Driving from London to Scotland

[jtaime]

Not an AIBU but am posting for traffic (no pun intended) as really need advice!

We’re driving from London (Kent border) to Glasgow next month with our toddler son. DH will be driving all the way as I don’t drive. He’s not keen on driving after dark so we will be travelling in daylight hours only.

Googlemaps is saying that it takes about 7.5 hours door to door and it’s a 420 mile journey.

A few questions…

1. Can we do the journey in one day or is it just too far/mentally draining for one person?

2. Google is suggesting one of two routes: either the M11 followed by the A1; or the M1 then onto the A1 at Doncaster. I believe both options have tolls. Which route would you recommend?

3. Does anyone have any tips on places to stop for coffee, lunch or overnight on the way?

Any other advice, tips or knowledge about these roads would be thoroughly appreciated as we’re a bit unsure!

Many thanks.

We live in Glasgow, relatives in East Anglia so definitely need the south bit on the A1. Best route for us is south to the Lake District then A66 across to A1(M).

With a toddler I would definitely break the journey up. Plan a good stop at an "attraction" after a couple of hours then stop for the night.

Without a child I'd break do it in one day, but not a chance with a toddler in tow, other than couple of hours, dinner then they sleep the rest type thing - but if he doesn't want to do night time that's out.

I'd be tempted to have the option of you being in the back with DC as it's easier to pick up dropped toys and amuse/distract!

By attraction I mean toddler level so a country park with a playpark or possibly an interesting short walk to break things up and get grown ups moving again.

Hope toddler isn't potty trained - long car journeys get so much worse once nappies aren't a thing.

I've got designs on York as being a reasonable place to break a journey - Railway museum- currently trying to convince DH that we don't need to keep a non-electric car purely for this journey as we will need to do a daytime journey with fun stops now the kids are less prone to sleeping in the car!

Btw both directions we set off at 10.30am, and with traffic and all the stops and breaks, reached DH’s parents / home around 9pm to 10pm.

@MsHedgehog okay, this post alone has convinced me that we do need to stop overnight!

Tebay looks good but unfortunately it's fully booked for the night we need. York is a good option but I'm worried that getting into York could take a long time and that parking could be tricky (we don't know the city at all but I imagine it's probably not great for parking!)

Does anyone have any other suggestions for easily accessible overnight stays with a toddler in and around the Yorkshire area?

Actually, when I put it in google maps I only get 6.5hours. I’ve had to guess where you live, but an hour difference seems a lot?

Actually, when I put it in google maps I only get 6.5hours. I’ve had to guess where you live, but an hour difference seems a lot?

@SheWoreYellow We're near Orpington. I've just checked again and it's now saying 7 hours 10 mins via the A1 (which it says is the quickest route). So slightly better than earlier!

I do a similar journey a lot, and am the only driver in the family. I'm simply not capable of driving that distance in one day so we always broke it in Lancs. - that was doable with a toddler, with a few stops in the way. Like others would tend to go M40/M6.

I rarely if ever drive it now - would much rather get the train and be free to read, move about etc but appreciate that might not suit your destination. It is expensive but a family railcard knocks the price down quite considerably.

Just plucking ideas out of the air here, but Thirsk in Yorkshire looks about halfway!

I think if your husband has never driven that far , wants to only drive in daylight and you will have to make numerous stops for your toddler than it’s best to split it over a couple of days . Personally I’d do it in a day , I very often do massive day trips and have also done Kent to Blackpool and back for my husband to attend a meeting .

If you are going to stop in Yorkshire see if Richmond or Leyburn are doable as they are both lovely for a visit .

@jtaime

Btw both directions we set off at 10.30am, and with traffic and all the stops and breaks, reached DH’s parents / home around 9pm to 10pm.

@MsHedgehog okay, this post alone has convinced me that we do need to stop overnight!

Tebay looks good but unfortunately it's fully booked for the night we need. York is a good option but I'm worried that getting into York could take a long time and that parking could be tricky (we don't know the city at all but I imagine it's probably not great for parking!)

Does anyone have any other suggestions for easily accessible overnight stays with a toddler in and around the Yorkshire area?

Glad I could help! Before we had DS and sharing the driving, the journey would take around 8.5 hours with only one stop.

When DH drove alone, more like 9 to 9.5 hours as longer breaks were needed.

We did both journeys in one day with DS but he slept for most of it. As he gets older, we plan to split the journey into two days!

I’ve done the drive in one day a few times, actually a bit further as we did just outside of London up to Dundee. M1 followed by M6 worked best for us, and the M6 toll can knock some time off the journey. Westmorland (Tebay) services is nice, as others have said. It’s a long journey with kids, but again, I’ve done it a few times and we all survived. Car bingo is a good one for keeping them occupied.. a list (can be pictures for a toddler) of things to find.. eg a sheep, a cow, a yellow car, a train.. and a prize once they’ve found them.
Otherwise, my dad prefers not to do the journey in one day, and he usually books a hotel in the Lake District for a night. They’ve done walks and boat trips and things, treated it as a mini break, then done the last leg of the journey the next day. Might be an option if you’re wanting to stick to daytime driving.

