Which way around the M25 from Aylesbury to Swanley?

[Sotosound]

Tomorrow and Thursday, my good lady has to drive from Aylesbury to Bromley in Kent for a training course.

This is pretty much on the opposite side of London for her, and for the sake of simplicity she’s (probably wisely) opted to take the M25 all the way round to the Swanley exit despite whatever her Volvo satnav might suggest.

(She’s also decided to come home at night because it will at least guarantee proper food and a good sleep in her own bed. So, we also have to determine the best route home, but one thing at a time.)

Because the course starts at 10am tomorrow and 9am on Thursday, she is going to have to travel through the worst of the rush hour traffic each day, so I’m trying to help her decide upon the optimum – and I apply the term very loosely - route to take there.

We’ve been discussing whether she should go clockwise or anti-clockwise around the M25. Her immediate preference is anti-clockwise, as she has made that journey in the past, albeit from a slightly different starting point.

The shorter journey in miles is the clockwise route at just under 80 miles, while the anti-clockwise route is a bit longer at roughly 100 miles.

Clockwise would involve driving straight down the A41 to the M25, and then following the M25 all the way round, over the QE2 bridge, and getting off at the Swanley Interchange.

Anti-clockwise would involve driving cross-country via Chinnor and joining the M40 London-bound at the bottom of the Stokenchurch cutting. She would then get onto the anti-clockwise M25 at J16 (having skipped some of the awful queues that occur around Maple Cross) and go all the way around to the Swanley Interchange.

(There is also a route to the M40 that involves driving past Wendover, Amersham, and Beaconsfield, but she only knows the Chinnor route, which is also a far simpler route to navigate. Keep it simple.)

In the end, either journey will involve slow traffic, jams, and roadworks; and it’s a toss-up in my mind as to which route will end up taking the longer time. So, whichever route brings the easier and less stressful drive might be the one to go for.

In reality, however, I just don’t know, but earlier this morning I noticed a horribly long stretch of queuing rush hour traffic heading clockwise and south towards the Swanley Interchange. I also noticed, however, a lane closure east of Godstone on the anti-clockwise route that was causing slow traffic.

(Now, at 9:50am, the QE2 bridge appears to be closed, which isn’t good.)

So…. can any members offer any experience or advice to help firm up the decision?

Returning home, my guess is to go anti-clockwise via the Dartford Tunnel as I know from long experience that the clockwise M25 becomes a nightmare in the afternoon once you get past Leatherhead, but I’ll monitor again during this afternoon’s rush hour, and any views on this would also be appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

[john.wigley]

While I appreciate your wife's very valid reasons for returning home overnight, 'Sotosound', it also involves a lot of avoidable stress driving and unnecessary early starts with little guarantee of arriving on time.

She will presumably wish to start each day refreshed and will also be concentrating hard, so tired at the end of the day.

As it is only for one night, and if I were in your shoes, I would encourage my wife to forget about driving altogether and book in at a convenient Premier Inn or similar instead.

As for the route, I think it boils down to a choice between a six and two threes.

Regards, John.

[MDS40]

The QE2 bridge is a bit like a scary roller coaster ride. So if your wife is not a fan of heights or getting stuck at the top i would avoid it at all costs.
Just my opinion but i hated it when working around that area .

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

While I appreciate your wife's very valid reasons for returning home overnight, 'Sotosound', it also involves a lot of avoidable stress driving and unnecessary early starts with little guarantee of arriving on time.

She will presumably wish to start each day refreshed and will also be concentrating hard, so tired at the end of the day.

As it is only for one night, and if I were in your shoes, I would encourage my wife to forget about driving altogether and book in at a convenient Premier Inn or similar instead.

As for the route, I think it boils down to a choice between a six and two threes.

Regards, John.

Many thanks.

We've both previously stayed away overnight because of work, and although it used to partially work for me, it never really worked for my good lady. She therefore thought long and hard and decided to come home. If the course was for a week or similar, however, then she might have thought again.

Having said that, whether she stays overnight or not, she still has to drive there and back during the rush hour at least once.

I guess then that it's possibly a case of getting stuck on the QE2 bridge one day versus getting stuck near Clackett Lane Services on another.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by MDS40

The QE2 bridge is a bit like a scary roller coaster ride. So if your wife is not a fan of heights or getting stuck at the top i would avoid it at all costs.
Just my opinion but i hated it when working around that area .

Many thanks.

I've driven over the QE2 bridge quite a few times and often with my good lady beside me. Driving over is different, however, from sitting in the passenger seat looking at your phone or reading your kindle.

Simply because of what happened today, I suspect that the QE2 bridge and its tunnel counterpart might be a bridge (and tunnel) too far.

Also, the A road on the south side of the bridge is a bit like dodgems or the ring road in Rome in places, and perhaps not the best road for those unfamiliar with it.

[Whippy]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

Many thanks.

We've both previously stayed away overnight because of work, and although it used to partially work for me, it never really worked for my good lady. She therefore thought long and hard and decided to come home. If the course was for a week or similar, however, then she might have thought again.

Having said that, whether she stays overnight or not, she still has to drive there and back during the rush hour at least once.

I guess then that it's possibly a case of getting stuck on the QE2 bridge one day versus getting stuck near Clackett Lane Services on another.

I was the same, simply had to get home, hated staying in those damn lodges. But, be advised by me sir, whichever way you suggest is the 'best way' will inevitably be the worst option. And it will be your fault. Trust me on this.

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by Whippy

I was the same, simply had to get home, hated staying in those damn lodges. But, be advised by me sir, whichever way you suggest is the 'best way' will inevitably be the worst option. And it will be your fault. Trust me on this.

Many thanks. I've just passed your contact details to my good lady.

[Nippy]

I live in Tring, if it was me I’d be going the Clockwise route. That said, I’d pop it into Waze in the morning and see which way that suggested…..

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by Nippy

I live in Tring, if it was me I’d be going the Clockwise route. That said, I’d pop it into Waze in the morning and see which way that suggested…..

Many thanks.

Does Waze show you the best route before you set out?

[Nippy]

It will show you the best route when you set out, normally gives you a couple of options. Obviously if some thing happens on the way then that may change. This is screen shot now from Aston Clinton to Swanley.

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