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Road directions
By motorway leave the M1 at Junction 14, turn left and go straight across 8 roundabouts. The ninth roundabout, called South Grafton roundabout, has a Homebase store on the opposite side, at this one turn right while will bring you along the front of the station area. The station itself has a huge mirror glass walled office block on top which is something of a local landmark.
Parking
There is NO short term parking in the immediate station vicinity, there is huge amounts of parking but it is geared to the London commuter needs which is one of the prime sources of business for the station. If after turning right you turn left at the roundabout just past Homebase and Argos, go down to the bottom of the hill then turn left round the back of the ice rink and go to the end of this road you come to a small car park that is permit only 8-9.30 am and is free at other times, it only has room for approx 30 cars but rarely has more than about 5-6 cars using it. This is about 4 minutes walk from the station, the only other options is to buy a £3.00 daily ticket in one of the closer commuter car parks.
Public transport
The station is on the main line between London Euston, West Midlands cities, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow. Approx. 50% trains stop there so this is an excellent way of visiting the station.
Milton Keynes Coachway is by Junction 14 approx 3 miles from the station, with local buses connecting the two sites.
Amenities
There is a shop, coffee bar etc in the station booking hall, fast food outlets are with 5 minutes walk and various more upmarket restaurants incorporated in the ground floors of the office blocks.
Accommodation
The are no hotels in the station area but there is a large Holiday Inn by the main Shopping Centre which is a couple of minutes away by taxi.
The best location is probably the north end of platform 3 / 4 (island platform). Platform 4 affords excellent views both north and south for over a mile in each direction. In the London direction the line goes due south so there is always the problem of midday sun. At other times of the day this is alleviated on the West side but the cutting side and on the east side by the office blocks.
Opposite the northern end of the platform there is a multi-storey commuter car park which affords the longer views of stationary trains although a reasonably powerful telephoto lens may be needed. About 100 yards north of the station is a footbridge which affords views of trains departing/arriving.
Extra video notes Be aware that this is a fully urban location and a major transport interchange, so there will be general background noise.
