London spotting. Advice Please ?

[CheshirePaul]

I am after some advice on spotting in london as I have never been spotting there.

I am planning of using the LM great escape £10 ticket to go from crewe to euston.

I an wanting to do this trip on the cheap and was wondering what stations you can walk to from euston that you can access the platforms as i dont really want to buy an underground travel card. I understand Kings X and St Pancras are only a short walk away but are there any others, also can you access the platforms at london terminals.

I am really just after spotting units that you don't get in the northwest/ midlands so don't really think spending time at euston will be any good as I understand all you get there is VT and LM.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[oversteer]

Marylebone is about 30 mins walk and Paddington a further ten. Both are also served by the 205 bus which is £1.30 per journey. Waterloo and Victoria would be a decent walk from Euston, but not impossible and Central London is not really that big once you get going.

Another option if you don't mind cycling is to hire a 'Boris bike' - the scheme costs £1 to access for the day and then journeys less than 30mins are free. You just need a credit/debit card and there are docking points near all the main stations.

 

[SS4]

Marylebone is about 30 mins walk and Paddington a further ten. Both are also served by the 205 bus which is £1.30 per journey. Waterloo and Victoria would be a decent walk from Euston, but not impossible and Central London is not really that big once you get going.

Only on Oyster. Cash fare is almost double that and the OP doesn't strike me as having an Oyster card.

Most of the termini are close enough to walk along as you allocate yourself enough time but don't forget to take food and drink, especially if the weather is as bad as it has been last week.

Unfortunately I can't comment on whether or not there are barriers except at Euston where LM and LO tend to have them but Virgin do not (you might even get a glimpse of the sleeper in the platform)

 

[Twoonthebuzzer]

For about a fiver you could probably get a return from Euston to Willesden Junction and a return from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction!

Willesden Junction is busy for freight traction ( Class 60, FLR, EWS and GBRF 66, 92, 90, 86 )

Clapham Junction you will see constant streams of desiro's, 159 units and Southern units!

And at both stations there is good possibilities of suprises of other stuff!

 

[Bungle73]

For about a fiver you could probably get a return from Euston to Willesden Junction and a return from Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction!

Willesden Junction is busy for freight traction ( Class 60, FLR, EWS and GBRF 66, 92, 90, 86 )

Clapham Junction you will see constant streams of desiro's, 159 units and Southern units!

And at both stations there is good possibilities of suprises of other stuff!

If you're going to do that you might as well just get a Zone 1-2 Travelcard at £6.60. TBH I would anyway, unless you're just planning to stick to Euston, Kings Cross and St. Pancras.

 

[46100ROYALSCOT]

I live near Runcorn and have in the past used the LM great Escape ticket for a tenner but it doesn't give you a great deal of time in London. Having made a 2 day trip to London just a couple of weeks ago I would suggest you visit London Bridge and Clapham Jun to see units, I didn't see many units at KX and very little at St Pancras I think St Pancras and KX are busy in the morning before you would arrive and rush hour time between 4 and 7 when you are more or less beginning to head home whereas both London Bridge and clapham seem to busy all day. If you do decide to visit London Br and clapham Jun i would suggest a Zone 1-2 Travelcard which you can buy in advance at most stations.

 

[Snapper]

St Pancras is always busy. The problem is that you can't see everything from the end of one platform the way you can at places like Clapham Junction or London Bridge.

If you don't want to buy a travelcard you will have problems as all the major stations have ticket gates now apart from certain sections of Paddington and Kings Cross. To be honest, a zone 1-2 travelcard really is woth the money because of the access/range/flexibility it gives you.

 

[wintonian]

St Pancras is always busy. The problem is that you can't see everything from the end of one platform the way you can at places like Clapham Junction or London Bridge.

If you don't want to buy a travelcard you will have problems as all the major stations have ticket gates now apart from certain sections of Paddington and Kings Cross. To be honest, a zone 1-2 travelcard really is woth the money because of the access/range/flexibility it gives you.

The virgin platforms at Euston and waterloo East are accessible without going through barriers.

 

[Snapper]

The virgin platforms at Euston and waterloo East are accessible without going through barriers.

Very true - I'd forgotten about them!