Conference terri::cars_uk

    M1?, but maybe (assuming you're going from Reading) the M40 and M6 may
    be a quieter choice at that time of day although Newkie is on the east
    coast.
    
    Mark

M1 --> M18 --> A1

BUT the A1 can be a horror story, so the A19 may be a viable alternative.

    I used M40-M48-M5-M6- to Carlisle then turn right, its a good road to
    Newcastle. The M1-A1-M18-A1M is the pits.
                               Tony.

re .1

Yup, I'll be travelling from Reading

Thanks for the response so far, how long will it take?


Mike

    <<< Note 1600.2 by LEECHS::hilton "How's it going royal ugly dudes?" >>>

>M1 --> M18 --> A1

>BUT the A1 can be a horror story, so the A19 may be a viable alternative.


Nah, nah... he doesn't want to go anywhere near Viables. oops - I'm in the
wrong topic.

Dougie

This from Autoroute!
                                 AUTOROUTE V1.2
 
Quickest route from Reading to Newcastle Upon Tyne
Total time     :5 hrs 16 min
Total distance :306 miles
 
-----+--------------------------+--------+---------+---+----------------------
Time |                          |  Road  |   For   |Dir| Towards
-----+--------------------------+--------+---------+---+----------------------
00:00|DEPART Reading            |A4155   |3 miles  |N  |
00:12|Go onto                   |A4074   |11 miles |N  | (Woodcote)         
00:24|Go onto                   |A423    |2 miles  |N  | (Benson)           
00:26|Turn left onto            |A4130   |1/4 mile |W  | (Benson)           
00:26|At Benson go onto         |A423    |10 miles |W  | (Dorchester)       
00:38|Turn off onto             |A4142   |2 miles  |W  |
00:42|Turn off onto             |A34     |7 miles  |NW | Stratford          
00:49|Turn off onto             |A43     |31 miles |N  | Northampton        
01:25|At Towcester turn left ont|A5      |9 miles  |NW | Hinckley           
01:36|At Weedon Bec turn right o|A45     |3 miles  |E  | Northampton        
01:39|At M1 J16 turn left onto  |M1      |94 miles |W  | (Crick)            
02:54|At M1 J32 turn off onto   |M18     |9 miles  |N  | (Thorne)           
03:00|At M18 A1 J2 turn off onto|A1(M)   |8 miles  |NW | (A1 j)             
03:06|Turn off onto             |A1      |75 miles |N  | Pontefract         
04:19|At A1 turn off onto       |A1(M)   |37 miles |N  | (A1 j)             
04:58|Turn off onto             |A6127   |6 miles  |NW |
05:16|ARRIVE Newcastle Upon Tyne|        |         |   |
-----+--------------------------+--------+---------+---+----------------------


as there are still major road works going on.

.a few back was right; use the A19.

I dunno how easy it is to get from Reading to the M40, but you have a
few options;

go north, to Marlow or High Wycombe, and pick up the M40 there. Up past
Warwick, via Coventry, to M69 then M1. It's M-way or dual carriageway all the
way once you're on the M40.

Then M1, M18, A1M, A1, A19, to the Tyne Tunnell, or go through Washington
depending where in Newcastle you wannabee.

Leaving Reading at 5:00 pm means you'll miss the worst of the traffic.
You're much better off leaving earlier, or later...

I think the route in .5 is pre-M40 extension.

Peter.

    As has been stated before......
    
    From DEcpark to M40 North, go M4, A34, M40
    
    From Reading, choose your route to Oxford, then A34, M40.
    
    From M40 to M1, you can use A46 and M69, but an easier route to
    navigate is M40 to end, M42, A42, M1 (jnction 24).
    
    Jk
    

    
    Watch out for the roadworks on the A34 just south of Oxford, I beleive
    they are still there - I got stuck there a couple of weeks ago, heading
    south on a Friday about 8pm! (And it was also in trouble heading North)
    
    Elaine
    

    
    I was stuck for � of a hour on the A34, just south of Oxford, last
    Friday night, after leaving Viables at 4:30 to avoid the traffic!
    
    The roadworks had disappeared now, but they were doing some
    re-surfacing, so they may appear a few miles down the road!
    
    Steve.
    

    The roadworks on the A34 disappeared over the weekend - the road is
    clear now from M4 jct 12 to Oxford. After that, you're on your own!!
    
