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.

I did Perth to Cardiff last month in a day. It was hard going south because the latter half is heavy, heavy traffic.

Heading north is a doddle!

M25, M26(?), M3, wheeee through the Bracknell roundabouts, M4…

Used to do sidcup to Aberdeen in a day and also did Calais to Milan in a day.

Toddlers are twats though and being stopped by Interpol for an hour whilst your toddler has a meltdown is less fun than it sounds. Also because you’re left sweating and wondering if you’ve committed a dreadful crime and are on the “most wanted” list. Nothing to declare x 1000!

I wouldn't do it in one day. I've spent too many hours stopped on motorways in traffic jams / after accidents (esp. on the M6) to put myself under that kind of pressure. I'd prefer to have somewhere to stay overnight and options for places to visit if it turns out that there weren't any delays after all.

@jtaime

I've just checked again and at the moment it's saying the A1 route is about 35 minutes quicker than the M6. Would you still opt for the motorway anyway?

Yep, the A1 can be dual carriageway further up towards Scotland and it’s not pleasant to drive in.

Would definitely take M1/M6 and avoid the A1. After I graduated I used to live/work in Hitchin/Welwyn Garden City and would go home to visit my parents by the M1/M6 - even though I was right on the A1. Going back to Hitchin, I might take the A66 and then the A1 - but only for variety and because I wouldn't be in such a rush to get home.

I'm now back living permanently in Glasgow: Dh and I still drive that M74/M6/M1 route regularly - eg to drive to France (ok, not recently because of Covid ) or to visit friends dahn sahth and the only difference now is that we'll often take the M6 Toll if we know the traffic will be bad.

Even when I later lived in Beverley, I would still take the M62/M61/M6 rather than the A1.

We're both used to driving long distances though (both for pleasure and for business) so don't see it as a hassle and know to take breaks when necessary. If you're not used to it, then maybe consider breaking it up with a night in a hotel.

Agree with others about Tebay. They're the best services in the UK - both the North and South services. Every trip requires a stop there Great for a toddler too as there is a wee lake with ducks and a soft play area in the cafe/restaurant. Prices are a bit steep though - but it is proper locally produced food and cakes The farm/gift shop is brilliant too. I always buy cheese and meat from the farm shop.

Tebay North has a hotel - not sure if you can access it from Tebay South (as it's "only" 134 miles from home, we've never looked into it).

I've just checked again and at the moment it's saying the A1 route is about 35 minutes quicker than the M6. Would you still opt for the motorway anyway?

I don't think 35 minutes on an already long journey makes any difference. For me I pick routes that are psychologically shorter. It is the mental drain that is the issue. I appreciate you have to have done that route before to know that though.

If Tebay's pricing is the same as Gloucester South (run by same family) then you can afford to hire a chauffeur I think.....

We tend to break it up when we drive from Kent to Edinburgh.

We tend to have an early tea, then drive four hours to Leeds area, arriving around 9pm in the evening. Then we do the rest of the journey in the morning, arriving late morning.

@jtaime

I've just checked again and at the moment it's saying the A1 route is about 35 minutes quicker than the M6. Would you still opt for the motorway anyway?

Yes, I'd still go by the motorway. As others have said, the non-motorway route is less mentally draining (and therefore less tiring). The A66, even though it's been upgraded, is still horrible.

Take the M6 toll if the traffic is heavy.

Most of the A1 is a PITA road, particularly north of about London Doncaster. It’s better now all the roundabouts have been taken out, but it’s still not a great road. M1 better able to absorb accidents, heavy traffic etc.

Thanks everyone, really appreciate your input, you have helped us a lot!

Agree with others about Tebay. They're the best services in the UK - both the North and South services

Tebay is a really nice and unique service stop...but it has been so so unbelievably busy every time we’ve stopped and so it’s hard to enjoy it and get a restful break.

Yep, the A1 can be dual carriageway further up towards Scotland and it’s not pleasant to drive in. It's all dual carriageway or motorway.

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

I've done it myself a few times and its pretty tiring. If you both drive and can swap over then yes its completely manageable.

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?

London to Glasgow I would take the M6 including paying the tolls at Birmingham. I loathe the M1/A1 - and would avoid at all costs.

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

Tebay is great but most of them are fine

@MsHedgehog : we must have been lucky when we've been at Tebay (although last time was early June before all the restrictions were lifted) but thinking about it, we're usually there very early or very late.

I agree though - it's probably a victim of its own success. They've already doubled its size from when I first used to stop there

@derxa It's all dual carriageway or motorway

Only some sections of the A1 in Scotland are dualed - most is not and none of it is motorway.

[quote GintyMcGinty]**@derxa* It's all dual carriageway or motorway*

Only some sections of the A1 in Scotland are dualed - most is not and none of it is motorway.[/quote]
The OP will not need to use the A1 further than Scotch Corner.

It'll be fine. I've driven Cornwall to Glasgow and Portsmouth to Glasgow many times over the years but myself. My parents do it at least one a year as well with just Dad driving usually.

I've done it a few times, both with Dh (who doesn't drive) for company and on my own.

It's perfectly doable in a day, even if you don't leave at crack of dawn, but it's a very, very dull drive.

I'd be more concerned with your sanity with the dcs in the back for that long.

As others have said, do pay to use the M6 toll - it definitely saves some time.

Cairn Lodge (between J11 and J12 of the M74) is also owned by Westmorland - but that's maybe a bit close to Glasgow.

We’ve done similar journey (bit longer) with various ages of children. One way is too leave very early, wake up toddler and leave at 5:30/6. Get right past Birmingham and Manchester before it gets (too) busy and then stop for a bit. Hopefully toddler will sleep for a big chunk of the journey after that since he was woken up early.

If you don’t Fancy that then splitting the journey in two also works. You could drive from London to monkey forest just outside Stoke on Trent (3hrs 20). Perfect stop, really fun but only a few hours worth. Then Drive for a couple of hours and stay the night somewhere around the lakes. Kendal travelodge is brand new and very nice or some of the youth hostels around the lakes have really cool Camping pods or tents services has a hotel.

The next morning you just have an easy drive to Glasgow and you could explore some of the Lake District first if you stop there.
Tips for journey, leave before breakfast, feed them breakfast on the route, then movie/programmes on iPad (we have a stand that clips on seat back for this so they don’t have to hold/drop it 😊). Pack snacks and stickers, maybe some
Plasticine or fuzzy felts or fidgety toys. It should be totally fine 😀

Apologies for being slightly off thread, but I've just come across the Caledonian Sleeper website.

If you look on trainline and search for a bit on their very good tool you can get an overnight sleeper (first class) at a very good price.

Don't know, but it would enable both of you to have a good evening to start your journey. Sleep on train and wake refreshed in morning without having to worry about driving all that way...

sleeper from euston to Glasgow

You don't necessarily need to overnight to break it up.
We often set off very early. Work out where you'll hit rush hours to try and be between cities for the worst of it.
We find setting off at say 5.30am easier. Have everything ready the night before and pretty much get up and go. Less stressful. Leave toddler in PJs to sleep for first few hours.
Break for breakfast after couple of hours (often handy to avoid worst of traffic).
Legs of under three hours are easier if not used to long journeys.
Moffat is a great stop off point if you do M6 upwards. Big car park, nice play park and cafes. Better than services (although the services closest to moffat do have a duck pond as well!)

It's too much for one driver with a toddler in tow.

I agree.
I could theoretically do the drive myself, but I wouldn't want to. It is extremely tiring, and very boring. On journeys that length DH and I would split the driving between us.

Do you have any plans to learn to drive? It is a big ask to expect one person to drive all the time, especially those kind of distances.

Back to the original question of route. The A1 is single carriageway after Morpeth, then there is a little bit of dual carriageway near Alnwick, then single carriageway again. If you get stuck behind a lorry or farm vehicle you could be stuck for some time.

Tebay is great. Just don't in a day or drive through the night when the roads are quiet and your child will sleep