In all honesty it depends. Each can be shitty. Just depends on what time/day I guess
More fuel but definitely around, southbound M25 I find is a much smoother experience than north.
If you have no reason for stopping in London, then drive around on the M25.
If you want to see bits of London, then park near the M25 and catch a train in (Windsor, St Alban’s, Redcliff, etc.) then back to your car and drive around it.
You only drive in London if you have to, or you just really want to drive.
Around but through it you want to see London. You’ll get to see both SE and West so you’ll get to see real London (not just near the tourism spots)
If you’re travelling early enough, probably use the South Circular to cut through. Not very fast on speed limits but still relatively straightforward
I’d check Waze and Google maps just before leaving, Waze seems more accurate for in town traffic avoidance. It totally depends on traffic and incidents, roadworks etc on the day and with a journey that long could change while on route. Though with this sort of choice once commutes you are mostly committed!
If it was for an urgent matter – job interview etc, I’d leave an extra hour and plan to refresh at destination.
Anyone saying to go through is a sadist
If 4am go through… but any other time (besides say 1am-5am) go around.
Don’t forget to consider congestion charge or ULEZ if they apply.
West Londoner here. M25 every time, it’s so much more predictable and less stressful. I’ve regretted every single time I’ve gone through central London, the roadworks, traffic lights, pedestrians and cyclists are all way more stressful to deal with than a boring motorway.
Unless in the night – always around. Always.
M25 will add you during driving in most cases about 30 minutes tops.
Going through London adds 1h+ easy.
All that if you’re driving during the day.
And London itself is God damn awful place to drive and might make you terrified as a new driver. There are solutions on road, that are awful to me, and I’ve been driving for 24 years.
Two trailer park girls
Go around
You say you are setting off at 4am
And it would seem you are coming from the direction of the M40,
I would advise trying to reach the M25 by 5am (5.30am latest). As from Heathrow to Dartford takes around one hour with light traffic, and from 6.30am onwards it can get very busy / congested on weekdays
You really don’t want to be near the Heathrow or Dartford sections from 7am to 10am (Monday to Friday)
Once you exit onto the A2 (if before 7am) most of the traffic will be travelling in the opposite direction (towards london) and you should be able to stay in front of morning traffic for the kent towns
If you were travelling down from the north on the M1 ( instead of the M42/M40 ) then I would probably be tempted to swing east on the M25 to the M11 and then onto the A12 / A102 Blackwall Tunnel & on south down the A2. But again it would require arriving at the Blackwall tunnel before 6:00am (6:30am latest) as after that you risk delays at the tunnel and then possibly on the A2 through South London & into Kent
Whichever route you choose , please try to avoid travelling around or through London from 6:30am to 10:00am. If necessary leave earlier to avoid this.
Minor problems can cause huge delays. Major problems , the whole route ( through or around ) becomes a giant car park
Just go around mate, motorways are always safer
Thanks all for advice I’m going around lol
New driver? Fuck that, go round get some motorway driving under your belt.
What time are you doing it?
At 2am, straight through can be fun.
(The answer is around).
I frequently have to travel between junction 8 and junction 15. Between midnight at 5am I go through. Otherwise round the M25.
I wouldnt wish this journey on my enemy, unless youre driving at 3am in an electric car go m25
Around, the map does not show the traffic lights, numbers of lanes, traffic density. Through you’ll be averaging 20mph, around 60mph (unless you are travelling at 4am)
Depends on time of day. Pre 5am / Post 10pm, through.
Go through London.
Only to understand why you should never do it again. It’s like a rite of passage.
And I live on the south circular. I always have to drive in or out of London. Which is why I try to drive as little as possible.
24 comments
Around
In all honesty it depends. Each can be shitty. Just depends on what time/day I guess
More fuel but definitely around, southbound M25 I find is a much smoother experience than north.
If you have no reason for stopping in London, then drive around on the M25.
If you want to see bits of London, then park near the M25 and catch a train in (Windsor, St Alban’s, Redcliff, etc.) then back to your car and drive around it.
You only drive in London if you have to, or you just really want to drive.
Around but through it you want to see London. You’ll get to see both SE and West so you’ll get to see real London (not just near the tourism spots)
If you’re travelling early enough, probably use the South Circular to cut through. Not very fast on speed limits but still relatively straightforward
I’d check Waze and Google maps just before leaving, Waze seems more accurate for in town traffic avoidance. It totally depends on traffic and incidents, roadworks etc on the day and with a journey that long could change while on route. Though with this sort of choice once commutes you are mostly committed!
If it was for an urgent matter – job interview etc, I’d leave an extra hour and plan to refresh at destination.
Anyone saying to go through is a sadist
If 4am go through… but any other time (besides say 1am-5am) go around.
Don’t forget to consider congestion charge or ULEZ if they apply.
West Londoner here. M25 every time, it’s so much more predictable and less stressful. I’ve regretted every single time I’ve gone through central London, the roadworks, traffic lights, pedestrians and cyclists are all way more stressful to deal with than a boring motorway.
Unless in the night – always around. Always.
M25 will add you during driving in most cases about 30 minutes tops.
Going through London adds 1h+ easy.
All that if you’re driving during the day.
And London itself is God damn awful place to drive and might make you terrified as a new driver. There are solutions on road, that are awful to me, and I’ve been driving for 24 years.
Two trailer park girls
Go around
You say you are setting off at 4am
And it would seem you are coming from the direction of the M40,
I would advise trying to reach the M25 by 5am (5.30am latest). As from Heathrow to Dartford takes around one hour with light traffic, and from 6.30am onwards it can get very busy / congested on weekdays
You really don’t want to be near the Heathrow or Dartford sections from 7am to 10am (Monday to Friday)
Once you exit onto the A2 (if before 7am) most of the traffic will be travelling in the opposite direction (towards london) and you should be able to stay in front of morning traffic for the kent towns
If you were travelling down from the north on the M1 ( instead of the M42/M40 ) then I would probably be tempted to swing east on the M25 to the M11 and then onto the A12 / A102 Blackwall Tunnel & on south down the A2. But again it would require arriving at the Blackwall tunnel before 6:00am (6:30am latest) as after that you risk delays at the tunnel and then possibly on the A2 through South London & into Kent
Whichever route you choose , please try to avoid travelling around or through London from 6:30am to 10:00am. If necessary leave earlier to avoid this.
Minor problems can cause huge delays. Major problems , the whole route ( through or around ) becomes a giant car park
Just go around mate, motorways are always safer
Thanks all for advice I’m going around lol
New driver? Fuck that, go round get some motorway driving under your belt.
What time are you doing it?
At 2am, straight through can be fun.
(The answer is around).
I frequently have to travel between junction 8 and junction 15. Between midnight at 5am I go through. Otherwise round the M25.
I wouldnt wish this journey on my enemy, unless youre driving at 3am in an electric car go m25
Around, the map does not show the traffic lights, numbers of lanes, traffic density. Through you’ll be averaging 20mph, around 60mph (unless you are travelling at 4am)
Depends on time of day. Pre 5am / Post 10pm, through.
Go through London.
Only to understand why you should never do it again. It’s like a rite of passage.
And I live on the south circular. I always have to drive in or out of London. Which is why I try to drive as little as possible.
What time of day is a key detail here
Comments are closed.