Avoiding the m25

[Rueh]

I'm going to visit a friend soon, he lives near Stansted airport and I live near Swansea. He's got to work on the day I'm going so I'm hoping to get there at about 5:30pm. Would it be worth avoiding the section of the m25 between the m4 and m11? If so what would be the best route?

[G Man]

You could go A34 Bicester A41 to M25 (past Aylesbury is empty dual carriageway "DC")
M25 A405 A1081 to Hatfield M1 North 1 junction thru tunnel A414 to Hertford A10 north and cut across to Stanstead

This route I would use only if I know M25 a right off and out of rush hour

[kiteless]

If I knew the M25 was borked clockwise between the M4 and M11:

M4, then exit towards Oxford on the A34
A34 to the M40
M40 North
Off M40 on to A43
A43 past Silverstone to M1
M1 North
Exit at junction with A14
A14 - follow until you see the signs for Stansted

But, like I said, the M25 would really have to be bksed to consider it.

[oldcynic]

Use the M25 but arrive at 4:30pm and drink coffee for an hour or something. much simpler and more relaxing!

[Andrew Coates]

kiteless said:

If I knew the M25 was borked clockwise between the M4 and M11:

M4, then exit towards Oxford on the A34
A34 to the M40
M40 North
Off M40 on to A43
A43 past Silverstone to M1
M1 North
Exit at junction with A14
A14 - follow until you see the signs for Stansted

But, like I said, the M25 would really have to be bksed to consider it.

Instead of heading M1 North, I would head around Northampton and up to the A14 on the A45.

[davepoth]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Although frankly the worst traffic you'll see if you go down the M4 will be just after the Brynglas tunnel in Newport. The M25 is usually moving unlike the M4 on the steep bit.

[robemcdonald]

davepoth said:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Although frankly the worst traffic you'll see if you go down the M4 will be just after the Brynglas tunnel in Newport. The M25 is usually moving unlike the M4 on the steep bit.

As someone who drives on the M25 every day I'd have to disagree with this statement.
The good news is that the clockwise carriageway between Heathrow and the M11 usually moves ok at that time (much better than anti-clockwise)
If you really wanted to avoid the M25 though you could use the A406 (North circular) but that would be murder at that time.
Another option would be the "back way" which I sometimes use when visiting my parents who live in Hillingdon. you'd have to do a bit of work on google maps but basically you go through; Uxbridge, Ickenham, Ruislip, Hatch End, Stanmore, Elstree Then up the A1 to Welwyn Garden City (Make sure you wind the windows down through the Hatfield tunnel) Along the A414 to Hertford up the A10 and then cut across to Stansted.
That said Personally I think the M25 is your best bet. You may get held up a bit but it will be far quicker than taking the back roads.

[davepoth]

Have you done the section of the M4 I'm talking about? It's horrendous, I've been stuck there for 45 minutes (actually stopped) pretty much every time I've attempted to drive along there in the evening.

[robemcdonald]

I've driven the entire length of the M4 several times (although not in the last couple of years) and can't remember any part of it as bad as the M25 on a good day. As mentioned it has been a while though so things may have changed.
That said the current road works on the M25 between Heathrow and the M1 have produced some of the worst traffic I have ever been stuck in. I wish it wasn't the case given the time that it has cost me. Further more personally I think the (lack of) progress on the roadworks is an absolute disgrace. Weeks pass with no perceptable progress.