Traffic on the wednesday

[Jessop]

Alrite chaps,

Me and a friend are looking at travelling down in the 5 GTT on the Wednesday morning to set off from Dover, however we need to touch down at dover at the latest 9:30am. Im travelling down from the north east [Middlesbrough] so setting off early - BUT i dont want to risk the potential to his massive traffic as its quite a trek.

What is the traffic normally like mid-week between 8 and 9am down that end of hte country ? is the M25 'REALLY' that bad .. and then going off the motorway into dover ? [not not driven there before].

Cheers for advice =]

[MidlandDan84]

I would avoid the M25 between Watford and Heathrow, I used to commute from Hemel Hempstead to Guildford everyday and it was always hammered.
You can go anti-clockwise although there are roadworks at the start of the M11 round towards Dartford, not too bad, but the bridge nearly always queues in the morning.

Any scope to stay overnight somewhere south of London?

[gt6]

M25 will be slow but you will be coming off either for the M2 for Dover port or use the M20 for the tunnel both will be OK heading East. On wednesday in France try to avoid hitting Rouen between 12.00 and 14.00 and once passed Rouen you have the choice of either the motorway (toll road)or the old N138 much nicer and free, both take about the same time but the N138 is shorter. Onn Wednesday you will be surprised at the quantity of British cars all heading in that direction.

[NormanD]

I would agree in staying somewhere overnight Dover side of the M25

OK you could have a reletivly clear drive but if you are stuck on the M25 there is nothing you can do

[SEE YA]

There a few hotels near the port one right outside.

[Jessop]

Thanks for the replies guys.

Was looking at travelling all the way down the M1 onto the M25 and round whichever way would be quickest, taking into account the likley police presence for that week we dont want to have to speed to make up for a longer distance to avoid traffic.

Unfortuantley no chance to stop anywhere near London for the extra day.

How bad is traffic usually on that stretch of road between the m1 and dover turn off ? Would an hour be ok to gamble with to get through it? :| [assuming breakdowns/accidents arent an issue lol]


If i were to head off and plan to arrive down there for say 8am is the traffic likley to be bad for then, or does it start to build up before 8?

Edited by Jessop on Thursday 25th February 13:36

[MidlandDan84]

If you coming down the M1 then go clockwise, you will avoid the widening roadworks south of Watford which ruin the M25 down to Heathrow. Keep £1.50 in the exact change to get a speedy passage over the Dartford crossing, dont worry about the Police you wont get the chance to speed

[Nick M]

Jessop said:

How bad is traffic usually on that stretch of road between the m1 and dover turn off ? Would an hour be ok to gamble with to get through it? :| [assuming breakdowns/accidents arent an issue lol]


If i were to head off and plan to arrive down there for say 8am is the traffic likley to be bad for then, or does it start to build up before 8?

Edited by Jessop on Thursday 25th February 13:36

With clear traffic, from the A12 to the M1 is about 1/2 or so, sometimes a bit quicker.

BUT, allow for 1 1/2 hours if you're travelling at anything like the peak traffic times.


In some ways I'd almost look at heading slightly more to the east on your journey down, and either coming down the A1 and M11, and then head across on the A120 to Chelmsford to pick up the A12, which will mean the amount of M25 you're exposed to is between the A12 and M2 / M20.

Just a thought.




Although I now sound like the "Only me !!!" old git on the Harry Enfield show

[NormanD]

MidlandDan84 said:

If you coming down the M1 then go clockwise, you will avoid the widening roadworks south of Watford which ruin the M25 down to Heathrow. Keep £1.50 in the exact change to get a speedy passage over the Dartford crossing, dont worry about the Police you wont get the chance to speed

I agree there

8AM is not one of the best times to cross the Thames, although is there a best time

Set of early and find a Coffee and Bacon Butty somewere near Dover

[mat.parr]

NormanD said:

MidlandDan84 said:

If you coming down the M1 then go clockwise, you will avoid the widening roadworks south of Watford which ruin the M25 down to Heathrow. Keep £1.50 in the exact change to get a speedy passage over the Dartford crossing, dont worry about the Police you wont get the chance to speed

I agree there

8AM is not one of the best times to cross the Thames, although is there a best time

Set of early and find a Coffee and Bacon Butty somewere near Dover

I think this fella has hit the nail on the head.... Dartford is a complete bh at anytime let alone commute hours.... I work on the M4 and that is bad enough, our head office is in dartford, if you plan to hit the M25 at 6ish you should be fine though, so as Norman says; get there a little early and grab some breakfast.

[MidlandDan84]

Indeed, i went to Bishops Stortford yesterday from Guildford (decided to go over the Thames rather than fighting my way through the roadworks up to Watford) i arrived at 6:10am at the Dartford Crossing (tunnel northbound) and I was queuing to pay for 10mins. Southbound across the bridge was pretty heavy.

To be honest, you need to start really early, and i mean REALLY early to get down from the North East before the traffic.

We never stop down here you know

[ellroy]

Just a thought, but have you looked at the tuesday evening Hull zebrugge ferry option? We're going that way, as the extra drive on the other side is only about an hour, zebrugge to calais, as opposed to the pain that is the M1/M25 et al.

[Don Phil]

ellroy said:

Just a thought, but have you looked at the tuesday evening Hull zebrugge ferry option? We're going that way, as the extra drive on the other side is only about an hour, zebrugge to calais, as opposed to the pain that is the M1/M25 et al.

As above, but going on the wednesday 7pm instead of tuesday 7pm.

Fed up of driving to dover from west yorkshire, not a lot of fun!

[silverthorn2151]

I would avoid the M1 and come down A1, A14, M11. It'll be a breeze for the most part but be aware of what it's like down this way early mornings. The M25 has a switch, 5:00/5:30 am, easy peasy. 6:00 full to bursting. No idea where they all come from, they just appear.

There is no real way to avoid it and the Dartford Crossing can snarl up at any time at all. Console yourself with the fact that once you are over the bridge you are going against the traffic and its much easier.

Apart from all the other nutters heading for Le Mans natch!

[andyps]

silverthorn2151 said:

I would avoid the M1 and come down A1, A14, M11. It'll be a breeze for the most part but be aware of what it's like down this way early mornings. The M25 has a switch, 5:00/5:30 am, easy peasy. 6:00 full to bursting. No idea where they all come from, they just appear.

There is no real way to avoid it and the Dartford Crossing can snarl up at any time at all. Console yourself with the fact that once you are over the bridge you are going against the traffic and its much easier.

Apart from all the other nutters heading for Le Mans natch!

Agree with that route through the UK, much better generally than the M1.

[vetteheadracer]

We usually stay at Ashford in Kent as there is a cheap (about £55) Holiday Inn (Ashford North) which is only 15 minutes from the Eurotunnel and less than 30 minutes from the Port of Dover.
Driving down from Middlesboro I would suggest coming down the night before as trying to time it so you get to Dover by 9.30 you will need to leave about 2 a.m. and get over the M25 / Dartford Bridge by 6 a.m. to ensure getting to Dover in time! Much better to leave the night before, get to Ashford / Dover area for about midnight, get a decent nights sleep then catch the Ferry!