Advice on getting to Hemel

[Earl Aelfheah]

Hi, I need to get to Hemel hempstead tomorrow morning for about 10:30 / 11:00. Was planning on getting the train, but now wondering about driving. Does anyone do this journey regularly and have an idea about how long it takes in the car? Tom tom route planner saying just over an hour, but that sounds hugely optimistic to me. any advice much appreciated.

[holloway]

Denmark Hill to King's Cross (20 mins), walk up to Euston (10 mins), train to Hemel (not sure how long but hardly a million miles away) is what I would do. Traffic is likely to be murder.

Bletchley Park is also on the same line as HH, well worth a visit...

Good luck and let us all know how you got on.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Thanks Holloway

[simonethebeaver]

An hour in a car from here to Hemel is an outright lie.

[tetris]

holloway Wrote:

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> train to Hemel (not sure how long but hardly a million miles away)

It's not long, 20 mins, 3rd stop. Make sure to have all your gear ready when they announce the station, because for some reason it's announced late and you have something like 20 seconds before the doors open.

If you're heading to the snowdome, it's another 30 min walk.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Thanks for the responses. Think I'm going to get the train after all.

[tetris]

simonethebeaver Wrote:

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> An hour in a car from here to Hemel is an outright lie.

An hour in the car from any part of London to any other part of London is an outright lie.

It's probably quicker to drive to Manchester than it is to get around

[Earl Aelfheah]

I got the train in the end. Tried to get Thameslink from Denmark Hill to St Pancras, but train was cancelled. So went to Victoria and got the tube directly to Euston (which probably worked out just as quick). Had a bit of a 'mare on the way back (2 hours).

Anyway, better than driving I'm sure. Thanks for the advice.

[uncleglen]

In my experience the only way to get across London by car during the week and preserve your sanity and keep the bp normal is to leave before 6 am

[spark67]

I'm from Hemel originally and have traveled from here to there now and again..it can take well over two hours by car due to traffic through centre of town, and the M1, forget the M25, I've spent three hours going that way before, ridiculous ! not a great journey by car. you did the right thing by train via euston station and getting the direct train.

When my mum lived in Edgware which is a bit nearer it took me 2 and half hours on more then one occasion, I'm so relieved she's moved back to islington now.

I'd only drive before 6am or after 8pm :)

[Louisa]

I agree with above. Hemel is a nightmare by car, and this is coming from a semi regular driver to Milton Keynes. I've always driven via Vauxhall Bridge through Victoria to Hyde Park Corner, then onto the old A5 down the Edgware Road and up via Kilburn, Cricklewood and onto the M1 (alternatively you can do a right at the lights on Maidavale and go via Lords Cricket Ground and Swiss Cottage). Either route could take easily 2.5 hours in rush hour, but ironically less than 40 minutes in the wee small hours.

Louisa.