Not glamorous: How do I get to Southwark?

[grendel]

Next Thursday I have to get to a conference at Millwall Football ground in Southwark by 9.00am. I'm taking stuff for our exhibition stand so have to go by car. I live just outside Cambridge and have a bit of a phobia about driving in big cities.

Can anyone suggest the best/quickest route from Cambridge to Southwark? I'm assuming the best way is to drive off the end of the M11 and then head South... but what next? Rotherhithe or Blackwall Tunnel? Any traffic blackspots to avoid? Googlemaps reckons 1 hour 20 minutes but it will be rush hour (weeps) so it will surely be much more than this.

Can any of you big city folk help?

I can only help you with the last bit. I would take the Rotherhithe over Blackwall Tunnel every time, as it comes out v. close to Bermondsey, where the stadium is and the Blackwall is a beast for traffic jams, as is the route along the river towards Bermondsey. However, be warned that it is very narrow and has bends, 20mph limit but people drive like idiots. Steel yourself before entering! I hate it but I do use it because it is so quick.

Good luck!

Thanks for the tip about the Rotherhithe Tunnel - though I'm a bit scared now!

M11, then A406 (North Circular) south (actually slightly south east) then A13 west. Then Rotherhithe tunnel and you're practically there. This is the route shown by Google maps and it's pretty sensible.

Don't even think about taking the A12 after the M11 even though it looks more direct on a map - it's always traffic choked.

Yes I think it will take more than 1 hr 20. We do Clapham to Ipswich fairly regularly which is a similar ish journey (slightly longer to be fair) and it takes a bit under 2 hours and that's not at rush hour. I'd allow 1 hr 50.

Traffic will be heavy on the North Circular, the A13 and the Rotherhithe tunnel but still your best route unless there's a specific accident etc there - worth checking before you set off.

Surely the Central London bit could take an hour on its own? I'd leave really early and plan to fine a slap-up breakfast before you go in to your event. That way you won't be worring about getting stuck.

Many thanks minipie. Actually when I looked at Googlemaps it recommended that I take the A12 after the M11 so thank you very much for the local knowledge.

So is the consensus that 2 hours at rush hour is realistic? (Although I'm also tempted by jkklpu's advice to just get there REALLY early)

Oh is it morning rush hour? The A13 will be hideous ... Um. I agree about going really early if you possibly can. What time do you have to be there?

Can't you go night before and stay near the grounds. Bound to be a Premier Inn or some such. Much better driving on a quiet light summer night than in rush hour especially if you hate driving.

Nope, checked out cheapo hotels several months ago. Already either booked up or stupidly expensive. There must be something on (perhaps something Olympic-y?) in the area the night before. Don't mind staying in a Travel Lodge at all but do object to paying over £100 for the privilege!

Sooooo, morning rush hour is hideous... We have to be there at 9.00am. If we leave here around 6.30am that would give us 2.5 hours. Any idea whether that would be enough. Really have NO experience of driving in London in rush hour so don't know what level of hell to expect. (Nice empty country roads round here, odd tractor, odd suicidal pheasant, etc).

I'd leave around 5.30, tbh, and aim to have half an hour's snooze in a layby somewhere once well on the way. But then I HATE being late or even the slight risk of it. Really, outskirts of and inside London are hellish for driving and worse if you're not used to it.

see I'd say leaving at 6.30 should be ok... but then I am frequently late...

There are plenty of proper cafes in Bermondsey and local area - I'd arrive really early and have breakfast. Lots of builders yards, haulage companies etc so you'll get a slap-up full English served by a jolly woman who'll call you darlin' for very little money :)

Thank you for all your input.
Having thought on this further I've decided that I will leave between 6.00 and 6.30pm and if this isn't enough time then I.will.just.be.late. This is a radical departure for me because I HATE being late, but really, if I'm a bit late setting up my stand, what is the worst that can happen...?
The alternative seems to be to set off before I go to bed and then spend hours being called darlin' in a caff at the other end.

What about getting the train? Then you know you won't get held up by traffic. From my (sluggish, possibly incorrect) memory Cambridge is less than an hour from London to Kings X and then from there you can tube it in about 30-45 mins.

I would't worry too much about London traffic. IME, there's so much you barely move. Nobody does anything unpredictable either.
I'd kill for a breakfast and someone calling me darling at the moment. I am starving.

Bealos Train no good unfortunately as we had to transport a ton of stuff for our exhibition stand.

Well for future reference, if anyone ever wants to do a similar trip in rush hour:

Set off from home (between Cambridge & Newmarket) at 6.10am, arrived at Millwall Football Club at 8.30am so 2hrs 20 mins. Friend was driving (and sweating), I was navigating (and trying to keep her calm). Route was pretty straightforward but traffic was CRAWLING until we got through Rotherhithe Tunnel (thanks for the tip Cyd) when it was fine. Only got hooted at a couple of times!
Return trip much easier - set off 3.20pm, got back here 5.10pm so just 1hr 50mins.

Also for future reference: Millwall FC is an unexpectedly lovely venue! Not what I was expecting at all.