To think I can get from Cardiff to Hammersmith in 3 hours???

[mosschops30]

On a friday night?????

DH thinks I am bonkers!!!!

Travelling with a friend to see a show but she cant leave until 4pm, so that gives us about 3 hours to get there.
It will be straight down the M4 and onto Hammersmith.
How bad will it be??

btw, aa route planner says I can do it in 2hrs 46 mins dh thinks its lying

bonkers!

2.5 hours, respectable pace, without major hold-ups. Easy!

Ask DH what he thinks you are... a snail???!

Unless it's Good Friday, you have no chance, traffic is solid on the M4 both ways between about Reading and and London, maybe Slough ot London. And I think also solid around Bristol, and possibly Newbury on a bad night. However you might be able to make it on the train.

oh dear am hoping it wont be that bad

Depends how fast you drive inbetween, lobster.

Disclaimer - haven't done that route in years.

Added disclaimer - used to do it in a shit off a chrome shovel fast Alfa!

I'd go via train. I'd imagine the traffic on the M4 at that time on a Friday is going to be awful, esp. getting out of London, around Reading, Bristol, etc.

A 4.15 train from Paddington will get you into Cardiff at 6.20. Much, much faster.

Ooops - other way around ... but train times should still be the same. Paddington to Hammersmith by tube/taxi isn't that far either.

much faster and also much more expensive! We just cant afford to go by train, lookin at about £50pp return, would probably be £50 return in the car

plus tube fare from paddington to hammersmith. Maybe £60pp then, just not an option

AA route planners are fantasy land.

Traffic into London at peak hour on a Friday, then the hassle of parking etc. Parking will also be v expensive.

Yes, it's awfully expensive, I agree. That stopped us from travelling that route by train. Coach, maybe?

Problem with a coach is that you're looking at an absolute minimum travel time of 3 hours 5 minutes; with the average being about 3 hours 40 minutes. Hmmm!

I reckon it's doable, just, and as long as there are no accidents. Not that many people are going into london at that time, if it was the other way it wouldbe different.
Your problem will be parking though.

oh we have parking at the hotel so thats fine
and im not an advocate of speeding but I think its unlikely that a coach would be faster than me in the car!

I can do Cardiff to Crawley in 2.5 hours on a friday afternoon, but I leave the M4 at Bracknell when I go there and cut through to the M3 then M23.
How far off then M4 is Hammersmith?
Do you all do this journey or live in london?

The issue is that there are bus lanes on the M4 coming into London, so the coach speeds past the stationary traffic.

I live in London and go in and out on the M4 on a Friday from time to time.

You might be fine, and do it, you might not! It's a risk. Do you have to be there at 7pm on the dot?

So is it better coming into London rather than leaving it?
Blu how far off the M4 is Hammersmith?

Still think what id make over the coach on the motorway would outdo what it would make up in a bus lane.

Tickets say doors open at 7pm but I think to be able to park at hotel then walk over to venue we'd need that half hour

The bus lane starts about half way between heathrow and the end of the M4, I think. The M4 turns into a straight road which goes straight to Hammersmith. Biut it's the bit between H'row - or even the junction with the M25, and the big roundabout at Chiswick that can be stationary and take an hour, in itself.

It's partly because of all the Heathrow traffic, and Fri night traffic.

the last time I used an AA route planner it predicted 3hrs 40 minutes for me to get from SW London to Colne in lancs. Actual time: 6 hours 50

Hammersmith and all its approaches are a nightmare on any given day at any hour. Especially so at the moment because Hammersmith Bridge is closed for repairs.

You might do it but I think it's unrealistic.

It's taken me nearly two hours from Heathrow to Hammersmith in busy traffic before.