Travel Information
Princess Helena College is ideally located in north Hertfordshire, just outside the market town of Hitchin, close to London with excellent transport links and easy access to a number of international and regional airports.
Train Travel
Thameslink routes offer fast lines to PHC with trains from London St Pancras in only 33 minutes and Cambridge 31 mins. Some of our weekly and full boarders travel to school by train from further afield and the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East are connected to PHC by the East Midlands and LNER lines.
The school runs a bus service from Hitchin and Luton Airport Parkway stations to meet trains and bring students commuting on a daily basis direct to PHC.
Airport Travel
For families who live outside the United Kingdom, PHC is easily accessible by road and train from a number of international airports.
Luton Airport – 20 mins
Stansted Airport – 50 mins
Heathrow Airport – 60 mins
London City Airport – 75 mins
Gatwick Airport – 90 mins
The school can arrange taxi transfers to and from airports at the beginning and end of term, where pupils will be met by a CRB checked driver to bring them to school. Please speak to the School Office if you would like to book this service.
Coach & Minibus Travel
Our school bus routes are reviewed every year to suit the school community. Additional stops and routes are added subject to demand.
PHC’s minibus service links the College to north London and towns across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The earliest buses start at 7.10am, arriving at school at 8.30am. The return services leave school at 6.00pm and services run Monday to Friday throughout the school year.
There is a high level of demand for services, so please contact the transport office (transport@phchitchin.com) regarding availability on your route. If your area is not currently served by our network please get in touch with the transport office as we are continually evaluating new routes.
Further details on routes and times for this year are below.
Weekly Boarding Service
Families in London and further afield are able to benefit from an independent education in the Hertfordshire countryside with our dedicated weekly train pick-up service.
Pupils can enjoy weekly boarding at PHC and weekends at home with a weekly minibus to Hitchin station taking pupils to school on Monday mornings and returning on a Friday afternoon.
Taxis
It is also possible to book taxis to other destinations via the School Office.
PHC only uses local registered taxi firms who have licensed and plated taxis and drivers who have been CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checked. Students are not allowed to book their own taxis directly with a firm; all bookings must be made via the School Office.
By Car
The main entrance to the college is located in School Lane. For the safety of students and staff, the school operates a one-way system for traffic on site.