Traffic tonight on M25 any guesses or tips?

[Rumpledfaceskin]

Not sure where to post. Admittedly a very boring question but I’ve got to drive from West Country to Gatwick south tonight to pick up relatives. I’ll leave 3 hours to get there i think. They get in at 9.30 pm. Will be coming straight back west. Am I crazy? Dreading the traffic, any guesses/experience of how bad it can be the last fri before Xmas and should I try to avoid m25 altogether?

Apparently today is the worst day of the year to travel on the roads.

I've no specific experience of the M25 but I imagine it'll be a longer journey than usual for anyone travelling today!

I predict into London it will be clear but out of London it will be horrendous. I travelled on the last day of work before Christmas once. Never again.

Good luck to all those travelling today!

Check travel alerts before you go then use sat nav or radio to keep up to date.

It’s probably going to be horrible! Sorry. Any chance they could get a train to reading or somewhere? It seems a long way to go to pick up!

Obviously depends where in the West Country you are but I don't think 3 hours will be enough.

AA route planner reckons 3 and a half from Exeter and that's before any hold ups.

If you avoid the M25 it's shitty A roads all the way so not really a better trip.

Sorry to say but I think you're not leaving enough time. I think more like 5 hours. If prepare for the worst and hope for the best. If you're ahead of time you can always take a break at the services. (But check train times as a back up plan in case they need to meet you - the strike has been called off)

The M25 anti clockwise (getting to Gatwick) will probably be horrible but you won't be back on it until gone 10pm so will probably have calmed down by then.
It's an awful lot of driving in the dark.

Depends on which bit of the West Country, but doesn't sound like enough time to me, either. I would put money on the M25 closing / going down to one lane / essentiallly being a car park at some point this evening, so do check out alternative routes. Though, as a pp said, they are rather painful A roads.

It's an awful lot of driving in the dark.

What's that got to do with it?

The M25 is always hideous on Fridays (or any day, actually), from early/mid afternoon until around 7.30ish. It's particularly bad on that W/SW section between the M4 and the A3 (J15 to J10). Today, you'll have to add in all the Christmas getaway traffic.
However, if they're not landing until 9.30 (and then have to get through security), you may well miss the worst of it. Going home should be fine.

3 hours?

Id say 6.

Thanks so much all just processing. I wanted to ask them to get a train out further but as it’s 4 ppl (thinking of train costs) and they are coming From abroad to see us I just couldn’t face asking them. Felt too mean. Didn’t realise the smaller roads were so crappy up to gatw so thanks for that info. Think I will brave m25 after all. Really hoping the worst will be over by the time we’re headed home!

Avoid. I'd suggest going m4 or M3 depending on which you'll use then cutting across at Reading or Farnborough to Guildford. Follow the A281 to Horsham, pick up the A264 then A23 (Not M23).

(Horsham resident)

FitBit driving at night is more dangerous than during daylight. So no need for your face thank you.

But you're not going to hit the M25 until at least 8.30pm. It should be past the worst of it by then. Google maps will tell you what the traffic's like and you can plan the last bit accordingly. The motorway has to be pretty bad, i.e. closed, to warrant going off and cutting across country.

driving at night is more dangerous than during daylight.

So? People should stay home after 4.30pm in winter? Maybe if you're in your 80s, but otherwise, we just have to get on with it.

I don't think you are leaving enough time either. We live in North Dorset and I'd plan 4 hrs for Gatwick on a normal day.

I think you need to give yourself at least 5.

Ok so I’ve realised I’ve vastly underestimated time to get there wichever route I take...whoops.

Don't be so obtuse. Nobody said don't leave the house after 4.30pm. A 10 hour drive in the dark is a different matter. Particularly when the OP was considering A roads than may not be well lit.

It's an awful lot of driving in the dark.

That's why we invented headlights and street lighting.

So, Grockle, what is the point of you mentioning that it's dark? The flight arrives at 9.30pm. How else is she going to collect them without driving at that time? Why suggest to her that you think it's potentially risky? As Monger said, there is ample street lighting on the motorways concerned.

Don't be so obtuse. And don't you be so bloody rude.

No knowledge of the M25 but it took me 25 minutes to get from one side of my one horse town to the other at lunch time today. Normal journey time for this distance 3 minutes.

Good luck and stay safe.

No qualms about driving in the dark but I would be worried about fitting 4 more people plus luggage in my car.............

Grockle the dark comment is exactly what my mum would say! a rather pointless one but well meaning. I don’t really have a choice. Luckily we have a Passat and they assure me they’re travelling light but I don’t think to going to be the best journey ever...

Haven't you set off yet??!!

Hope it's a good trip!

How was it?