Bolton to Guildford experiences drivers please could you help?

[AgadorSpartacus]

I’m looking for advice from anyone who is an experienced long distance driver. I’m looking at the what the best route would be (m6 or m1 or other) and anyone who is familiar with Guildford I believe there is flooding currently just wondering how it might affect travel to University of Surrey campus. I haven’t travelled that distance before so I wouldn’t say I’m nervous as such just need a little reassurance
TIA

We often drive Manchester to Surrey and usually the m6, m40, m25 route is fastest. However we have been stuck on the m40 for 4 hours before due to accidents. Best thing to do is use goole maps satnav with live travel and it will let you know about accidents and suggest alternative routes,

Yeah M6 M42 M40 M25 A3

It's utter pot luck as to whether or not there is a major incident or not....

There are also 20 miles on 50mph restriction on the M6 just north of the the Toll Road joining.

You can also do M6 M5 M40 there isn't much in it.

The large Ikea at Wednesbury (J9???) on the M6 is pretty much half way

Thank you both so much. I’ll definitely be using google maps and I am worried about buggering it up somehow. The longest I’ve ever driven is an hour and a half.

I will be looking out for the Ikea. If I get half way it’ll be an achievement

If you can handle the Manchester motorway ring road this is easy. M25 is so simple in comparison!

On the motorway you just follow signs for Birmingham/London. Once on the M40 its London/Heathrow.

The A3 isn't that many junctions after Heathrow Terminal 5.

Getting off the A3 after Guildford for the uni turn off is a bit hair raising. Go slow on the inside lane (limit is 50) leave gaps for this trying to pull onto the A3 as you are preparing to come off. That is the worst bit of the journey tbh!

Oh well I drive on the Manchester ring road quite a bit so that’s encouraging.
I read the thread about smart motorways the other day which I’ll be honest has worried me.

Follow the signs overhead on them if it has a cross above the lane move over. Leave a proper more than adequate distance... I think it's the M42 that has all
The proper safety features for a smart motorway?

Lots of flooding on local roads at the moment (A3 down to 1 lane for much of the day) and traffic can be pretty hellish on all the motorways and A roads around London. But it doesn't go too fast because there are speed cameras everywhere. Allow plenty of time to negotiate the Surrey stretch of the journey!

Thank you.
I have to give it a go although part of me is wishing I’d stuck my son on the train and let him navigate his own way. But no. I volunteered to drive instead.
Ah well.

Far simpler for him to go on the train, the station delivers you onto campus

Just to warn you OP:

Thus is on our local chat group:

"Anyone travelling to RHS Wisley today for half term, please check your route. 2 hour delay on M25 and A3 due to flood on A3"

Oh dear... Wisley is the bit from the M25 to Guildford...

Train? National Express?

Ah crap. It’s the cost that’s the issue. He’s got an audition (which cost) if he gets a recall then it’s another train fare and nights accommodation on top. It’s skinning us.

I really appreciate the warning though.

There is an alternate route from J12 Chertsey, go through Woking then onto Guildford but I guess that will get busy too

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I really do appreciate it. I’m jotting all this down for my co pilot so that he can actually help me.

I'm local to Wisley. There's just 1 lane closed southbound on the A3 now. It was 2 of the 3 lanes closed earlier today.

I don't think we are due any more heavy rain here for a while so hopefully the flooding will start to subside more overnight.

With 1 lane closed there will be some delays but it shouldn't be a nightmare. Also, now people know about it a lot of the locals will take alternative cross country routes which will reduce traffic.

I think you should be pretty much ok using the A3 tomorrow OP.

Was it today? Are you still alive...

it’s tomorrow.
Thanks for asking.
I will check in as safe when I’m there!!

I'm driving to just north of the Toll road today

About the Toll Road, I've given up using it as it's further, had to Q for 15 mins to pay once and regularly got stuck trying to get on M42 at the end of it plus no Ikea half way!!! Many people love and swear by it though it's usually fairly quiet I think?

Another top tip.

J11 of the M40 - Banbury Gateway Shopping Park. It has M&S Cafe, Costa in Next and McDonalds etc.

When southbound you come off at J11, turn right at the roundabout and go over the motorway, then there is another roundabout turn right and just follow the road to the end.

Cheaper than services and also means you've "broken the back" of the journey. On the M25 stretch there are no services. So the last one is Beaconsfield on the M40 previous junction to joining M25.

Hope it went ok.
I myself drove on the A3 past Guildford today, as I was going down to the south coast to see my mum.
It was fine. Hope it was for you too.

@AgadorSpartacus how did go?

Hi sorry yes it went surprisingly well actually. Took a lot longer than it should probably as I was being VERY cautious. I got there very much feeling like I wasn’t sure how I’d got there but getting back felt easier. M25 A3 not a fan - but I managed.
Thanks so much for all the advice though. It was a massive help and I really liked Guildford so I was glad I did it.

Yeah, well done you!!

I'd pick M25 over Preston to Deansgate are any day. I agree the uni junction of the A3 is hairy, it was scary enough 20 years ago and the traffic is even busier now.