M1 I generally find more draining as it’s busier, more lanes, speed cameras everywhere and variable speed limits depending on traffic. I much prefer a1 and then across onto the a66 but if there’s accidents the a1 suffers more because of fewer lanes. Fewer service stations on the a1 too

We've done this journey regularly for over 30 years in various incarnations. It's too much for one driver with a toddler in tow. If there's a hold up then sitting in traffic can be hell. I go M11, A1 and then A66 to M74 usually but this time went down the M6. Don't stop at Tebay. It's packed and there's no parking.

I'd go via the M40/M6 too. Largely because I have an abiding hatred of the M1, which seems to be full of road works whenever I need to use it.

The A66 is a lovely drive, but not if you need to be anywhere by a particular time, if you know what I mean.

For hotels, I like Premier Inns whenever I need an overnight stop. They're always spotless, have decent sized rooms with lovely big baths, and really comfy beds.

Re the time, I find journey times are invariably a fair bit longer than AA routeplanner or Google maps say. I always add on 25% to get anything like a realistic time.

I would do (and have done) that drive in a day no problem (have done Inverness to Hertfordshire in a day several times), but I love long drives and prefer night driving, and had someone to share the driving with.

If your husband is concerned about it then I would take the stress out of it and plan a break half way. There will be plenty of Premier Inns that are easy to get to from the motorway.

I expect the toll mentioned on your route planning is the Dartford crossing, nothing else.

@jtaime

Just plucking ideas out of the air here, but Thirsk in Yorkshire looks about halfway!

It's a lovely town and has a couple of really nice pubs. They might even do B&B!

A lot depends on how and why you're travelling, as someone said up above, a large comfy vehicle good for cruising or a nippy little one where you're going to be a bit scrunched up. Do you have a deadline, need to check in somewhere? or just be welcome whenever you arrive.

I used to do a three and a half hour journey regularly, a break and then another three and a half hours, sometimes the last bit in the dark. It was all A roads and motorways and while I didn't relish it, I took it in my stride despite some of it being with bored DCs of the 'are we nearly there yet' 10 minutes in type. With a toddler I'd take two stops for sure.

Being clear about what you personally find achievable and comfortable and planning in advance are key here.

Thanks everyone. We're still torn between the A1 and the M6!

Also, is a toddler going to be okay in a car seat for a 3.5 hour stretch?

I have a long hatred of the M6, especially at weekends. But am quite willing to accept that someone who lived somewhere with no choice but the A1 would hate that too.

There's a great book/website called the extra mile that suggests nice breaks just a few miles off the motorways instead of service station stops. We've been to a few of them and they're great .

We did west coast of Scotland to Hastings with a 3 month old last month. We stopped overnight in the Midlands

Toddler will inevitably get bored/do a massive shit at the least convenient point. I'd assume you will need a toilet/snack/nappy stop after 1.5 to 2 hours! They will be 'fine' but will need exercise unless you want a really crap bed time!

Thank you @Geauxtigers, I will have a look!

Done this loads sole driving and with kids.

My advice: 2 days M40 and M6 (use toll).
Tebay is good for lunch stop but don't stay there. Don't go too far off the route for a hotel. There are hundreds of hotels within a couple of miles of the motorway junctions on this route. If you want to make more of a holiday out of the journey you could stay in/ go to touristy places near Oxford, Coventry (is culture city ATM), Birmingham, Lancaster, Carlisle.

I wouldn't drive the M1/A1 again if you paid me!

I’ve done the London to Scotland loads with young kids as well. Always left v early popped them in the car in their pjs and got a few hours in before they were really awake. Would never recommend A1/A66 - A66 is awful. So is most if A1. Would choose M1/M6 using the M6 toll.

Coming from Kent border I'd suggest A1 to Scotch Corner and then cross country on the A66 before joining up with the M6 to do the final stretch up to Scotland. You'll miss Tebay but the M6 can be terrible for traffic. If you do take the M6 it's worth taking the toll as it's much faster.
We have done London to Glasgow in a day multiple times with a toddler. It's doable but DH is an experienced driver.
I would say:

• plan regular stops but also be prepared to make impromptu stops if toddler is going bonkers.
• pack plenty of snacks
• pack a variety of toys you can dole out throughout the journey to keep them entertained
• aim to drive for the full length of any naps as you can get a good uninterrupted stretch done there

If you need to stop overnight and you do the M6 route, consider the Premier Inn at J25 at Wigan. We've stopped there before and it's done us well.