Originally Posted by
Kettering Northants QC
The track is only closed Friday evening (late) until early Monday (very early) for the one weekend 2nd-5th May. Is it possible to reschedule your trip to the studios, to either the Friday or Monday. This will be a bank holiday weekend so the studio may well be at it's busiest.
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co...ford-1e18.aspx
The London Overground service to Watford junction will still be operational according to Network Rail. This is likely to be the easiest option. There is a direct service from Euston. From elsewhere in London change at Willesden Junction. journey time from Willesden to Watford Junction is 15-20 mins less ( about 35 mins)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...etwork-map.pdf.
From Kensington your nearest options are likely to be Kensington Olympia or West Brompton from where it's a couple of stops to Willesden. Although depending on where exactly you are staying it may be easier to get the tube to Shepards Bush and then walk 1 min to the overground station (well signposted) and virtually next door)
There are about 3 trains an hour to Watford Junction on the Overground Service
Some possible alternatives
1- train to Radlett from Kings Cross then taxi
2 - dedicated coach service to the studio from London (see studio website) £29 transfer only return or £57 inc ticket
3 - tube to Watford then 20 mins walk to Watford junction
4 - taxi from Central London (expensive)
5- tube to Stanmore, where there is a taxi service that could take you there or to Watford Junction
Personally, if it's not possible to reschedule your visit I would go via the the overground service.
Thanks for the very detailed info!
Our preference is the Overground service. We were using the TFL Journey Planner for the possible dates we could go (May 20 or 21), and both dates were giving us very convoluted routes taking nearly 2 hrs. Granted, we were using Watford Junction as our end point since the studios have a bus shuttle from that station to the studios for £2.50. My point being: if the construction schedule is only slated for May 2-5, then why would the TFL planner not give us the most direct route? For comparison, if I select tomorrow as my travel dates, the search returns the Overground train (with an 18 min journey time).
The option you mentioned (which I bolded above) says it will take us 55 mins from the Hyde Park tube station with 2 transfers. I suppose we could just take a taxi from the Watford underground station. That seems to be the best alternative.
All that said: we have been researching other alternatives to the Studio Tour, such as walking tours of filming locations in London proper. It would be very hard to do both in the limited time we have, so for those that have done the Studio Tour: is it worth all of the <potential> hassle getting out there or would doing the walking tour of sites in London be a better experience? Again, all insights and opinions welcomed!