We are visiting our son for the first time in his new flat in Brixton this weekend. Looking at various routes down from Leeds the A1/M11 seems to be best as this avoids crossing central London. My TomTom suggests the M1 and then literally driving across the city.

I haven't driven through London for years but remember it was a nightmare last time we did.

Any advice from London members appreciated.  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

Last edited by Bradders on Thu May 07 2015 4:41pm. Edited 1 time in total

I drove to London last week and went down the M1 as I was staying in Waltham Abbey. It was a mistake as there was something like 17 miles of roadworks on the M1 and a 50 mph limit. A1/M11 makes sense but it does get hellish busy around Huntingdon.

I am sure that someone from that area will give you good advice,

Thanks. We are going down early on Sunday morning, hoping to avoid as much traffic as possible. FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

I go to London a fair bit and avoid the M1 like the plague, I always use the M40 and never seem to get held up, if your coming down the M1 from Leeds get on the A42 by Nottingham which then turns in to the M42 from there pick up M40 its will be more miles to cover but you should get to London quicker

Traffic tends to be OK before 11am on a Sunday morning but that might be too early if you are starting off in Leeds. M1 and A406(W) can be a real pain when there is an event at Wembley and the same goes for M4 for Twickenham events - so check that.

A1/M11 sounds like a good option. Should get you inside London fairly quickly if there aren't too many roadworks on the motorways. Then take A406(E), A13 and A23. By the time you get to A23 you WILL get traffic unless it is really early but can't avoid that.

I now always take the M25 when going south. More than doubles my miles from north west London but much more free-flowing journey compared to the ALWAYS clogged up western section of A205 etc. However, usually I don't have to go too much "inside" after leaving M25 so works for me (only a little bit of A23 left to endure). Brixton is too central to recommend that unfortunately as you will have to crawl back up quite a bit after M25. Current: Volvo XC90 T8 Inscription Pro PHEV with some optionals on top
Gone: MY16 RRS2 3.0 SDV6 Autobiography Dynamic, Carpathian Grey & Santorini Black Sliding Pano/Ebony & Ivory 2 Tone
Gone: MY13 RRS 3.0 SDV6 HSE Black Edition, Orkney Grey/Ivory
Gone: MY09 RRS 2.7 TDV6 HSE, Santorini Black/Almond

always was a fan of the A1 M11? when i used to head down to Kent to see an old flame, much nicer driver, though you had to watch for the speed cameras, but with the M1 been so much 50mph its a nightmare

If you choose M1, i now go A1/M18/M1 as it cuts out the speed limits north of sheffield, and saves me 20-30mins on my trips to Derby

Whenever I drive down I usually use the M6/M42/M40 and M25 - I drove down to Luton at the end of March via the M1 and from Brum to Luton it was 40/50/60 average speed cams all the way just about - great for fuel consumption, but I wished I had taken my trusted route on the M6/M42/M40, then round the M25 - miuch less hassle and there is a good break stop at the Bitish Motor Industry Heritage Centre at Gaydon which is a way nicer stop with Cafe than any motorway services and cheaper fuel at Gaydon Village Esso station than just along the motorway. If you are calling into the Motor Heritage Centre but don't want to visit the museum tell the reception you are going to the loos and Cafe or drive round the one way to the conference car parking and enter by the back doors! It adds a few miles on to the trip going that way, but it is more pleasant and quicker than the M1 at the moment. 2020 Pangea Green 1st Edition D240 New Defender 110 is here and loving it
2018 Melting Silver Mini Countryman PHEV - soon to be replaced
2015MY Corris Grey SDv6 HSE Dynamic, the best car I have ever owned, totally reliable only a cou0le of rattles in 3 years, now no longer in my care
Also in my garage is a 1996 TDi300 Defender 90 County HT made into a fake CSW

stevew wrote:

I always use the M40 and never seem to get held up

You're jolly lucky then - the M40 has more than its fair share of shunts / hold ups.  2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Thanks all - early morning start, A1/M11 and then FK's directions round to Brixton  FF 4.4 V8 Soooo looking forward to this bad boy
Ex 2006 RRS SC - garbage
Ex 2016 135i M Sport - dream car
Ex 2003 RS6 Avant - piece of cr*p
Ex 2014 320d X Drive, M Sport Touring - ok I guess
Ex 2007 RRS TDV8 - bloody loved it
EX 2007 FL2 XS - not so bad

A1, M11, 406, A13, past Canary wharf, through limehouse link tunnel on to the highway, turn left over tower bridge and straight down to the bricklayers arms roundabout, take 2nd exit (new Kent rd) down to elephant and castle roundabout, take 1st exit (Kennington park rd) keep left and in about a mile bare left at traffic lights on to the A23 (Brixton road), then straight down is Brixton town centre.

Hope this helps
PS keep your doors locked going through Brixton.