Totally agree!!! I had to use Mill Hill Broadway daily for years and it is just SO unbelievably awful and depressing and overcrowded and concrete and monstrous!! Radlett is a lovely little village/town, I’m so glad you explored it!
I'm glad I didn't leave the station at Mill Hill Broadway, platform OK, especially for trainspotting, but I didn't know it was that bad! Great video, Jen
Fun fact about Radlett is that it's the only station south of Leagrave where EMR's Meridians can reach their top speed. It gives the station a little more life imo.
considering that city status in the UK is mostly about royal recognition and bragging rights, a "no cities" rule might need refinement to focus more on population than city status... after all, there's a world of difference between St Albans at 75,000 population and Ely at 19,000 population (and that's without mentioning smaller cities like Wells and St Davids)
Before 1982 Elstree and Borehamwood parish was just called Elstree. The studios in Borehamwood (town) were also in Elstree (parish) so the name wasn't quite the misnomer it is now.
At least Mill Hill Broadway and Hendon are next to the M1, not in the middle of it. It has become common in the US for commuter rail or metro lines to be built on the cheap by putting them down the central reservation of a pre-existing freeway. And since these lines are being built on the cheap, they tend not to have anything to shield you from the noise and exhaust fumes.
Oh my god. 20 years ago I was having to travel through here back and forth each week when going between Luton airport and a job I worked on in Edgware. You’re right, that station was just the worst!
What a lifeless station Mill Hill Broadway is 😮. Lovely fun video yet again. Have a cracking Christmas and New Year Jen, looking forward to your videos in railway 200 year.
Great video! 10:52 😂 Mill Hill Broadway does look very grotty and the entrance just shoved in a corner under the motorway. With buses and everything just shoved underneath. Yeah very grotty
the issue with thameslink is the core. every single thameslink route (and that's a fair amount of routes) go into the core. it might be an hourly servoce somewhere but on the core, it might as well be a metro-style service. trains every 2 or so minutes. there's not enough capacity. if one trainis late, which will inevitably happen even if the TOC is great, every train there gets late. city thameslink is closed on sundays, but trains in one direction still have to stop there for power change. it's partially not their fault, and i haven't really had issues with thameslink, and southern, also operated by GTR, seems to be pretty reliable and not have the 'thameslink core' issue
If they got rid of the car parking and turned Mill Hill Broadway into a full Bus Station, they could then encapsulate that awful concrete, put a proper entrance in, and make it half-way decent (think Euston); even mapinging the ceiling white would help - and you're right about the New Street 'vibes' *shudder*. I suppose it doesn't help that they're essentially commuter stations, rather than destinations, so there's no requirement to make them...hospitable.
It is a dreadful station so you might want to visit the Bridge Tavern or M&S before of after using it. Very fond of St. Albans and Radlett - they are very near to where Arsenal Women train and we absolutely love women's sports (especially when captains wear the rainbow armbands)
Mill Hill Broadway is where some of my family lives and its horrible, one of the biggest bus stations in north london has such a depressing station! the entrance is tiny! It needs an upgrade.
Brilliant video Jen, I had no idea Borehamwood had filming studios. Mill Hill Broadway, that station doesn't look amazing to be honest, thank goodness I've only ever gone on trains through it.
Alister Sim A Christmas Carol The one and only Christmas movie. Mill Hill OMG that feels flat out dangerous, not intended for humans on foot. I wonder if its use numbers reflect its dismal , unwelcoming, inhumane standard
Sardonic, acerbic, absolutely blooming wonderful. Thanks Jen. You're simply the best rail vlogger. Hmm, really felt for Laura Linney's character in your fave Christmas film.
Mill Hill Broadway was in line for a grand art deco rebuild as part of the Northern Line extension from Mill Hill to Edgware, the alignment runs along the south end of the platforms. Cancelled in the 50s then had the M1 blasted through in the 60s, the area had it rough. Didn’t even get the M1-A1 link road to make up for it and relive the traffic in the area!
