Probably the fastest way between Stratford in the east of London and Camden in the north west of London is to use the overground services of the North London line. Since TFL took over the line a while ago the trains haven't changed but the service has definitely improved with a train every 10-15 minutes throughout the day. A word of warning though the trains can be incredibly busy at peak times, and especially during the summer it can be horrible pressed against other sweaty passengers as even more people want to get on. Perhaps I should mention that on the trains at the moment there is no air conditioning, and lots of people, hot weather and tiny opening windows don't mix. A useful tip though is if you can't get a seat, and at busy times if you are not standing in the right place on the platform as the train arrives this can be often is to stand on the other side of the coach to the door you came in. Its quite a busy line, and people will be leaving and joining at most of the stations on route and if you are the unlucky passenger nearest the door opening button you end up pushing it for people at every station. When it is is really busy be prepared for a bit of good humoured banter as people jostle each other to get onto the train.

That's not to say it is all bad, it is quick as it only takes around 20 minutes between the two stations, and because it doesn't go through zone 1 it is much cheaper than going by tube. For those not in London, the transport network is divided in a series of zones, like rings on a tree, with zone 1 being the most expensive to travel in as it covers central London and almost all of the major tourist attractions.

As you leave Stratford station you pass through the building site that will shortly become the new Olympic Village and further on for the train spotters you will pass Kings Cross station and see the entrance to the famous Gasworks Tunnel, the London end of High Speed 1 where it emerges into the open air outside St Pancras, and finally Euston station. For the real train spotters the North London line is really busy with lots of freight trains running throughout the day hauled by Freightliner Class 86s, various Class 66s and a few 67s, and often while waiting at Camden Road 2 or 3 freights will pass before your train arrives. Don't expect to see any while you wait in Stratford station as its the end of the line and freights get diverted before they reach the platforms.