London traffic quick advice needed.

[KnockMeDown]

I'm currently in West Sussex on the coast, and needing to travel up to Ealing in London this evening. Does the traffic though London die down later, or is it horrendous till late? Just trying to decide when to leave.

On Fridays it tends to be bad till 7pm generally, then it dies down afterwards but it really depends on the area. For example if you are travelling there via west London (eg Hammersmith, fulham Broadway etc) then expect it to still be quite busy due to Christmas parties, ubers etc.

Thank you that's helpful. I tend to go up past Hampton, Twickenham, Isleworth, Brentford then Hanwell.

How long is a piece of string?! Sorry, but if there are any accidents/hold ups/etc on your route, there is no way of knowing. Rush hour will be shit. Rush hour through London is shit. Later on, could be OK, but who knows?

Could you put your route into a website which gives current updates?

Thanks Heuschrecke, bad day at the office?

Download Waze if you have a smart phone. It will tell you the best time to leave and how long it will take depending on what time you plan to set off (based on average journeys of course!).

It would be worth looking at google maps with the traffic option turned on before you leave - the red/amber/green traffic status is usually quite accurate. If you download Waze to your phone hopefully that will help you navigate around any accidents or hold ups (although it does also take you down some narrow, double parked side streets with speed bumps which can be a pain if they are also busy)! Good Luck!

PS Hampton is busy until very late because of queues to the M3 junction at Sunbury, and traffic leaving Kingston, so I'd allow for delays there...

I wasn't trying to be rude at all. London traffic is really shit - never mind during rush hours!

And I had X-posted before I saw your proposed route, which sounds one hell of a lot better than through central London.

I always look at Google maps before I leave, but alot can change between then and when I get to the messy bit.

Currently at Cobham services, charging car and feeding DD KFC!