Driving through London - help

[tellmesomethingtrue]

I need to drive from the south of M25 (Sevenoaks area) to the north of london (just past Hackney). How scary will this be?? Will I be stuck in traffic? 4:30pm on a Saturday. Will there be toll or emission charge? Really feeling stressed about it. I never see my friend though since they moved there!!

Most likely route is M25 then A2. Have you put it into google maps.

You will go into the ULEZ but you might not have to pay if your car meets the criteria. You can put your number plate in on the gov website to find out.

You shouldn't go into the congestion zone as Hackney isn't in it, neither is the area above.

A21 to M25 and thru tunnel
Junction 28 for A12 towards London will get you straight into Hackney.
Bluewater/Dartford/Lakeside can be busy but never outrageous (tho check google maps before you go)

Also if you put into google maps, you can edit it so that you put in the date of your journey and the time you want to arrive or leave. It will tell you how long it will take. It's an estimation but it's usually pretty good. There will definitely be traffic but Saturdays are usually better than mon - Fri at that time of day.

And where would you cross the river? This route goes to Tower Bridge and is more complex than motorways

Waze is the best app to use-updates route ref traffic etc. The taxi drivers use it.

I just put it into google maps but to be fair I didn't change the time or day. It was the quickest and no tolls.

OP if you go the way as the other poster suggested above there is a charge for dartford crossing but you just pay it online and it's £2.50. You can do it before or after you cross

I wouldn't have thought of this route, thanks.
£30 toll and ULEZ

Yeah I've put it into google maps. Really don't want to be driving around the O2 or even going into the ULEZ but lives in it. Now I remember why I never see her. Perhaps we could meet mat London Bridge instead as I can get there by train easily. Thanks all.

What do you mean? £30 toll and ULEZ? M25 and A12 doesn’t touch the ULEZ zone and the Dartford toll is £2.50!

@balloonsintrees that route would cross the river at Blackwall.

But I would use the M25 route a poster suggested to avoid cross through London if I had to drive. But unless I really had to go by car I would take the train. Much easier!

Is your car definitely not ULEZ complaint? It’s only really diesels and very old cars that aren’t. It’s probably not relevant to you at all. There’s a website where you can put in your reg to check.

What makes you think you will have to be driving round the O2? Do you mean taking the A2 and the Blackwall Tunnel? On that route you can see the O2 directly on your right but there shouldn’t be any reason to drive any closer to it. It’s all fairly straightforward dual carriageway, the only issue is possible slow traffic approaching the tunnel. Once on the other side the roads through Hackney are more city thoroughfares than dual carriageways and can get a bit twisty so you’ll need to listen carefully to the satnav but all perfectly doable. If you ca slay sis of ally where you are going- Stoke Newington? Walthamstow? people can maybe give more specific advice.

Do you really have to drive? Train would be far less stress and just as quick.

Very puzzled as to why you can't take the train/tube for the whole journey? It would be just as quick and by the sounds of it, far less stressful for you. Train to LB and then tube or bus. Or connect to the Overground line which goes to Hackney Central. I'm sure your friend could let you know the bus/tube routes or meet you at the tube exit or even at LB.

Yes, meet at London Bridge - there's so many interesting things to do there. I always meet my friend from N London (I'm SE London) somewhere in the middle and go by train. Driving across London doesn't make much sense unless you absolutely have to.