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Calling all friendly Londoners
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I'm currently working in Erith / Woolwich for past few weeks and also the next three and travel home on Friday. No matter what time I leave for home I get stuck on M25 for two and a half hours before I get to the M4.
Is it quicker to do the South Circular to the M4, or is it a no no?
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Friday is always a bad time to travel wherever you are, Andy avoids it whenever possible.
The M25 leading to the M4 is horrendous most of the time. We used to live down that way so had plenty of experience of it, a good while back now thankfully. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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From Woolwich to the M4 is only about 10 miles as the crow flies. The southern trip around the M25 is 50 miles.
My question is, is it quicker doing 10 miles across London than 50 miles driving around it? |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm currently working in Erith / Woolwich for past few weeks and also the next three and travel home on Friday. No matter what time I leave for home I get stuck on M25 for two and a half hours before I get to the M4.
Is it quicker to do the South Circular to the M4, or is it a no no?
"
The reality is that that part of the world can have traffic jams at 11pm due to excess traffic. Doesn't matter which way you go it's bad in places. The M25 was only a good road when it wasn't quite finished. I've lived near M3 And M4 exists and it's just a case of bring a coffee, put on some good music and bring a sense of humour as people kill each other to get 8ft closer to their house |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm currently working in Erith / Woolwich for past few weeks and also the next three and travel home on Friday. No matter what time I leave for home I get stuck on M25 for two and a half hours before I get to the M4.
Is it quicker to do the South Circular to the M4, or is it a no no?
"
Made me laugh - only 5 "friendly Londoners replied and none actually living in London 
I worked in London for 15 years, and the only thing I can tell you is listen very carefully to Capital FM's traffic reports before you leave. If there's an accident on the South Circular, it'll take a lot longer than if there's an accident on the M25. Other than that, they're pretty much the same, as everyone of the 1000000 motorists driving through London at the same time as you will tell you. |
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"I'm currently working in Erith / Woolwich for past few weeks and also the next three and travel home on Friday. No matter what time I leave for home I get stuck on M25 for two and a half hours before I get to the M4.
Is it quicker to do the South Circular to the M4, or is it a no no?
"
I live and work on the south circular: eight miles between. It can take up to two hours to do those eight miles so I'd avoid if I were you.
Signed unfriendly Londoner  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"From Woolwich to the M4 is only about 10 miles as the crow flies. The southern trip around the M25 is 50 miles.
My question is, is it quicker doing 10 miles across London than 50 miles driving around it?"
Yes it should be for the next 3 weeks, as the traffic is lighter due to school hols. |
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"From Woolwich to the M4 is only about 10 miles as the crow flies. The southern trip around the M25 is 50 miles.
My question is, is it quicker doing 10 miles across London than 50 miles driving around it?"
My friend lives in north London, 12 miles from me as the crow flies. If he travelled across London that's a three hour trip, 50 miles around M25 just over an hour...go figure! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Well, thanks to everyone who's answered me.
Looks like I'm fooked don't it?
Takes me nearly 8hrs to get home to Truro  "
Yep!
Took me two hours 40 to get to m25/m40 from m56 in Manchester and then 1:30 to get from m25 to weybridge.
Travelling around London area hasn't had anything to do with distance since the 1970's. takes longer to get from Ealing to central london on the underground than from Leicester on the train during rush hour. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"If I were you I'd get off at the m3 and go down the A303 it might save you 10 mins   "
Did that the first week I was here but still took over 2hours to get to M3. Then there was accident on A303 so still took fookin 8 hours to get home |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"M3....A303
Always quicker, unless of course there is an accident.
Did Bromley to Torquay last weekend in around Four and a Half hours that way"
I'm 2hrs further on than you though |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"From Woolwich to the M4 is only about 10 miles as the crow flies. The southern trip around the M25 is 50 miles.
My question is, is it quicker doing 10 miles across London than 50 miles driving around it?"
