13th Century to 1900. Home to works by some of the most renowned British artists including Turner and Constable and some of the continent’s most famous names including Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Cezanne and Monet. The gallery is free to the public, but they recommend booking a free ticket to skip queues and guarantee entry.

Nearest tube station – Charing Cross

9)    Platform 9 ¾

Platform 9 3/4 at Kings Cross Station

A short walk from Euston Station on the concourse at Kings Cross, you’ll find Platform 9 ¾, a must see for any fans of Harry Potter. You don’t have to dash through a wall to get there, but you can get your photo taken to show your true colours whether you’re Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. There is a professional photographer on hand to capture a snap with the luggage trolley between 9am to 9pm, but be aware the queues can be quite long, especially during school holidays. The trolley is situated directly next to the Harry Potter shop, styled to resemble Ollivander’s wand emporium, which is full of wizarding goodies for any Harry Potter fan worth their wand.

Nearest tube station – King’s Cross St Pancras

10) Tower Bridge

Sunset at Tower Bridge, London

One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, Tower Bridge stands near the Tower of London and links the south and north banks of the Thames at the East of the city. The span of the bridge is 800 feet (240 metres) and has two towers climbing 213 feet (65 metres). The walkway is open to the public and spans the distance between the two towers offering breath-taking panoramic views 42 metres above the Thames. Entry is £11.40 for adults and £5.70 for children with family tickets available from £19.38. Guided tours tart from £20 where you can see the towers, the walkway and the old Victorian engine rooms.

Nearest tube station – Tower Hill

11) Covent Garden

'Covent Garden" area name sign on a wooden cart with flowers on a street in Covent Garden, London, UK, on a bright summer day. Selective focus.

One of Central London’s most famous locations, Covent Garden is famous for its shopping, restaurants, and street performers. The Covent Garden Piazza is the central focal point of the area and is where you’ll find the Covent Garden Apple Market, a former fruit and vegetable market which today hosts market traders selling unique handcrafted items. Near the piazza is the Royal Opera House, home to the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera. Other nearby attractions include the London Museum of Transport, countless retailers and restaurants, including London’s oldest restaurant, Rules, founded in 1798. The area is also home to 60 pubs including the Lamb and Flag on Rose Street which dates back to 1772.

Nearest tube station – Covent Garden

12) The British Library

View of the courtyard of the british Library, London, with the gothic towers of St Pancras Station peeping over the top at the right. Space for text in the clear blue sky.

Just a short walk from Euston Station, the British Library is home to 200 million books and artefacts spanning thousands of years of human history. The library has various exhibitions including short runs next to more permanent displays. The exhibitions include The Sound Gallery, an exhibition of recorded sound from birdsong to beatboxing, The Philatelic Exhibition, packed with rare stamps and the show-stopping Treasures of the British Library which is home to the original Magna Carta and The Declaration of Arbroath, hand-written scores by Handel and Mozart, Beethoven’s tuning fork, sketchbooks by Leonardo Da Vinci, Jane Austen and Charles Dickens manuscripts and hand-written lyrics by The Beatles.

Nearest tube station – Kings Cross St Pancras

13) Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square London

One of London’s most famous locations and proximity to Westminster and Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square is usually on any tourist’s list when taking a trip. Named after the famous battle, the square is dominated by Nelson’s Column, the monument dedicated to the British naval Admiral. Guarding Nelson’s column are the four bronze Landseer lions, standing 22 feet tall and the famous fountains. The square is home to a multitude of street performers and is a great place to take in the bustling atmosphere. Just off the square is St Martins in the field, one of London’s most famous churches which doubles as a venue with lunchtime concerts, crypt performances and even silent discos.

Nearest tube station – Charing Cross

14) West End Shows

Theatre in West End London

London’s West End is home to the 39 theatres of “theatreland” which has been entertaining visitors and Londoners for over 350 years. Ranging in size from 350 seats at the arts theatre to the massive London coliseum which holds 2359 people. Famed for its musicals and plays there are long running shows like The Mousetrap (since 1974), Les Misérables (since 1985), The Phantom of the Opera (since 1986) and Mamma Mia (since 1999). You’ll also find newer shows like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Lion King and Back to the Future: The Musical. Keep an eye out for short run plays where you can sometimes catch your favourite stars from film and TV up close in the theatre.

