London Northern line - Finchley Central - Colindale - parking

Thanks again, Marco. Would we take the tube from Brent Cross Station then? How many blocks is it from the shopping center? Do they have parking restrictions there as far as how late you can park?

Don't have any personal knowledge - but the station information indicates it has only 21 spaces. Where would you be coming from?

Thanks, Marco. We would be in the area around Watford, Hemel Hempstead, and Aylesbury. We would like to take the Northern Line because that takes us directly to Leicester Square, without having to change.

The northern line stations with large-ish car parks are East Finchley, Finchley Central, High Barnett and Woodside Park. Weekday fees are £4-5, cheaper at the weekend. An alternative if in shopping hours is Brent Cross Shopping Centre, which is free but a little walk to the nearest stations.

The shopping centre is between two stations - there are directions on their website - and I daresay on the ground. They close at 8pm; don't know if the car parks are barriered off.

I looked at the map and it seems that the Finchley Central Station looks convenient and has plenty of parking. I just don't know if they get filled up quickly on weekdays or Saturdays. I guess I'll have to chance it.

Watford, Hemel Hempstead, and Aylesbury are some distance from each other. For greatest helpage more specificity may assist. If 'twere I, I would take the train, much faster than driving and the Tube. A quick run into London Euston on the London Midland train, a quick run downstairs (OK, down escalator) to the Northern Line Charing Cross Branch just 4 stops to Leicester Square. What time does the Theatre let out? We can help you with last trains and all sorts. I'm not sure I'd want to wander around the Brent Cross Centre after it closes. In fact I'm positive. Watford Junction has 750 spaces for £4.10 off peak - give the regulars a chance to get back and remove a few of their cars first would be my advice. There is a very frequent service to Euston with most trains non-stop and others stopping once or twice, taking from 15 to 22 minutes. Hemel Hempstead has nearly 500 spaces for as little as £4.00 or £6.20. Usually about 4 trains an hour to London taking under half an hour. Between Watford Junction and Hemel Hempstead are the two smaller stations of Kings Langley and Apsley with 2 trains an hour taking 30 minutes or less. Travelcards are available from all those those stations allowing one journey into London, one journey out (same day), and all the London Underground, buses, and trams throughout London all day. You can also get straightforward off peak day returns to Zone 1 (which includes Leicester Square) which give one journey in to any single zone 1 point by Tube or bus and one journey out from any point in Zone 1. I'm not sure I'd want to drive into London (a city I know like the back of my hand) on strange roads for the first time at night.

If you are doing this trip on a Saturday, and if you are really sure you want to drive into London, and maybe my estimate of a West End Show is wrong, I can tell you some Super Double Secret Squirrel places which are safe and free, but a bit of a drive up the Finchley Road. You do have to be very confident in the size and location of your car as the lanes on the Finchley Road can be quite narrow in places and there are bus lanes.

Hi Nigel! Good to hear from you again. I previously had been asking about going to London from Swinden (remember?). Anyway, we are going to be staying in Winslow, north of Aylesbury, for a few weeks. So some days we might go to London from there. Other days, we might be in the Watford area or Hemel Hempstead area, then go to London from there. The theaters usually let out around 10-10:30PM. That should give us time to get the tube, or train, to go home. I have taken the train before from Hemel Hempstead, but it's been several years.