Need to be in Folkestone for 9am from North west -which way?

[Aviz]

I don;t spend much time going up and down the country, so not clued up on best routes.

So this is the journey google suggests, either via m40 or M6, either way i have to hit the M25 at some point.



Original plan was to be at channel tunnel for 9 (9:50 train) , leave about 4:30am ish, but I guess my poor timing for the channel tunnel means if i wanted to be at folkestone for 9am, i;d be bang in the middle of rush hour at the M25

I have the option to leave earlier or later as i think the ticket allows me to get a train 07:50 to 11:50 (i have a big journey the other side, so really much later than 10am train is going to be problem)

So... any suggestions. M25 - do i go north or south ? When is peak rush hour, when do i try and aim to be going round london. If i want to be at Folkestone for 9ish, what time do i need to be hitting the M25 ? Ps.. this will be next wed if that makes any difference.

Any advice appreciated as always

Cheers

Aviz

[Willy Nilly]

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

[Krikkit]

Did this a few weeks ago on the way to Austria. Go M4 then south around the M25. The only frequent sticky bit is the junction between the M4 and the M25, after that it was clear for us.

Either way, set off as early as you dare - there's a services on the M25 before the junction for the M26 which does a decent breakfast.

[DonkeyApple]

Go over the top of the M25, the bottom has far more potential to be screwed. And hit the M25 by 6am at the latest.

[Fleckers]

what day of the week are you planning on doing it ?

if week day, try and be clear of M25 by 0700 as it will become chaos very quickly

[Aviz]

Willy Nilly said:

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

I would ideally, but I've got work commitments Tuesday evening.

[ewenm]

Aviz said:

Willy Nilly said:

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

I would ideally, but I've got work commitments Tuesday evening.

But you're planning a really early start and a long drive on the continent when you cross? I'd drive late Tues evening to Folkestone (there's a Holiday Inn/Premier Inn right by the terminal) get some kip and be fresh(er) for the continental leg.

[jazzybee]

I'd say M40 then round the south of M25. You have speed cameras on the M42, and M25 down to about the A30, but I think its almost clear after that. More likely to hit heavy traffic up until the M3 than the northern routes, but it is summer holidays so it will shift.

The M6/North M25 route has speed limits down the M1 from Milton Keynes to the M25 - a 2-stage exit to the M25, and recent trips on the northern part of the M25 have had roadworks, average speed cameras and traffic, as well as potential risk of the river crossing and toll booths.

[aeropilot]

ewenm said:

Aviz said:

Willy Nilly said:

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

I would ideally, but I've got work commitments Tuesday evening.

But you're planning a really early start and a long drive on the continent when you cross? I'd drive late Tues evening to Folkestone (there's a Holiday Inn/Premier Inn right by the terminal) get some kip and be fresh(er) for the continental leg.

Definately this.

Drive down after work that night, and stay over near chunnel.

You really don't want to be anywhere near any part of the M25 at rush morning. It's not just that, as to go the north route and over the Dartford crossing, the M1 coming south from M6 is at a crawl from Northmapton all the way down to the M25 - that can take an hour - even at early o'clock in the morning.
The the M42/M40 would be a better option but that means you'll have to do battle with the M25 going south past Heathrow and that's a nightmare in the morning.

Drive down the night before.

[toddygti]

Living in Folkestone and having done that journey numerous of times, I'd be inclined to do M6, M1 and North Side of the M25, you will need to hit Thurrock (Dartford Crossing by 6.30am to avoid sitting there for an hour or so mind).

The south side of the M25 is nothing but potential trouble with the M4 Jct, Heathrow and Gatwick and the constant accidents and delays that surround the M26 every morning.

[Hol]

ewenm said:

Aviz said:

Willy Nilly said:

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

I would ideally, but I've got work commitments Tuesday evening.