15) The Wellcome Collection

The Wellcome Collection sign

Situated directly outside Euston station, The Wellcome Collection is a museum and library dedicated to health and the human experience. The museum has a range of changing exhibitions and a permanent exhibition “Being Human” which explores what it means to be human in the 21st Century with four sections covering genetics, minds and bodies, infection and environmental breakdown. Between 30th March and 10th September there is an exhibition exploring human’s relationship to Milk, its place in global society, politics and culture with over 100 items looking at scientific principles of dairy production and how the future of dairy farming might look. Entry is free for all exhibitions.

Nearest tube station – Euston

16) Afternoon Tea

People enjoying an afternoon tea party in London, England at covent garden. There is tea, coffee, some cupcakes and other pastries on the table and people are sitting around it.

There is nothing more British than afternoon tea and London offers afternoon tea experiences for every budget. If you want your tea with spectacular views head to Shangri-La on the 35th floor of the Shard where prices start from £69. For something more traditional head to the Ritz where afternoon tea is served in the former ballroom from £67 or to the Savoy where afternoon tea has been served in the Thames Foyer since 1889 with prices starting from £69. For something a bit different try the Mirror Room at in Rosewood London where you can enjoy cakes based on a changing artist themed artworks with prices starting at £72. If you have kids you might want to try Jurassic afternoon tea at The Ampersand Hotel, 5 minutes from the Natural History Museum which is a dinosaur themed affair. If you are looking for something more wallet-friendly then you can follow in Queen Victoria’s footsteps and visit the drawing room at Brown’s hotel with prices starting from £30.

17) Thames Boat Cruises

Famous Big Ben with bridge over Thames and tourboat on the river in London, England, UK

London was built around the river Thames and taking a boat cruise gives you a unique perspective to view some of the city’s most famous landmarks. There are countless river cruise operators offering sightseeing tours including hop on and hop off services and many leave from Westminster Pier, The London Eye pier or the Embankment pier. If you fancy something a bit higher paced, you can do a speedboat trip with Thames Rockets or the Thames RIB experience. If you fancy something a bit slower paced many operators offer lunch and dinner cruises to take in the sights as you enjoy a meal over a few hours.

18) Madame Tussauds

Building detail of Madame Tussauds on Marylebone Road

Founded on Baker Street in 1835 by Marie Tussaud, Madame Tussauds is the world’s most famous waxwork museum. Packed with waxworks of famous figures, the museum is split into multiple zones including Royalty, featuring King Charles II, Music with Ariana Grande, Drake and Freddie Mercury, Awards Party featuring A-listers including Angela Jolie, Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson and Leonardo DiCaprio, Marvel Hall of Heroes featuring all your favourite Marvel characters from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars featuring characters from the galaxy far, far away. The museum also hosts some experiences including the Chamber of Horrors featuring famous London criminals from the last 150 and Alien Escape based on the Alien film franchise where you step on board the Covenant spaceship and navigate a trail of blood, gore, chaos, and danger. Not for people of a nervous disposition!

Nearest tube station – Baker Street

19) Chinatown

Stone lions as London Soho, Chinese new year

Marked out by the four gates and paper lanterns, Chinatown is nestled between Shaftsbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, Rupert Street and Leicester Square in central London and is home to a large East Asian community. The area is famous for its restaurants where you will find a huge variety of East Asian cuisine with over 70 restaurants. The area is also home to cafes and ice cream shops where you can find bubble tea, filipino ice cream, matcha ice cream and Japanese style souffle pancakes. You’ll find all kinds of small shops selling trinkets, souvenirs and Asian skincare products and can stock up on Asian staples at the various Chinese supermarkets. Tired shoppers and sightseers can take a trip for an invigorating reflexology session, massage or acupuncture.

Nearest tube station – Leicester Square

20) Camden market

Floral boots on display at Camden market in London

The largest market in London, and open seven days a week, Camden Market is packed with creative sellers, street food traders and independent retailers next to the Regent Canal. With over 1000 places to shop, eat, drink and dance it’s one of London’s cultural hotspots. From vintage and retro finds through handmade jewellery, t-shirts and cosmetics, to futuristic clubwear and alternative fashion, there’s something for everyone. Once you have browsed the traders you can take a walk around to take in the bohemian atmosphere and view the street art before relaxing with a drink at Camden Lock or choose from some of London’s best bars and music venues to take in a gig.

