Join the queue and head to Kew

At weekends, a one-day Travelcard from Bedford to London costs just £20, and with Groupsave three or four people can travel for the price of two.

This means that for four people the price is just £10 each when using First Capital Connect Trains.

On weekdays there are also excellent fares at off-peak times so come into the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in St Paul’s Square for further details and to purchase your tickets.

A Travelcard not only enables you to make one same-day return journey between Bedford and London but also allows unlimited travel in London on the underground, the overground, national rail services and scheduled bus services in Zones 1-6.

You can even use the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the London Tramlink network. So why not buy a Travelcard and set out to explore? Here are some ideas of places to go on the Overground Network which has just undergone a major upgrade and refurbishment.

West Hampstead Thameslink station is a good place to change trains in order to reach some of the interesting destinations of north and west London. On Saturdays and Sundays there are often direct trains from Bedford to West Hampstead Thameslink (please check to see if there is any engineering work taking place before you travel). On weekdays you normally need to change at St Albans.

From West Hampstead Thameslink, a short, signposted walk takes you to West Hampstead Overground station. From here you can catch the train westbound to the world famous oasis that is the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

Head to the tree top walkway to climb 18 metres into the tree canopy for an awe inspiring view or experience a tropical rainforest environment in the palm house.

One stop further on from Kew is refined Richmond which is home to the largest Royal Park in London. See if you can spot any of the 650 deer that roam free or alternatively climb to the top of Richmond Hill for a spectacular view of London.

The town itself nestles on the banks of the River Thames and is full of cobbled lanes and alleyways which house a vast array of shops and restaurants.

You could relax on Richmond Green – London’s largest town centre open space or take a boat trip along the river.

Just two stops eastbound from West Hampstead leads to Hampstead Heath, an enormous park with over 800 acres of meadows, ancient woodlands, heathland, valleys and ponds that are home to a rich variety of wildlife.

The overground also links West Hampstead to Stratford which is home to the huge, brand new, Westfields Shopping Centre, the largest urban shopping centre in Europe.

So, drop in and purchase a ticket from the TIC, and set off to explore some of the outer lying areas of the capital – you’ll be surprised what you can find!