London to Ipswich - how long to drive?
Discussion
I've got to be in Ipswich (Adastral Park) by 9am leaving from Westminster on a Tuesday morning. how long should I allow and any favoured routes?
AA.com is advising A10/M25/A12 and 2.5 hours, but early in the morning maybe A12 all the way would be better? Anyone do the trip on a regular basis? I've not idea what to allow for traffic on this route.
MHT223 said:
Any guess on the time to get ther early in the morning? Will a 6am depart be enought time for a 9am arrival?
Do NOT take the A10! It's one set of traffic lights after another and is a p.i.t.a. at the best of times.At 6am the A13 should be ok, if you want the quickest route I'd go A13 all the way out to M25 then up to A12, or to save a bit of fuel go A13 / A12, but the A12 between A406 and M25 isn't always that quick and there are far more speed cameras that way.
I do this journey (Tower Bridge to Ipswich) every week.
From Westminster, you want Embankment, then pickup the Highway up to Limehouse link tunnel then onto the A13. Stick on the A13 up to M25, turn left and then A12.
From Tower Bridge to A12/A14 junction at Ipswich takes 1.40 minutes without breaking speed limits and assuming free flowing traffic. However be aware of the following bits:
- There is a 50 limit average speed camera set of roadworks around Kelvedon, this adds a few minutes to your journey in rush hour as the traffic bunches up and travels less than 50.
- When you reach the A12/A14 junction at Ipswich allow another 10/15 minutes to get to Adastral Park as it involves hanging right and going over the Orwell bridge which in rush hour can move slowly.
6.00am departure is an easy 8.30am arrival. Avoid A12 out of London its complete rubbish.
From Westminster, you want Embankment, then pickup the Highway up to Limehouse link tunnel then onto the A13. Stick on the A13 up to M25, turn left and then A12.
From Tower Bridge to A12/A14 junction at Ipswich takes 1.40 minutes without breaking speed limits and assuming free flowing traffic. However be aware of the following bits:
- There is a 50 limit average speed camera set of roadworks around Kelvedon, this adds a few minutes to your journey in rush hour as the traffic bunches up and travels less than 50.
- When you reach the A12/A14 junction at Ipswich allow another 10/15 minutes to get to Adastral Park as it involves hanging right and going over the Orwell bridge which in rush hour can move slowly.
6.00am departure is an easy 8.30am arrival. Avoid A12 out of London its complete rubbish.
Edited by apguy on Wednesday 25th February 21:28
I live in Colchester.
Take the A12 straight from the City; you'll be going against the flow all the way.
I don't think you should engage with the M25 at all.
I'd give best part of 2.5 hours though as you'll hit a big queue at the A12/A14 junction.
Take the A12 straight from the City; you'll be going against the flow all the way.
I don't think you should engage with the M25 at all.
I'd give best part of 2.5 hours though as you'll hit a big queue at the A12/A14 junction.
Edited by V8mate on Wednesday 25th February 21:35
Without wishing to get into a pissing match. As stated above, I live in Ipswich and Tower Bridge so I do this journey twice a week at rush hour. The A12 out of London is full of pigging traffic lights, speed cameras and roundabouts. Highway, Limehouse and A13 are free-flowing as you are going against the flow. The 5 mile bit of M25 between A13 and A12 should be pretty good as a) theres only one other junction that could cause a problem (which is Southend, and unlikely) b) Most traffic is heading clockwise towards Dartford.
Thanks for all the replies, PH comes up trumps as usual!
At apguy - does a 06:30 depart from Westminster lead to an approx 9am arrival or does the 2.5 hour allowance not follow through half an hour later due to changing traffic?
At apguy - does a 06:30 depart from Westminster lead to an approx 9am arrival or does the 2.5 hour allowance not follow through half an hour later due to changing traffic?
apguy said:
6.00am departure is an easy 8.30am arrival. Avoid A12 out of London its complete rubbish.
Sort of. That extra half hour is going to mean you end up in more commuter traffic between Chelmsford and Colchester at 8.00'ish. so your overall journey time could be greater
Of course you could take the wild card option and get a train from Liverpool St. 1 hour and 10 mins to Ipswich (Intercities run every 0.5hour) and then either a bus or £15 taxi to Adastral. Less stress than driving, but more expensive.
Of course you could take the wild card option and get a train from Liverpool St. 1 hour and 10 mins to Ipswich (Intercities run every 0.5hour) and then either a bus or £15 taxi to Adastral. Less stress than driving, but more expensive.
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