What will the m25 be like at these times?
Discussion
I don't do that stretch, but would expect it to be bearable, generally, but as matey said, it can be very unpredictable.
Edit: I've been doing J19 to Tolworth/Chessington recently, which is really f
king st. I tend to come off at 14 and then fight through Sunbury/Hamptons/etc. Travelling at around 0630/0700 ish and then 1630/1730 ish - so close to the worst times possible. The only way I've remained sane is by travelling by bike, but then it's an hour or so of absolute concentration each way - can be fun, but not in the slightest bit relaxing.
Edit: I've been doing J19 to Tolworth/Chessington recently, which is really f
king st. I tend to come off at 14 and then fight through Sunbury/Hamptons/etc. Travelling at around 0630/0700 ish and then 1630/1730 ish - so close to the worst times possible. The only way I've remained sane is by travelling by bike, but then it's an hour or so of absolute concentration each way - can be fun, but not in the slightest bit relaxing.Edited by Tribal Chestnut on Monday 30th November 11:01
The m23 bit will normally be fine.
As others have said it'll be your journey home which is likely to be problematic. I go the other way on the 25 but frequently see problems from j9 on the clockwise. Traffic is very finely balanced and any adverse weather or roadworks often adds at least 20 mins to a 40 minute journey for me.
I think you would lucky not to experience at least one bad journey a month I.e. 1 hour over the norm.
As others have said it'll be your journey home which is likely to be problematic. I go the other way on the 25 but frequently see problems from j9 on the clockwise. Traffic is very finely balanced and any adverse weather or roadworks often adds at least 20 mins to a 40 minute journey for me.
I think you would lucky not to experience at least one bad journey a month I.e. 1 hour over the norm.
I've done various commutes around this area and you can never really tell with M25, but generally you are at least in the right direction, more chance it'll be clear through Surrey anticlock in the morning and clockwise in the evening than viceversa.
This time of year in the dark isn't the best time to be learning them, but there are lots of nice lanes from Gatwick area over towards Dorking and then you can pick up A25 which outside rush hour is usually quite nice to drive. Most of the time I suspect that would be as quick as M23/M25/A3 and certainly more interesting although perhaps a bit more tiring after a long day.
Certainly check on Google Maps or similar for traffic before you leave each day and if any of the motorways look dodgy go cross country.
This time of year in the dark isn't the best time to be learning them, but there are lots of nice lanes from Gatwick area over towards Dorking and then you can pick up A25 which outside rush hour is usually quite nice to drive. Most of the time I suspect that would be as quick as M23/M25/A3 and certainly more interesting although perhaps a bit more tiring after a long day.
Certainly check on Google Maps or similar for traffic before you leave each day and if any of the motorways look dodgy go cross country.
It's been a few years but I used to commute Farnborough to Kent via Guildford, you're going the right way as the traffic tended to be a lot worse going the other way. It was rare that I ever spent much time below 70mph on that stretch, the hogs back getting on to the A3, and the A3/M25 junction tended to be the worst bits in the morning, and in the evenings the traffic was generally starting to build up as I got off at the A3.
However when there is a problem on the M25 you're fked. I had a couple of occasions where after 2-3 hours in the car I gave up and went home.
However when there is a problem on the M25 you're f
ked. I had a couple of occasions where after 2-3 hours in the car I gave up and went home.Unpredicatble is the best way of putting it. Not just with conditions but also with other drivers. Much higher concentration of idiots on the M25 than anywhere else. Just keep calm and leave plenty of room, even if you don't leave plenty of room people will try and fit infront of you anyway.
A25 to Reigate then A217 to Sidlow, Horley & then A217 again straight into Gatwick. Should work well & is a route I've used many times. It won't show any signs to Gatwick going that way until you are almost on top of it!
As others have said M25 is totally unpredictable at any time of day & it only needs the slightest problem for the HATO's to close the road & you're there for the duration.
Good luck!
As others have said M25 is totally unpredictable at any time of day & it only needs the slightest problem for the HATO's to close the road & you're there for the duration.
Good luck!
Edited by Jim AK on Monday 30th November 14:45
eybic said:
The main problem with the M25 is that it is unpredictable, it could be fine or it could have 30 miles of delays, no way of knowing unfortunately. I'd say you will be more likely to hit traffic on your evening commute than morning.
You're never going to make smashing progress at that time OP so it'll either be slow and steady or infuriatingly bad.
As many others have said, it's unpredictable but the morning should be fine while the evening will be hit and miss.
There's plenty of effective back routes though if it does clog up, A217/A25 is one, although the approach to Reigate can get congested, as can Dorking so it may work to cut through some nice country roads straight to the A24.
I'm not sure about how the M23 is at those times but you might be better off sticking it out until Leatherhead then coming off and shooting along the A246 into the back of Guildford, as it's usually the approach to the A3 and onwards that is crap in my experience.
There's plenty of effective back routes though if it does clog up, A217/A25 is one, although the approach to Reigate can get congested, as can Dorking so it may work to cut through some nice country roads straight to the A24.
I'm not sure about how the M23 is at those times but you might be better off sticking it out until Leatherhead then coming off and shooting along the A246 into the back of Guildford, as it's usually the approach to the A3 and onwards that is crap in my experience.
OP I do Reigate to Weybridge every day so travel that exact piece of the M25 you will need (Junct 8-10). I think you will be fine. Im generally going with the traffic (going towards Kent in the morning is usually dead) in both directions so you should have it pretty easy.
The times you will be travelling should mean you nearly always miss the traffic.
That said, Gatwick is a fair bit South of me so perhaps cross country would work. Its a bit of a trek but looking at Google maps, its a fair bit shorter - id estimate an hour cross country and probably the same on the M25 - the cross country route is quite nice too. It looks like hell but its actually not that bad, and the country lanes are usually deserted. I do a roughly similar route home when the M25 is messed up.
The below isnt a bad shout but ONLY if the M25 is messed up - its prob not worth it otherwise;
That is a hell of a long day too!
The times you will be travelling should mean you nearly always miss the traffic.
That said, Gatwick is a fair bit South of me so perhaps cross country would work. Its a bit of a trek but looking at Google maps, its a fair bit shorter - id estimate an hour cross country and probably the same on the M25 - the cross country route is quite nice too. It looks like hell but its actually not that bad, and the country lanes are usually deserted. I do a roughly similar route home when the M25 is messed up.
The below isnt a bad shout but ONLY if the M25 is messed up - its prob not worth it otherwise;
That is a hell of a long day too!
Edited by p1stonhead on Monday 30th November 15:50
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