The town where I was raised from birth until 1973 when I left for my World travels to work and…read morebuild a career in a wide range of places from Jamaica to the Netherlands but mostly in the USA. I have my success thanks to my loving (now late) parents and the excellent education I received at Letchworth Grammar School (1960-67). Letchworth is a quaint town founded in 1906 as the First Garden City. Finally they have several good pubs and decent eating places. Excellent train services to London (about 40 minutes to Kings Cross). Nice, largely pedestrian, shopping area.

This coach company have an extensive range of weekend breaks and holidays. They can pickup…read moreholidayers from key locations, which are in Uxbridge, Hayes & Harlington, Hillingdon, West Drayton and Cowley. The coaches offer TV, DVD, foot rests, reclining seats, curtain, W/C stereo sound system, hot/cold drinks, and air conditioning. Whether you're planning a hen night, stag do, leaving do, or a birthday party this is the place to go. There are trips to Bruges, Paris, Costa Brava, Cheddar Caves & Gorge, Cadbury World and much, much more. The prices are reasonable, and the staff very friendly. I usually book the seaside trips to Brighton.

The Nicky Line was once the old railway that linked Harpenden to Hemel Hempstead, via Redbourn…read more Since then, its been transformed into a long and very pleasant walk and cycle route between the two places. Its always busy, you will almost certainly bump into someone if you go for a walk down there.. it goes under numerous railway bridges and past lots of park-land. Its a great place to take dogs for a walk, let them off the lead and have them follow you up the lane. It doesn't get particularly muddy, and the old wooden platforms you can find along there are fun for kids to climb on.

It's an old station, but reasonably maintained and the surroundings are quite green, so it doesn't…read moretake much to make it feel pleasant. Facilities include a small car park situated at the entrance and an adjoining newsagent (called Bookstall). On platform 1 there's also a coffee shop. There's a bus stop directly outside leading to Oakwood/Barnet (bus 307) or Chase Farm Hosp (bus 313). There are stairs leading to the platforms (couldn't see any wheelchair access) and the platforms are visibly quite wide. A journey into the City of London takes around 35 mins and passes overland through Palmers Green, Alexandra Palace, Finsbury Park and Drayton Park among others, and continues underground through Highbury & Islington, Old Street...finishing at Moorgate.

Now you've Maida me want to write this review so here it is…read more It was always a little bit hard to get down to Maida Vale for me and always a little bit romantic because it was so close to Paddington Station, and I used to wander these streets looking for places to buy sexy videos, especially one night when I was 12 or 13 years old. Lots of great memories although not the most heart and soul filled neighbuorhood to any degree, but also has some great attractions nearby which is impossible not to love. And it's gorgeous... one of the prettiest.

A lovely Bakerloo station between Warwick Avenue and Kilburn Park (north of Baker Street), the…read moreMaida Vale surface building is quite nice to look at. I learned later that it's actually a "listed" building and won a National Railway Heritage Award. The Wikipedia entry goes on to mention that it's been in a couple of movies, a TV show and even a music video. No step-free access. There is a flight of stairs down from the street level to the ticketing level and then an escalator down to the platform level. There is a staffed ticket booth and automated ticket vending machines as well as Oyster readers and ticket barricades.

A pleasant enough Underground station on the Northern Line's High Barnet branch, between Archway…read moreand East Finchley, in Travelcard Zone 3. It is the last station that is actually underground on this line before it exits into the open air. Therefore, no wifi or mobile signal here. Interesting factoid: American TV host Jerry Springer was born in this station.

Highgate is a major station on the High Barnet branch of the Northern Line, serving both Highgate…read moreand part of Crouch End to the east, as well as Southwood hospital. It is used by just under 4.5 million passengers a year. The station has a complex but interesting history. The first station here opened in 1867, on a branch of the Great Northern Railway from Finsbury Park to Edgware. The station at Highgate was in a deep cutting necessary because of the hilly terrain with tunnels at either end. In 1872 a branch was built to the pleasure gardens at Alexandra Palace, diverging just north of the station. Thus it remained until the 1930s, when as part of the planned tube extensions in north London known as the 'Northern Heights' Highgate was connected to Archway (then the terminus of the Northern line) by a pair of deep level tunnels, which emerged north of the station to connect with the Edgware line just before East Finchley. Services began in 1939, although the station did not come into operation until 1941. Part of the plan had also been to bring the Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace line into the tube network, linking it at Finsbury Park to the line to Moorgate. A new 'High Level' station was built at Highgate to act as an interchange. However, economies after the Second World War meant that the unfinished elements of the 'Northern heights' plan were abandoned, and the line from Finsbury Park to Alexandra Park continued to be operated by steam until 1954, when it closed to passenger traffic. Parts of the branch were retained until 1971 for freight and empty stock movements. Highgate station today comprises the low level platforms only, served by trains to High Barnet and Mill Hill East. The entrances (to Shepherd's Hill and Priory Gardens) are rather modest, and accessed by paths and steps from the surrounding streets which are mostly at a higher level: the area is heavily planted with mature trees, giving it an almost rural feel (and making it slightly spooky at night). There are escalators to a high level exit on Archway Road close to the junction of Muswell Hill Road, but this is not always open. However, the High Level platforms, together with the original 1867 tunnel entrance towards East Finchley are in very good condition and are clearly visible - from the footpaths, especially in winter when there is less vegetation. Their remains are a testament to what could have been!

