Quickest route from North London to Wales in Friday rush?
Discussion
Not a very exciting one this I'm afraid, but...
I need to get from Barnet to South Wales (Neath area) on Friday afternoon/evening. Expect to be leaving around 3:30 and I suspect the M25 and M4 will already be gridlocked. Are there any other options? As far as I can see the best option will be to grin and bear it on the motorways, but thought I'd ask in case anyone knows another way (maybe a cross country route to somewhere along the M4)?
Purely interested in getting from A to B in the shortest possible time.
I need to get from Barnet to South Wales (Neath area) on Friday afternoon/evening. Expect to be leaving around 3:30 and I suspect the M25 and M4 will already be gridlocked. Are there any other options? As far as I can see the best option will be to grin and bear it on the motorways, but thought I'd ask in case anyone knows another way (maybe a cross country route to somewhere along the M4)?
Purely interested in getting from A to B in the shortest possible time.
A4 from M4 J12 to J18. It's fast, emptyish but you have several towns on the way so don't expect to be quicker but at least more interesting than the motorway. Still doesnt avoid the worst between Lon and Reading. Mind you here you could try M40 to J3 and then through Marlow, Henley, Reading, to J12 of M4.
3.30 should not be too bad yet for motorways if you want to be quickest.
3.30 should not be too bad yet for motorways if you want to be quickest.
I drive the M4 every Friday, leaving Bristol at 4pm and heading East.
The traffic flows freely at high speed in the other direction from Reading (J12) onwards to where I join at the M48 (J21). The section from J8/9 to J11 is slower but moving (40-50 I guess) I'm usually passing J5-7 for (M4 to Windsor) at around 5:30 to 5:45 and its always heavy going Westbound. Its compounded by roadworks with SPECS at J7 itself and is busy at all times of day. Get to it for about 5 and you should be about 30 minutes to clear it at low speed. All of this assumes there are no crashes mind you!
eta - the M25 will be s
t from the M40 to the M4 and probably around the M1 junction too but if you're leaving at 3:30 you should be past before the worst of the M1/M25 traffic starts.
The traffic flows freely at high speed in the other direction from Reading (J12) onwards to where I join at the M48 (J21). The section from J8/9 to J11 is slower but moving (40-50 I guess) I'm usually passing J5-7 for (M4 to Windsor) at around 5:30 to 5:45 and its always heavy going Westbound. Its compounded by roadworks with SPECS at J7 itself and is busy at all times of day. Get to it for about 5 and you should be about 30 minutes to clear it at low speed. All of this assumes there are no crashes mind you!
eta - the M25 will be s
t from the M40 to the M4 and probably around the M1 junction too but if you're leaving at 3:30 you should be past before the worst of the M1/M25 traffic starts.Edited by dougc on Wednesday 10th September 17:15
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