A part of me thinks that this might have once been a terminus station, though I have since noted…read morethat the British Rail line goes through here, so it appears that it was just a terminus station for the District and Central Lines. I jumped off here because I ended up catching the Elizabeth Line train from Heathrow, and I thought I might simply go for a bit of an explore, especially since it was first thing in the morning. The station does feel pretty tacky in parts though they also seem to have fixed it up a bit more now that the Elizabeth Line goes through here. Also, it pretty much dumps you into the middle of a shopping district, which is pretty cool.

Way out west, where one of the District Line branches finally meets up with the one of the Central…read moreLine branches is Ealing Broadway. The station is also a stop on the Great Western Line that runs out to Reading, so if you're looking to avoid Paddington for some reason (afraid of bears, perhaps?) then you might consider taking the Tube here and catching one of the slow trains. There is no step-free access from street level to the platforms. Depending on which platforms you might be switching between, it's possible you might have a step-free experience. Signs from one line to another are clearly marked and there are ticket barricades with Oyster readers at the exits. If you are switching platforms from the trains to the Tube, don't forget to hit one of those readers because there isn't a barricade between those. On the platforms, you'll find a Costa kiosk as well as a West Cornwall Pasty. Up in the ticketing level is a WH Smith. The station is in Travelcard Zone 3. On the Central Line, the next stop is West Acton and on the District, it's Ealing Common.

Like, yeah, I do appreciate these older one, even though the station building may not be anywhere…read morenear as fancy as some of the mainline stations. Mind you, I suspect that it was like they were attempting to cut the costs because, well, it is an metro stations. Still, the station has charm, and of course there are quite a few trains that come through here, particularly since it serves two lines.

Ealing Common is quartered by two main roads. The biggest quarter is a big, open space that is used…read morelike a park by the locals. All year round you'll see dogs being exercised and kickabouts in progress. Every Spring clusters of sunny daffodils cheer up the roadside edges. In the hot days of Summer you will see a lot of bare flesh stretched out on the grass, and sections of the Common are allowed to go meadow where the grass isn't mown. Every Autumn I observe that the children of Ealing must be too sophisticated to play conkers because the ground is carpeted with glossy horse chestnuts. Bank Holidays are marked by the arrival of a weekend funfair and sometimes a circus takes up residence.

This is a pretty big station, but that is because this is the station that you use to get to Wembly…read moreStadium. I remember when I was here that was some major concert going on (not that I can remember, but if it is a Wembly stadium, then it is going to be big). Yeah, this station is really designed to funnel people from the train to Wembly stadium, so in that way yeah it's cool.

It's better to Wembley Park than to Wembley Idle, so you don't waste gas…read more Definitely one of the most impressive stations in London on a great many levels. Wembley Park is rocking on a match day or for a concert, and then on other days it's slow and sleepy and serves a little windswept community of middle-income Northwest Linden. Match days are when it comes alive and I love it here at both times. It's amazing although I really really miss the old school Wembley, which I was thrilled to visit a very long time ago when I was a very young child by myself - but don't tell my parents - to see a Michael Jackson concert.

Willesden Junction is one of North London's main suburban rail hubs. The station itself - and…read moreindeed, its surroundings - are extraordinarily unprepossessing, surrounded as they are by miles of railway yards, industrial premises and major roads. But it's a really useful transport interchange, and set to get busier as the new London Overground services develop. The station has a complex history: the first station here was opened in 1866 on the original main line out of Euston. At the same time, a station was opened on the North London Line, which ran from the City to Richmond. In 1915 services began on the new suburban electric lines from Euston to Watford, which were also used by the Bakerloo Underground line. An electric service was also provided along the West London Line to Kensington High Street. The main line platforms were removed when outer suburban services ceased calling at Willesden in 1962. The West London line service had ceased in 1940, but recommenced in 1999. Today, there are four sets of services calling at the station: - Euston to Watford Junction (every 20 minutes) - Richmond to Stratford (North London Line - every 15 minutes) - Willesden Junction to Clapham Junction (every 30 minutes) - Elephant & Castle to Harrow & Wealdstone (Bakerloo - frequent) Except the Bakerloo line services, since 2007 the other lines have been operated by London Transport and branded as the 'London Overground'. Together, they knit together a wide range of destinations in North and West London, and provide a means to getting between them without going into central London. Plans are in the pipeline to increase the frequency of all services, and the number of trains running between Clapham Junction and Stratford via the North London Line - currently, this happens only at rush hour. Willesden Junction is effectively two separate stations, linked by a walkway and stairs (or a lift): the Bakerloo and Euston to Watford services use the lower station, which is well preserved with traditional wooden awnings. The North London and West London Line services to Clapham use the upper station, which has very short platforms, and modern but slightly tatty buildings. Both levels have small outlets selling hot drinks and snacks, and the station is now fully accessible, thanks to a network of elevated walkways and lifts. There is a modern ticket office on Station Approach. Since late 2007, London Oyster pay-as-you-go tickets have been valid on all services from this station.

I usually come here to get the overground. The station is quite big and apart from overground…read moretrains there is also the bakerloo line going through here. You can get pretty much everywhere from here which is great but I am always a bit confused about how to get to the right platform...ö

Well, there is a rather charming entrance to this somewhat suburban station, though technically it…read moreis what I would consider to be an Inner City station. Sure, the platforms aren't all that great, but hey, at least there is a railway line here with regular trains. Oh, yeah, the station building is pretty cool too (but I believe I already said that).

