Friday Traffic Into London - Advice Please :)

NVP

NVP

NVP

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Hi all,

I've got to go into Croydon tomorrow after work so I'll be going direct from Milton Keynes to Thornton Heath in Croydon but I'm a bit stuck on which route to take and what time to leave.

I can either take the M1 all the way and then take the A406 & A205, or I can jump on the M25 and take the M4 inwards. Which way do you think will have the smoothest traffic?

Now I know time makes a lot of difference so I can leave work any time I want to, but the clincher is I can't be there before 7.30pm. I reckon on Friday this will take me around 3 hours so I don't know whether to leave work at 4 and get there for 7ish and just wait, or leave work much later to miss the rush hour traffic and get there later... but I don't really want to stay in work late on a Friday, what should I do? :(

What times are best to avoid travel into London, and which route would be the worst? (M1 or M25?)

Thanks guys, appreciate any help :)
 
Avoid the a4 hammersmith area at all costs due to the closed flyover, all surrounding areas will also be jammed.

I would go late and travel around the M25 anti clockwise (heathrow area is a nightmare 4pm till 7pm)
 
Cheers :)

So if the A4 and surroundings are going to be clogged then do you think the M4 and then onto A205 will be bad as well? I'm thinking you're right and I should probably aim to leave work around 7ish and miss all the traffic... I just don't want to stay at work that late :(
 
Depends what time of day you go really. A3 into town is usually ok after 6ish, or continue to A23 and up through Coulsdon.
 
Hmm... I think that might be the best plan, I may be on the road slightly longer but at least it won't be in stop-start traffic.

So say I leave at 4, reckon on a Friday it will take me about 3hrs to go down M1 (from J14) to M25 and then A23 up into Croydon whilst avoiding severe traffic?

Man, one day I want to own a helicopter!
 
Sweet! That's a plan, might get there a bit early but I can always stop off for some munch when close :D

Cheers for your help :)
 
I'd go M1 over the Dartford Bridge as there are roadworks around the A3 then up on Jct 6 A22 up Succombs Hill through Warlingham then straight into Croydon, however the other way round the M25 could be OK I'd see on the day what the traffic is like and pick a route. It is a crappy day and time of day to be anywhere near the M25, I'd set off at 4, you won't be there before 7.30
 
Oh OK, yeah you're probably right I never ever get to London in the time I expect I would :(

Will check traffic before I leave to see which way is best around the M25, but overall you guys think it's better to go round to the South of the M25 and up into Croydon rather than M4 or M1 through Central?
 
The only way I'd go would be Enfield down the A10 through the Blackwall or on the ferry then round Bromley then into Croydon. It's going to be crappy what ever way you go
 
If it was I, in my 44 tonner, I'd avoid Dartford like the plague, run round past heathrow (which will be pretty crap as it usually is) and straight up the A23.

Do not try to go through the centre, I only do this if I wish to drag out my day (as I'm paid by the hour)
 
Thanks guys, think I will opt for the M25 route and up the A22 instead of any route through Central. All depends on the traffic reports tomorrow though.

Times like this makes me wish I renewed my BMW Assist so I get real time traffic updates again, only £120 but I rarely used the thing although it was good the last few times in London.
 
NVP said:
Times like this makes me wish I renewed my BMW Assist so I get real time traffic updates again, only £120 but I rarely used the thing although it was good the last few times in London.
Click to expand...

You also have TMC though? Which doesnt require BMW assist.
 
What's TMC? I assumed the real-time traffic warnings I was getting were from BMW assist. Shortly after I got the letter from BMW saying it BMW Assist was about to expire and asking if I wanted to renew it they sort of stopped, or maybe I've not been in traffic with the sat nav on since...
 
You're ****ed.

Possibly go A1M a bit further East to avoid the avergae spped cams and roadworks around MK and Bedford to Luton.

But it's all a much of a much these days tbh.
 
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