South London, the M25 and M40... some travel advice please!
Discussion
Evening
I'm in need a little local knowledge if possible. I'm flying into Gatwick early on Saturday morning then getting a train to Croydon. From there I'm collecting a car then making for Birmingham direction (Cannock) I'm hoping to be in Croydon by 10am so hopefully on the road north by noon at the latest... however being of sound Scottish stock, I can count how many times I've been within the M25 on one hand so hence, appealing to the good people of Pistonheads to provide me with some local knowledge regarding the M25 (ie when is busy, when/where to avoid) and perhaps advise on the best route to take to get to Birmingham area. I have sat nav and a good sense of direction but no idea what to expect or which routes to take/avoid.
Thanks in advance.
I'm in need a little local knowledge if possible. I'm flying into Gatwick early on Saturday morning then getting a train to Croydon. From there I'm collecting a car then making for Birmingham direction (Cannock) I'm hoping to be in Croydon by 10am so hopefully on the road north by noon at the latest... however being of sound Scottish stock, I can count how many times I've been within the M25 on one hand so hence, appealing to the good people of Pistonheads to provide me with some local knowledge regarding the M25 (ie when is busy, when/where to avoid) and perhaps advise on the best route to take to get to Birmingham area. I have sat nav and a good sense of direction but no idea what to expect or which routes to take/avoid.
Thanks in advance.
It's a dead easy journey and it's one I make all the time.
Croydon and the A23 can be busy so I tend to go go left at Tesco's at Purley to avoid the A23 but go down the A22 instead. The M25 between the M4 and M40 can be slow at times but on a Saturday you shouldn't struggle much and once you're on the M40 you should be fine.
Croydon and the A23 can be busy so I tend to go go left at Tesco's at Purley to avoid the A23 but go down the A22 instead. The M25 between the M4 and M40 can be slow at times but on a Saturday you shouldn't struggle much and once you're on the M40 you should be fine.
555 Paul said:
It's a dead easy journey and it's one I make all the time.
Croydon and the A23 can be busy so I tend to go go left at Tesco's at Purley to avoid the A23 but go down the A22 instead. The M25 between the M4 and M40 can be slow at times but on a Saturday you shouldn't struggle much and once you're on the M40 you should be fine.
why would you go a22 and get on the m25 at jct 6 instead of 7?Croydon and the A23 can be busy so I tend to go go left at Tesco's at Purley to avoid the A23 but go down the A22 instead. The M25 between the M4 and M40 can be slow at times but on a Saturday you shouldn't struggle much and once you're on the M40 you should be fine.
as you do not know the area got to purley jct 7 and stay on the m25 until you get to the m40, its far quicker than the m1 to get to birmingham, saturday late morning should be fine for traffic on the m25
As mentioned, the clockwise M25 is always a bit sticky at the M4 junction but it should be moving reasonably at the time you're driving it.
The M40 on a Saturday will be a breeze, then once you get to the end of the M40 take the M42 East / North and follow the signs for the toll road. Fifteen minutes later, you'll be in Cannock.
The M40 on a Saturday will be a breeze, then once you get to the end of the M40 take the M42 East / North and follow the signs for the toll road. Fifteen minutes later, you'll be in Cannock.
I do travel to Croydon in the week though and going up the A22 instead of the A23 can save me half an hour.MX7 said:
Find the M23, then M25 and follow the signs towards Heathrow, go past Heathrow, and take the M40.
It shouldn't be to bad on Saturday afternoon.
This.+1It shouldn't be to bad on Saturday afternoon.
I assume the train is going into East Croydon. Whereabouts is the car you are collecting in relation to this? That might add 20-30mins on traveling.
Thanks chaps. As the good lady is coming too, I was debating going cross country and making it a bit more of a day out than simply a motorway based mission. Then again, we're getting up at 4am so by that stage of the afternoon I think the quickest route to the bar will be deemed best. I'll stick to the motorways (M25 > M40 > M42) as the opinion seems to be that the traffic should be quite light. As for where the car is, truth be told I'm not sure exactly but it's East Croydon I'm aiming for and it's only a few mins on the tram (You guys have trams, we'll have ours by 2078 at the current rate!) so can't be too far.
Much appreciated
Much appreciated
Edited by Davie on Monday 23 January 21:48
Late to the party, but as I have been doing the journey for the last 12 years I believe I can speak with authority for once!
Agree with the others - motorway will be the quickest and easiest. Down the A23 (not too bad since the Coulsdon bypass was built - you used to have to cut across from Purley to the A217 on the A2022 (iirc), but not really worth it now), the M25 is not great on a Saturday lunchtime but you should avoid the worst if early enough. M40 is a breeze.
Agree with the others - motorway will be the quickest and easiest. Down the A23 (not too bad since the Coulsdon bypass was built - you used to have to cut across from Purley to the A217 on the A2022 (iirc), but not really worth it now), the M25 is not great on a Saturday lunchtime but you should avoid the worst if early enough. M40 is a breeze.
Rich_W said:
I assume the train is going into East Croydon. Whereabouts is the car you are collecting in relation to this? That might add 20-30mins on traveling.
Just checked, the chap is a couple of miles due east of East Croydon station so not too bad really. I'll set the Sat Nav to find Redhill (junct 7 of the M25) that way it should take the A23 as recommended by you gents and not right through the city towards the M1 north. Fingers crossed the motorways are running freely! 525 miles door to door... ouch!
Cheers chaps
IAN1967 said:
Be careful when you go under the Beaconsfield junction, number 2, on the M40 they sometimes have a speed camera van on the road above.
Saw one last Sunday, albeit London bound, and i'm sure it caught out a Scirroco which didnt know it was there.
Be careful immediately after this junction too, there's often one on the far bridge as you round the LH bend. You should be able to spot it from a long way off though.Saw one last Sunday, albeit London bound, and i'm sure it caught out a Scirroco which didnt know it was there.
IAN1967 said:
Be careful when you go under the Beaconsfield junction, number 2, on the M40 they sometimes have a speed camera van on the road above.
Saw one last Sunday, albeit London bound, and i'm sure it caught out a Scirroco which didnt know it was there.
Appreciate the heads up chap. Given the state of my license and the fact the MPG figures will be considerably less than I'm used to these days, it'll be a case of set the cruise control to 70 and just trundle along whilst trying to enjoy the trip! Saw one last Sunday, albeit London bound, and i'm sure it caught out a Scirroco which didnt know it was there.
The other issue I may face is the car has been in dry storage for the past year and will only be retaxed when I pick it up so I'm fully expecting it to trigger any passing ANPR equipped traffic car. Had that issue with a previous car. I managed to do about 17 miles before the police wanted a word. All was well, it just hadn't updated their database yet.
Cheers
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