The best little train ride in London: National Express East Anglia to Liverpool Street

Although the journey from Walthamstow Central to Liverpool Street via the Victoria Line is not as bad as my previous sardine can ride on the Central Line, changing at King's Cross is still an unpleasent experience.

A far better way to travel into Liverpool Street is to take the National Express East Anglia from Walthamstow Central station.

One can use Oyster Cards in between Walthamstow Central and Liverpool Street. Sadly, National Rail have not bothered to let the people of Chingford use Oyster Cards to travel. Why not?

The train ride is much more pleasent, with views of Hackney Marshes and Bethnal Green instead of grim tunnels and graffiti (once one changes to the Metropolitan Line at King's Cross). It is also quicker, only seventeen minuites.

However, one should have at least £8 on one's Oyster Card if using pay as you go, as an entry charge of either £4 or £5 will be deducted from at the start of your journey, adjusted when you ‘touch out’ at the end of your journey so that you pay the correct advertised fare.

The trains are also far less frequent than the Victoria Line, every fifteen minuites or so. That's still better than London Overground, which stops nearby at Walthamstow Queen's Road.

I will miss National Express East Anglia when the ISEAL office moves to Angel on the Northern Line.