But you're planning a really early start and a long drive on the continent when you cross? I'd drive late Tues evening to Folkestone (there's a Holiday Inn/Premier Inn right by the terminal) get some kip and be fresh(er) for the continental leg.

There is also a motel on both your routes at the services near gillingham which will get you past the M25 and close enough for an 8.00am start the next morning.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/53/Medway-M2-ho...

Is 60-90minutes of your life worth £71 though??

[Superhoop]

The M25 has been closed completely around the Dartford tunnel once this week, one of the tunnels was closed for a good few hours once this week, and it was screwed around the tunnel this morning - Ah, but I'm coming from the North I hear you say..... It was gridlock around the tolls in both directions on the two days that it was closed, and you've still got to get through that gridlock.

I would offer two pieces of advice

1) Leave the night before and stay somewhere closer to Folkestone, and

2) When you get to Birmingham, get onto the A14, head along to the M11 and then down to the M25, minimising your time/distance on it.

Oh and did I say, get there the night before and find somewhere to stay overnight.

[Phil Dicky]

DonkeyApple said:

Go over the top of the M25, the bottom has far more potential to be screwed. And hit the M25 by 6am at the latest.

^^^^..aim to over the QE2 Bridge for 6.30

[Riley Blue]

ewenm said:

Aviz said:

Willy Nilly said:

That is a long way with huge potential for delays. Roll down the night before and book a hotel nearby. It will cost you a bit, but you won't have to get up at silly am and it will be less stressfull

I would ideally, but I've got work commitments Tuesday evening.

But you're planning a really early start and a long drive on the continent when you cross? I'd drive late Tues evening to Folkestone (there's a Holiday Inn/Premier Inn right by the terminal) get some kip and be fresh(er) for the continental leg.

Definitely go down the night before and stay at a Premier Inn - you know, the ones that advertise a good night's sleep or your money back

[Sir Bagalot]

If you do have to drive down in the morning then north side of M25 and ensure you hit the bridge no later than 6:45am.

South side of M25 has too much potential to turn into a nightmare.

[Super Slo Mo]

Phil Dicky said:

^^^^..aim to over the QE2 Bridge for 6.30

I got to the end of the queue at around 07:30 on Tuesday, only got held up for about 15 minutes, so wasn't that bad I thought.

Left M6 J15 at 04:45, rolled into Dartford for just gone 08:00. Traffic was ok most of the way, busy on the M1 and the variable limits were operational, although mostly only down to 60 mph. M25 was pretty good considering.

Coming from Manchester though, the OP will need to be departing at around 03:30 at the latest, although it depends how fast he wants to drive the first hour or so before hitting the M6 roadworks.

Whichever way around London he goes, there's the potential for big holdups, although I'd say once past the Heathrow section on the south side, it's reasonably free flowing, especially prior to about 08:00.

[ewenm]

Given that both (or all 3 including the A14 M11 option) routes have M6-M6 Toll as the start, I'd pick the route based on checking live traffic updates once I was on the M6 Toll. I'd still go the night before though so traffic should be less of an issue but overnight roadworks might be relevant.

[SuperHangOn]

Hol said:

There is also a motel on both your routes at the services near gillingham which will get you past the M25 and close enough for an 8.00am start the next morning.

http://www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/53/Medway-M2-ho...

Is 60-90minutes of your life worth £71 though??

Theres a Travelodge just off the m20 in ashford which is cheap and has a big carpark too.

[Motorrad]

4.5 hours is cutting it very fine given the fact you're likely going to hit traffic on the M6 near Birminghma. IMO you'd be better off setting off late the night before and getting few hours kip on the way and then a few more at the Chunnel terminal.

Either that or pay for a cheap hotel.

This place is OK: Holiday Inn Express Folkestone Channel Tunnel, I paid 50 quid last time I was there.

[surveyor]

There is no way to give route advice in this country anymore...

You need to consider all the options, listen to the traffic news and choose the one with the fewest crashes.