Nearest tube station – Camden Town

21) Spittalfields market

View of old Spitalfields Market - covered market in Spitalfields, just outside City of London, in London Borough of Tower Hamlets (tube station Liverpool Street).

Traders started trading at Spitalfields in 1666 after the Great Fire of London and today it’s one of London’s largest markets. Open seven days a week until 6pm, the centrepiece is the Spitalfields Traders’ Market, an uncompromising array of up to 110 independent stall holders, showcasing hand-crafted and hard to find contemporary and vintage fashion, jewellery and music. The market is also home to boutique shops and family friendly restaurants and street food trucks, which are open until 9:30pm Monday to Saturday. There is a calendar of events including street art, art markets, and street dancing too!

Nearest tube station – Liverpool Street

22) Brick Lane

Famous Brick Lane street sign, London, England

Positioned between Bethnal Green to the North and Whitechapel to the south in the East End, Brick Lane is famous for its street artworks, pubs, places to eat and markets. The best way to view the street art is heading from south to north where you’ll see countless murals and pieces of graffiti. The street is famous for its vintage shops and Brick Lane books, one of London’s most famous second-hand books shops. Weekends are the best time to visit for the Backyard Market, the Vintage Market and the Sunday Upmarket with eclectic choices of food and quirky crafts. The area is famed for its Bangladeshi curry houses and there are countless options to choose from. You’ll also find Beigel Bake (the white one) and The Beigel Shop (the yellow one), 24 hour bagel bakeries serving traditional bagels with a massive choice of savoury or sweet fillings.

Nearest tube station – Aldgate East

23) Churchill War Rooms

The Churchill War Rooms, one of London's Imperial War Museums and popular tourist attraction by the HM Treasury building by St James's Park.

Located just off Horse Guards Road, the Churchill War Rooms offer a glimpse of the past in the nerve centre of Britain’s war effort in World War II. Walk the top secret corridors of the underground hub where Britain’s leaders plotted the allied victory. The museum details what life was like in Churchill’s secret bunker where you can visit the Cabinet room, where all decisions were made, the Map Room, which was staffed 24 hours a day by the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Army, the BBC Radio room where iconic speeches were made, and even Churchill’s bedroom. There is also a museum dedicated to Winston Churchill himself, where you can find out more about the two time Prime Minister, voted the Greatest Briton by the public.

Nearest tube station – Westminster

Mackie’s on track with Caledonian Sleeper partnership

Caledonian Sleeper guests will be welcomed by a sweet treat from Mackie’s of Scotland following a newly-signed partnership.

From this month, the Aberdeenshire firm’s 35g chocolate bars will be included as a complimentary welcome gift as part of the Caledonian Sleeper in-room offering for guests booked in Caledonian Double Rooms and Club Rooms.

Caledonian Sleeper managing director Kathryn Darbandi with Mac Mackie, Managing Director of Mackie’s
Caledonian Sleeper managing director Kathryn Darbandi with Mac Mackie, Managing Director of Mackie’s

Mackie’s chocolate and crisps range will also feature in the on-board room service and Club Car menus, which showcase the best of Scottish produce.

The partnership brings together two organisations which are passionate about sustainability. Using the Caledonian Sleeper ensures up to 90%* less emissions than equivalent plane travel, making it one of the most environmentally friendly ways to make the journey between London and Scotland.

Caledonian Sleeper is also taking steps to improve the sustainability of its on-board operations, having committed to ensuring that no waste from the trains will be transferred to landfill, and instead waste is either recycled or recovered when the trains are cleaned after use.

Pioneers in renewable energy, Mackie’s renewably produces more than twice as much energy than it uses courtesy of its wind turbines, solar farm and biomass. This year sees the completion of its £4.5million low carbon refrigeration project – which could slash its CO2 emissions by up to 80%.

Mac Mackie, Managing Director at Mackie’s of Scotland, said: “The Caledonian Sleeper connects some of the UK’s best destinations and we’re delighted to be providing a taste of Scotland for passengers to enjoy along the way.

