Best way to drive from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to East London?
Discussion
I’ve got my 1st experience of driving from Newcastle where I study to my home in London but need the best way to drive with the least (preferably zero) speed cameras in the quickest time.
Don’t want to risk losing my licence unnecessarily by getting caught out especially on such a long drive so any suggestions on best route, best time to drive, where to stop potentially
For added context (for anyone who may know) I’ll be travelling to Chingford/Walthamstow from Newcastle city centre
Many thanks
Don’t want to risk losing my licence unnecessarily by getting caught out especially on such a long drive so any suggestions on best route, best time to drive, where to stop potentially
For added context (for anyone who may know) I’ll be travelling to Chingford/Walthamstow from Newcastle city centre
Many thanks
I can’t imagine a route that would not have a speed camera. It will be easiest to take a motorway route (A1M or M1/A1) and keep to the limits, knowing there WILL be speed cameras, than risk a cross-country route where you may not see the speed cameras.
Does your car have a speed limiter, or cruise control?
Does your car have a speed limiter, or cruise control?
Personally I'd take the A1 over the M1, then jump onto the M11 (used to live in Wanstead and travelled regularly to my home town in Yorkshire)
It may be slightly slower, depending on how few roadworks there are on the M1, but it's less monotonous, has roundabouts to keep you awake, and takes you more directly to east London without having to use the m25
It may be slightly slower, depending on how few roadworks there are on the M1, but it's less monotonous, has roundabouts to keep you awake, and takes you more directly to east London without having to use the m25
sociopath said:
Personally I'd take the A1 over the M1, then jump onto the M11 (used to live in Wanstead and travelled regularly to my home town in Yorkshire)
It may be slightly slower, depending on how few roadworks there are on the M1, but it's less monotonous, has roundabouts to keep you awake, and takes you more directly to east London without having to use the m25
this ^^^ M1 can be frickin' horribleIt may be slightly slower, depending on how few roadworks there are on the M1, but it's less monotonous, has roundabouts to keep you awake, and takes you more directly to east London without having to use the m25
need more info...
where you starting from in the Newcastle Area north or south ?
And the final destination around London.
Used to work in east London and returned to the Ayrshire area regularly and there were a number of routes.
The A1 back then was roundabouts and two lanes... waggon heavy too so it could keep the speed down. late night was good as you could keep a decent average speed and miss alot of the traffic.
if your south of Newcastle then the M6 isnt much benefit, however if you werre north of newcastle.. A69 across to Hayden bridge and then the A686 down to Penrith and on to the A66 to the M6. A good road but do it in daylight as its cross country and twisty.
South on the M6 skirt round B'ham on the toll and then the M42 down to the M40 and then head towards London. M40 to the A404 and use that for the south west side of London. M25 for the North West or stay on M40-A40 for central London
South of Newcastle ? its the A19 or A1(M) south you have a choice near to Leeds of going over to the M1 or staying on the A1. You might want to stay on the A1 to the M18 to miss Sheffield section of the M1. Last chance for the M1 here. M1 is prob best for north London. Stay on the A1 its mostly dual carriage way with bits of three lane motorway from time to time. Once you get to the A14 thats your time to decide East London and Dartford crossing or North London.
The M6 can be better than the M1 but it adds some distance to the trip and the A686 is a good driving road...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A686_road
where you starting from in the Newcastle Area north or south ?
And the final destination around London.
Used to work in east London and returned to the Ayrshire area regularly and there were a number of routes.
The A1 back then was roundabouts and two lanes... waggon heavy too so it could keep the speed down. late night was good as you could keep a decent average speed and miss alot of the traffic.
if your south of Newcastle then the M6 isnt much benefit, however if you werre north of newcastle.. A69 across to Hayden bridge and then the A686 down to Penrith and on to the A66 to the M6. A good road but do it in daylight as its cross country and twisty.
South on the M6 skirt round B'ham on the toll and then the M42 down to the M40 and then head towards London. M40 to the A404 and use that for the south west side of London. M25 for the North West or stay on M40-A40 for central London
South of Newcastle ? its the A19 or A1(M) south you have a choice near to Leeds of going over to the M1 or staying on the A1. You might want to stay on the A1 to the M18 to miss Sheffield section of the M1. Last chance for the M1 here. M1 is prob best for north London. Stay on the A1 its mostly dual carriage way with bits of three lane motorway from time to time. Once you get to the A14 thats your time to decide East London and Dartford crossing or North London.
