BB FANS

Sorry to hear you didn't get to go Larry.
I was relying on you to prepare me for what to expect, lol! I shall have to go "unprepared" like the majority of the auditionees... shocking!

Can you not make the London auditions?

It's a thought that had crossed my mind.
Not sure about trains ,I wouldn't drive into London.
A couple of people at work are regular visitors to London and seem to know just about everywhere mentioned.
I wonder which line runs down there as it would be nice to go from Wellingborough for a change as it's a lot nearer than Northampton.
C4 site tells which underground lines run near the site.

More research .......

Larry I hope you manage to make the London auditions, it's such a shame that after all your planning the last time you never got to go.

Does anyone know the date when BB7 will start?

I'm going to take an educated guess at May 27th, going on previous years. Especially as I'm in Ireland then, and I never seem to be home for either the launch or the final recently!
Having said that, it may well be the week before - the 20th, or even the 13th?

Larry - Wembley's nothing like Central London or anything. If you join the M1 at your nearest junction, and just go to the end of the M1, that leads you straight onto the North Circular. 2 miles on that, then you're onto the B road that leads to the Wembley Complex.
I'm hoping it's as easy as that anyway

Nearest tube station is Wembley Park, on the Metropolitan line. You cross the road coming out the tube station, and then the complex is on your left. It's well signposted. Wembley Central on the Bakerloo line is a bit of a trek really....

Listen to me... I sound like a bloody walking journey planner!

Hope you make it anyway!

I know I should .People at work say how easy it is to get to but I'm new to this thing called traveling.
The only 2 times I've been on (M) Motorways I've had someone do the navigating but I lack confidence where there are more than 2 lanes. It was fun ,not ,going to the Birmingham audition in 2003 after discovering the city center was nothing like the maps showed and getting lost making me late. Then having to rely on a GPS compass to find the route home.
I have done the A1 run to Elstree for the BB4 Final which was fine though South Mimms was a little daunting.
I always use the inside lane so I have to lookout for lorries all the time (my little car is more comfortable at 50 - 55 MPh).

My experiences of London as a child when we had to go through it before the M25 when heading for the East Sussex coast may have a baring in things.

Train wise it's Northampton to Watford then pick-up the line that takes you straight to Wembley. But think car would be cheaper.
Think picking up the M1 from Bedford might be quicker as by the time I've travelled west 15 Miles to get it at Northampton I'd already be a lot further south via Bedford.

The family think I've given up for this year and will certainly make some comments if I do make another attempt.

The main thing is getting the confidence to tackle the M1.

Thought does it come into the congestion band ?

We'll see how I feel nearer the end of the week ,but the chances are I'll chicken out.

Thanks Nicki, I thought it started later than that!

Wembley is a long way outside the congestion charge zone... but you might have trouble parking (unless you want to pay a fortune)... then again the official site now says the London auditions are 4/5 Feb not March so it might be quiet!

LOL, thanks Andy.
I'm just going to park at the complex.

Larry - if you've managed Birmingham City Centre, then my god, you can drive anywhere if you ask me, lmao!
I've driven in London (not central, admittedly), and it was NOTHING compared to the hell that was Birmingham!

If you were to drive, maybe go to the Sunday auditions? It would probably be a bit quieter, and there will be less artics hogging the inside lane.

Birmingham in 2003 was hell. The centre was under major rebuild so all my planning went to pot.
My navigator gave up on the maps and in the end we just looked for signs for the station. Sat nav would have been nice but would have been out of date.
But this is why I use the train to Birmingham.
I'm a coward I'll admit that.
I've rearly travelled more than 7 - 8 miles from home but it's that first time that's the hardest part. Once I've done the route once I'm normally fine (with the exception of Birmingham). So places like Elstree ,Woburn ,Newport Pagnel ,Northampton are fine as I've been there and know where to go.
Sat nav is great though if you find things have changed your on your own again.
I'm told by someone who regularly travels into London that there is a diversion near the stadium due to the construction but nothing too major. Would be nice to find someone who might want to have a go locally if just for the company.

You all know I want to give it a try but then part of me doesn't like the travelling bit.

We'll see what happens.
It would be Sunday anyway as Birmingham was on my day off and have to work this week.

Report from the London auditions is on the main page now.

Thanks Nicki, well done.

Thanks for that nicki

Cool nicki - I get all tingly reading about it!

Great report - I wish I'd tried to beat my lack of Motorway confidience. And for the record there weren't any trains running south Sunday due to maintanance and £30 seemed too much to travel most of the way via coach before changing to trains.
There's always next year.