M25 Friday afternoon???

Jeff_Bridges_hair

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

It wasn't everso clear but it appears the OP is coming off at M25 Jct9, which is either Reigate or Leatherhead IIRC.

Ahh right the way I read it was they were getting off the A1 at J9 which i thought odd in the first place as its a bit far from the M25 to be coming off of to join

gregpot2000

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Ahh right the way I read it was they were getting off the A1 at J9 which i thought odd in the first place as its a bit far from the M25 to be coming off of to join

I thought you'd be getting off at Barnet!!:rotfl:

warehouse

Another vote for anti clockwise. The queues for the Dartford crossing are horrific on Friday afternoons, which is disgraceful considering the queues are caused by the toll booths and the bridge has been paid for!!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

gregpot2000 wrote: »

I thought you'd be getting off at Barnet!!:rotfl:

I thought it was letchworth which is even worse.. :D

Rover_Driver

The pm peak times on the anti clockwise M25 can be really busy between about j16 and j10 and it only takes a hiccup to come to a grinding halt.
If it does, and you hear about it in time, it may be an idea to continue on A1 to the North Circular, go round and over Kew Bridge onto a short bit of the South Circular, fork right onto A307 and follow that through Richmond & Kingston, to the far side of Kingston and turn left onto A243 and follow that to where it meets M25 at j9.
Although it can be a busy route, at least you should keep moving.

knightstyle

Thanks for all the replies, I thought it was clear, we are traveling down the A1M onto the M25 and leave the M25 at j9. We are going from Gainsborough, Lincs and traveling to Worthing in West Sussex, about 240 miles. We cannot leave before mid afternoon but could leave considerably later to avoid traffic.

IanD

I travel down the M1 almost every Friday night to join the M25 at sometime between 5 and 6pm to travel clockwise and the traffic is usually pretty bad from there past the A1M and still busy when I exit on to the A10 at J25 with info signs often indicating that there may be congestion at Dartford. But at least it's moving. There are currently roadworks on the stretch between the A1M and M1 (both directions) and 3 out of four times the anti-clockwise traffic is at a standstill. I believe these roadworks extend past the M1 towards Heathrow. I guess as you approach the South Mimms interchange you may as well just toss a coin to decide which way to go.

If the M1 is busy I quite often cut across country and pick up the A1 instead. I take it slowly on the South Mimms roundabout and see what the M25 traffic is doing overhead. If it's not moving, I take the 'old' route towards Barnet or go back on to the A1 to reach the North Circular.

gilbert_and_sullivan

knightstyle wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, I thought it was clear, we are traveling down the A1M onto the M25 and leave the M25 at j9. We are going from Gainsborough, Lincs and traveling to Worthing in West Sussex, about 240 miles. We cannot leave before mid afternoon but could leave considerably later to avoid traffic.

Ah i have a suggestion for you then, leave as planned and travel down A1, A14, M11, M25 clockwise.

This gives you several options if you listen out for Sally Traffic's broadcasts on Radio2.

The route to M25 should be OK the way you are going, at M11/M25 jct if the Dartford is at a standstill (radio) you could carry on down M11 and pick up new A12 route through Blackwall tunnel and down A2 or A20 to rejoin M25..the worst traffic should be away from the London suburbs by about 6 or 7pm.

By going this way you can again listen to see if it might be easier for you to nip down M23/A23 to Brighton and along to Worthing or via M23 /A264 looping round the bottom of Crawley to Worthing.

Even if i was coming anti clockwise i'd still use M23 and then decide which of the two routes at end of M23 to use.

If you decide to stick with A1 and anticlock then consider turning right at Black Cat roundabout (St Neots) and taking the A321 to M1 jct 13 (dualled all the way now) and using M1 to get to M25, this avoids the possible delays between A1 and M1 referred to by the above poster, M1 roadworks 13 to 10 even though 50 mph average should be OK southbound.

Have a safe trip whichever route you go.

spiro

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

If you decide to stick with A1 and anticlock then consider turning right at Black Cat roundabout (St Neots) and taking the A321 to M1 jct 13 (dualled all the way now) and using M1 to get to M25, this avoids the possible delays between A1 and M1 referred to by the above poster, M1 roadworks 13 to 10 even though 50 mph average should be OK southbound.

Have a safe trip whichever route you go.

You can also avoid the A1 to M1 section of the M25 by coming off the A1 at the Hatfield tunnel and take the A414 to M25 J21a. This also shortens the journey by several miles.

knightstyle

Thanks for all your helpful ideas. We have used the A414 a few times but have been held up on it as well. Thought we would continue on the A1M to the M25 and have an "indian" (tea+pee) at the services there as there are no services from there till Worthing.
Will have a look at G&Ss idea as well.