London - drive through or go round?

[scaryoldcortina]

The capri I need to collect tomorrow is in Sutton (which it seems is sarf lundun) so I have a question... Is it better to use the M25 all the way round to leatherhead and then up the A24 through Epsom. or North/South circular roads and then wandsworth/wimbledon/merton and down the A24 instead?

 

Both routes say they should take about the same time, but the M25 is about 20 miles further. I don't have to worry about LEZ because I'm driving a 3500kg truck, but I have no idea if I need to sort congestion charge or anything like that. Google and AA direction finders don't mention needing it though..

 

Sorry for the boring-ness, have a picture of the capri in question during happier times.

[scruff]

I would go round the M25 unless you are doing it in the early hours (Ace Cafe do a nice breakfast and open at 7am)

[scaryoldcortina]

To be there that early I'd have to set off now! It's lunchtime I'm looking at so I'm guessing the M25 is the safer bet.

[Lankytim]

FFS GO AROUND!!!!!!!!!!

[messerschmitt owner]

FFS Go round and FFS get rod of that pic before Team Blitz sees it!

 

It's got one of his car stickers on it!

[scaryoldcortina]

TB knows already... he drove that car to Kasakstan and back (they were aiming for mongolia, but missed)

[Torsten2001]

not far from me, deffo M25 though and you're nowhere near the congestion charge!

[Alexg]

THROUGH THE CENTRE OF LONDON!?!

 

Yes, do it

[HillmanImp]

It seems a long way to go but will be worth it as long as you get the car and crush it for crimes against style. WTF is that all about?

 

TBH it could probably be made to look normal with little effort but if I had the choice of being seen in that or being seen in Jackie Stallone, it would be a tough call but I would have to pick her.

 

*edit* I would go round the Heathrow way. Don't know if there are any roadworks down there at the mo but its normally not that bad if you pick the right time except for twerps slowing down to look at the pretty planes. Always get fucked off with the bridge going round the other way.

[pogweasel]

Through!

Easy peasy, and if it gets grim, just go a different way. Can't do that if it grinds to a halt on the 25, which it will, just beyond watford.

[scaryoldcortina]

aww, but if I go through, I can stop at Chez_seth for a cuppa on the way past. If I use the M25 I don't go near there. I suppose leatherhead means I could give EccentricRichard a knock instead...

[scaryoldcortina]

hillmanimp, that pic was before they covered every square inch with stickers! My main reason for driving all that way is that I had to use all the running gear off my capris to build that one, and I'd like my lucky pinto back! (plus, there is a £600 LSD in the back axle)

[dieselnutjob]

you say you are going to Sutton but not where you are coming from. M1 ?

the south circular is a joke

from the M1 to Hangar Lane (A40) it's three lanes then down to one.

The M25 is pretty bad anticlockwise up the the M4 at least (beyond that I have no experience) but off peak it's normally okay. If it's bad come off at J21 and head for watford. Just follow the road all the way to a roundabout where there is no straight on, go right at that one and follow. You will rejoin at J19.

It's 57% further to go 1/2 way round a circle rather than straight through the middle (PI/2=1.57) but I think you'll be going a lot more than 57% faster.

[pogweasel]

Balls to north/south circ, M1 > edgware road > marble arch > wave to liz > down to chelsea bridge > clapham common > merton > carshalton > sutton, done.

[Guest]

Erm, how do you miss Mongolia?

[ashmicro]

I got horribly lost going to Kent, and ended up driving across Tower Bridge. Found out that the Old Kent Road does indeed go to Kent! Who knew?

[M'coli]

Down past Seth's, cup of tea and a biscuit, then on to sutton. Back via the M25.

[Guest]

Drive into Seth's, then leg it - that'll teach him.

[seth]

Bit late as I guess you are "southbound and down" already (was offline yesterday pm) but if you were to go through (and Pogs route is not as daft as it sounds) then when you do get stuck in the odd hold up at least there's more to look at in town. I hate being sat in traffic on the motorway. There's nothing to do/people to watch. The "circular" route would be fine on the north side for the most part but once you get towards Kew (M4) I find it starts to grind.

 

Hirst, he'd have to get past the skip and girders currently performing adequate anti terrorist /ram raid duties here.

[michiel]

.

[Station]

It took me 5 hours to get out of London a few years ago, I'd go round.

[scaryoldcortina]

Usin Toddington services' free wifi to update.... If I see another motorway I might cry. I might stay on the M1 to edgeware road, like Pog suggested... How do you buy congestion charge? and how much is it?

[seth]

You won't need the congestion charge if you stick to Pogs suggested route. Edgware Rd, Marble Arch, Park Lane, Victoria station is all the boundary of the congestion zone. Just make sure you don't turn off (to the left) anywhere you see a red C.

[seth]

Map here.

 

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/congestioncharge/whereandwhen/

 

I'd offer to accompany you but I need to be here later this afternoon.

[254575]

do m25/a3/a24

 

 

stop off at egham junction for cup of tea with me

[scaryoldcortina]

I'm outside muttleys house (stealing someone's wifi) He's gone shopping!

 

I drove through in the end. wasn't any where near as bad as you all made out

[pogweasel]

Told you so.

I can haz teh knowlej.

[Andrew353w]

Going round the M25 must be the best bet; I realise it might be a bit more in miles but it's not going to involve any turns, twists, back routes or other problems. All you have to do is get on at one junction & off at the other one. The M4 to A1(M) bit is easy-I do it every day! If you break down near Jn 23 give me a shout-I live around there!

[scaryoldcortina]

I couldn't decide all the way down the M1... then there was a queue to join the M25 and that was it! It isn't every day you get to drive the full length of the M1, and then back again... also, I don't think I'm ever going to get another chance to razz a diesel truck with an elderly ford on the back through the centre of London

[seth]

also, I don't think I'm ever going to get another chance to razz a diesel truck with an elderly ford on the back through the centre of London

 

Novice!