The Royal Veterinary College
Hawkshead Lane
Hatfield
Hertfordshire
AL97TA
United Kingdom

Travel Directions to the Hawkshead Campus and Boltons Park Farm

Driving to Hawkshead

Visitors arriving by road are urged to approach the Main Campus from the East along Hawkshead Road and Hawkshead Lane from the A1000. Satellite Navigation Systems may instruct you to arrive via the western end of Hawkshead Lane. This route is not recommended, especially for larger vehicles, because of the narrow, twisting roads and very narrow bridge.

From the M25 leave at Junction 24 and take the A111 (Southgate Road) to Potters Bar. At the first main junction and traffic lights, turn right onto the A1000 towards Hatfield. Follow the A1000 through Potters Bar and then turn left onto Hawkshead Road and then fork left onto Hawkshead Lane.

From the A1(M) leave at Junction 3 (if heading South) or Junction 2 (if heading North) and take the A1001 towards Welham Green. At the Travellers Lane roundabout take the A100 (A1000) towards Potters Bar. After passing through Bell Bar and Bookman's Park either follow the signs to the Vet College (a right turn into Swanley Bar Lane followed by a right into Hawkshead Road and then fork left into Hawkshead Lane) or, if you would rather avoid Swanley Bar Lane (which can be narrow due to parked cars), ignore the signpost and continue down the A1000 to the next right-turn (Hawkshead Road) and follow it as above.

Larger vehicles (such as those carrying animals or making deliveries) are particularly urged to approach (and leave) by the recommended routes, avoiding the narrow, twisting roads and very narrow bridge (3 tonne weight limit) to the west of the campus.

Cyclists and pedestrians are urged to take particular care in the generally narrow and unlit local by-ways around the campus.

Cycling

TfL Journey Planner gives three options for cycle routes with predicted journey times. Easy routes use mainly quiet backstreets, canals and park routes, but may still include some main roads where unavoidable. The average speed is 12km/hr. Moderate routes use mainly backstreets, with some main roads where unavoidable. The average speed is 16km/hr. Fast routes use the most direct route. The average speed is 20km/hr. The journey planner can also be used for walking routes.

The journey time from Potters Bar Station to Hawkshead ranges from 11- 19 minutes. The journey time from Hawkshead to Camden Campus ranges from 1 hour 19 minutes to 2 hours 26 minutes depending on the route.

Directions from Railway Stations

Arriving at Potters Bar

see the RVC Shuttle Service Timetable (PDF) or the Welham Green Bus Timetable (PDF) for full details of other stops and return journeys. A reduced service (PDF) runs at the weekend.

Taxi/Minicab: a minicab service is available from beside the Potters Bar railway station forecourt (telephone 01707 650077). The journey to the Campus takes about 10 minutes.

Arriving at Kings Cross/St Pancras International

Trains, operated by Great Northern - www.greatnorthernrail.com - run about every thirty minutes to Potters Bar from London King's Cross, at 04 and 34 minutes past the hour. The journey takes about 15 minutes. See above for directions from Potters Bar.

Arriving at other London Stations

Travel by Underground to Kings Cross/St Pancras, which is on the Victoria, Piccadilly, Northern, Circle, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines, and follow the directions above.

Directions from Airports

Arriving at Heathrow Airport

General enquiries - tel: 0844 3351802 www.heathrowairport.com
Enter TW6 1AP (Terminal 1), TW6 1QG (Terminal 3), TW6 3XA(Terminal 4) or TW6 2GA (Terminal 5) in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

The most straightforward journey into Central London is by Taking the Piccadilly Underground line (from Terminals 1, 2, 3; Terminal 4 or Terminal 5) direct to King's Cross/St Pancras. The journey takes approximately 60-65 minutes but is relatively inexpensive.

The Heathrow Express - www.heathrowexpress.com - takes only 15 minutes from Heathrow Central (Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and via the Heathrow Connect shuttle from Terminal 4) and 21 minutes from Terminal 5 to Paddington Station in Central London, but is more expensive.

Heathrow Connect - www.heathrowconnect.com - also run services into Paddington every 30 minutes, with the journey taking about 25 minutes.

From Paddington, take the Underground to King's Cross/St Pancras, then follow the directions from Kings Cross/St Pancras above.

