Post by PurpleAbsinthe on May 31, 2008 15:15:28 GMT
This is for anyone who has wanted to go to Camden, but either hasn’t got around to it yet, or is just a little unsure on going to London as it’s big and scary.
I have found the best way to get to Camden is to first drive to Richmond, from Salisbury it’s a straight route to Richmond, and as it’s very much on the outskirts of London, it is no harder than driving on the Salisbury ring road in rush-hour.
There is an NCP car park a few doors up from Richmond train station, which costs about £10 a day, others are about for slightly less but convenience comes at a price.
I usually buy a standard day ticket valid in all zones, costing aprox £7 although check for any offers you may be entitled to.
From Richmond you will need to catch a train on the district line and get off at Embankment, which is no harder than any other train to catch and all trains display their destination on the end of the back and front cab.
Once at Embankment you will need to follow the black signs to the Northern line, you will stay in the station so it’s easy to find. Once at the Northern line you will need to catch the tube going towards Edgware.
Get off the tube when you reach Camden town station, leave the station, this station is exit only so you will be leaving Camden by another station. You are now in Camden and ready to shop!
You will be standing on the high street, the part of Camden you will be wanting is to your right, check out the shops on the high street though, the market and the Electric ballroom(on Sundays), all have a range of stalls which might interest you.
Carrying on up the street on your right will be the currently fire gutted Camden Lock area, there were some good shops here until some scum burnt it down, hopefully it will be rebuilt one day. Up the road a tiny bit and to your left is the main attraction, in here you will find a big maze of stalls and shops, it’s all quite confined so you won’t get completely lost but you will lose your bearings from time to time, don’t try to find your way round just wonder round.
In this area, known as Camden Stables, there is a very large food hall area, made up of loads of little stalls selling food from all around the world. Don’t miss out on trying these places, they aren’t stupidly priced and just remember if they were giving people food poisoning they would be out of business and pulled up on it very fast. I have never been poisoned eating here.
Now, once you’ve finished clearing your bank account you’ll be needing to get home, Firstly position yourself under the bridge, so your back is to the entrance to Camden Stables and you are facing the fire damaged area. Walk to your left and carry on along that road until the road splits in two (about 10 mins walk), take the left hand side and cross to the right hand side of the road. A few yards up is the entrance to Chalk Farm tube station. This is where you reverse your trip back to Richmond.
At Chalk Farm on the Northern line catch a tube to Embankment, then locate the District line tracks and catch a train for Richmond. Get off at Richmond and go find and pay for your cars parking. You have just done your first trip to Camden, now go recover and plot the next trip!
Basic rules and advice for travelling and visiting Camden.
*Plan your route well before your trip and keep a copy with you.
*Use a bag which can be zipped up and has a flap, keep the flap across the zip and against your hip. Camden is a tourist area and there is a normal risk of pickpockets. Do this and just be aware of where your bag is.
*Yes London does have a bad reputation, but with the exception of a few areas it is majorly over hyped. Work by the basic rules for anywhere, if you act like a victim you will be targeted as one so don’t act like too much of a tourist if you can help it, just think ‘London doesn’t faze me, been here many times, just doing some shopping’.
*If you do get very lost or have any problems it’s no different from Salisbury, station staff, police and standard shop staff would help you so just ask.
MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!
Hope you found this guide useful, any comments or anything you wish to add please post below.
I do go to Camden every now and then with Acquiescence so if you are on your own and still don’t want to make the trip solo drop me a pm with your number and Ill drop you a line when we are planning the next trip, this generally coincides with the monthly payday (we don’t go every month though).
Links:
Camden town official website: www.camdenlock.net
London underground website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tube
I have found the best way to get to Camden is to first drive to Richmond, from Salisbury it’s a straight route to Richmond, and as it’s very much on the outskirts of London, it is no harder than driving on the Salisbury ring road in rush-hour.
There is an NCP car park a few doors up from Richmond train station, which costs about £10 a day, others are about for slightly less but convenience comes at a price.
I usually buy a standard day ticket valid in all zones, costing aprox £7 although check for any offers you may be entitled to.
From Richmond you will need to catch a train on the district line and get off at Embankment, which is no harder than any other train to catch and all trains display their destination on the end of the back and front cab.
Once at Embankment you will need to follow the black signs to the Northern line, you will stay in the station so it’s easy to find. Once at the Northern line you will need to catch the tube going towards Edgware.
Get off the tube when you reach Camden town station, leave the station, this station is exit only so you will be leaving Camden by another station. You are now in Camden and ready to shop!
You will be standing on the high street, the part of Camden you will be wanting is to your right, check out the shops on the high street though, the market and the Electric ballroom(on Sundays), all have a range of stalls which might interest you.
Carrying on up the street on your right will be the currently fire gutted Camden Lock area, there were some good shops here until some scum burnt it down, hopefully it will be rebuilt one day. Up the road a tiny bit and to your left is the main attraction, in here you will find a big maze of stalls and shops, it’s all quite confined so you won’t get completely lost but you will lose your bearings from time to time, don’t try to find your way round just wonder round.
In this area, known as Camden Stables, there is a very large food hall area, made up of loads of little stalls selling food from all around the world. Don’t miss out on trying these places, they aren’t stupidly priced and just remember if they were giving people food poisoning they would be out of business and pulled up on it very fast. I have never been poisoned eating here.
Now, once you’ve finished clearing your bank account you’ll be needing to get home, Firstly position yourself under the bridge, so your back is to the entrance to Camden Stables and you are facing the fire damaged area. Walk to your left and carry on along that road until the road splits in two (about 10 mins walk), take the left hand side and cross to the right hand side of the road. A few yards up is the entrance to Chalk Farm tube station. This is where you reverse your trip back to Richmond.
At Chalk Farm on the Northern line catch a tube to Embankment, then locate the District line tracks and catch a train for Richmond. Get off at Richmond and go find and pay for your cars parking. You have just done your first trip to Camden, now go recover and plot the next trip!
Basic rules and advice for travelling and visiting Camden.
*Plan your route well before your trip and keep a copy with you.
*Use a bag which can be zipped up and has a flap, keep the flap across the zip and against your hip. Camden is a tourist area and there is a normal risk of pickpockets. Do this and just be aware of where your bag is.
*Yes London does have a bad reputation, but with the exception of a few areas it is majorly over hyped. Work by the basic rules for anywhere, if you act like a victim you will be targeted as one so don’t act like too much of a tourist if you can help it, just think ‘London doesn’t faze me, been here many times, just doing some shopping’.
*If you do get very lost or have any problems it’s no different from Salisbury, station staff, police and standard shop staff would help you so just ask.
MOST IMPORTANTLY HAVE FUN!
Hope you found this guide useful, any comments or anything you wish to add please post below.
I do go to Camden every now and then with Acquiescence so if you are on your own and still don’t want to make the trip solo drop me a pm with your number and Ill drop you a line when we are planning the next trip, this generally coincides with the monthly payday (we don’t go every month though).
Links:
Camden town official website: www.camdenlock.net
London underground website: www.tfl.gov.uk/tube
I always look at it and think how i want the big number no the little one