Kings Cross: Some Advice

[Kryten2340]

I've just came back from London for the first time last weekend and I got to Kings Cross Saturday morning at 9:50am and whilst it was busy it was not packed and very easy to move around. The same goes for when you go downstairs to the KGX SP tube station, it's busy but very easy to walk around. I got a little shocked when I first got on the tube at how packed the trains got but I soon got used to it seeing as I used to get the T&W Metro every day in rush hour.

A couple of tips to add to all the others. Use a debit card to pay for your tube travel card or better still if you've got the time, get a visitors oyster card and load it up in advance. Secondly and whilst I never travelled on the Victoria or Jubilee lines when I was there, I did travel on the Picadilly and Bakerloo lines and found these to be very hot, especially the Picadilly line so depending on what the event is it might be worth taking a tin of Lynx or something just in case it is warm.

Mind with me it could have also been due to the hot temperatures in London last week but nonetheless I found it very stuffy and sweaty. More experienced tube users might be able to shed some light on the other lines.

 

[HST Power]

BTW, never make eye contact with Londoners or try to strike up a conversation on public transport. This would only confuse them!

I have had plenty of rail experience with Londoners (just not in the city itself) and am aware of that one already. Some are quite friendly though, I find that if your unsure or need a hand they can be fairly helpful.

 

[All Line Rover]

Last time I went to STP, they where giving out cigarettes outside KGX (like fake ones of some sort, maybe full of parsley?) Shows you what a shady kind of place it is

Dont worry though, it will be full of staff and usually a few police. If you are struggling finding the underground stations then ask one of the staff. Remember, if you see eurostar you have gone too far!

They are outside Euston too - almost all of the time.

I believe that they are "fake" ones to help smokers "quit."

They offered me one once! I have never, ever, EVER (!!!) been so offended!!!

 

[ainsworth74]

They offered me one once! I have never, ever, EVER (!!!) been so offended!!!

If that's the most offensive thing anyone's said/done to you then you really don't get out much!

 

[Skimble19]

My station has very good fast service, there's a fair deal on offer. I think in early morning, there's a non-stopper to Kings Cross, proceeded five minutes later by a train heading to Kings Cross stopping at Stevenage, Welwyn and Finsbury Park, which isn't to bad.

Without wishing to be nosey I'm assuming you're somewhere on the northern part of FCC's GN route.. probably not Sandy or Arlesey as most of the faster services don't stop there. If you're at Peterborough, Huntingdon, St. Neots or Biggleswade then you should be able to get a service direct to London going straight to KGX or just calling at Stevenage.. not sure what fast service you'd be getting to call at Welwyn though!!

 

[All Line Rover]

If that's the most offensive thing anyone's said/done to you then you really don't get out much!

I'm not the easily offended type, but for a company to offer me (a child!) a cigarette - fake or not - is shocking behavior!

Smoking is an absolutely disgusting, vile habit - one of the main reasons why I don't like cities is because of all the smokers on the streets. If I was running the country I would set up "smoking shelters" which would be the only place where people could smoke in public - non-smokers would be free to heckle and throw tomatoes! I'm sure that lots of people would give up that way!

 

[HST Power]

Without wishing to be nosey I'm assuming you're somewhere on the northern part of FCC's GN route.. probably not Sandy or Arlesey as most of the faster services don't stop there. If you're at Peterborough, Huntingdon, St. Neots or Biggleswade then you should be able to get a service direct to London going straight to KGX or just calling at Stevenage.. not sure what fast service you'd be getting to call at Welwyn though!!

You are right. I probably should've mentioned that I'll be going from either Letchworth or Hitchin. I checked it out and both have non-stop services to and from Kings Cross. I don't live there, but I'm stopping by to see some relatives the evening before.

 

[StrollerEd]

since you post this request on Railforms, then do not miss the opportunity to have a look around St Pancreas and EuroStar - either on the way (leave good time) or on the way back.

 

[philjo]

You are right. I probably should've mentioned that I'll be going from either Letchworth or Hitchin. I checked it out and both have non-stop services to and from Kings Cross. I don't live there, but I'm stopping by to see some relatives the evening before.

From Letchworth it is much better to get on one of the services that starts at Royston as then you will generally be guaranteed a seat - especially if you go the rear unit of the train.

The 07:27 and 08:47 services do stop at Finsbury Park.
The 07:47 and 07:57 services do not stop at Finsbury Park.
The rear unit on the 07:47 is almost empty on arrival at Letchworth but is full & standing after the Hitchin or Welwyn North stops. This is an 8-car 365. I find this the best train to use if going into London around that time. The 07:57 tends to vary between 365, 317 or 321 units.


The 08:27 service calling at Hitchin & Kings Cross only is 4 coaches only & is nearly always full on arrival at Letchworth whenever I have used it (I tend to avoid that train now)

The 07:09 and 08:38 services which go non-stop to Kings Cross have come from Cambridge/Kings Lynn and it is very rare to find a seat on these services at Letchworth except during bank holiday weeks etc (though usually not too bad on Fridays).

 

[jon0844]

If you're feeling adventurous and go from Hitchin, you can take the 0839 to King's Cross which is declassified - so you can spread out in first class. It will almost certainly be a 321 (First Class at the front end of each set) so you'll have about a third of the train carriage to yourself as very few people travel in there.

But, take a copy of a timetable with you to show that it isn't running a first class service. Otherwise the only shady people out to do nasty things to you will be those wearing a FCC uniform.

 

[ainsworth74]

If I was running the country I would set up "smoking shelters" which would be the only place where people could smoke in public - non-smokers would be free to heckle and throw tomatoes! I'm sure that lots of people would give up that way!

You'll hear no complaint from me for that idea!

Well apart from the bit about you running the country that's just scary