The Muppet Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas movie. And White Christmas is another must watch for me. I’m glad you at least got an attractive day for some grim stations. Cheers!
I was lucky when I experienced my recent Thameslink delay (LBG->CDS). The delay was pretty much exactly 30 minutes, so the train I got at 21:00 was the 20:30 train that arrived at 21:00. So, yay?
Hello Jen, Mill Hill Broadway really is the worse place to be stuck at, glad you didn't stop there for long. Radlett was much better. St Albans to is an excellent place for a look around. Have a Merry Christmas Jen and a Happy New Year 2025. 😀 All the best, Jon B. 🤓
8:07 Yes, in the South, towns are proper towns with high streets :) But agreed, Mill Hill Broadway station is in an appalling location right under the motorway there.
It's a shame Mill Hill Broadway is like that and obviously very offputting to visitors, but a short ride up the hill on the 251 bus offers some really pleasant countryside on the way to Totteridge and Whetstone. The complete opposite of Mill Hill Broadway, which come to think of it, gives a good idea of what many more London stations could've been like had the ringways been built, as many would've been next to the railways. Thankfully we were saved from that fate! Also can't wait to see what you make of nearby Brent Cross West as they are trying to create a new very pedestrian friendly housing area but it's surrounded by urban motorways!
Die Hard. Most Christmas movie ever. Outwith that… The Bishop’s Wife. I’ll be watching it in school tomorrow because there will be very few kids in. I do that every year.
We have used Borehamwood station a few times to be in the audience at Elstree studios, we fly from Inverness Airport to Luton then Thameslink to Borehamwood (should point out we use ScotRail from Inverness to Inverness Airport station)..
There are quite a few metro stations in the U.S. which are built in the medians of Freeways. It’s very grim. I always fly passed Mill Hill Broadway on the National Express so have yet to sample it up close and personal.
Mill Hill Broadway is pretty horrible. I caught a bus from there to Burnt Oak a few times some years ago. My father lived near Mill Hill the Hale station for a while just after the war, but I’ve lived in South London all my life.
I used to live in Hendon so I know the area well. It's a nice place to live tbh and not many people know that, so rents are cheap (for London anyway!). But that station - urgh! I always hated going there because it's such an unpleasant place to wait for a train.
Mill Hill Broadway station does look pretty run down. Even Radlett as well. I wonder if Govia Thameslink Railway would make those stations lot nicer. Have you done Harpenden.
I’ve only traveled on Thameslink twice on a trip to Brighton. I have to admit to being impressed with the Class 700. Though whenever I travel to Englandshire, it always blows my mind that what in Scotland would be at best a three car train is at least eight! Think only the Edinburgh-Glasgow route gets trains almost as long. As for favourite Christmas movie, I suspect our tastes are very different, as mine is Die Hard! 😂
Xmas movies: A Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Merry Christmas (an 80s hong kong movie with Lesley Chueng) Love Actually is warm and fuzzy. Thanks for all youe videos in '24 have a very merry Christmas amd brilliant new year
Jen I got the impression in the last video that you disliked Harlington station with a passion. what Midland Mainline Station is worse Harlington or mill hill Broadway
3:59 Religion has made people do terrible things (I like to understate) but they can make a beautiful building. Though as someone who grew up going to a church built in the 1950s I can appreciate these things, though we at least had central heating.
I know what you mean about churches - I like the architecture of them, just not a fan of what happens inside them. Mill Hill looked a bit grim, on my local line Lea Hall and Adderley Park would rival it for grimness.
9:53 Double bill every Christmas Eve of Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually. My 14 year old self can never fast forward Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Dairy was a formative experience for them. Only film I saw underage at the pictures, as I’m nearly 38 and still getting IDd makes sense as I’ve always looked young).
