Best route to Plaistow, East London from M4

[joej23]

On Friday evening I'll be driving to Plaistow from South Wales.

I'm hoping to leave between 5-6pm and be in London by 8-9pm (or later depending on traffic).

I've only driven to West London before so I'm not sure which route is best to get across London.

Google Maps recommends straight through the centre (A4, A13 and up the B166), but I'm also considering North Circular then A124, and even the M25 and drop down on the M11.

Which route would be quickest/easiest at that time in the evening?

Thanks

[londonbabe]

M4 is always awful around Heathrow, but clears up thereafter.
M25 has roadworks and speed restrictions round the top bit heading East.

I'd do M4 all the way to the end, left at the Hogarth roundabout, through Knightsbridge to Hyde Park Corner, and down to the Embankment at either Parliament Square or Northumberland Avenue, then take the Embankment to Tower of London, along the Highway and through the Limehouse Link onto the A13.

I've not tried the North Circular ever. I've got to head back East from Maidenhead on Tuesday. I might give it a try.

Edited by londonbabe on Sunday 22 September 18:39

[chazola]

If you're gonna be getting to London around 8-9, I'd chance going through town- the M4 dumps you off onto the A4 into Hammersmith/Kensington way, then I'd head south down at Earl's Court to the Embankment and along the river all the way to the East End and The Highway/A13.

Otherwise I'd take the M25 and A13, I never seem to have any luck when I use the North or South circular.

[hoegaardenruls]

As above, but you might be quicker crossing the river after Earls Court at Chelsea, and following the river through Vauxhall, Waterloo and Southwark, before crossing back over either Southwark or London Bridge, then past the Tower of London onto Docklands from there.

[Smiler.]

Central London route, even at that time can be busy. I travelled from Canning Town (east on A13 then North Circular to A40/M25) last week at 3pm and the traffic wasn't too bad in either direction.

Check you planned route for roadworks/closures though. I've been caught out a few times, especially at night.