Try citing through central on the a40 and hit the m4 from heathrow. As long as you don't stray of the a40 you won't need to pay congestion charge. But it really friends on what time of day. |
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i used to live in erith an d i think all routes will take as long . south circular is a nightmare . you could try the north circular. or straig ht up the old kent road and out across chelsea bridge. olov |
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Jack, if your going M25 - M4 dive off on the M3 to the 1st junction chuck a right to Bracknell A329 and join the M4 at J 10..
personally as there is always slow traffic from M25 J 10 right through to past J 16 I would either use the M3 / A303 as said or at a pinch and if the rest solid drop down via Chichester and go on the M27..
Fridays are always bad pretty much anywhere.. |
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"M3....A303
Always quicker, unless of course there is an accident.
Did Bromley to Torquay last weekend in around Four and a Half hours that way
I'm 2hrs further on than you though "
True....My other half usually does it from our place in Bromley to here in much less than Four hours, but that would still be Six to you.
I did hit a bit of traffic on the A303 at Yeovil though as it was caravan heaven.... |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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As bad as it is, the M25 will be a lot less stressful than going through town. Would never use the south circular, in reality it is an urban myth.
Another way would be to use the woolwich ferry, in on the A13 straight through town and out A4/M4 either pay the congestion charge or follow the inner London ring road. (Aldgate/kings cross/euston rd/marylebone rd) every route has its disadvantages. You pays your money and you takes your choice |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I'm currently working in Erith / Woolwich for past few weeks and also the next three and travel home on Friday. No matter what time I leave for home I get stuck on M25 for two and a half hours before I get to the M4.
Is it quicker to do the South Circular to the M4, or is it a no no?
"
Take the train |
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"As bad as it is, the M25 will be a lot less stressful than going through town. Would never use the south circular, in reality it is an urban myth.
"
would agree..
North or South circular is best avoided unless its about 3am.. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"friendly londoner! does such a creature exist.lol
If you find one you win a prize 
hope its not a return ticket to Newcastle.. "
No it's a one way ticket to Blackpool |
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By *abioMan
over a year ago
Newcastle and Gateshead |
if you are near woolwich.... the only almost radical thing I can think off is possible taking the ferry across the river... and going round the north circular right the way round.. or m11/m25....
or again possibly go in the other direction towards dartford ish and catch the m25 there to whizz round |
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By *ndykayMan
over a year ago
Falkirk |
Ok, so I know I'm a bit far away now but I drove lorries in London for 15 years. Here's the good and the bad
M25 - north side or south side are always going to be chocka at rush hour
South circular - don't even bother - far too congested and a small marrow road
North circular - go through Blackwall tunnel and keep going until you hit A406. Good road. Dual carriageway virtually all the way round to hanger lane when you can jump on the A40 to hit M25 at J16 - but then you have that traffic there but you could head up A40 and cut across to M4 via A329
Having lived in Greenwich for 16 years and made regular trips to Exeter, the only good piece of advice I can give you is work until 630 on the Friday evening, then head home as you will avoid the worst of the traffic. You will probably get home at the same time a leaving at 430 but with less traffic, less stress and better fuel economy. Also, I'd use the A303 as it should be quiet by the time you get there. If you leave Woolwich at 630, head out down A2 to M25, M3 and A303.
All I can say is good luck - and I'm glad I live in Scotland lol
Oh, just for the record, if I leave Falkirk at 1am I can be in Exeter by 7am plus the kids sleep all the way so there is a lot to be said for working up here too lol  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"if you are near woolwich.... the only almost radical thing I can think off is possible taking the ferry across the river... and going round the north circular right the way round.. or m11/m25....
or again possibly go in the other direction towards dartford ish and catch the m25 there to whizz round"
Now this is a cockney who is always helpful so the mrs says, not sure what she means tho |
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"From Woolwich to the M4 is only about 10 miles as the crow flies. The southern trip around the M25 is 50 miles.