By Car: follow signs to the M4. At Junction 4 take the M4 (towards Slough). At Junction 4B take the M25 (towards Watford) and travel for approximately 45 minutes to Junction 23 (A1(M) and the South Mimms Motorway Services area). Turn off and follow signs for Royal Veterinary College (approximately 5 minutes). Or stay on the M25 to Junction 24 (recommended) and follow the directions above - Driving to Hawkshead.

Arriving at Gatwick Airport

General enquiries - tel: 0844 3351802 www.gatwickairport.com
Enter RH6 0NP (South Terminal) or RH6 0JP (North Terminal) in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

The quickest way into London is to take the Gatwick Express - www.gatwickexpress.com - (every 15 minutes) to Victoria Station in Central London (journey time about 30 minutes) and then proceed by Underground (Victoria Line) to King's Cross/St Pancras.

Train services into London are also provided by: ThamesLink - www.thameslinkrailway.com - direct to St Pancras International and Southern www.southernrailway.com to Victoria or London Bridge (then by Underground, Victoria or Northern Line respectively, to Kings Cross/St Pancras)

See above for directions from Kings Cross/St Pancras.

By Car: follow signs to the M23. At Junction 9A join the M23 (towards London). At Junction 8 take the M25 (towards Heathrow) and travel for approximately 45 minutes to Junction 23 (A1(M) and the South Mimms Motorway Services area). Turn off and follow signs for Royal Veterinary College (approximately 5 minutes). Or stay on the M25 to Junction 24 (recommended) and follow the directions above - Driving to Hawkshead. Allow two hours for whole journey.

Arriving at Stansted Airport

General enquiries - tel: 0844 3351830 www.stanstedairport.com
Enter CM24 1RW in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

The Stansted Express runs from Stansted Airport to London's Liverpool Street station every 15 minutes from about 0530 hrs to 0130 - see www.stanstedexpress.com for timetable. The journey takes 46 minutes. From Liverpool Street station take the Underground on the Circle, Metropolitan or Hammersmith & City Lines to Kings Cross/St Pancras (see above for directions from Kings Cross/St Pancras).

By Car: from Stansted Airport (Junction 8) travel southbound on the M11 to Junction 27 on the M25. Then travel anti-clockwise on the M25 to Junction 24 and follow the directions above - Driving to Hawkshead. The whole journey should take about 60 minutes.

Arriving at Luton Airport

General enquiries - tel: 01582 405100 www.london-luton.co.uk
Enter LU2 9QT in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

A shuttle bus service runs every 10 minutes to Luton Airport Parkway station. From Luton Airport Parkway train services to London are provided by East Midlands Trains - www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk - (journey time from 24 minutes) and ThamesLink - www.thameslinkrailway.com -  (journey time from 32 minutes). Both services run through to London St Pancras International (see above for directions from Kings Cross/St Pancras).

By Car: travel southbound from Luton Airport on the M1 to Junction 21a on the M25. Then travel clockwise on the M25 to Junction 23 (A1(M) and the South Mimms Motorway Services area). Turn off and follow signs for Royal Veterinary College (approximately 5 minutes). Or stay on the M25 to Junction 24 (recommended) and follow the directions above - Driving to Hawkshead. Allow about 50 minutes for the journey.
For full details enter E16 2PX in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

Arriving at London City Airport (Docklands)

General enquiries - tel: 020 7646 0088 www.londoncityairport.com
Enter E16 2PX in the Postcode box of the Journey Planner.

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) operates a service from the airport to Bank (Underground station) every eight to 15 minutes. The journey takes about 22 minutes. From Bank take the Underground (Northern Line) to Kings Cross/St Pancras (see above for directions from Kings Cross/St Pancras).

By Car: Follow Hartmann Road and turn right onto the A112. At the second roundabout take the third exit onto the A1020. Follow the A1020 for about three miles then, at the major junction with the A13, take the second exit onto the A406 (the North Circular). Follow the A406 for about four miles and join the M11 at Junction 4 (towards Harlow). At Junction 6 join the M25 (towards Watford). Stay on the M25 to Junction 24 and follow the directions above - Driving to Hawkshead. Allow up to two hours, depending on traffic, for the whole journey.

Top of page