For those who
live in Watford - or know the Town well - we are located on the eastern
side of the Ring Road, opposite the Harlequin Shopping Centre. For those
coming from further afield the first thing to do is to get to Watford.
This task is relatively simple given the fact that the M25, the M1 and
the A41 all pass through it. The town is also well served by the rail network
(see
below) with the West Coast Mainline and local service passing nearby
Derby Road, as well as a "Tube" station within a reasonable distance.
Please note: postcode based mapping systems/websites show the Church as being near the junction of Derby Road and Gladstone Road. You will actually find us at the junction of Derby Road and Grosvenor Road.
By Road...
...From the M25 (Jcn 20) As a rough guide to finding your way to Derby Road, following the
signs for the Town Centre or The Harlequin Centre (which is opposite the
church) and its associated car parks should keep you pointing in the right
direction. Nonetheless ...
Exiting the M25 at junction 20, join the A41 Southbound, continuing to
the HUNTON BRIDGE/M25 (Jcn 19) Interchange Roundabout.
Take the second exit and continue straight along HEMPSTEAD ROAD (A411)
for a couple of miles.
Passing West Herts College, on your right at the end of HEMPSTEAD ROAD, you filter onto THE AVENUE (A411)
At the roundabout take the second exit onto BEECHEN GROVE (A411)
Follow BEECHEN GROVE to the RING ROAD and the first of three sets of lights
which follow in rapid succession - the first of which is opposite TJ Hughes,
where ideally you should be in the left hand lane (signposted as M1 M25
Watford Junction).
On crossing the lights the lane splits in two with the left hand lane filtering
off towards the station. Keep to the right hand side and as you cross the
next set of lights (75 yards on) stay in the lane marked Bushey M1 M25.
Staying in lane, continue past the church on your left. As you cross the
next set of lights, stay in lane. The first turning on your left (Service
Road E) is reasonably obvious, though do not take it (unless you wish to
park on Queen's Road).
The turning for Derby Road is some thirty yards on, just before the brow
of the hill, and is considerably tighter. The only real signage reads 'Unsuitable
for Heavy Goods Vehicles', whilst you should also be able to see a large
vertical sign in front of you, on the corner of a shop called 'DREAMS'.
At the bottom of the hill is the Derby Road Baptist Church and you will
need to find somewhere to park (see below) in the
surrounding roads.
NB. Please bear in mind that on Watford
Football Club match days (which could potentially be on any day of the
week other than Friday) traffic congestion in the lead up to kick-off can
be extreme and your journey time can be GREATLY extended, whilst parking
around the Church can be more of a problem than at other times. The same
problem can occur in the run up to Christmas due to the increase in shopper numbers
at this time.
Exiting the M1 at junction 5 take the A4008 (Stephenson Way) and follow
it along its length.
Passing under the railway arches, take the second exit on the roundabout
and stay in the right hand lane. This will bring you straight into the
Town Centre and onto the southern side of the RING ROAD, just south of
Derby Road - though as the RING ROAD is one way you will need to follow
it around almost its entire length.
At the lights move to the inside (far side) of the RING ROAD, heading for
the blue pyramid ahead of you.
Stay in lane, and continue through the next four sets of lights. As you
bear right at the northern side of the RING ROAD ensure you are in the
Right hand lane. As you descend from the brow of the hill and bear right
the lane splits in two as you near the lights (with TJ Hughes on your right
and Sainsburys behind and slightly to your left) and it is probably best
if you can keep to the left.
On crossing the lights the left hand lane splits in two again. Keep to
the right hand side and as you cross the next set of lights (75 yards on)
stay in lane (marked Bushey M1 M25).
Staying in lane, continue past the church on your left. As you cross the
next set of lights, stay in lane. The first turning on your left (Service
Road E) is reasonably obvious, though do not take it (unless you wish to
park on Queen's Road).
The turning for Derby Road is some thirty yards on, just before the brow
of the hill, and is considerably tighter. The only real signage reads says
'Unsuitable for Heavy Goods Vehicles', whilst you should also be able to
see a large vertical sign in front of you, on the corner of a shop called
'DREAMS'.
At the bottom of the hill is the Derby Road Baptist Church and you will
need to find somewhere to park (see below) in the
surrounding roads.