My question is, is it quicker doing 10 miles across London than 50 miles driving around it?"
Look at it this way, on a Friday you are going to sit in slow moving traffic. Is it better to sit in 50 miles of slow traffic or 10? |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Well, yesterday was a bit of an adventure.
Left Erith 12.20 lunch time. M25 closed at jtn 10, so queued till 4.30 to get off onto A3. Then would you believe it, a few miles down A3, there's another fucking accident. Got to Winchester around 8.00pm, up to A303, and home at 11.15pm.
Fucking nightmare.
When are we going to get teleporting?
Beam me up Scotty  |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
London on a Friday is full of people like you all trying to escape to their real homes. Plus the ones going off for a weekend away.
Always check the traffic websites, be prepared to re-route and have good music.
Either that or leave before 11am or after 8.30pm.
I wouldn't recommend coming across to the A406 as that also has its frustrating three lanes down to one sections. Plus it will just add more traffic to any journey I might be making.
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By *ezebelWoman
over a year ago
North of The Wall - youll need your vest |
"Well, yesterday was a bit of an adventure.
Left Erith 12.20 lunch time. M25 closed at jtn 10, so queued till 4.30 to get off onto A3. Then would you believe it, a few miles down A3, there's another fucking accident. Got to Winchester around 8.00pm, up to A303, and home at 11.15pm.
Fucking nightmare.
When are we going to get teleporting?
Beam me up Scotty "
Jeeez could have nipped to South Africa for the weekend quicker than that |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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I'm working in London until Sept 6th, so will have to put up with it for a few more weeks. Next week I've got Friday off to go to a family wedding in the midlands, so I'm leaving on Thursday morning, driving to Cornwall, picking up Kate, then driving up to the midlands after I've had a rest.
Not looking forward to that trek. |
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"Well, .... M25 closed at jtn 10, so queued till 4.30 to get off onto A3. Then would you believe it, a few miles down A3, there's another fucking accident. "
Fatal smash just before J11. Road closed for hours. Eventually the police tipped everybody trapped before J10 off and those between J10 and J11 were eventually convoyed back on the wrong side of the road and fed back in to the A3 at J10. Total chaos.
In answer to your original question, as others have said, work late or leave on Thursday night. Friday on the M25 especially during holiday season, accommodation changeover day etc, is just hellish. PT from woolwich is shite as well so parking up nearer home and using PT to get to it would not work.
The streets round here are paved with gold but you cannot get to it because their so crowded you cannot see it
A Reluctant Londoner |
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By *icketysplitsWoman
over a year ago
Way over Yonder, that's where I'm bound |
"I'm working in London until Sept 6th, so will have to put up with it for a few more weeks. Next week I've got Friday off to go to a family wedding in the midlands, so I'm leaving on Thursday morning, driving to Cornwall, picking up Kate, then driving up to the midlands after I've had a rest.
Not looking forward to that trek."
Can Kate get on a train and meet you somewhere en route? That's just mad driving. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I'm working in London until Sept 6th, so will have to put up with it for a few more weeks. Next week I've got Friday off to go to a family wedding in the midlands, so I'm leaving on Thursday morning, driving to Cornwall, picking up Kate, then driving up to the midlands after I've had a rest.
Not looking forward to that trek.
Can Kate get on a train and meet you somewhere en route? That's just mad driving."
Can't do that I'm afraid. I don't have private use of my company car and we have to take a load of stuff up to the wedding.
On our way back from the wedding we're have two nights in Glastonbury for a bit of "us" time. |
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By *G LanaTV/TS
over a year ago
Gosport |
I know someone who periodically works somewhere in East London but lives in the New Forest. I know they have taken to parking for the day at Heathrow on Fridays and then using underground due to the delays but that obviously only works if you don't need the car I the day and isn't cheap.
If I was escaping the M25 down the A3 and heading anywhere west of Salisbury I would cut across to Winchester on the A31. |
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