“As a family business, we’re used to investing in the future, to try and protect the environment for generations to come. This has been one the key drivers for the partnership – as well as the desire to expand our product’s accessibility.

“We’re looking forward to seeing our single serve bars ‘on tour’ across the UK, bringing a little lift in every bite.”

Kathryn Darbandi, Serco’s Managing Director for Caledonian Sleeper, said: “We’re proud to partner with Mackie’s, an iconic Scottish brand that shares our passion for sustainability, and we’re confident today marks the beginning of a long and popular partnership.

“We understand that our exciting food and drink menu, packed with the very best produce that Scotland has to offer, is a staple of the Caledonian Sleeper service. Guests are taken on a culinary tour of Scotland as we transport them to their destination in style, and we’re delighted to count Mackie’s as one of our valued partners.”

Caledonian Sleeper is an overnight rail service bringing you the flavours of Scotland and comfort as guests are transported both north and south between London and some of Scotland’s biggest cities and stunning rural destinations.

In 2014, Mackie’s of Scotland converted a tractor shed into a chocolate factory and began making a range of milk and dark chocolate bars – in flavours reminiscent of its ice cream range.

To find out more about Mackie’s, please visit: www.mackies.co.uk

Celebrating Pride Month

Throughout June, Pride month is a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship, to show how far LGBTQ+ rights have come.

At Caledonian Sleeper we are shining the spotlight on our LGBTQ+ Caledonian Sleeper colleagues David Bree (Sleeper Team Leader) and Dougie Bree (Sleeper Train Manager) who recently celebrated their marriage to talk about their journey, love and what pride means to them.

Can you tell us how you both met?

Both: We were both Cabin Managers at our previous flying jobs. So, it was work that brought us together.

You recently tied the knot. Tell us a bit more about the day and how it feels to be married now?

Both: We did. The 25 September 2021 was our big day where we wed at Glenskirlie Castle. We worked hard whenever we could to save up to have exactly what we wanted, and it all went perfect.

June is dedicated to celebrating the Pride movement and how far LBGTQ+ rights have come. What does Pride mean for you both?

Dougie: Pride for me is about acceptance. Being allowed to be who you are without prejudice.​​​​​​

Davie: Without pride we would not have made the progress we have, where we are mostly in a society where everyone is accepted. It is a remarkable time of the year to bring everyone together.

Above: Davie and Dougie on their wedding day in September last year.

How has it been to be part of the LGBTQ+ community at Caledonian Sleeper?

Dougie: Caledonian Sleeper have a great LGBTQ+ community spirit between all the staff and I think that’s great. It’s not just us within that community that celebrate and enjoy it which is brilliant for allowing people to be who they are.

Davie: Being part of Serco means you can be yourself it does not matter, gender, sexuality etc, you are invited to be you, acceptance is not a question you are accepted be who you wish to be, you will have support across the full board.​​​​​​​

What is the main reason LGBT+ people do not come out in the workplace?

Davie: Coming out in the workplace means feeling comfortable within yourself, not worrying about prejudice, acceptance or what people think. It’s about having the courage to live happily and be able to be yourself.

Dougie: I think people like to be a bit private, work is just work at the end of the day. I do think people are more accepting nowadays but I still think people might prefer to keep work and life separate.

If you were to give anyone struggling to be themselves openly one piece of advice, what would it be?

Dougie: Speak to likeminded people. I think it can be difficult and daunting at first, but it was the best move I made when I came out and was able to be myself and be accepted.

Davie: My advice to anyone struggling would be to look at where even I have come from to the happy life I now lead, and anyone can.​​​​​​​

What can organisation’s done to ensure LGBTQ+ community members feel included in the workplace?

Davie: Even to celebrate pride month and to have it mentioned will ensure that the LGBTQ+ community are recognised, and this really matters

Dougie: I think by talking about LGBTQ+, Pride events is a great way for community members to feel they matter and included and by exactly this… being asked to tell our story.

We have often heard the tag line of “love is love”. What does this mean to you both?

Dougie: ‘Love is Love’ for me is about someone meeting their soulmate, the person (no matter who they are) they chose to be partnered with or fall in love with.

Davie: Love is love – whether you are gay, straight, bisexual

Thank you to Davie and Dougie for sharing their story of love, acceptance and pride.