Advice? Cardiff to Milton keynes Xmas eve: M25 or not?

lobbyludd

Hi - travelling cardiff to MK on christmas eve, usually go M4, M25, M1 etc. Which is dull but usually fine, have never done it on a christmas eve on a saturday before though, any experiences? the alternatives are:

leave the M4 at 15 and go cross country (which is quite tortuous as any major roads go through loads of medium-sized towns, probably a nightmare on the saturday immediately before christmas)

go up the M5 and leave at gloucester and go cross country (ditto above)

or essentially M5, skirt under birmingham and go back down again probably M1.

any recommendations or other routes? 2 small kids in the car, just want to get there in the shortest time possible.....

System

Personally, I would take the route that I used to use 30+ years ago before the M25 existed. M4 to Swindon, A419/420 to Oxford then A34/A421or A422 on to Buckingham and MK.

Used to go this way when MK was a little town and the villages around still had their own identities and not an MKxx designation

Rik242

I live in MK and I wouldnt go near the M25 to get here from Cardiff. Use the mugwumps route.

richard734

A48/A40 to Cheltenham, Cross country to Stow on the Wold, Chipping Norton Deddington to Buckingham and follow your nose to MK.
I have done this route easter/xmas and other silly times, and have always beaten the M-Way drivers.
Its a nice route, yes, not as 'fast' but still a nice drive.

gilbert_and_sullivan

As !!!!!!, speed limited roads but shortest route and if problems you can simply turn round and find an alternative.

The only possible nasty bit on that journey could be the A34 as it runs up to M40, if its really bad simply get off and seek out A4095 which runs in to the top of Bicester on the ring road then up A4421 to Finmere.

thescouselander

!!!!!! wrote: »

Personally, I would take the route that I used to use 30+ years ago before the M25 existed. M4 to Swindon, A419/420 to Oxford then A34/A421or A422 on to Buckingham and MK.

Used to go this way when MK was a little town and the villages around still had their own identities and not an MKxx designation

I agree - I used to do this route regularly from Bristol and its still the best when its busy.

maninthestreet

I used to use M4 to J13, then A34 and onto the Oxford ring road, then A40 / A418 to Aylesbury, through Aylesbury, then turn off at Wing and take the minor roads through Stewkley and Newton Longville.

lobbyludd

thanks all, that's the route sorted then

SHIPSHAPE

Depends what time of day you are travelling.