Well it's true that you have to be a bit canny apropos of your travelling times. If you really have to be at Heathrow/Gatwick/Stansted (God help you) at a particular time, your options are limited. We've taken to using B&Bs near Bristol and Gatwick airports the night before our flights. We can travel up in the evenings before (equals quiet roads), and the B&Bs look after our car for the week at no greater cost than a frenetic last-minute drive to the airport car park which costs a fortune and forces you to drag your bags half a mile to the terminal. The B&Bs we use give us a free lift there and back direct to the airport terminal. I can give you details of really good ones at Gatwick and Bristol.

Avoid Friday travel during the day at any time of year. Avoid Saturday travel in summer. Avoid beginnings and ends of bank holiday weekends. Give yourself a game chance!

Steve (motorway denizen par excellence...)