(05 May 2014, 1:06 pm)marxistafozzski wrote So for you to goto London sounds like a trek just to get to Newcastle or Sunderland
Using public transport, I would have to travel through either Newcastle or Gateshead to get to Sunderland which pretty much rules out that particular option. Getting into Newcastle is easy although the bus takes around 35-40 minutes depending on traffic.
Taking into consideration the potential for ET and Penalties (and of course travelling time), I imagine I would be leaving Kings Cross between 7 and 8. If the train takes approx 3hrs to get either Newcastle or Sunderland then I'd probably arriving somewhere between 10 and 11. The last bus home (from Newcastle) leaves at 11:15. In all probability, I'd be looking at a taxi home if I chose to travel to Sunderland. I suppose I could get a bus/train into Newcastle from Sunderland and get a taxi from there; but the fare is still around £15 from Newcastle.