Into London from the west: how do you do it?

Into London from the west: how do you do it?

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Discussion

KomodoWagon

Original Poster:

156 posts

91 months

Thursday 16th January 2020
quotequote all
Boring, I know, compared to all this chat of scenic routes in Scotland and Wales. Soz.

I'm curious to discover if there are any clever routes that I don't know about to get into south west London (Wandsworth area) from the west or north west.

I often travel back on the M40 and tend to get on the M25, then on the M4 exiting onto the A205 over Kew Bridge. This has become much busier of late, especially the South Circular bit. If I hit it at the wrong time, I can easily spend 90 minutes in nose-to-tail traffic between Kew Bridge and Wandsworth.

I've been wondering if it would be more efficient to stay on the M25 a little longer and get off at junction 10, and head in on the A3.

Anyone got any other genius shortcuts I should know about? I'd rather avoid those horrible 6'6 width restrictors, and the Hammersmith gyratory, if possible.

Many thanks in advance.

M4cruiser

4,089 posts

157 months

Thursday 16th January 2020
quotequote all
Yes, I have done many, many trips to Putney from the West and South West.

My conclusion is: always go by train.
wink


BuddyLove25

62 posts

157 months

Thursday 16th January 2020
quotequote all
I have been commuting this recently out from Putney towards the M25/M3 junction in the morning and back in the evenings.

It can be 6 and two 3s, however the road is generally clear in the evenings on the A3 going straight in to Putney.

It depends on how the M25 is, but recently the M4 has also been slowed to 50mph as well due to road works which also is an added reason to avoid.

I personally prefer the A3, however one thing to watch out for is that there have recently been a few speed vans hiding on the side - so worth being vigilant!

Edited by BuddyLove25 on Thursday 16th January 18:50

KomodoWagon

Original Poster:

156 posts

91 months

Thursday 16th January 2020
quotequote all
BuddyLove25 said:
I have been commuting this recently out from Putney towards the M25/M3 junction in the morning and back in the evenings.

It can be 6 and two 3s, however the road is generally clear in the evenings on the A3 going straight in to Putney.

It depends on how the M25 is, but recently the M4 has also been slowed to 50mph as well due to road works which also is an added reason to avoid.

I personally prefer the A3, however one thing to watch out for is that there have recently been a few speed vans hiding on the side - so worth being vigilant!
Thanks, yes I reckon I'm going to give the A3 a try next time I do this journey. Speed vans don't worry me, I tend to waft along at the speed limit rather than 'press on' these days anyway. Must be getting old...


M4cruiser said:
Yes, I have done many, many trips to Putney from the West and South West.

My conclusion is: always go by train.
wink
If only... not always possible though! Speaking of heading south-west, my squeaky-bum moment is always driving past Stonehenge on the A303. You never know when some post-picnic gawper is going to randomly slam the brakes on so they can 'get a better look'. Terrifying. yikes

leggly

1,832 posts

218 months

Thursday 16th January 2020
quotequote all
Putney Bridge via Hammersmith and take the first left. This brings you into Armoury Way in Wandsworth opposite Chelsea Cars. I would use Hammersmith Bridge to Barnes but it appears to be closed until May.

Stuart Fordyce

1,578 posts

68 months

Saturday 18th January 2020
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Tried a lot of these ways as I am in Streatham and have friends in Berks and Bucks, travel a lot of the time to the West Midlands with work and the family are in Glasgow.

You're as well just going down the A40 to Westfield and then going down through Earl's Court and over Battersea Bridge.