Worth changing a job? A realistic time of commute London to Ascot ( through) Windsor in the morning and later afternoon after work?

[worriednow1]

COnsidering one job and it would mean travelling London to Ascot ( through) Windsor. The google map shows 24 miles 37 min. The job is a promotion for me, but just 2,000 more than I have ( I commute 8 miles at the moment). Not sure whether I can estimate time how long it would take form london to Ascot - I need to be there for 8.00 am in the morning.

[Boomtownsurprise]

I used to commute london to reading. It was an unreliable line. From signal failures to dodgy train scheduling. Not to mention train derailments and crashes.

It was generally about an hour. And heavily used, obviously as most are going to Reading.

[worriednow1]

what about commute by car?

[flowery]

Depends whereabouts in London!

[worriednow1]

London - West London

[Stitchosaurus]

No no no! The raise of £2k isn't enough in my opinion...think of your increased petrol costs for a start! And Ascot/Windsor/London are all bloody busy on the roads during rush hours.

Plus commuting is so shit. My husband has just got a local job, before he was on the Reading to London line and we were both miserable - he's been in the new job a few weeks and it's already made a huge difference to our lives and how happy we are.

[worriednow1]

what about PROMOTION aspect? I might really enjoy the job - change of environment etc...On the other hand, I will spend less time with my kids...BUT it might give me a stepping stone fro the next job in 1 year time?

[flowery]

Well, West London is still a big place, but based on how long it used to take me to travel from one bit of South West London to another bit of South West London, I would assume the journey from somewhere in West London to Ascot would be beyond hideous.

I think you probably need to try it out.

[iamthenewgirl]

Horrendous and not worth £2k more.

M4 corridor traffic is a nightmare in the morning and traffic in Windsor is very heavy. There are lots of big companies in that area and a lot of people are commuting to Heathrow.

Can you not find anything closer to home?

[worriednow1]

I thought if I like the job - I can move my family closer there and maybe there are some good schools? my kids are primary age...

[RandomMess]

Well for the motorway bit you would be going against the flow of traffic. Would you be getting on the M3 or M4?

[Stitchosaurus]

Only you know whether it's worth it for your career. I must admit I am not hugely ambitious at work so it would be a definite no for me, but you seem really keen - would you be able to go back to the old office if you tried it and hated it? Or tough it out for a year and then move on?

[worriednow1]

RandomMess, I would be getting on to M4

[RandomMess]

Hmm, I would do a dry run on a normal weekday to get a feel for how bad it would be!

Shame it's not the M3 would be much easier!

[TeaandHobnobs]

Getting onto the A332 and through Windsor in the mornings can be a real bugger. An alternative would be to come off at junction 5, cut through Datchet (although you can be held up by the level crossing there), then either rejoin the A332 just the other side of Windsor, or going the other way round the Great Park, through Old Windsor, Englefield Green, A30 (could be bad) and the A329 into Ascot.
I second the suggestion of doing a trial run on a weekday morning to see what it is like.

[worriednow1]

Just checked: I can go through Uxbridge - Iver - M25 then Ascot ? is it better?

[MaybeDoctor]

I really would not consider it. I know the area well and none of those local journeys are particularly quick, whether it is Ascot to Windsor or M25 to Ascot.

[fairgroundsnack]

My friend does this from Clapham - I think it takes about an hour but can occasionally be much longer if traffic is bad. It is nice round there if you were thinking of moving.

[RandomMess]

M25 stretch is hideous!!! AVOID!!!

[TeaandHobnobs]

Urgh, RandomMess is right, that is the worst bit of the M25 (on the west side of London anyway).
I have been known to divert off the A4 and go round the bottom of Heathrow Airport, then across the M25 at the T5 junction, and carry on out the other side (because the A30 isn't always a great option either) but it is quite a tedious route.

[iamthenewgirl]

I wouldn't bother cutting through Datchet. That will be chocca. As will the M25 around Heathrow.

[ChippyMinton]

Can you be more specific about where you are coming from? Is West London, why are you going through Iver? And at what time would you leave to go home?
Is M25 to j13 (Staines), then A30 via Egham and Sunningdale an option?
That is one of the busiest stretches of the M25 though.

[ChippyMinton]

Have you considered the train? South West trains on the Waterloo to Reading line.

[mummytime]

It is a nice area to live, especially if you live in Chaters (?) catchment.

Horrid driving. Any chance of doing some by train?