Thank you for all the great content Jen - I really enjoy the "human" touch you add and I really enjoy them , thank you! As a Thameslink resideeee, yeh Mill Hill B is a sh*t hole, although I'd love to see your take on South Bank whenever you get there! Keeping with me as a Thameslinkeeee they are pretty bland and soulless as a network, I prefer northern vibes for a bit more spice - maybe the novelty for me! You gotta say Thameslink is brutally efficient at moving a lot of people quickly and really showcases what we Londeners can achieve given about 15/20 years of upgrade engineering and an unlimited supply of money 😂 Check out the Sutton loop sometimes it's quite eery and oddly exotic for a London loop. Have a great Xmas and thank you again 🎉
Why does EMR stop at Luton and not at St Albans City. I understand why they stop at the airport but why the town. St Albans city is in the name a city so a bigger settlement...
St Albans Abbey goes back to Roman times, and possibly earlier as a place of veneration. Doesnt John Rogers have some connection with a slain / executed ancester at St Barthowmews in London having something to do with St Albans ?
Nothing wrong with Newquay, but then I flew there!! ;) As for Birmingham NS,hate,hate HATE it! I just don't like Birmingham,had too many bad experiences there.
The station looks ok been to much worse stations than this some of the stations on the valley lines are really grim and awful at least Thameslink have longish trains was on a X c 170 earlier today Cardiff to Newport 2 cars rammed full
St. Albans City station was actually going to be called St. Albans Thameslink just like West Hampstead Thameslink. And also you got St. Albans Abbey that only has 1 platform and only has 1 train running on the Abbey branch line from Watford Junction.
Abbey station used to have two lines running into it, the remains one from Watford Junction and one from the East Coast Main Line at, I think, Hatfield. It used to have two platforms and a station building.
wasn't brent cross west going to be brent cross thameslink at some point? there's also recorded announcements for thst, and 'brent cross parkway' 'brent cross cricklewood' 'brent cross thameslink'
seems we are on the same page with Christianity nice buildings more often than not. i am itching to get to then UK if only to ride some trains and see crossrail/lizzie but damn the tickets are expensive, perhaps ill stick to local routes and see some scenic stuff in cz slovakia germany austria poland
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Totally agree!!!
I had to use Mill Hill Broadway daily for years and it is just SO unbelievably awful and depressing and overcrowded and concrete and monstrous!!
Radlett is a lovely little village/town, I’m so glad you explored it!
I'm glad I didn't leave the station at Mill Hill Broadway, platform OK, especially for trainspotting, but I didn't know it was that bad! Great video, Jen
I think Hyde Central will be disappointed that it is officially no longer the worst station on Planet Earth 😂😂😂
Fun fact about Radlett is that it's the only station south of Leagrave where EMR's Meridians can reach their top speed. It gives the station a little more life imo.
considering that city status in the UK is mostly about royal recognition and bragging rights, a "no cities" rule might need refinement to focus more on population than city status... after all, there's a world of difference between St Albans at 75,000 population and Ely at 19,000 population (and that's without mentioning smaller cities like Wells and St Davids)
Meanwhile Reading and Ipswich are far away from getting any sort of royal attention despite both having a population of over 100k
@@nathanw9770 living in Milton Keynes I know how that goes- considering that we only got city status recently with a population around 250k
Before 1982 Elstree and Borehamwood parish was just called Elstree. The studios in Borehamwood (town) were also in Elstree (parish) so the name wasn't quite the misnomer it is now.
St Pancras , worth visiting both the new church and the old church and the British Library
that a5 and a6 history is something auto shenanigans would post
At least Mill Hill Broadway and Hendon are next to the M1, not in the middle of it. It has become common in the US for commuter rail or metro lines to be built on the cheap by putting them down the central reservation of a pre-existing freeway. And since these lines are being built on the cheap, they tend not to have anything to shield you from the noise and exhaust fumes.
Despite the M1, that shot at 13:50 is gorgeous!
can we rename Mill Hill Broadway to Mill Hell Broadway- surely nobody would notice
Oh my god. 20 years ago I was having to travel through here back and forth each week when going between Luton airport and a job I worked on in Edgware.
You’re right, that station was just the worst!