The M6 can be better than the M1 but it adds some distance to the trip and the A686 is a good driving road...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A686_road
Edited by ruggedscotty on Monday 14th June 01:06
A1. A1/M11 if your want east London.
You can't do that journey avoiding cameras (unless you go on minor roads, which takes you much longer)
Just don't drive like a knob. It's not hard to keep below 75mph. Throttle isn't on or off you know!
I do hundreds of miles on the A1 every week. Speeding makes very little difference to your overall, total journey time.
You can't do that journey avoiding cameras (unless you go on minor roads, which takes you much longer)
Just don't drive like a knob. It's not hard to keep below 75mph. Throttle isn't on or off you know!
I do hundreds of miles on the A1 every week. Speeding makes very little difference to your overall, total journey time.
The Road Crew said:
A1. A1/M11 if your want east London.
You can't do that journey avoiding cameras (unless you go on minor roads, which takes you much longer)
Just don't drive like a knob. It's not hard to keep below 75mph. Throttle isn't on or off you know!
I do hundreds of miles on the A1 every week. Speeding makes very little difference to your overall, total journey time.
I’d go with that. It’s a long trip, doesn’t seem much point detouring here and there for better “driving roads “. Do that another day.You can't do that journey avoiding cameras (unless you go on minor roads, which takes you much longer)
Just don't drive like a knob. It's not hard to keep below 75mph. Throttle isn't on or off you know!
I do hundreds of miles on the A1 every week. Speeding makes very little difference to your overall, total journey time.
I've done Suffolk to Teeside a few times - A14/A1 and 4 hours without a fear of my license. Why the burning rush? If you drive at 90 you'll have to stop for a break anyway as it takes so much more attention and is more stressful, so just chill and sit about 70 instead and you'll get there about the same time.
Chainsaw Rebuild said:
Use Waze, it will take you the correct route at that particular time based on traffic density etc.
Also, don’t go at rush hour.
Very much this but on a journey like that the chances are it's always going to be rush hour somewhere.Also, don’t go at rush hour.
If you do it in the day time, long stretches of the A1 become tedious because of lorries snail racing. If you get an early start, you'll hit the Leeds/Sheffield conurbation at 7-8 AM and more than likely get snarled up in some sort of M62/A1/M1 interchange mayhem. If you leave in the afternoon you'll have an easier ride out of Newcastle but hit it for the evening rush hour instead. So, I tend to leave at 4 - 5 PM and accept I'll be home late. The trouble then is that after about 9 PM the motorways start getting coned off for various night works, but luckily South of Warwickshire there are enough alternative routes and I have a good enough 'mental map' to skirt most of it. Timing is 80% of it, luck is 20%. A good traffic feature on your sat nav might reduce that to 10%
2gins said:
Or maybe we could just answer the OP's question instead of being a condescending arse.
We all make mistakes / get distracted, it's a long drive and it's a good idea to look remove a potential point of stress on the journey.
Doesn’t the second paragraph put YOU into the criteria for the first paragraph?We all make mistakes / get distracted, it's a long drive and it's a good idea to look remove a potential point of stress on the journey.
Although he didn’t say it, it sounds to me that the OP is looking to put his foot down.
A long journey is tiring, so driving within the limits sounds sensible to moi. Much like you say!
Stopping for 20 minutes regularly is what I would do. Coffee and wee.
APontus said:
Depending on where in Newcastle you're starting from, it's either begin on the A19 then Dishforth A1/A14/M11, or straight onto the A1 at Newcastle and the same. That's the only sensible A-B route. M1 of A1 problematic.
Someone mentioned A69/M6. Erm, no. That would be silly.
Agreed, and as mentioned on another thread it's always a good idea to keep an ear out for traffic reports on the radio and have a mental map of the network for diversions.Someone mentioned A69/M6. Erm, no. That would be silly.
For example, you're heading south on A1, not passed Newark, hear that A1 or M11 further south is an issue. Divert off at Newark, onto A46, fast road to Leicester, join M1, continue journey. Just one example.
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