    Colin

If you're going to go M4,A34,M40,M6 then you're ok till you get to Birmingham,
Then for 20 miles life gets a little irritating.

M. (Just back from Manchester and spent an #$@% hour by Birmingham)

    
    re .6 I challenge the AA to get there in 5 1/4 hours. That route took
    me 11 hours Newcastle-Reading on a Sunday afternoon last year. I left
    after lunch & arrived home at 2 in the morning. I went a week ago to
    Newcastle via M5/M6 in 5 1/2 hours (M4-A34-M40-M42WEST-M5NORTH-M6NORTH
    & get off at M6-J43, TAKE A69 NEWCASTLE. Its about 60 miles longer this
    way, but the choice is yours. Its very busy Birmingham-Blackpool on the
    M6. Currently there are road works around M6 J-7 to J6. Remember you
    can go clockwise or anti clockwise around Birmingham on the M5-M6_M42.
    Good luck, come back & tell us the way you went & time taken as I got 
    earache for taking the West-route.
    
    	Tony.

    
    re .13
    
    I always go M40 M42 M5 M6 (west of Birmingham) -it's about five miles
    longer, but the M5 is ALWAYS quieter than than the M6 south of
    Birmingham, ALSO, it avoids the NEC junction.
    
    Paul
    

    RE:  M42 - M5 - M6
    
    and if you're desperate... there's always the Frankley Services.
    Mind you with the J7 roadworks, if it's busy it might take ages to get
    off the M5 onto the M6 by the RAC building
    
    Huw (Who still can't believe there's no services on the M40!)

  >  Mind you with the J7 roadworks, if it's busy it might take ages to get
  >  off the M5 onto the M6 by the RAC building
  
    Avoid this by instead of coming off the M5 to go northbound M6, carry
    on to the southbound junction, then turn round at the next junction and
    join the M6 north there. Still busy, but at least it's moving.
    
    Phil Gill

    
    We've got to drive up to Liverpool tonight - (from Reading) - so..
    
     does anyone know the current state of the roadworks around Birmingham?
     should be go 'north' or 'south' route around Brum?
    
    Elaine

Last week the north route delayed me about 1 hour. I don't know what the south
route would be like.

    Recommendation:
    
    1) Choose your route.
    
    2) Tell everyone which way you are going.
    
    3) As you approach the M42 change your mind. If you're *really* quick
    they won't have time to move all the bollards round to the other side.
    (However, they could cut you off by going straight to the M5/M6
    interchange. that's the disadvantage of circular alternatives.)
    
    3A) Or, as you approach the M42, try the double bluff.
    
    JK

    
    Thanks! :-)
    
     We'll _definitely_ go the North route then.... probably :-)
    
    

    
    I went around the southern route last Fridasy night.  It was fine.
    
    Have a nice trip.
    
    Steven

    
    Can anyone tell me exactly where Wadham Kennings (Land Rover dealer) in
    Pangbourne, is please?
    
     Elaine

    
    	From Reading take the Oxford Road through Tilehurst.  Follow road
    through Purley,  into Pangbourne.  The LR dealer is on the right hand
    side opp. a Texaco service station.
    
    	From the opposite direction,  from the centre of Pangbourne (copper
    Inn,  George Hotel,  pair of mini-roundabouts),  take the road towards
    Reading and the dealer is on the left.
    
    Cliff

    Why do you want to go there Elaine? It is so expensive.
    
    Give David Findlay on 0734 734010 a shout he might be able to get what
    you need cheaper.
    
    Simon

    
    I don't want any work done - just some floor mats for my brother's
    Landy - and he wants genuine Land Rover ones...
    
    I'll try 'phoning him though,
    
    thanks
    
     Elaine

    
    I've been told that parking around Earls Court Exhibition arena is 
    non-existant - so.... any suggestions as to which tube station would be
    a good one to drive to, where we can leave the car? (driving in from
    Reading)

Barons Court or Hammersmith aren't bad if you're prepared to walk five 
minutes to the tube station. Both on the District/Picadilly lines, so lots 
of trains. Park south of the tube stations in either case.

Piers

    
    Thanks - we parked near Barons Court - no problems, (and for free!) 
    It took us less than an hour to get from DEC Park (leaving at 4.30pm) 
    to actually walking into Earls Court arena - can't complain at that!

