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Driving around London (M25) advice for a foreigner please!
Gergely - 5/6/08 at 10:13 AM

Hi,
We are picking up our MNR kit on Monday. We are travelling to MNR on Sunday, so I guess traffic will be OK around London on the weekend, but what worries me is the return trip on Monday...
Starting from MNR at around noon - 1 o'clock I guess we will be around the M25 by 5-6 o'clock which could mean rushour...
How congested does the M25 get? Which direction should we go to avoid traffic jams - clockwise or anti-clockwise - to get to Folkstone? Any tips how not to get stuck in an endless traffic jam?
Maybe I am just paranoid, but I have heard horror stories of the M25...

Thanks!
Gergely

whitestu - 5/6/08 at 10:38 AM

It's not too bad.

If you are coming down from MNR you need to go clockwise to get to Folkstone.

There will be a fair bit of traffic at that time but you should be on the M25 for no more than one and a half hours.

Stu

iank - 5/6/08 at 10:54 AM

Just typed Harrogate to Folkstone into google maps. It advises A1M->A14->M11->M25->M20

Personally I'd avoid the A14 like the plague and risk a bit longer on the M25, but I've had horrible experiences on both bits of road so it's a toss up and depends more on whether there's an accident anywhere.

Agriv8 - 5/6/08 at 12:07 PM

A1M->A14->M11->M25->M20

I always go that way but keep BBC radio 2 on for 'sall's' travel reports ( Deserves a medal does that lass !! ) any problems miss out A14 and M11

Regards

Agriv8

Gergely - 5/6/08 at 12:34 PM

Thanks guys! We will keep the radio on and hope for the best of luck...
4100 kms in 4 days...
That will be a long trip I think...
Gergely

worX - 5/6/08 at 01:31 PM

Hi Gergely,

Most of the horror stories are told by people that are trying to get somewhere quick. You will be towing and travelling at a respectable speed so you won't find it half as stressful!

Like any trip with time constraints, allow plenty of extra for your ferry schedule and you'll be fine!

Then get back and build the MNR in the two weeks you've got off!

Steve

02GF74 - 5/6/08 at 01:35 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Gergely
Thanks guys! We will keep the radio on and hope for the best of luck...
4100 kms in 4 days...
That will be a long trip I think...
Gergely


how many times are you planning to to go round the M25 ?!?!??!

ceertain sections do get busy at rusg hour - around M1 and heathrow.

if it is windy, the QE bridge is closed so slows down round dartford.

if there is an accident, then you are screwed.

[Edited on 5/6/08 by 02GF74]

iank - 5/6/08 at 01:39 PM

quote:
Originally posted by worX
...
Most of the horror stories are told by people that are trying to get somewhere quick. You will be towing and travelling at a respectable speed so you won't find it half as stressful!
...


Ha! 3 hour queue on the A14 9am in the morning (managed to get to work only 1.5 hours late by using country lanes.

Wouldn't have minded but the trip from Newcastle to the A14 junction of the A1M is 3-3.5 hours.

5 hour queue on M25 at Dartford

Though those were both extreme events due to accidents.

Macbeast - 5/6/08 at 02:06 PM

Quote

how many times are you planning to to go round the M25 ?!?!??!

End quote

I assume he's coming from Budapest ?

Gergely - 5/6/08 at 02:45 PM

quote:

how many times are you planning to to go round the M25 ?!?!??!


Indeed, I am coming from Budapest!
Anyway, it seems I can not get around the M25 anyway and as I am not in a hurry, I don't mind if my average speed falls a little...
Gergely