The M1 joins the M25 North of London. You take the M25 and the M20 to Eurotunnel as its just off the M20.
The other South East option off the M25 is the M2 and A2 which goes to Dover. M20 is best for the tunnel.
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St Clair, use a route finder such as Via Michelin.com - put in your starting and finishing points and it will give you outline route options and distances.
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Have been going Scotland-Eurotunnel for years, never go near M1.
M25/M20 always.
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You don't have much choice but to use M25 to get past London, it's a horribly busy (take that to mean snails pace!) road at weekday rush hour times 6.30-9.30am and 3.00-7.30pm, the eastern route is a toll crossing over the Thames (NO BOOTHS, pay online/by phone). It's NEVER a joy to drive at any time, allow plenty of time to negotiate it! I'm a Londoner and use it often - REALLY wish I didn't have too! As a stranger to town DO NOT even consider North and South Circular roads A406/A205 as alternative to M25 to get around London, the A205 especially, truly is the stuff or nightmares!!!!!!!
Neither M1 nor M6 are good routes in my experience, last couple of trips to/from Lake District from/to London have taken me 10 Hours (instead of well under 6 hours as it should be!) because of countless hold ups and tens of miles of clutch pumping crawling! - I'm led to believe by friends in Midlands that is not unusual! I've certainly not got past Birmingham easily in decades.
If going north/returning to London, I tend to try and use A1/A1(M). M1 nearly always has hold ups as you get within 50 odd miles of London.
I use TomTom Mydrive route planner which allows you to customise your vehicle details and journey preferences, generally find it to be one of the best, as it shows traffic delays, alternative routes etc., and timings are much closer to realistic than some route planners!
Driving south from the Borders I would go down A1(M) from Newcastle and then M11 to the M25.
I would listen to the traffic news before and during the journey as the M6 and A1 have recently been having incidents that closed the entire road in one direction. It will give you a chance to change route.
When we used to travel down from Sheffield to the tunnel we used to set off at 1am and get a 5:30am crossing - no traffic on M25 and no Thames crossing fees - then head to Baie de Somme services so I could get a couple of hours sleep before we pushed on to the Loire or Beaune / Macon for the first night depending on where we were heading.
Quote: Originally posted by longcol on 25/8/2022
When we used to travel down from Sheffield to the tunnel we used to set off at 1am and get a 5:30am crossing - no traffic on M25 and no Thames crossing fees - then head to Baie de Somme services so I could get a couple of hours sleep before we pushed on to the Loire or Beaune / Macon for the first night depending on where we were heading.
Great to have a stress free start to the holiday.
I always used to favour driving overnight on long journeys, and did it for years, but past few years when I've tried planning journeys that way I've been thwarted by so many major roads being completely closed overnight for road works/maintenance. Got caught out on M4 earlier this year when I was delayed and they shut a section from 8.00pm, it was a hellish detour trip on the tortuous A roads through towns and villages!
If you are OK with night driving (not everyone is happy with it!), I'd say give it consideration, certainly the southern half of England will have MUCH quieter roads, BUT DO CHECK on overnight road closures, and be sure any detours are acceptable.
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Heading south to Euro tunnel
via mobile 23/8/2022 at 2:48pm
