Calling all M25 commuters...

AldridgeChris

Hello all,

Apologies if there is an existing thread for this but I couldn't for the life of me find it.

Anyway, I've recently got a new job that will require me to travel from Birmingham to Rickmansworth in Herts a few times a month. My route options as far as I can work out are:
- M1 to J6a to join the M25 at J21 anticlockwise to J18 and on to Rickmansworth
Or
-M40 to J1a to join the M25 at J16 clockwise to J17.

I'll be travelling mainly in rush hour, arriving into Rickmansworth at 9:30 so I'm guessing that either way its going to be busy but as I'm a complete M25 virgin I don't which will be the lesser of 2 evils; M1 and anticlockwise with 3 junctions of the M25 or M40 and clockwise with 1 junction of the M25. I'm assuming the latter?

Thanks in advance, Chris

Armorica

Most people I know will always use M40 in preference to the M1. You could do M40 then up the A412 and don't touch the M25 at all.

Voyager2002

Just take the train...

And anyway, this section is for international travel.

AldridgeChris

Armorica wrote: »

Most people I know will always use M40 in preference to the M1. You could do M40 then up the A412 and don't touch the M25 at all.

Thanks Armorica, I hadn't considered the A412 so I'll check that out :T

AldridgeChris

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Just take the train...

And anyway, this section is for international travel.

Voyager, if the train was an option then I would have stated that in my original post. Also, if this is the wrong subject for this section then please suggest the correct section rather than just offering criticism.

If you can't be constructive then don't contribute.

SW17

AldridgeChris wrote: »

Voyager, if the train was an option then I would have stated that in my original post. Also, if this is the wrong subject for this section then please suggest the correct section rather than just offering criticism.

If you can't be constructive then don't contribute.

A reasonable point, though equally reasonable to wonder why you'd think that an overseas travel board was the right place to ask this question (as opposed to say, Motoring, or UK travel boards). Anyway, will give you the benefit of the doubt on that one as you're new to MSE, haven't been here that long myself.

Although I don't know if M40 is better than M1, I would certainly avoid the M25 anticlockwise from 21a to 18 at that time of day, it can get very congested.

Likely that M40/A412 is your best bet, though as these things change from day to day a satnav that gives alternative routes (even during the journey) is your friend. I just use the Google Maps app on my phone, it rarely lets me down and has saved me from tailbacks on the M25 several times.

Suggest you can check it any time before you start doing the journey on Google Maps (other map apps are available...), just input the route from home to destination at the same time of day you would do the journey, and see what is coming out quickest. Will give you an idea at least.

joerugby

I've done the journey from Warwick many times at that time of day and always used M40/A412

There is a small cafe just before Rickmansworth at Maple Cross on your left which serves a hearty breakfast

mgdavid

AldridgeChris wrote: »

Voyager, if the train was an option then I would have stated that in my original post. Also, if this is the wrong subject for this section then please suggest the correct section rather than just offering criticism.

If you can't be constructive then don't contribute.

If you're going to take any words in Voyager's reply as criticism rather than a helpful hint I really do suggest you limit your use of this forum as you're going to run into difficulties.