M25 Friday afternoon???

gilbert_and_sullivan

knightstyle wrote: »

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.

Talking of services be wary of using the Stansted services if you go M11 on a Friday afternoon, it can take half an hour just to exit onto the roundabout, by the time you've reached the motorway you will want another p..;)

If you go clockwise you have services at Thurrock and Clacket Lane, and if you use the M23 you have Pease Pottage at the end of the motorway before you commit yourself to A23 or A264.

If you use A321 and M1 for anticlockwise you have Toddington.

IanD

IanD wrote: »

But at least it's moving.

Me and my big mouth! Last night, got stuck for 40 minutes between J23 (South Mimms) and J24 (Potters Bar). Had the joy of watching the anticlock traffic flowing perfectly freely.

One thing that really annoys me about motorways is those new info signs they have erected. All the way down the M1 this week between J14 and M25, plenty of warnings about some incident somewhere on the M4, probably useful to about 10% of travellers but not a mention of severe hold ups on the M25 clockwise which would affect about 50%. The other week they were showing information about an accident on the A12 about 70 miles away with no mention of the M25 anticlockwise hold ups!

Hammyman

knightstyle wrote: »

We will be traveling down the A1M and leaving at J9 on Dec. 16th. What time does the traffic clear?

About 8pm. Its usually quite busy all the way round to the M4.

Enfieldian

The "M" in the title "M25" harks back to a time around 20 years ago when it actually was a motorway and speeds of 70mph were acheivable.

Radio traffic reports don't bother to include information on the anti clockwise stretch from about 19 to 15 as it assumed that it will be stop/start all the way.

The "Warning - Queue after junction" signs are now just left on permanently.

It is now the equivalent of a small cul-de-sac housing 3 schools at approximately 3.30pm on a weekday, all day, every day.

knightstyle

Thanks again everyone, it is all a bit academic as we are now spending Friday night with DD in Wiltshire and going to Worthing on Sat. so will have to replan the route. Will be doing the route backwards (I nearly said in reverse!) on Monday but hopefully it won't be as bad as a Friday PM. Will keep all the comments in mind for when we next drive down.

CrazyRed

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.

Worthing in West Sussex? You wouldn't leave the M25 at J9 for that, surely? J9's the Chessington turnoff.

I'd respectfully suggest that you'd be coming off the M23 at J9 for West Sussex. The M23 is J7 on the M25.

As the M23 has Gatwick Airport on it, generally Friday afternoons, up until about 6pm are a real no-go area there.

Personally, I'd be inclined to leave Gainsborough at 6pm and then you'll have a reasonably good run through - by the time you hit the '25, most of the traffic will have died down and you'll be able to "go with the flow" and cover your journey fairly comfortably with minimal delays. Going round to avoid the Crossing has rarely worked out cost-effective in my experience, especially if you're travelling outside of the rush times. It's a much longer journey going anti-clockwise round the M25, especially from the A1M (little tip - pick up the M11 and come down that way to the M25 - you'll come on at about J26-27 - about 20 minutes' run from the Dartford Bridge, then you're looking at about another 70-80 minutes to Worthing (taking your time) from there - the journey will be more pleasant). Ooh, another tip - don't stop at Clacket Lane services - they are some of the most highly-priced Services I have ever come acroos, both for fuel and refreshments!. If you MUST stop at Services, come off at J31 to with the Thurrock Services or, carry on another couple of miles to the Retail Park and head for the Tesco Superstore to refuel the car and yourselves.

Good luck with the journey - hope all goes well for you and you have a good break in Worthing

demented_weasel

CrazyRed wrote: »

Worthing in West Sussex? You wouldn't leave the M25 at J9 for that, surely? J9's the Chessington turnoff.

True, but thats going North from J9.

The A24 south from J9 goes to Worthing, passing through Dorking and by-passing Horsham.

Worst part is the single carriageway between Capel and Horsham.

knightstyle

Thanks both, I avoid the A23 as the only ways to Worthing from it are the A27 Shoreham which is always chocker or cross country A272 I think and that is awful as well. Have done your route CrazyRed a couple of years ago and we were stationary for ages just before Cambridge and then queued for the bridge. There is less than 5 miles difference between clockwise and anticlockwise.