M40 central London to Beaconsfield Friday evening rush hour

[tgr]

I need to drive from Paddington to Beaconsfield (and from there to Great Missenden) leaving at about 1800 on a Friday evening.

To anyone who knows this route well: is the A/M40 at that time going to be full of traffic but moving, or is it typically full blown gridlock at that time?

If it's basically a non-starter I'll investigate trains but carrying baggage it really would be more convenient to drive...

[Pericoloso]

I don't use it much but no one else has replied yet.

A40 can be slow well before Hanger lane on any day from mid afternoons onwards.

Add an incident and it will be awful.

Either allow a lot of time or train it.

[Dr Jekyll]

The big problem will be the stretch from the Western end of the Westway to Gypsy corner. That WILL be more stop than start. After that it's pot luck. Probable hold up at Hangar lane, very possibly slow after it. Should be OK after Greenford.

[road_rager]

I used to go out via the m40 everyday (early nougties).

From memory most of the westway is fine but backs up quite far from the set of lights just past where the westway ends. It's then slow until you get past hanger lane and then improves from there onwards to being 'ok'

[tgr]

Thanks everyone so far. Looks like there's grounds for optimism but if I'm unlucky I can be stuck fast.

I agree if I can make it out beyond say the Hoover Building I should be ok but it is in the lap of the gods how long that takes

[theboss]

I work in Marylebone and have driven out of town up the M40 on many a Friday night. Whilst heavy traffic is a given, its really hit and miss as to whether its truly awful or not. Its almost certainly going to be crawling between the Western end of the Westway and Hangar Lane. I think if you work on the expectation it might take you an hour to get to the M25 that would be reasonable. Also make note of the fact that the 40mph limit is enforced by average speed cameras from Paddington out to about Greenford so don't go tearing down the Westway just because its clear for the first 3 miles!

The other thing to consider doing is wandering up to Marylebone station (a <5 min cab ride if you must) from where you can get a direct train stopping at either Beaconsfield or Great Missenden but not both as they are on diverging lines.

Edited by theboss on Tuesday 2nd January 19:39

[tgr]

Thanks Boss - apologies for the delay. I think I'll chance it - wish me luck!