BS: UK: Heathrow and M25

Subject: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 26 Apr 11 - 08:56 PM

I live in the North, but need to take my partner to Heathrow for a flight.

She needs to be there at 8:50 am. We'll be coming down the M1, and obviously hitting rush hour.

Various bits of software offer journey times, but they always seem overly optimistic.

If any locals could give me an idea as to what to expect on the M25 at 7-8am, I'd be most grateful.

Many thanks,

Ed

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 02:15 AM

Well, I'm the other corner of teh M25, in Kent. But I'd say that between 7 and 8 expect the M25 near Heathrow to be a carpark, and that an hour from the M1 to Heathrow would be cutting it fine.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:04 AM

When we travel from Essex to Heathrow for a flight to US (which usually departs around 9 to 9.50am), we leave home at least 4 hours prior. We just plan to avoid rush hour (not always successfully) and have breakfast after we go through check in.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Musket
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:18 AM

If I need to be at Heathrow for that time, I make sure I am there not much after 7.00am and use the time relaxing with a coffee / breakfast / shopping. (I reckon I could claim shares in the T4 Dixons....)

I don't know where in the North you are, but I would leave Sheffield ish by 4.30am. Sounds early, but last month we went to Norway from Gatwick on an early flight and left at 2.30am. Glad I did as we had a blowout on the M1 in the ruddy roadworks with no hard shoulder so had to be towed off to change the wheel, adding about an hour and still made it.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: GUEST,John MacKenzie
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:25 AM

I always come off at junction 17 and take the A412 through Slough, along the Colnbrook Bypass, and on to the old A4, if I'm heading that way in the rush hour. It's never going to be an easy journy, but it doesn't go solid, like the M25 can at that time of day. The rush hour starts about 7AM round there!

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: GUEST,lurcio
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 04:46 AM

I would seriously consider going the night before and stopping over.

L.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Arnie
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:08 AM

Another alterative would be to fly to Heathrow from a local airport and then transfer airside. I certainly would not travel down the M1 on the day - the recent closure due to a fire under the carriageway at the London end is an extreme example, but there are usually road works, accidents and endless jams caused by sheer weight of traffic. If you do have to drive down, the M40 then M4 offers a better alternative to the M1 and you can pick it up in the Midlands on your way south.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 10:59 AM

I would stay the night before at the Sofitel Hotel by Terminal 5, which is very convenient if using that terminal, and an easy transfer to the others.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 12:16 PM

leave M1 at j4 follow A42/M42 till you reach M40 leave M40 at j4(A404)
follow A404 till you reach M4 j8 follow M4 to Heathrow J4
only 12 miles further and you do'n touch the M1 at all you go under it
and it's easier to do than explain

Gerry

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 12:18 PM

Sorry that should read "you do'n touch the M25 at all you go under it"

Gerry

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 02:08 PM

I agree with all said.

I used to have to travel the M25 everyday for 5 years and the time you are talking about is not a good idea.

In the end, I avoided the M25 like the plague and did the A roads. I still left early enough to miss that time of the day. Like the others, I used to get near my destination and have breakfast and then on to work hey ho.

Deffo, book a hotel for the night before, or book a flight into heathrow.

Hope you get sorted.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 02:10 PM

should also read leave M1 at j24 not j4

Gerry

I seem to be having a bad day today do n't I

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 02:12 PM

You do indeed Gerry LOL loik "do n't" :-) Are you on space cake ?

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 05:14 PM

I thought of suggesting M40 rather than M1 down south from Brum but I don't know what problems you might encounter on the M6, M42... Banjo-flower's route sounds good, though.

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 27 Apr 11 - 06:10 PM

or you could leave the M1 at j15a and follow the A43 to j10 on the M40
possibly shorter

Gerry

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Alan Day
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 03:51 AM

Are there any problems now on the M1 following the fire ?
Al

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Arnie
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 05:46 AM

I think that there is a 40 mph speed limit on the M1 following fire but all lanes are open. The beauty of using the M40/M4 is that you come in from the west of London which is where Heathrow is situated. I used the route a couple of weeks ago coming down from Cheshire and there were no holdups or roadworks at all. Plus as you go through 'Cropredy country' you get the added bonus of watching red kites swoop over the road - although that might just be me as I'm a bit of a twitcher!

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 08:16 AM

I used the M1 once in the 1970s and never again (apart from as a passenger in coaches when it's somebody else's problem). Nowadays I always take the M40 south of Birmingham (and the toll road round Birmingham - that bit of the M6 is the only motorway I know with ruts in it). The M42 can be a bit congested but it's not so bad since they introduced variable speed limits, same as the M25 between the M40 and M4. Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 08:20 AM

Best way to get to Heathrow is by a tube train from Inner London.

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 08:31 AM

"Best way to get to Heathrow is by a tube train from Inner London."

so whats the best route by road from the north to Inner London in rush hour

Gerry

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 08:54 AM

A1/M1, A14, M11, A12

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Banjo-Flower
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 10:47 AM

and where does one leave the car whilst using the tube?

Gerry

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: Alan Day
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 11:56 AM

I had to take a dog for export to Heathrow two weeks ago to the cargo area (not my dog I hasten to say ) The Dog had to be there at cargo for eight in the morning and I aimed for seven from Gatwick Area. So Clockwise direction. I left at six and got there at seven with no hold ups. but I allowed an hour for just that.
Al

Subject: RE: BS: UK: Heathrow and M25
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 28 Apr 11 - 10:16 PM

"any problems now on the M1 following the fire ?"

I didn't know the M1 was following the fire....