    I'm travelling by car to Canary Wharf tomorrow morning (to be there by
    10am).  I'll be driving up the M3 from Basingstoke and have been
    advised to go on the M25 to J2 (A2 Rochester Way / Blackwall tunnel).
    
    Looking at the map this seems an incredably long way round, but I guess
    it is the best road in.
    
    Any other suggestions on how to get there.
    
    Thanks
    
    Royston

Unless you want to leave home at about 4:00 am, you might prefer to
travle by train to London, and then the DLR (Docklands Light Railway)
to Canary Wharf. Try asking in the London conference for guidance on
the DLR, or you might get more info here, or ring the London Underground
info line.

Peter.

    
    Don't Do it!
    
    Apart from the journey time the car-parking is horrendous, there is no
    roadside parking at all, there is a short stay car park but if you are
    there more than about three hours it shoots up from #5 to #15.
    
    Richard(who only goes to canary wharf if he really has to and then by
    train)
    

    Thanks guys for comments.
    
    I've been advised that car parking shouldn't be a problem as the
    customer I am visiting can stamp the ticket and it won't cost anything.
    
    I know you were exagerating a bit when suggestng leaving at 4am. 
    I would have thought that by 10am traffc would be flowing as normally
    as traffic does it that area.
    
    I was rather hoping for comments about the route than "Its a jungle
    out there" :-)
    
    Royston

To get to Canary Wharf by 10am you will be in the same traffic as everyone
else trying to get into west London for 9am

Unless you have two tons of demo gear to bring with you don't even think about
driving - regardless of the customers offer to pick up the parking tab.

If you are travelling with more than a briefcase then hitting London from the
South-east is probably the quickest. Hassle-free it won't be. Personally I'd
go M3, M25, Streatham, South-circular eastbound, thru the Rotherhythe tunnel,
into Limehouse and then on to Canary Wharf.

    
    Royston,
    Just as a matter of interest who is the customer? I know we have the
    Daily Telegraph there, but I don't know of any others.
    
    Richard

    Don't let them get to you Royston :-)  Sure it is a bit busy, but you
    can glide (er sorry it's a diesel isn't it), er rattle along knowing
    that you don't have to do this every day.  You can take your time,
    smile at all the hassled London drivers and let them whizz past.  It
    took me 2 hours to get from North Waltham to James Watt house, the
    train took 1:50 door to door and that was only because the exit from
    the underground leads into James Watt House.  I worked out that staying
    less than about 7 hours it was cheaper by car.  So if you are getting
    your parking paid for it's only the fuel, which is going to be a lot
    cheaper than the �21 or thereabouts for the train.
    
    tp

I used to go from Basingstoke to Bethnal Green (about 3 miles north of
Canary Wharf) in about 1 hour and 5 minutes (my fastest time!)

The curious thing about the directions (which was actually to the London
Chest Hospital, near Victoria Park), was that if you go straight on at every
junction (starting at the M3), then you get to one of the entrances to
Victoria Park. From there it is a quick right hand turn to the London Chest.

For those interested (and who isn't), the straight on is M3, A316 To Chiswick,
over the flyover, past Hammersmith, past the Science Museum, straight on
at Hyde park Corner, straight on At Picadilly Circus, straight on past
The Glums (on your left), straight on past Richer Sounds, straight on through
some dodgy area, past the Barbican (brewed like a normal beer), through
some other bits, finally North of Bethnal Green, and then you hit Vikki Park.

There is an excellent Curry take away called "The No. 1 Curry Stop" near the
London Chest, that did excellent currys for a couple of quid. In fact Bethnal
Green is a brilliant place for Indian & Thai restaurants.

I did make these times by travelling at 7pm!

There I'm glad I got that off my (London) Chest.

Mark.

Be careful of the M3 at the moment - there are roadworks between J2 (M25)
and J1 in both directions. Every morning I see the long jam heading into
to London, as I drive out of London.

Karen

    Anyone recommend the best way from Holyhead to Junction 15 of the M6.	
    From Holyhead to M6 on Sunday 17th Sep and from Junction 15 to Holyhead
    on Friday afternoon 22nd.Roughly how long will it take driving
    reasonably.
    
    		Lost in UK.
    

