Friday traffic question

[Merlin5]

I'll miss the opening ceremony on friday as I have to go out and work in the evening. I need to be in Iver, Bucks around 8.30pm and I'm leaving from finchley in north london. The route is north circular going west to hangar lane and then A40, A312, and then I'm pretty much there. Or I could pick up the M25 and go down to junction 16. Normally I'd give myself an hour or so, but I'm wondering if the roads are going to be a nightmare and if I should give myself much longer? I know the stadium is east london, but do you think all main routes in and around london will be extremely busy, being the olympics AND a friday?

 

[Merlin5]

I don't mind using M1/M25, but M25 is often terrible, do you reckon it might still be faster? Hmm, I don't know, you might be right.

edit: TFL sent me an email, and it looks like I have to seriously avoid the north circular and A40.

"London has now become an Olympic City. Please avoid driving into central London, on and around the Olympic Route Network (ORN) and near Games venues. Roads within the North Circular and the South Circular will also be affected this week and especially the key routes leading into London.

Congestion is already being seen on the A13, A2, A3, A12 and A40. Drivers using these roads should be prepared for significant delays and are advised to plan ahead, particularly to see whether journeys can be retimed to avoid the morning and evening peak periods"