London to Cheshire

London to Cheshire

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Discussion

philipc121

Original Poster:

1 posts

75 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
quotequote all
Hi folks,

I'm driving from west London up to west Cheshire later this week and wondered if anyone had any good suggestions for roads to seek out on the way. I've had a look round and found a few suggestions but nothing major.

I've pretty much got all day so going on a slightly longer/indirect route isn't a big issue. Hoping for good weather for a proper top-down blast through the countryside biggrin

If anyone has recommendations for a good pub lunch along the way that would be much appreciated too!

Thanks,

P

jchesh

160 posts

78 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
quotequote all
I've made this journey in both directions many times by motorbike and usually take the A5 (some boring bits but some pretty good bits as well, at least compared to going on the motorway) and then either go as far as Weston-under-lizard and take the A41 the rest of the way or alternatively turn off the A5 further south around Lichfield (junction with A38) and take th A51 the rest of the way.

Neither of these routes is the height of perfect A-road motoring all the way, but definitely have their moments, some of them really great especially on a sunny day. Of the two options, the A41 is in general wider and faster than the A51 and has more overtaking potential especially in a car, but the A51 is a little more interesting both in terms of scenery and bends.

If I'm not in a hurry I'll take the A5 all the way from London (aka Watling St - the old route of it is initially the A5183 until Dunstable), if trying to be a bit quicker I'll take the M1 up to Dunstable and join the A5 there.

From West London you'd need to start a little differently of course and look for a route up to the A5 from there, possibly via Aylesbury and Buckingham and joining the A5 at Towcester.

I have done north-central London to Chester in just under four hours before, but usually with traffic and stops it's more like 4.5 to 5. This is on a 500 or 1000 cc motorbike with a lot of overtakes.

Edited by jchesh on Tuesday 14th August 11:16


Edited by jchesh on Tuesday 14th August 11:16


Edited by jchesh on Tuesday 14th August 11:23

Smoggy XJR

552 posts

77 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
quotequote all
M1, head off to the Matlock and the
Peak District for a pootle. Snake pass to Manchester thence Cheshire.

Red Devil

13,190 posts

215 months

Tuesday 14th August 2018
quotequote all
philipc121 said:
Hi folks,

I'm driving from west London up to west Cheshire later this week and wondered if anyone had any good suggestions for roads to seek out on the way. I've had a look round and found a few suggestions but nothing major.

I've pretty much got all day so going on a slightly longer/indirect route isn't a big issue. Hoping for good weather for a proper top-down blast through the countryside biggrin

If anyone has recommendations for a good pub lunch along the way that would be much appreciated too!

Thanks,

P
As you have plenty of time, try this
https://goo.gl/maps/QkuwnbxNtnx
A bit of everything: motorways, fast d/cs, A and B roads.

For lunch, either of these. Both only a short diversion off the above route.
https://goo.gl/maps/rHm2eTfW4MS2
I haven't been to either for quite some time though, so they might have changed hands.
That's not necessarily a positive (from bitter experience)!

Mr Tidy

24,361 posts

134 months

Monday 10th September 2018
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The last time I went to Cheshire I used the M54, A41 and A49.

Much better than the misery of the soon to be "Smart" M6 - my a*se! banghead

eAyeAddio

71 posts

87 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
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[quote=jchesh]

I have done north-central London to Chester in just under four hours before, but usually with traffic and stops it's more like 4.5 to 5.

Good grief !

I regularly drove from north west London to Liverpool (before the Mi linked up with the M6) in around 3 hours.

Liverpool is 25 miles further from London than Chester.

In the 1970s !

Car was just as quick as the bike (it was a very fast car) helped by not needing to stop for fuel in the car.

Progress eh ?





,


mac96

4,436 posts

150 months

Thursday 18th October 2018
quotequote all
eAyeAddio said:
jchesh said:
I have done north-central London to Chester in just under four hours before, but usually with traffic and stops it's more like 4.5 to 5.

Good grief !

I regularly drove from north west London to Liverpool (before the Mi linked up with the M6) in around 3 hours.

Liverpool is 25 miles further from London than Chester.

In the 1970s !

Car was just as quick as the bike (it was a very fast car) helped by not needing to stop for fuel in the car.

Progress eh ?
3 hours?!! I reckon it would 'only' take me about 4 hours to get from SW London to Chester now as well- what sort of car did you used to have?

mmm-five

11,443 posts

291 months

Friday 19th October 2018
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My weekly commute is Liverpool Airport to Richmond (& vice versa).

On a good day it's 3h15m...on a bad day it can be double that.

The (only slightly exaggerated) 10 year and 1,000 mile stretch of 50mph average speed cameras on the M6 don't help.

eAyeAddio

71 posts

87 months

Thursday 25th October 2018
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mac96 said:
3 hours?!! I reckon it would 'only' take me about 4 hours to get from SW London to Chester now as well- what sort of car did you used to have?
In 1971 a Ferrari 365GTB (Generally referred to as a Daytona but the factory never called it that.....)


I know, I know ! :-)





,

mac96

4,436 posts

150 months

Thursday 25th October 2018
quotequote all
eAyeAddio said:
mac96 said:
3 hours?!! I reckon it would 'only' take me about 4 hours to get from SW London to Chester now as well- what sort of car did you used to have?
In 1971 a Ferrari 365GTB (Generally referred to as a Daytona but the factory never called it that.....)


I know, I know ! :-)





,
Very nice. About the same time I knew someone who claimed to be able to get from a village near Harlech to London in under 4 hours, in a 3 litre Capri. I was happy not to be a passenger!


anonymous-user

61 months

Thursday 25th October 2018
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Chester to Southend last week took exactly 4 hours.

A483, A5, M54,M6,M1,M25,A127.

Would have been quicker except for those interminable 50 zones where no work is being done.

It's a horrific journey I have to do far too often, can't imagine trying to make it longer, I just put Planet Rock on and tr ly and get it over amd done with

anonymous-user

61 months

Tuesday 30th October 2018
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Should you need a stop off, I can recommend the Cherry Tree pub at the service station where the A38 and A50 join.

(No connection with said pub, I just live in the area)

Mr Tidy

24,361 posts

134 months

Friday 2nd November 2018
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It used to be quicker - in 2003 I could get from Egham (TW20) to Cheshire (WA3) in 3 hours in a Leon Cupra.

But with all the 50 mph average malarkey and M42 "Smart" nonsense 4 hours would be a result! banghead