Would I be mad to drive from London to Bournemouth for a saturday night (ie should I get the train - traffic?)

[CountessDracula]

I remember as a child every time I went to that area sitting in massive traffic jams for hours to get home. I take it it is still like that and I would be better off getting the train. Has anyone driven it recetnly?

I drove from Basingstoke to Dorchester last Saturday and the traffic was fairly slow but moving. Would usually take about 1hr 45 and took 2hr 15 last week. Lots of people heading to the coast with canoes on their roof-racks!

I was thinking more of the journey back on the sunday night!

I came back on Sunday night leaving at about 11.00 - very fast !

We will have to leave earlier than that though
prob by 6 or 7

Take the train, it is a straight line and takes under 2 hours.

def train

traffic is a bloody nightmare around here on a sunday night

I have been making this trip for 20 years, it is nowhere near as bad as it used to be (Winchester by-pass ... shudder).

Until the schools break up it is usually OK. You will get the worst of it leaving at that time though. I usually come off the M3 for the A31 to avoid any M3/M25 silliness, but then I am on the A3 at the top end anyway.

Train. Road is clogged this time of year with all you bloody grockles . It's a PITA

Sat a.m. will be pig shite too. If you must drive it, leave London before 8 am, return on Sunday early in the morning.

It's not so much people flocking to the coast, it's all the New Forest traffic (shared common route)