To Holyhead from J15...

Carry on North up the M6 until Junction 20.

Take the M56 west towards Chester 

Keep on going until the end of the M56 
and follow the signs for N.Wales and A55.

The A55 will take you all the way to Bangor
where it becomes the A5 (Bangor Bypass) and 
onto the Brittania bridge over the Menai 
Straits. Follow the A5 though Anglesey until
you reach Holyhead.

Time from M6 J15, 2.5 hrs, 3 hrs comfortably,

If you're catching the Dublin Ferry best add some extra
time as leeway for traffic etc..

Huw.  

And back...

Follow A5 signs to Bangor, 

you get onto a dual carriageway when you come off the 
Menai Bridge, this becomes the A55. 

Follow the A55 signs to Chester.

near Chester follow the signs for Manchester M56,

at M56 Junction 9 follow signs for M6 Birmingham.

get off at M6 J15 !

Huw.

    
    Which one is J15 ?
    
    Huw's route is a bit out of the way I think, if you turn off the M6 at
    Stoke North (the top end of the D-road) A500 and head West it takes you
    past Crewe and on to Chester eventually joining the route Huw
    described.
    
    Graham
                              

Can anyone help?

Which is the quickest way to get from Gatwick airport to London, 
Lets say to Tottenhan Court Road or the Post Office Tower.

Last time I came over I took the A23 but it took forever to get into London.
On the way back I took the M4 to the M25 to the M23 to Gatwick. This route 
was quite fast but a long way round to get from A to B. 

I know my way around London fairly well but having made only two short trips
there in the last two years and I don't know which routes are the quickest.
I'll be arriving at Gatwick at 09:40 on Friday, so I should clear the airport
and Avis sometime between 10:30 and 11:00 am.

Any help would be apriciated.

nigel

    Unless you absolutely need a car, IMO the quickest, and probably
    cheapest way would be by train, "the Gatwick Express Service". The
    station is connected directly to the airport, and the "Express" leaves
    at half hourly intervals, non-stop to Victoria Station. Then get a cab
    or tube depending on luggage.

Thank you for the feedback, and based on my experience of driving this route
I'm sure it would be a lot quicker to use public transport.

Unfortuately I do have to have a car. The trip into London is only for a couple
of hours, then I head to Cheltenham and on to south west Wales.

I have already reserved and paid for the car at Gtawick. I didn't know I'd have
to make the trip into London until last Friday.

    The route you describe indicates last time you went from Heathrow (m4)
    
    If flying in from Gatwick, you just jump on the M23 and go straight on
    m23 runs into a23 right into London..
    
    regards Patrick

    M23->M25->M40->A40 which becomes the Marylebone Road, which goes past
    the PO Tower and the top of Tottenham Court Road.
    
    M23 to M25 is about 10 mins.  There are (appalling) roadworks at the 
    junction, but at the time you'll be driving the traffic should have
    cleared.  M25 to M40 is about 35 mins.  Hang a right at the M40
    junction and keep going until you pass the PO Tower, about 30 mins. 
    You should do the total journey in about 1 hour 15 mins.
    
    The only drawback is it's about twice the distance of the more direct
    M23/A23 route, but provided there isn't an accident on the M25 you'll
    save half an hour (minimum).
    
    JMHO.
    
    Mike
                                                           

Mike,
      thank you for the suggestion. I know the route into London using the A40 
but the traffic seemed to be really bad the last time I took it. I suppose the
time (around 12:00) will make a difference.

I will take your suggested route I think it will be the quickest.


Just a question though, what about routes like M23 -> M25 -> A3 or even M23 ->
M25 -> M3 -> A316 ->A4.

    The M40 should be clear at around midday. From the M25 junction to Central
    London should take not more than 30 minutes at the most. BUT whatever
    you do avoid the M25 any time after 3.00 pm on a Friday.!!!
    
    rgds,  Sheleen.                                                

Thank you for the information, I will take the M23 -> M25 -> M40 route, it will
definately get me right to where I need to go without any side roads.

Re: -1 my objective is to get out of London ASAP and head out on my way to
       Cheltenham. I do not want to get stuck in the Friday afternoon exit from 
       London. The usual delay is caused by the Pubs and the thought of a       
       pint, we have to try to wait until we get out of London.

Thanks again

nigel