Santa's Magical Steaming…read more Every year, at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre they do a magical train journey on Thomas The Tank Engine, where Father Christmas rides along with you and gives a present to the kids. From the website it looks like a great day out, unfortunately in reality it's not quite so. Don't get me wrong, the kids (mostly) enjoyed the experience but the weather and the route that the train takes means if you've travelled a long way to get there you may feel a little cheated. On arrival, I'll give the centre it's due credit, Thomas is sitting on the platform (and he really is a great Thomas steam train), steaming away, with Christmas lights strung along above him. When the kids see him they do go nuts which is lovely to see. You have allocated seating on the train, and as we went with another couple and their kids we had a compartment all to ourself. The weather was cold, raining and windy. This meant the windows were not only all steamed up but rain covered too. You might not think this is a big deal but the route the train takes is forwards and backwards. Several times. No corners, no inclines, no speed. Outside there are opportunities to see other carriages and engines, and James also puffs along pulling a sleigh full of presents. The kids seemed to enjoy it all though, and when Father Christmas arrives to give them their presents they light up! When you get off you are treated to a complimentary mince pie and mulled wine, and after being outside in that kind of weather they are most welcome! There is also hot food like Chips available, plus tea, coffee and juice etc., all relatively cheap. Inside the 'station' there is a set of carriages made up to look just as they would have been in the 20's which does at least hold some interest for the adults. There are also shows to attend; the day we went there was a magic show by a man who looked and sounded exactly like Rod Hull. I say magic, but use it loosely. I say show, I use that loosely too. Even the kids were completely bored so we walked out halfway through. There is a miniature railway too although with the weather being what it was, and the fact that there seemed to be no other way to reach it than over a stepped bridge across the tracks (not easy with two pushchairs) we decided against it. Then we began the long trip home, and almost wished we hadn't bothered. I'd only recommend this if you are completely selfless or live nearby. It may be more enjoyable with nicer weather but as you're going to be there in November or December anyway I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

The old Oxford Railway Station was taken down from its original site and rebuilt at Quainton and…read moreused as part of the museum buildings. This means you have have tea in the old station café and see Churchill's train standing at the platform under the graceful Victorian metal and glass building. There are plenty of trains to see and lots of restoration work being done. They also have steam days. Check the website for details. Quainton is a very cute oldie English village. It even has a windmill. So it is worth having a wander round while you are in the neighbourhood.

Croxley underground station serves the Metroplitan line! Trains going towards Baker Street or…read moreAldgate and also Watford! This station is in Zone 7! This station has a taxi cab office next door on your left and cycle parking on your right. They also have a big car park which you can go through a corridor in the station also their is another entrance to the car park on the main road. The usual ticket machines and offices are their, with a Metro Newspaper stand. Their are toilets facilities provided as well. Their are waiting rooms on the two platform with adequate heating facilities. My only gripe is that the station does not have a electronic time board to tell me when trains are coming or delayed. I know the station was opened in 1929 but perleese update this station in 2015!

Small sub-surface local station on the Metropolitan Line of London's underground network…read more Northbound trains run to Watford, Southbound trains into London terminating at either Baker Street or Aldgate. All trains traveling both ways along the line stop here. There are perfectly adequate male toilets and waiting rooms on both platforms, and female toilets in the station foyer along with ticket machines and a kiosk. There is a car park with lots of CCTV hidden from view from the main Watford Road (A412), access is via the entrance to Jewsons (a builders merchant). Across the road from the station there is a local shopping parade including a newsagents but there are no shops in within the station.