Please sign in to post.

London Euston to Harry Potter Studios?

Posted by (Walnut Creek, CA) on

My research shows to get from London Euston to Watford Junction, I can either take the West Midlands train or the London Overground.
Are these two different lines/services?

If the train costs £13.40 one way (per National Rail) and using an Oyster Card costs £7.20, why wouldn't I use an Oyster Card (or credit card tap in/tap out)?

So I'm confused. Do I show up at Euston and just tap in somewhere with my oyster card and take the train to Watford Junction and tap out?
Or do I purchase a train ticket for £13.40 and board the same???? train that's going to Watford Junction? Or is it a different service?

And then, let's not confuse me further with a 2 for 1 rail ticket or Day out pass. ( I'll research that seperately for train ride to Bletchley)

Thanks in advance for giving me correct information

Posted by
8685 posts

Yes, two different trains.

The West Midlands/London North Western train will be going to one of a variety of stations beyond Watford Junction and run non stop or almost non stop in 16 to 20 minutes.

The Overground train calls all stations, takes about 50 minutes, and terminates at Watford Junction.

The fares are the same.

With a ticket it is £12.80 each way (or £22.00 Anytime Day Return/£14.50 Off Peak Day Return). Not sure where your fares come from unless they are the fares after the fare rise in March (a 4.8% rise).

With Oyster/Contactless it is £6.90 Off Peak or £10.60 Peak (4pm to 7pm from London on weekdays, 6.30 am to 9.30 am weekdays from Watford) each way.
So if you went to Watford Junction in the peak, but came back off peak you would pay a total of £17.50 (before March).

An Oyster/Contactless return should always be the same as the relevant Return ticket or a O/Contactless single should always be 50% of the relevant Return Ticket.

The complication is that if there is a 2 for 1 offer you need an actual rail ticket- Oyster or Contactless won't qualify you for that. The same principle applies for Bletchley.

If you are starting your journey from any other tube station and changing at Euston the through Oyster/Contactless fare is £9 off peak or £12.50 peak.
From outer London stations (like Heathrow) where there is an option to travel to Watford Junction avoiding Zone 1 the through fare on the not Central London route is only £2.20 currently off peak.

Posted by
5497 posts

The London Overground makes about 17 intermediate stops between Euston & Watford Junction.

WMT services have 0-2 intermediate stops.

They cost the same.

The simplest method is to use Oyster or contactless payment. The "paper" single price is a red herring anyway as if you wanted a ticket you'd buy a return @ £15.20 if everything is off-peak. (Price from 2 March.)

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.