travel to Taunton

moneylover

Hello. We live in Essex and I am wondering about the best way to drive to Taunton.
Have looked at AA and Rac route planners. One suggests all motorways (about 15 mins longer, 12 miles longer) and the other is M25, M3 and A303 from Basingstoke - can anyone tell me what this A road is like?

WestonDave

A303 is generally a decent road but a fair amount of it is not dual carriageway. It used to be 2 wide lanes which caused a "suicide lane" effect where people would drive down the middle line. Now I seem to recall that in a lot of places its been made into 2 lanes one way and one the other in alternating sections (i.e. 2 lanes uphill, with the other side coming down only having the one lane).

The other thing to bear in mind is that the M4 from about junction 18 onwards is very congested, and then the M5 south to say Weston Super Mare, is extremely busy, quite hilly (so slow behind lorries) and seems to attract frequent accidents. The M4/M5 interchange is a nasty junction for the unwary as it combines with the first junction south on the M5 meaning that traffic is crossing from the M5 to the A38 as you are trying to get across from the M4 to the M5.

On balance I'd go with the A303 as at least that way if it does get a bit snarly you can find a back road and keep going whereas if the motorway shuts down you are just stuck.

[Deleted User]

I would agree with the above a very good appraisal. The only thing I would add is probably depends on what time you going, if you were travelling overnight, so no traffic I would prefer the motorway route.

hethmar

Agree with above, done this journey twice this summer. Was all for avoiding the A303 as it can be a pain, especially when the traffic slows down by stonehenge But it proved better than the motorway.

fb1969

Another "vote" for the A303.

I've done the journey from west Surrey to Minehead more times than I can remember and am going to Taunton this coming weekend - I've tried loads of different routes and the A303 was the easiest, stay on it until Ilminster and then take the A358.

If you are travelling late in the day at this time of year the sun can be a pain as it is low in the sky, and you get what we called "303 windscreen" where loads of flying insects commit suicide on the windscreen! Also, watch out for the speed camera on the short hill just before the A350 junction.

fluffig

We always go A303.

Highway to the sun

McAzrael

I'd like to vote for the M4. The A303 is a terrible road: it speeds up, it slows down, it widens, it narrows. It has side roads, farm entrances and cross traffic. After dark you'll be following two red spots which will be trying to send you to sleep.

Last time I did it I had a couple of Americans with me so we went that way to go past Stonehenge. They weren't impressed. At least on the M4/M5 they could have seen the RAC offices and Humphrey.

moneylover

thank you everybody - in the end we went for the motorway and made excellent time I guess its swings and roundabouts.
I wanted to go back on A303 and stop off in Salisbury to see Ted Heaths house in the cathedral close. Everyone who has been says how good it is - unfortunately its closed on Fridays so we cannot on this ocasion - so it will be another motorway trip as we have decided to go to the SS???(too tired to look it up) at Bristol. Should we then have lunch on the waterfront and anywhere else in immediate area we should see?
thanks again.
Hilary

WestonDave

SS Great Britain?

Nearby is the new M-shed museum which is free apparently - I think its about life and work in Bristol. Or if you have kids the @Bristol hands on science place on the other side of the dock is really good (albeit can be a bit expensive). Currently have a load of animation workstations up stairs where you can have a go at your own animation.