M1 or A1m to go north?
Discussion
The M1 is completely fine at non peak times. The only remaining roadwork sections are at Northampton (16ish miles) and near Nottingham (7ish miles).
You can make really good progress, plenty of space to overtake anything slower moving - at least to Leeds coming from London, it's a perfectly viable route option if you travel outside of the busy hours.
You can make really good progress, plenty of space to overtake anything slower moving - at least to Leeds coming from London, it's a perfectly viable route option if you travel outside of the busy hours.
I travel from London to the Midlands and North West at least once a month. I normally take the M1 unless there's a crash. Weekend travelling isn't usually a problem, but weekday travelling is always in the afternoons.
Going north doesn't tend to be much of a problem on the M1, the worst part is the enormously long roadworks up by Rugby (20ish minutes at 50mph is soul-destroying). Coming back south also involves a spell on the M25 which is even more frustrating when you've just driven over 200 miles and you're stuck in half an hour of traffic just to cover the last 5 miles home.
I usually consult Google Maps before I leave to get a flavour for which route is the better option. It's actually very good at getting your ETA right and adapting to traffic/issues on the roads. I suspect Waze would do a very similar job.
Going north doesn't tend to be much of a problem on the M1, the worst part is the enormously long roadworks up by Rugby (20ish minutes at 50mph is soul-destroying). Coming back south also involves a spell on the M25 which is even more frustrating when you've just driven over 200 miles and you're stuck in half an hour of traffic just to cover the last 5 miles home.
I usually consult Google Maps before I leave to get a flavour for which route is the better option. It's actually very good at getting your ETA right and adapting to traffic/issues on the roads. I suspect Waze would do a very similar job.
I live to the west of London so use the M40 to go North - much better!
I will cross over to the M1 (if I can't avoid it) but much further North.
IMHO The M1 is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. A-roads are probably better (and quicker)!
Which does make me wonder why anyone bothers with "motorways"!
I could have used the M3 tonight (assuming it was actually open - no signs to say either way), but despite the 4 year "upgrade" that is reportedly finished I suspect it would still be shut!
Because the M25 J12 slip-road onto the M3 was probably shut, and a detour via Ashford has no appeal at all I stayed on the A3, A31 and A331!
So avoid "motorways" would be my advice - because they are a total waste of time and usually closed!
I will cross over to the M1 (if I can't avoid it) but much further North.
IMHO The M1 is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. A-roads are probably better (and quicker)!
Which does make me wonder why anyone bothers with "motorways"!
I could have used the M3 tonight (assuming it was actually open - no signs to say either way), but despite the 4 year "upgrade" that is reportedly finished I suspect it would still be shut!
Because the M25 J12 slip-road onto the M3 was probably shut, and a detour via Ashford has no appeal at all I stayed on the A3, A31 and A331!
So avoid "motorways" would be my advice - because they are a total waste of time and usually closed!
Depends where starting from and when. The A1 is more likely to be closed at night than the M1. I would start on the M1 and if you see signs saying it's closed further up, you have the option of crossing to the A1 via A421 or A46. If you're going to Newcastle the new motorway section is open up to Catterick but work is ongoing beyond that.
If it's really a six of one, half a dozen of another then I'd check http://www.trafficengland.com/ five minutes before the off and let them make your decision for you. If they say they're both running freely, take the M1 'cos three lanes are better than two when doing long journeys.
If I'm doing London to Newcastle, I'll use M1 if I'm well away from peak times or A1 if it's going to be busy. A1 is normally fine but is generally a slower road than the M1. Lots of DC only, lots of 50mph and a few roundabouts chucked in for good measure. But it's the lesser trodden route so doesn't seem to get jammed up in the same way the M1 is capable of. If I'm far enough over, I'll use M11 for first section. It's the best option of the lot but not that much use if you're west of london.
Voldemort said:
If they say they're both running freely, take the M1 'cos three lanes are better than two when doing long journeys.
+1Lorries overtaking each other are very prevalent on the A1, pretty much blocking it.
You'll be lucky to get to 70 mph most of the time.
When that's not happening, the car drivers have lousy lane discipline and tailgate each
other in lane 2, leaving lane 1 empty for as far as the eye can see.
Personally, I use the M40 when going North. It's a quieter road and means I can get off
the dreaded M25 sooner than using the M1 or A1.
BTW, roadworks on the A14 NW of Cambridge until 2020, so don't even bother
trying the M11/A14 route.
Is your journey really necessary ? All in all, getting North from London is likely
to be even harder work than usual for the next few years.
I had to go to Gateshead on Tuesday from Wiltshire and used the M1 which then obviously went into the A1m at the M18, I digress slightly but it is very surprising how many people prefer to use the M5 round my way to then go round Birmingham to then get on the M1, someone was following me and took that route, I just headed up the Fosse Way (A429) all the way to Coventry and Warwick before picking up the M69 and M1, when I rang my colleague he was still an hour back when I got to the M1.
The way back was even easier as the M5 had a lorry fire with major delays, 5 and a half hours instead of 7 or 8.
I found that apart from the 50mph stretches on the A1m where they are doing the Mway conversions it was pretty freeflowing even at 3 and 4pm.
Oh and the sex shop in the services did make me chuckle.
The way back was even easier as the M5 had a lorry fire with major delays, 5 and a half hours instead of 7 or 8.
I found that apart from the 50mph stretches on the A1m where they are doing the Mway conversions it was pretty freeflowing even at 3 and 4pm.
Oh and the sex shop in the services did make me chuckle.
DanielSan said:
Outside of rush hour probably M1, but the A1 is more interesting purely for the random stuff that's by it, from random sex shops to that Art Deco looking services.
There are certainly a lot of sex shops on the A1. I do wonder who drives along and then suddenly realises they need an inflatable butt plug the size of a cantaloupe.
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