What a lifeless station Mill Hill Broadway is 😮. Lovely fun video yet again. Have a cracking Christmas and New Year Jen, looking forward to your videos in railway 200 year.
Still a few videos to go this year yet! Merry Christmas!
St Albans even nicer in the days of London Country Buses and Green Line Coach services passing through
You should see York Street in Belfast, it’s next to the M2/M5 joint motorway
Great video! 10:52 😂 Mill Hill Broadway does look very grotty and the entrance just shoved in a corner under the motorway. With buses and everything just shoved underneath. Yeah very grotty
Good video Jen!
Hope you and your partner have a great Christmas and New Year. 👍🙂
Merry Christmas! Still 3 more videos to go this year!
the issue with thameslink is the core. every single thameslink route (and that's a fair amount of routes) go into the core. it might be an hourly servoce somewhere but on the core, it might as well be a metro-style service. trains every 2 or so minutes. there's not enough capacity. if one trainis late, which will inevitably happen even if the TOC is great, every train there gets late. city thameslink is closed on sundays, but trains in one direction still have to stop there for power change. it's partially not their fault, and i haven't really had issues with thameslink, and southern, also operated by GTR, seems to be pretty reliable and not have the 'thameslink core' issue
Wow. That is actually the WORST station ive ever seen! Uh well thanks Jen, i know where to NOT go now.
If they got rid of the car parking and turned Mill Hill Broadway into a full Bus Station, they could then encapsulate that awful concrete, put a proper entrance in, and make it half-way decent (think Euston); even mapinging the ceiling white would help - and you're right about the New Street 'vibes' *shudder*.
I suppose it doesn't help that they're essentially commuter stations, rather than destinations, so there's no requirement to make them...hospitable.
It is a dreadful station so you might want to visit the Bridge Tavern or M&S before of after using it.
Very fond of St. Albans and Radlett - they are very near to where Arsenal Women train and we absolutely love women's sports (especially when captains wear the rainbow armbands)
def agree about Mill Hilll Broadway its def a grim station & ive used that station a few times before & def not a fan of it brilliant vlog
Delays and Cancellations. Welcome to Thameslink. Makes Northern look reliable
Mill Hill Broadway is where some of my family lives and its horrible, one of the biggest bus stations in north london has such a depressing station! the entrance is tiny! It needs an upgrade.
Used to commute through St Albans .Do they still have markets in front of the town hall? Was fun at Xmas.
Brilliant video Jen, I had no idea Borehamwood had filming studios. Mill Hill Broadway, that station doesn't look amazing to be honest, thank goodness I've only ever gone on trains through it.
Unfortunately, that is the station for saracens rugby so every home match i have to go to the shit heap of mill Hill Broadway 😢
The overbridge at Radlett looks like it was stolen from a Motorway Service Station sometime in the 70's 😄
Alister Sim A Christmas Carol The one and only Christmas movie. Mill Hill OMG that feels flat out dangerous, not intended for humans on foot. I wonder if its use numbers reflect its dismal , unwelcoming, inhumane standard
Merry Christmas Jen and thank you for cheering me up the last few months throughly enjoying the content and the passion you have for trains and travel
Fave Christmas movies? Holiday Inn. Auntie Mame. In Bed With Santa (Swedish, Tomten Är Far Till Alla Barnen). Santa Clause Conquers The Martians!
Thameslink is not so bad on m-f, but sat and sun (and overnight) get so many cancellations
I can vouch for that as on one Saturday recently it took me ages to get out of London to arrive at Luton.
Die Hard is my favourite Christmas film.
Sardonic, acerbic, absolutely blooming wonderful. Thanks Jen. You're simply the best rail vlogger. Hmm, really felt for Laura Linney's character in your fave Christmas film.
Thanks merry Christmas x
thought the worst station was Bracknell lol.
Mill Hill Broadway was in line for a grand art deco rebuild as part of the Northern Line extension from Mill Hill to Edgware, the alignment runs along the south end of the platforms. Cancelled in the 50s then had the M1 blasted through in the 60s, the area had it rough. Didn’t even get the M1-A1 link road to make up for it and relive the traffic in the area!
