Route to avoid London North Circular (Ealing-Brent Cross)

[norman156]

Usually at least once a week I need to head up the A1M to Bedfordshire from Ealing straight after work, which usually means sitting at about 5 mph up the North Circular until I clear that blasted contraflow on the flyover at staples corner.

Google maps suggested this alternative route:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...
Anyone tried anything like that? Would it be worth a go or could it take even longer? It nicely misses all of the north circular and even the begining bit of the A1, which is also quite busy. Any alternative suggestions more than welcome. I usually leave ealing at either 5 or 5.30 if that changes anything.

Thanks in advance!

[mr pg]

I know a good portion of your route, and I suspect there won't be much in it as it's longer. You'll probaly keep moving, but the extra distance will balamce it out overall. It will be busy through Harrow, and at Apex corner (A1/A41 roundabout).

[norman156]

I suspect your right, had a look at the clock today and it was about 50 ish minutes from Ealing to the point at which the alternative route meets up with the A1. The other route is 10.5 miles to that point, so I'd have to been doing a reasonable amount over 10mph average to make it worthwhile... Are there any horrendous bits on the route that you know of or could it at least be worth a go? So long as it doesn't end up taking loads longer!

[mr pg]

Getting through Harrow may be the worst bit, but I never go there at rush hour, so difficult for me to comment for sure.