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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to not really understand the M25?

110 replies

bonkers20 · 27/07/2011 21:55

I just don't get all that Eastbound/Westbound stuff.
Then they talk about hold ups clockwise between junctions 3 and 4 and I don't have a clue whether I'm going clockwise or anticlockwise.

I can only think of north as the way I'm going and east as right and west as left. I KNOW it's not right, but it's so hard to turn the map round in my head mentally.

I need signs that say "This way bonkers".

It's not only me is it?

OP posts:

mickeyjohn · 27/07/2011 22:15

The M25 IS the London Orbital! (also that's why the band were called Orbital, as they used to spend a lot of time driving on it, factfans!!)

i don't understand how you don't get it! Look at a map, work out where you're going! Simple!!!

Empusa · 27/07/2011 22:16

youarekidding Towards the coast is Southbound. You mainly get Eastbound/Westbound signs when you are North or South of the M25.

You will be to the West though, so the signs will say Northbound/Southbound.

Empusa · 27/07/2011 22:17

"M25 IS the London Orbital"

Ah, yes, oops. I was thinking of the Circular. In my defence, orbital and circular mean the same thing.

Hassled · 27/07/2011 22:17

Isn't the Orbital the dreaded North and South Circular? Those are grim roads - or at least they were 100 years ago when I last lived in London.

I'm so old I remember when the M25 was being built. We went on trips to see bits of it.

Empusa · 27/07/2011 22:19

Suddenly I feel like an expert navigator.

FreudianSlipper · 27/07/2011 22:20

get a satnav then you will have no need to understand teh M25, not sure what there is to understand though

Paschaelina · 27/07/2011 22:20

"Yes, yes there is actually a amgic portal from Wales to Holland. It's the Cardiff to Amsterdam Ryanair flight and it's boarding shortly."

But does it use the M25?

StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2011 22:21

Although I did get confused once looking for Heathrow - I sort of assumed all the roads radiating from the M25 stopped when they reached the M25 - I had no idea there was a bit of the M4 inside the M25. Well until I found it of course :o

LineRunner · 27/07/2011 22:21

If you drive into the new Hindhead Tunnel too fast you come out in Narnia. And that's a fact.

Lexilicious · 27/07/2011 22:21

You might want to be sitting down for this, nav-fans: London Ringways

I am sure this was the plot for a Yes, Minister. Or it should have been.

Paschaelina · 27/07/2011 22:22

Heathrow is Left. Dartford is Right. Gatwick is Down. I have no clue at all what's Up.

ObviouslyOblivious · 27/07/2011 22:22

You have seen a clock face? Is this what comes of the increasing dominance of digital displays?

LineRunner · 27/07/2011 22:22

Paschaelina. I think the M25 is where the Ryanair pilot is held up for about six hours.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/07/2011 22:23

Appreciate the Orbital, reference, Mickey, a long-time fan here.

Paschaelina · 27/07/2011 22:26

Confused about clockwise or anticlockwise, probably. Lexilicious, I may have to pour a large glass of wine before looking seriously at that.

StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2011 22:26

"I have no clue at all what's Up."

erm...the A1?

geraldinetheluckygoat · 27/07/2011 22:27

I did the m25 for the first time, indeed pretty much motorways for the first time EVER in my 12 years of driving a couple of weeks ago, and even I got it!!! It was fine, apart from being about 20mph for half of it....
WTF is the bus for lost souls?

rainbowtoenails · 27/07/2011 22:27

The M25 is as easy as pie compared to the M8 going through Glasgow city centre. Even the bit that is north/south is described as east/west. It has the shortest intervals between junctions of any UK motorway. There are lanes coming in and going off from both the inside and outside, at the same time! And if you take the wrong turn off you are suddenly in places you wouldnt want to stop!

ivykaty44 · 27/07/2011 22:28

Eg. North = Enfield
West = Slough/M4
East = Dartford Tunnel(ish)
South = Towards Brighton

Sp Endfield is 12 oclock
Slough is 9 oclock
Dartford is 3 oclock
Brighton is getting on for 6 oclock

endfield to Dartford is clockwise
Dartford towards brighton is clockwise

The M3, M40, M1 and M11 are also all inside the M25 a little bit

StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2011 22:29

Oh yes I dont find the M25 too bad. You rarely have to make a decision in a hurry (although when I used to drive back up, the M25 would be flowing slowly then I'd turn onto the M1 which would be a complete standstill).
I'd rather do motorways than city driving - bloody bus lanes, one ways and random street signs covered by trees

StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2011 22:29

And the M4 ivykaty!! Or I am even more

Paschaelina · 27/07/2011 22:30

Is it? I thought it was somewhere near Heathrow!

youarekidding · 27/07/2011 22:30

OK so now I'm even more

So Epsom to junction 5 for Hastings is travelling East-bound anticlock wise. But is that North or South? Its travelling across not up and down.

I'm screwed come Monday.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 27/07/2011 22:31

Is the M4 in the M25 somewhere? I know it links London and Wales but I don't know where it starts.

StealthPolarBear · 27/07/2011 22:31

Well if it doesn't particularly go up or down then it is neither! They surely only use northbound etc when the terms make sense!

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