NB. Please bear in mind that on Watford
Football Club match days (which could potentially be on any day of the
week other than Friday) traffic congestion in the lead up to kick-off can
be extreme and your journey time can be GREATLY extended, whilst parking
around the Church can be more of a problem than at other times. The same
problem can occur in the run up to Christmas due to the increase in shopper numbers
at this time.
Parking Free on-street parking is available around the
church on Sundays and in the evenings, particularly on Derby Road itself, Grosvenor Road, Stanley Road and Gladstone Road.
At other times a resident's parking scheme and the Church's proximity to the Harlequin shopping centre mean the availability of parking can be limited in the various Pay & Display bays (Monday-Saturday 8am-6.30pm). The Pay & Display bays, when available, are located immediately outside the church on both Derby Road (opposite 'DREAMS'), further down Derby Road (accessed via Grosvenor, Stanley and Gladstone Roads) and Grosvenor Road. Nevertheless, it does mean that on street parking is still possible whilst the resident's parking scheme is in operation. Alternatively there is the option of paying to park in the town centre car parks or paying & displaying on Queen's Road, though if parking on Queen's road you will need to turn down Service Road E immediately prior to the turning for the church.
Please note that the situation with regards to the traffic getting to Derby Road and parking in the area may worsen considerably on the day of Watford FC or Saracens RFU games and in the run-up to Christmas, due to increased shopping traffic.
By Rail... Virgin,
Southern
and London Midland trains all stop at Watford Junction - which is around ten
minutes walk from Derby Road - from both the North and South. London Overground trains stop at Watford High Street Station - approximately five
minutes walk from Derby Road - on the local service from Euston. Watford
also has its own London
Underground/Tube Station - though this is around a one
and a half mile walk from Derby Road - on the Metropolitan Line.
When using the
tube you will need to make sure that you catch a Watford, and not an Amersham
train, and have a zones 1-A travelcard. Whilst if you are travelling
from London with a travelcard, and wish to use the mainline, ensure that
you get an extension from the zone boundary your ticket covers to Watford
Junction or Watford High Street.
For up to date
rail travel information check Ceefax page 433, and for information
on engineering works (of which there tends to be much more during the weekend)
check Ceefax page 439, or alternatively click on the links above
and check the respective rail companies' websites.
...Watford High Street Station (under half a mile from the church).
Walking out of the station you should cross the LOWER HIGH STREET at the
lights, immediately on your left.
Continue past McGinley's offices (on your right) - the blue pyramid should
be on your left, on the other side of the RING ROAD.
Go straight across the lights on WATER LANE.
Continue across the next two sets of lights, opposite John Lewis, over both carriageways of the M1 LINK ROAD.
Turn left up DERBY ROAD, carrying on past the Central Primary School (on
your right) until the junction with GROSVENOR ROAD. The Church is now ahead
of you and the entrance is some twenty to thirty yards ahead (on your right).
...Watford Junction Station (just over half
a mile from Derby Road).
Exit the station and turn left onto WOODFORD ROAD (which is one way for
traffic) continuing until the mini roundabout.
Head straight onto QUEEN'S ROAD and continue, all the way up the hill and
past the shops, until you reach the subway.
Instead, however, of going under the subway, turn left next to 'DREAMS',
and after some thirty or forty yards the Church entrance will be on your
left.
...Watford Metropolitan Line Station (approximately
a mile and a half from Derby Road).
Bear right out of the station, onto CASSIOBURY PARK AVENUE (alternatively you can go into the park, turn right...) and continue until RICKMANSWORTH ROAD (A412).
Continue along Rickmansworth Road until you reach the Town Hall (on your
left). Walk down the steps on the far side of the Town Hall, and go under
the subway onto the HIGH STREET (THE PARADE).
Continue straight down the high street (past TJ Hughes, on your left, and
further on, NatWest, on your right).
When you reach Gap (on your left, opposite McDonald's) turn left between
it and the entrance to the Harlequin Centre, onto Queens Road (which is
pedestrianised).
Continue along QUEENS ROAD, towards the big Harlequin Centre sign in front of you, along the side of Primark (all along the left after GAP) and past Tuba Talk (on your right). Continue past the entrances to the Harlequin Centre (on either side of you, followed by Gordon Scott on your right, and a coffee shop on your left) and walk through the subway.
At the end of the subway turn immediately right (next to 'DREAMS') and continue
some thirty or forty yards to the Church entrance on your left.