M25 to Leeds - avoiding widening works at bottom of M1

[r6blacky]

I am making the journey to Leeds on friday evening and want to try to avoid the inevitable delays at the southern end of the M1, can anyone suggest some alternative routes from M25 onwards?

I was thinking of heading up the M40 and then possibly cutting back across to the M1 around the Coventry area. I definitely don't want to go up the A1 as last time i did that the queues were awful and any clear stretch of road was littered with speed cameras

Thanks in advance

[a2z]

How about M40, M42, M6 Toll, M6 to Warrington then cut across on the M62? All depends on time of day as the M62/M60 North of Manchester can be very busy.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

If later on

M40
A46 around Coventry
M69
M1

(I'd avoid the A43 link around Towcester...posted delays.)

NB: M1 J23 to 29 about parked up 16:30 to 18:00



>> Edited by 2 sMoKiN bArReLs on Monday 27th March 20:55

[r6blacky]

I am aiming to leave home (worthing - bottom of A24) at about 6.15, so should be on M25 by just after 7pm

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

r6blacky said:

I am aiming to leave home (worthing - bottom of A24) at about 6.15, so should be on M25 by just after 7pm

...above route should be OK then

with a fair wind

[puggit]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

If later on M40 A46 around Coventry M69 M1 (I'd avoid the A43 link around Towcester...posted delays.) NB: M1 J23 to 29 about parked up 16:30 to 18:00

Did Leeds to Reading in 3 hours exactly using this route a few weeks ago

A46 East of Coventry can be messy at the wrong time - but nothing compared to other routes.

[r6blacky]

Thanks for the route advice, wil let you know how it goes when i get back on sunday evening.

The last time I came back from Leeds it took me nearly 6 hours coming down the M1 and M25, at one point we were stationary on the M1 for 40 minutes with the engine off!