Bristol to Leeds - What's the best route?

[ATV]

Hi guys,

I've got a trip to Leeds from Bristol leaving at 4pm , just wanted to ask someone who's done this route, what the least congested way would be?

There's 2 options on the sat nav

1) M32 > M4 > M5 > M42 > M1

or

2) M32 > M5 > M6 > M62

Which one would you guys recommend? Or is there a third alternative? If I could travel up the backroads (anything scenic), I'd be happy to follow those if they were quiet, I'm in no rush to get back, any advice would be welcome

Thanks everyone

[Catherine197]

Option 1 would be best. I do that route a lot when I go home to see my parents.

[blueyonder]

Both M6 & M1 can be lotteries really so you place your bets and takes your chances....also there still might be the road works on the M1 at Sheffield just after the M18 junction which can be a pinch point...might not be so bad on a Saturday

Check Highways Agency website before you go, it will give you the latest traffic problems on the motorways.

HTH

[XJ_Wanty]

I would say M42 route is better, it's still pants at rush hour but better than the M6. I've got to do Cornwall - Wakefield on Tuesday!

[GlenMH]

blueyonder said:

Both M6 & M1 can be lotteries really so you place your bets and takes your chances....also there still might be the road works on the M1 at Sheffield just after the M18 junction which can be a pinch point...might not be so bad on a Saturday

Check Highways Agency website before you go, it will give you the latest traffic problems on the motorways.

HTH

I have been doing this journey most weeks for the past 2 years. I agree with everything that blueyonder says above. I have got to the stage that I flip a coin when I get to the M5-M42 junction if there is nothing obvious on Trafficmaster.

On a Saturday, I would be worried about traffic for Meadowhall shopping centre so I would go for the M6...

Glen

[ATV]

Ok thanks guys, looks like the M1 north is the way to go. The other alternative is that I hang around Bristol for a couple of hours and wait until the afternoon rush hour dies down.

So my second question is: Where can I get a nice steak and chips at 4 o'clock in the afternoon? (I'll be driving from the Temple Meads area, any retail parks in the area with easy parking and a half decent restaurant?)

[pdV6]

ATV said:

So my second question is: Where can I get a nice steak and chips at 4 o'clock in the afternoon? (I'll be driving from the Temple Meads area, any retail parks in the area with easy parking and a half decent restaurant?)

Avonmeads retail park (at the end of St Phillips Causeway) is quite close. A few chain restaurants there.

From TM, left out of the main entrance & head for the A4 (left lane).
At the 3 Lamps junction, keep left heading A4.
At the traffic lights just by the HTV studios, go left past the Saab garage.
At the roundabout go straight over & you're there.

Can't guarantee quality of any food though!

[ATV]

Did the journey yesterday and ended up having to use both routes and both were pretty clear, took me approx 3.5 hours one way to do the journey. Given the choice though I would probably use the M1 over the M6.

On the way down I took the M1 and then the M42. This was about 10am and traffic was pretty good all the way

On the way back I heard that there was heavy traffic on the M1 around the Sheffield area (near the Meadowhall exit) so I decided to use the M6. Again all very good, leaving Bristol about 5pm. The only major snag was leaving Bristol city centre which was snaked up with traffic. The M6 was moving well at NSL, I've never used it before, but it was packed bumper to tailgate. I shudder to think what the scenes would be like if there was an accident.

Do people use the M6 toll much? I didn't see any signs for it going north but I would have used it if the traffic had been bad.

I never got a chance to stop and eat in Bristol either but thanks for the advice anyway. One of the prettiest city centres I've seen in the UK especially along the river with all the terrace cafes and pubs. Loads of friendly helpful people, I'd have probably stayed the night if I could have.

What's the nightlife like?

[Chip Hazard]

Nightlife's not too bad but I'm the wrong person to ask as I haven't been out on the town for years.

Lots of good eateries along Park Street and Whiteladies Road with the odd club in between.

As for the centre being pretty, it was even nicer before the council dug up the green bits and replaced with tons of concrete. Around the waterfront is nice now but full of chavs nowadays.

Bristol is nice, trendy even, but considering I came up here nine years ago from Yeovil, maybe I'm not a renowned expert on it.