The Muppet Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas movie. And White Christmas is another must watch for me.
I’m glad you at least got an attractive day for some grim stations. Cheers!
I was lucky when I experienced my recent Thameslink delay (LBG->CDS). The delay was pretty much exactly 30 minutes, so the train I got at 21:00 was the 20:30 train that arrived at 21:00. So, yay?
Great video Jen 😊
Having only recently visited this station for the first time, I share your dismay....
But then I think of Battersea Park station...
I think Newquay needs a revisit as they've just opened an additional platform and a lick of paint. It probably then moves up the list.
Great video Jen. I agree it does look like a awful station. Looking forward to the next video.
Hello Jen,
Mill Hill Broadway really is the worse place to be stuck at, glad you didn't stop there for long. Radlett was much better. St Albans to is an excellent place for a look around.
Have a Merry Christmas Jen and a Happy New Year 2025. 😀
All the best,
Jon B. 🤓
At around 4.30 Colchester managed to squeeze a mention. Is there a prize for spotting it!!!
8:07 Yes, in the South, towns are proper towns with high streets :)
But agreed, Mill Hill Broadway station is in an appalling location right under the motorway there.
It's a shame Mill Hill Broadway is like that and obviously very offputting to visitors, but a short ride up the hill on the 251 bus offers some really pleasant countryside on the way to Totteridge and Whetstone. The complete opposite of Mill Hill Broadway, which come to think of it, gives a good idea of what many more London stations could've been like had the ringways been built, as many would've been next to the railways. Thankfully we were saved from that fate! Also can't wait to see what you make of nearby Brent Cross West as they are trying to create a new very pedestrian friendly housing area but it's surrounded by urban motorways!
Die Hard. Most Christmas movie ever.
Outwith that… The Bishop’s Wife. I’ll be watching it in school tomorrow because there will be very few kids in. I do that every year.
We have used Borehamwood station a few times to be in the audience at Elstree studios, we fly from Inverness Airport to Luton then Thameslink to Borehamwood (should point out we use ScotRail from Inverness to Inverness Airport station)..
Mill Hill, indeed a nice entrance hall away that cold air cave !
The one and only time I used Radlett station was when I went with my Dad and my sister to watch Robot Wars
There are quite a few metro stations in the U.S. which are built in the medians of Freeways. It’s very grim. I always fly passed Mill Hill Broadway on the National Express so have yet to sample it up close and personal.
Mill Hill Broadway is pretty horrible. I caught a bus from there to Burnt Oak a few times some years ago. My father lived near Mill Hill the Hale station for a while just after the war, but I’ve lived in South London all my life.
Love actually our every Christmas Day watch.
My local station 😢
I used to live in Hendon so I know the area well. It's a nice place to live tbh and not many people know that, so rents are cheap (for London anyway!).
But that station - urgh! I always hated going there because it's such an unpleasant place to wait for a train.
Mill Hill Broadway station does look pretty run down. Even Radlett as well. I wonder if Govia Thameslink Railway would make those stations lot nicer. Have you done Harpenden.
Don't know if you know, but the game show the chase is filmed in Elstree studios
I’ve only traveled on Thameslink twice on a trip to Brighton. I have to admit to being impressed with the Class 700. Though whenever I travel to Englandshire, it always blows my mind that what in Scotland would be at best a three car train is at least eight! Think only the Edinburgh-Glasgow route gets trains almost as long.
As for favourite Christmas movie, I suspect our tastes are very different, as mine is Die Hard! 😂
Xmas movies: A Christmas Carol, Polar Express, Merry Christmas (an 80s hong kong movie with Lesley Chueng) Love Actually is warm and fuzzy.
Thanks for all youe videos in '24 have a very merry Christmas amd brilliant new year
Mill Hill sits on a .. Hill - one of the London Northern Hieghts and its darn cold and windy even on the best of days
Mill Hill Broadway carpark likely to become a block of flats quite soon.
