Driving from Brighton to Manchester - when is best

[Helloisitcheeseyourelookingfor]

I’m planning to drive up to Manchester from Brighton next week and it’ll be the first time I drive that far, I’m wondering when is best to drive to avoid traffic as quite nervous.

I’m looking at going either Thursday night and get there in the early hours, or leaving Friday morning after rush hour.

I’ll have my partner and toddler with me, I was thinking my DC could sleep if we left at night but not sure if that’s right either. When would be better? Many thanks

If you leave at 5pm you'll hit London at 7.30. Might stay there for a 40 minute delay. Then could stop at 9 near Birmingham. Then Mcr by 11?

Fridays are generally very busy. Could you leave at 4am on the Friday; you could nearly halve your journey time.My sister does this journey every month.

Definitely drive while toddler sleeps. Bugger the traffic, them kicking off is what has the capacity to make the journey a complete nightmare.

If you drive through the night on Thurs (e.g. leave Brighton at 9/10pm or similar), traffic will be at its lightest. It will be easier for your child to sleep through but it depends on if you'll be well rested enough to do it, especially if your partner isn't sharing the driving. If you have a nap before leaving, that will help.

The other option is leave Fri morning after rush hour as you've said but you will hit traffic on much of the journey as Friday is the busiest day of the week, and lots of people start their weekend drives from mid-morning onwards and/or finish work earlier/at lunchtime. Fridays are always busy so prepare yourself for the journey taking longer.

My friend drives her kid to see it's dad on this route every month. She leaves 4am on Sat and is there for 10am and back again afternoon about 4pm

Why do you need to drive? The train would bd my preferred option for that journey, I don’t mind driving but that’s a pain of a journey by car.