This pretty station is the closest in proximity to Wormwood Scrubs for those looking to get some…read morefresh air, walk their dogs or wander through the wooded nature reserve. East Acton itself feels more like quiet country village than a part of Inner London, and the station, surrounded as it is by banks thick with vegetation, is suitably sedate. The little whitewashed, weatherboarded waiting rooms on each platform add even more to the village atmosphere and feel like a god-send on grotty winter days. On the main part of the Central Line, customers at East Acton will never have to wait much longer than two minutes for a train in either direction, nor do they have long queues to deal with when seeking to top-up their Oyster cards.

The first station in Richmond was built in 1846, not on the same site as the present building which…read moreopened its doors in 1937. Richmond station serves as a terminus for zone 4 district line services and also as a stop for many national rail services out of Waterloo and into Surrey. You can get to Hammersmith on the district line in around 15 minutes, or into Waterloo in around 16 mins on the main line fast service, of which there are around 2 per hour. This makes Richmond very commutable. The final piece of the puzzle serving North London is the Silverlink service, which, if you can brave the crack addicts can get you all the way to Hampsted in around 40 mins. It feels like the slowest train in the world right now, although TfL are taking over management so perhaps it will improve. There are 7 platforms, 1+2 for main line services, 3+4 for Silverlink, and 5-7 for district line. I would advise skipping the ticket office and machines in the entrance hall and going to the ones on platform level which are much less busy. There is a front entrance onto Richmond High Street, and a handy back entrance onto Church Road which is much more pleasant, but floods everytime it rains. It was recently voted South West Trains 'Station of the Year 2007' in mysterious circumstances. If you're hungry, I would advise popping into Source next door and getting a take out, which you can scoff on the way into London...

This is a cracking little interchange really. Using this station daily has make me realise that…read moretrains are often late, but mostly i love the fact that the services are all on the boards meaning you have some very strange places lke Upminster in Essex as final desinations. Transport for London have just renamed the sliverlink service 'London Overground' and there is new trains on the way in 2008 or 2009. I personally find it to be slow but quite good for getting to Camden, King's Cross etc without going into Zone 1. There is a new Marks and Spencer where the Door shop used to be by the ticket barriers in the entrance hall. I still think Phil is right about going to Source though instead though!

Stonebridge Park is on the Bakerloo and the Euston-Watford Overground lines, south of Wembley and…read morethe large train depot that shares its name. It's situated directly off the North Circular Road, and is in London Transport's Zone 3. The line was opened in 1917 by the London and North Western Railway, and was electrified and used by underground trains from the start. The station, which is on an embankment, has had a chequered history: the original station was damaged in the Second World War, and rebuilt immediately afterwards. There is an attractive, small brick-built building at ground level, and modern platforms canopies which provide reasonable shelter from the elements (so long as it's not blowing a north-westerly or south-easterly, in which case the station acts like a funnel). Interchange is provided with bus routes 112 and 440, and the 18 stops in Harrow Road, a few minutes' walk away. Trains run every 20 minutes between Euston and Watford Junction, and about every 6 minutes on the Bakerloo line. NB: The ticket office has limited opening hours, and there is no step-free access. There is an uncovered bicycle rack next to the station building, but no-one seems to dare to leave their bike here. The station provides a great view of the new Wembley stadium over the rooftops of Harlesden!

This is one of the busiest stations in London as it acts as a main thoroughfare for not only trains…read morebut buses as well. Each time I've used this station it's been an easy experience. Even though it's extremely busy, it's easy to navigate and signage is clear. If you're in need of assistance, employees are very patient and helpful.

If you haven't experienced London Victoria during rush hour you haven't lived!…read more Can be crazy intimidating for tourists , just get out of their way step to the side and if you can read your train timetable you'll be fine One of my favorite places to watch people rushing everywhere is to sit at the Whethersppons pub above on the second floor with a bacon buttie and coffee Great view,

Well, okay, you can jump off the District Line here and catch the Picadilly, but I suspect the time…read moreyou will save by transferring trains will be taken up by, well, transferring trains. Anyway, it's another reasonably cool station, though it isn't the same as the one at Chiswick Park. Also, like a lot of these stations, it is close to shops, which is always pretty cool.

Action Town is a major interchange on the District and Piccadilly lines in West London, and is used…read moreby over 5.5 million passengers a year. Opened in 1879 as Mill Hill Park on the extension of the Metropolitan District Railway from Turnham Green to Ealing Broadway, services were gradually augmented with the opening of the line to Hounslow Town in 1883, to Hounslow Barracks (now Hounslow West) in 1884 and South Acton in 1905. The station was rebuilt in 1910 and renamed 'Acton Town'. It was rebuilt again in 1931, in preparation for the Piccadilly line taking over services (from the District Line) to Uxbridge, and with the extension of Piccadilly line services to Hounslow West (now on the Heathrow branch) in 1933. This is one of Frank Holden's famous modernist style stations, with a tall, square ticket hall featuring extensive glazing, above a single storey podium containing shops and other facilities. The platforms also retain the concrete canopies from this period. Alas, these are looking a little tatty now, and the whole station could benefit from a lick of paint. The line to South Acton closed in 1959, and since 1964 the Hounslow West branch has been operated by Piccadilly line trains only (but was extended to Heathrow in 1977). It retains an important function as an interchange, as Piccadilly line trains do not stop at most of the intermediate stations between here and Hammersmith, and it is the junction for the lines north to Ealing Broadway (District) and Rayners Lane/Uxbridge (Piccadilly) and west to Heathrow (Piccadilly). The station is served by the E3 bus, and by buses 70, 207, 427, 440 and night buses N7, N11 and N207 in nearby Harrow Road