Jen I got the impression in the last video that you disliked Harlington station with a passion. what Midland Mainline Station is worse Harlington or mill hill Broadway
Wonder what Mill HIll would have been like if the LNER / Northern Line Radlett etc extension from Mill Hill East had actually come into use
3:59 Religion has made people do terrible things (I like to understate) but they can make a beautiful building. Though as someone who grew up going to a church built in the 1950s I can appreciate these things, though we at least had central heating.
I know what you mean about churches - I like the architecture of them, just not a fan of what happens inside them. Mill Hill looked a bit grim, on my local line Lea Hall and Adderley Park would rival it for grimness.
Amen to that, no pun intended
Hope to see you when exploring the Wymondham area.
5:21 typical i live around Kentish Town so im used to it 😒. But thanks for another great video Jen
favourite xmas movie - it's a wonderful life
What about St Albans Abbey station? A whole other (mini) line, and one of the reasons Watford Junction is a junction.
I think Monty Python's The Meaning of Life is an Elstree film as well
9:53 Double bill every Christmas Eve of Muppet Christmas Carol and Love Actually. My 14 year old self can never fast forward Colin Firth (Bridget Jones Dairy was a formative experience for them. Only film I saw underage at the pictures, as I’m nearly 38 and still getting IDd makes sense as I’ve always looked young).
oh yeah this station has a bus interchange under the m1
Thank you for all the great content Jen - I really enjoy the "human" touch you add and I really enjoy them , thank you!
As a Thameslink resideeee, yeh Mill Hill B is a sh*t hole, although I'd love to see your take on South Bank whenever you get there!
Keeping with me as a Thameslinkeeee they are pretty bland and soulless as a network, I prefer northern vibes for a bit more spice - maybe the novelty for me! You gotta say Thameslink is brutally efficient at moving a lot of people quickly and really showcases what we Londeners can achieve given about 15/20 years of upgrade engineering and an unlimited supply of money 😂
Check out the Sutton loop sometimes it's quite eery and oddly exotic for a London loop.
Have a great Xmas and thank you again 🎉
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Actually I am a sucker for Toys with Robin Williams slightly over Love Actually.
Was Cardinal Rule ensconsed at St. Albans??? 😅
Home alone 2 without a doubt
Why does EMR stop at Luton and not at St Albans City. I understand why they stop at the airport but why the town. St Albans city is in the name a city so a bigger settlement...
The polar express
what's so bad glass train stations?
St Albans Abbey goes back to Roman times, and possibly earlier as a place of veneration. Doesnt John Rogers have some connection with a slain / executed ancester at St Barthowmews in London having something to do with St Albans ?
Nothing wrong with Newquay, but then I flew there!! ;) As for Birmingham NS,hate,hate HATE it! I just don't like Birmingham,had too many bad experiences there.
Does this mean you will be doing east Anglia soon be good to meet you when your in the march area.
The station looks ok been to much worse stations than this some of the stations on the valley lines are really grim and awful at least Thameslink have longish trains was on a X c 170 earlier today Cardiff to Newport 2 cars rammed full
St. Albans City station was actually going to be called St. Albans Thameslink just like West Hampstead Thameslink. And also you got St. Albans Abbey that only has 1 platform and only has 1 train running on the Abbey branch line from Watford Junction.
Abbey station used to have two lines running into it, the remains one from Watford Junction and one from the East Coast Main Line at, I think, Hatfield. It used to have two platforms and a station building.
wasn't brent cross west going to be brent cross thameslink at some point? there's also recorded announcements for thst, and 'brent cross parkway' 'brent cross cricklewood' 'brent cross thameslink'
seems we are on the same page with Christianity nice buildings more often than not. i am itching to get to then UK if only to ride some trains and see crossrail/lizzie but damn the tickets are expensive, perhaps ill stick to local routes and see some scenic stuff in cz slovakia germany austria poland
Favourite Christmas movie? Die Hard
Yippee ki Yay.
Trains Station 🚉
Trens