M25 commute - nuts?
Discussion
Hi chaps,
I may be starting a new job soon, however due to where the mrs works I will have to commute daily between High Wycombe and Farnborough (~80 miles round trip). Am I insane to even consider this? Every time i've been on the M25 north of Heathrow it has been hell.
Looking at the map I could go the back way (A404/M4/A322) but I'm guessing that will be just as busy.
For reference I currently drive 10 miles each way - twisty NSL single carriageway and it takes 15 minutes
Has anyone done similar? How long before you packed it in/moved closer/broke down crying/murdered the postman?
I may be starting a new job soon, however due to where the mrs works I will have to commute daily between High Wycombe and Farnborough (~80 miles round trip). Am I insane to even consider this? Every time i've been on the M25 north of Heathrow it has been hell.
Looking at the map I could go the back way (A404/M4/A322) but I'm guessing that will be just as busy.
For reference I currently drive 10 miles each way - twisty NSL single carriageway and it takes 15 minutes
Has anyone done similar? How long before you packed it in/moved closer/broke down crying/murdered the postman?
DaveCWK said:
I will have to commute daily between High Wycombe and Farnborough (~80 miles round trip).
Has anyone done similar? How long before you packed it in/moved closer/broke down crying/murdered the postman?
I did Basingstoke to High Wycombe for two years.Has anyone done similar? How long before you packed it in/moved closer/broke down crying/murdered the postman?
Never, ever again.
No matter how early I left I ended up rushing to get in on time. If it wasn't the A33 it'd be the M4, if it wasn't the M4 it'd be the A404.....every single day, somewhere en route would be at a standstill.
I grew from hating it to utterly, utterly despising getting in the car each morning.
I commuted Northampton to Farnborough 3 times a week for 9 years and had to go past High Wycombe. Didn't think the journey was that bad. If I was early enough straight down the M40 to the M25 and round to the M3. 90% of the time didn't have any problems! but if the traffic was bad just went past Marlow, then Maidenhead, and through the villages (Holyport, Winkfield Row) and drop down to the M3 from there. So many routes depending on the traffic.
As others have said though, depends on the office hours. I used to aim to be in the office by 8 at the latest and leave at 4 on the dot. So was usually going past High Wycombe at about 7 - 7.15am. If I left any later than 4pm then my journey home would be a lot longer.
As others have said though, depends on the office hours. I used to aim to be in the office by 8 at the latest and leave at 4 on the dot. So was usually going past High Wycombe at about 7 - 7.15am. If I left any later than 4pm then my journey home would be a lot longer.
I did an 80 mile round trip from Luton to Isleworth (Middlesex) for 3 years - M1/A406/A4 or M1/M25/M4 depending on mood/traffic/time of day. Luckily worked shifts so travelled mainly when the traffic was just about ok. A 9-5 job would have been a nightmare. It still drove me crazy though and now I relish my 5 mile amble through the Norfolk countryside to work.
High Wycombe to Farnborough in a car? You'll soon become master of every A and B road between there and will know what ones are busy at what times, sod the M25 I would go 404 and make it up as I go from there. Doing stuff like this is a good game if you don't get too stressed by being held up, trying to beat your best time by putting bits of routes that you know to be quiet together 
t mental and I would stay in a B&B. Then just before I left a new colleague joined - Folkestone to Slough.
you can do it by driving South rather than East, South, West ... should be an easier journey imho.A993LAD said:
Simples
Buy a motorbike or scooter.
Carve through the traffic,arrive on time and enjoy lots of "life on the line" excitement on the way!
Honestly it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
This is the answer you are looking for. Will be approx 45 mins each way I would have thought.Buy a motorbike or scooter.
Carve through the traffic,arrive on time and enjoy lots of "life on the line" excitement on the way!
Honestly it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
I'd check websites showing traffic like TomTom HD traffic Route planner at about the time you'd plan leaving each day - to give you an idea expected traffic delays
I used to do the east side 3 times a week (East Grinstead - Harlow) and granted it was hit and miss but cant say it was too bad overall. I could turn up at any time so used to leave EG at around 9am after the traffic had died down. Friday evenings are always a nightmare going anywhere on the M25 anytime between 4.30 and 7.30 -might as well wait and go after the traffic. Work takes me further afield now and I've moved to Wimbledon but regularly drive the west side and 9/10 it will be ok although again I try to avoid peak times.
I think if you left home early enough to get to your office for 7.30 so you could leave by 3.30 you'd probably be ok most the time and it's quite an easy journey really. Just expect that once in a while you will hit a big M25 sized jam so pack a jacket, snacks and.... an empty bottle
I think if you left home early enough to get to your office for 7.30 so you could leave by 3.30 you'd probably be ok most the time and it's quite an easy journey really. Just expect that once in a while you will hit a big M25 sized jam so pack a jacket, snacks and.... an empty bottle
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff