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've driven Kent to Glasgow in a day with a toddler - confident but not frequent long distance driver. This was pre covid so traffic levels might have changed but an early start meant we got round Birmingham by 7.30 then stopped for breakfast, another stop mid morning, Tebay for an early lunch and Glasgow by 1.30. Timing it that way seemed to miss the worst of the congestion on the m25 and past Birmingham and Manchester. It wasn't our first road trip so we knew the toddler would be ok in the car but tbh even if she wasn't I think I'd rather get the pain out of the way in one day than stop overnight knowing we had more toddler grumbling ahead. She slept for the early stretch then had a nap later so was only awake for about 3 of the 7ish hours driving.

Op have you checked the price for flights? Once you’ve paid for petrol, lunch stops & a hotel overnight flying is probably a similar price.
If the drive up is horrible the thought of doing the return leg might spoil your trip

I don’t have kids, so can’t advise on that part, but I’d have thought you’re probably looking at more than 8 hour’s, tbh.

I drive up and down from near Edinburgh to the South of England every few months to see one of my best pals. For your route, I’d deffo do M40/M6(with toll, if you can afford it)/M74. Tebay is a lovely stop, as others have said. I do the drive myself, but I’ve been driving for 20-odd years, and am a confident driver (podcasts/tunes/audiobooks and a couple of stops.) I’d have thought you’re probably looking to stop about every 3 hours, to stay alert.

If it’s a drive which might make your husband nervous, and rather than have the pressure, maybe break your journey. Somewhere around the Lake District might be nice - and give you the opportunity to stretch your legs, get a good night’s sleep, and not arrive absolutely shattered and grouchy.

You can do this in a day with a few comfort breaks and lots of snacks for your toddler. Druving through the lakes is lovely. Tebay services used to be lovely but is always heaving and quite grim in the Summer - it's become a destination in itself. Fingers crossed it'll be far more pleasant because you're going in September. Have a lovely time!

Our journey north is 8.5 hours "on paper" but with stops for DC to pee and have a break it's never been less than 10 hours and sometimes nearer to 12 (in poor driving conditions).

I also agree about the M6 toll road. DP isn't one for chucking money away, I was surprised he wanted to go that route, but it really does make a difference, and it's a relief to see relatively clear road ahead if it's been busy!

We have travelled from Scotland to London arriving yesterday. The traffic was horrific. We had an overnight near Birmingham and it took us 9 hours to get there. We came down the M6. There were loads of roadworks and just general congestion. It looked the same going north. We will stop near Manchester going home. That is where we normally break our journey. With a small child you will need more stops so I would definitely break your journey if you can.

Also all the service stations were absolutely mobbed.

@ApolloandDaphne

Also all the service stations were absolutely mobbed.

Yep. I drove down the A1 from Newcastle to Sheffield on Friday. There were queues on the slip roads to every service station I drove past.

Yes, I have travelled down recently and stopped at Lancaster Services. It was mobbed. Good Greggs though.

Surely best to break it up really? I dont like long car journeys and have been known to as "How long to go " or "Are we nearly there yet"(In my 50s BTW!) Maybe an ON stop around Manchester ? You can pick up a budget hotel for about £30 .00 I think .Well Well worth it!

We’ve done Bedfordshire to west Scotland (480miles) every year since I was a baby! Now I do it with mine. Done it twice with Dd when she was 6 months and again when she was 2 yes. Was absolutely fine. We leave early (5am) have plenty of stops and do m1/m6. Dd was fine both times and we’re going to be doing it again in 6 weeks when she will be 3 and DS will be 8 months. As long as you’re happy to share driving and stop regularly, even if just for 15 mins then I wouldn’t see it being a problem.

Pre covid I did the Glasgow trip regularly. Just me doing the driving, no kids. I’m a confident driver and have a good comfy car so usually did it in one day but it is knackering especially if you hit traffic. I used to break it up and stop every couple hours for toilet stretch and snack/coffee.

I’m a fan of Tebay too. The only exception to doing it in one day is if it’s torrential rain. On those occasions I pulled into services and booked the nearest premier inn.

If I had kids I would do as others suggest. Leave super early. Hopefully they sleep for first few hours. Get a couple hundred miles under your belt when you’re nice and fresh then stop for later breakfast/coffee.

Check what your husband needs from you. Some drivers prefer quietness and others like me appreciate it if the passenger is chatty etc as it helps the journey go in a bit quicker. Also car sweets help!

M40/M6 toll is my preferred route too x

We would never do Hampshire to Scotland in a day. We used to go to Loch Lomond a lot, so not that far on from Glasgow and my father lived in Lancashire at the time, so we used to stay with him for a night or two.

We've also stopped in York on the way back.

People seem to be quite competitive about the length of journeys they do (and the fact that they do them overnight) but doing an 8 hour journey on one go isn't clever or sensible and last time I was on the M6 there were doing "smart" motorway works with a 50mph which extends your journey by quite a bit.

In my experience Google Maps always underestimates the length of time a car journey will take (and overestimates a journey on foot).

I agree Annandale Services is a good option to stop at. Tebay is nice but everyone aims for it!

Depends on your driving ability and confidence, if you aren't a confident driver then I would suggest an overnight stop.
I have driven Glasgow to London a few times and also Glasgow to Hampshire and Devon a few times, always done it in a day, but I have been driving for 30 years, so none of it bothers me. Also driven to France.
We usually stop at Tebay and outside Birmingham. I have done it with smalls too.
I hate the A66/M1 route..too many numpties on it. I always do M74/M6/ M40 etc and do the toll. Toll road is not busy.
But it really depends on your confidence, stop and break it up if you are worried.

I can guarantee from personal experience, having done this journey many times, that it'll take a fair bit longer than Google maps suggests. Once you factor in stops and inevitable traffic, it'll be closer to 10 hours than 7.

I would avoid the A1. It's tiring and can't settle into a rhythm as it's always chocka with endless lorries in the left hand lane. The A66 is beautiful, but slow.

We do M40 then M6 toll. Leave at 5am to avoid the M25 traffic and you can be north of Birmingham by 9-9.30. Leave any later than that and you'll have the double whammy of M25 morning rush hour and then Glasgow rush hour at the end of the day.

For what it's worth, I think the trip is too long for one driver in one day. Doable on one's own, but less so when you have a toddler in the back and more frequent stops are required.

People seem to be quite competitive about the length of journeys they do (and the fact that they do them overnight) but doing an 8 hour journey on one go isn't clever or sensible

I totally agree.
Coincidentally these drivers never seem to get stuck in traffic jams either.

Several years ago we went on holiday to just outside Padstow, driving from South Yorkshire. Google map says that the journey takes five hours and twenty five minutes.

It took us nine and a half hours!

We did a shorter journey up the M1 and A1 a few weeks ago. Traffic was awful, journey took almost twice as long as it should have done. As pp said there are strangely few service stations on this route, so all were crazy busy (one the queue to get in the car park was backed up on to the slip road, at another which was a few miles off the motorway we queued for 15 minutes to get into McDonald's!). I'd definitely want to stop overnight.

This might be useful to you: a list of eating and sleeping places just off motorway junctions

https://www.justoffjunction.co.uk

Thanks again everyone, this is all very helpful advice.

I recently drove from SW London to Edinburgh in 7.5 hours. I took the M25/M40/M42/M6T/M6/M74. I would definitely recommend the M40/M6 route if your destination is Glasgow.

I personally prefer driving the route in one go, as staying overnight just prolongs the misery.

I drove in one go to the Preston services, which is pretty much half-way to Edinburgh. After that, I needed a few more stops.

I personally prefer driving the route in one go, as staying overnight just prolongs the misery.

I would, but only if I had someone to share the driving with me.

People seem to be quite competitive about the length of journeys they do (and the fact that they do them overnight) but doing an 8 hour journey on one go isn't clever or sensible and last time I was on the M6 there were doing "smart" motorway works with a 50mph which extends your journey by quite a bit

It’s not really a competitive thing...it’s simply that for some people, it’s doable in one day! DH has regularly done it in one day on his own. The two of us have also shared the driving and done it in one day several times a year. There were times when I was pregnant and too tired / ill to drive that DH again drove the whole way and I was just the passenger. And we did it again last week with our 4 month old in just one day.

Because we’ve done it regularly, it doesn’t actually feel that long, and with regular stops, it’s very doable. But for others, it’s too much. Everyone has their own comfort zone and it’s hardly competitive to have different levels of comfort!

Tebay is rammed at the moment, there are several chunks of roadworks on the M6 (around Preston/Lancaster and somewhere further) and the M74 has roadworks around Hamilton.

Google is optimistic.

My dad (in his late 60's) regularly drives from my parents house in Germany to London (7-8 hours usually but sometimes longer depending in traffic). He does it in a day and sleeps 30 mins in the Eurotunnel. I don't think 7 hours in a fay is an excessive amount to drive, but my dad is a very experienced driver