M25 - should I go clockwise or anti clockwise?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Boring thread alert

Travelling from the far north down to Brighton at the end of August and my sat-nav has two routes. One clockwise and the other anticlockwise on the M25.

I've never driven on the M25 before - am a comfortable driver on motorways etc so the actual driving isnt concerning me, but the potential for delays/tailback etc is something I'd like to try and plan ahead for.

So.....which way should I go?

Depending on traffic on the day, anti clockwise.

Train! Don’t drive into central London unless you have to, it’s the ultimate ball ache.

According to the AA route planner M1 and then M25 anti -clockwise is the quickest and shortest but not by much - 4 minutes and 2 miles. (Which surprised me, I thought the M11 and M25 clockwise would be quicker)

www.theaa.com/route-planner/route?from=alnwick&to=brighton

@JoveWhenHeSawMyFannysFace IMO it’s always easier to drive yourself than rely on public transport however as the OP isn’t used to driving in London , which is what I would do , parking at the O2 is a good compromise and you get the added pleasure of the boat / cable car etc .

That's a long drive. I used to regularly drive between Leeds and Croydon, and always used to check the traffic news before setting off. Unless there was an accident at Dartford I always found the Dartford Crossing much quicker than going via Heathrow.

Now that there are no toll botths it is even quicker, but you have to prepay online - details here.

We do the opposite for holidays and do Dartford and A1.

Heathrow stretch of M25 is hell on earth. Dartford isn’t great but if you pick your time carefully it’s not too bad.

I would park at Hayward’s Heath and get the fast train in to London. Would never drive in to London and Hayward’s Heath is just that bit closer and all trains stop there so you can get to Victoria or London Bridge quickly.

Always Heathrow way.

Guessing you’ll need your car for your holiday. The Heathrow way isn’t hell on earth, you might queue but it always moves. When you’re past Leatherhead or Reigate you’re on your way.

I don't mind the bridge but I hate the tunnel as I always get stuck there without fail. I usually go via Heathrow. And unlike the rest of the world's drivers I prefer the M1 to the A1.

And I would definitely get the train from Brighton. Driving in would be madness.

I'd make sure you have Waze as your satnav and it can decide on the route. If the bridge or tunnel is closed absolutely go anti clockwise as the entire area of Dartford because one massive snarled mess.
Depending on which side of London you want to go to Thameslink is usually cheaper than straight to Victoria if you only use that train. If your going to use the buses or underground as well then a travelcard is worth it to cover all the bases for the day.

One way on the way there and the other way on the way back?

But I agree that it's pot luck on the day, there's probably not much in it unless you're unlucky and get stuck behind a crash or other big problem.

I often have this dilemma going from Yorkshire to North Wales. As you approach the M60 there's often a sign that gives a time to the M56 clockwise and anti clockwise but I don't know if it's to the same place, which it must be but I've tried playing with directions on Google maps at home and can't work out which is best.

Safest to decide on the day. Having spent 4 hours stuck on the wrong side of the Dartford bridge a couple of weeks ago I wished I'd gone the other way round....

I live in Norwich and regularly travel to Portsmouth - M11 to A3. I always check the traffic, but by choice I go Heathrow way. Coming back it’s great - there’s a sign on the A3 telling me how long it takes to get to the M11 both clockwise and anti clockwise!

We do the opposite - we are pretty much at the exact opposite end of the M25 from the M11 which is the way to my in laws.

Our experience is that clockwise (via QE2 bridge) has on average fewer delays than via Heathrow - particularly as you’ll be doing bridge not tunnel.

Use Waze Sat Nav you’ll get the best option.

Oh god. I used to work in Hertfordshire and we had an office in Brighton and I cannot tell you the arguments that went on about which was the best way to go from one to the other. Pete always favoured Dartford but Steve was a huge Heathrow fan.

"you can see the planes"
"but I like the bridge"

At least once a sodding week

Someone Pete got us all those Dartford crossing electronic dashboard things and thought he'd won. Someone Steve would always point out the bit of the M25 by Dartford wasn't even the M25.

They shut the Brighton office in the end. Possibly related to this

Go one way and come back the rest. That was you can say you've been around the whole of the M25, even though it's not actually a circle.

@SometimesIFeedTheSparrows

Oh god. I used to work in Hertfordshire and we had an office in Brighton and I cannot tell you the arguments that went on about which was the best way to go from one to the other. Pete always favoured Dartford but Steve was a huge Heathrow fan.

"you can see the planes"
"but I like the bridge"

At least once a sodding week

Someone Pete got us all those Dartford crossing electronic dashboard things and thought he'd won. Someone Steve would always point out the bit of the M25 by Dartford wasn't even the M25.

They shut the Brighton office in the end. Possibly related to this

Brilliant!

I have another q - is it worth driving up to Chessington from Brighton? The kids are 7 and 10.

Worth in what sense? It's a theme park much like any other! Allow about an hour and a half to get there.

Just worth the drive really......or is there somewhere that may just do the job closer by?

There is nowhere with large rollercoasters etc nearer (unless But,ins at Bogner is open to day visitors) but Drusillas has animals, pier has some rides. What are they into? How long are you there for?

Away for a week. They like rides (not tried anything massive yet though) and love animals.

For a week no , stay closer to Brighton.

I used to have arguments with DH about this. We were in York, he lived in Kent. He always insisted on going round the M25 via Heathrow. It made no sense to me whatsoever.

His dad always did it.

The only thing I can think is that it was to avoid the Dartford tunnel, I guess you wouldn't have that now that there's a bridge (although I think you still have to pay a toll?) Although I live in Hampshire I never go that side of the M25 - if we go to Kent we use the M26 onto the M20 and I've not gone further round than J25 since I was about 16!

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Away for a week. They like rides (not tried anything massive yet though) and love animals.

I’d stick to Brighton Pier for rides and then either the Sea Life Centre or Tilgate Nature Centre (in Crawley - about 30 minutes up the A23) for animals.

I think your 10 year old might get a bit bored with Drusillas, and I always think it’s pretty expensive for what it is.