Is M25 busy during rush hour?

[Russ T Bolt]

I need to be down just past Gatwick for 8.30am on Friday, does anybody know what the M25 is like between the M3 and M27 these days in the morning rush ?

Prior to the pandemic it would have been a nightmare, but I don't venture out much these days.

[MrBen1]

My view is it's not quite as busy as pre-pandemic, but it's not far off. You in are in the other direction to what is usually the worst bit in the morning, but doesn't take much for it to get sticky.

PS you mean M23 not M27.

[Truckosaurus]

It's all back to normal as far as I've noticed.

My M25 rule is to get through by 7am otherwise it is a stshow.

[Russ T Bolt]

MrBen1 said:

My view is it's not quite as busy as pre-pandemic, but it's not far off. You in are in the other direction to what is usually the worst bit in the morning, but doesn't take much for it to get sticky.

PS you mean M23 not M27.

I do, you're right.

My normal journey if I venture out is the other way down the M3, wasn't thinking.

[Russ T Bolt]

Thanks both.

I had planned to leave at 7am, but will bring that forward a bit to try and not be late.

[Bannock]

I drove from Reading to Gatwick yesterday morning in the rush hour, using the M3-M23 section anti-clockwise, it was pretty light traffic, certainly no hold ups. Left Reading 8am, was at Gatwick at 9.15. I did notice that the clockwise carriageway in the Surrey section was stationary though.

[Tommo87]

The opposite way your your own direction of travel, but..

From experience pre pandemic the clockwise direction always started to get heavy after the M23 joined in the mornings.

In the evenings the section after Reigate down the M23 was often stop start, if there had been an accident.


I would allow at least 50 mins for what should be a 20 mins journey,

Edited by Tommo87 on Wednesday 8th December 14:38

[NDA]

It's a little easier at the moment because of the school holidays. It does make a difference - odd as it sounds.

I use the M25 every day, although not your route, and it's a bit lighter this week.

[Bannock]

NDA said:

It's a little easier at the moment because of the school holidays. It does make a difference - odd as it sounds.

I use the M25 every day, although not your route, and it's a bit lighter this week.

I think it's more likely to be down to more people pre-empting the government and starting to WFH again because of Omicron. Schools haven't broken up yet.

[NDA]

Ah, OK, I thought the schools had broken up.

[sherman]

NDA said:

Ah, OK, I thought the schools had broken up.

Schools wont brake up until the 17th at the earliest
Even Universities are still doing exams this week.

[jamei303]

If I absolutely can't get stuck for several hours should the motorway be blocked due to a serious accident, I plan a route sticking to single-carriageway roads so i can always turn in the road and find another way if necessary. Interestingly from the M3 to M23 such a route takes an hour in light traffic vs half an hour on the M25.

[Russ T Bolt]

jamei303 said:

If I absolutely can't get stuck for several hours should the motorway be blocked due to a serious accident, I plan a route sticking to single-carriageway roads so i can always turn in the road and find another way if necessary. Interestingly from the M3 to M23 such a route takes an hour in light traffic vs half an hour on the M25.

I'm taking our 8M motorhome to have the levelling jacks serviced and a leak repaired.

I won't be turning that easily in the road to find another way. So M3/M25/M23 is easier for me, even if I have to leave earlier.

Useful thing is though, if I get there early I will just read or watch TV whilst having a brew.

[TTmonkey]

Define ‘rush hour’…..

[NDA]

TTmonkey said:

Define ‘rush hour’…..

M25 is at it's busiest from around 7:30am through until maybe 10am. I use it a lot....

However, going anticlockwise from M3 towards Gatwick is usually a lot lighter. But coming back could be a mare - Gatwick junction on M25 through to M3 can be awful - but time won't be an issue for the OP coming back.

[Mr Tidy]

Whatever time you do that journey expect to join a queue on the M25 between J12 and J11 thanks to a reduced speed limit backing everything up - the only time that didn't apply was last Christmas Day. :banghed:

But it does mean it is usually pretty free=flowing once you get past J11.

[hilly10]

sherman said:

Schools wont brake up until the 17th at the earliest
Even Universities are still doing exams this week.

Only private schools break up that early

[sherman]

hilly10 said:

sherman said:

Schools wo[/b]nt brake up until the 17th at the earliest
Even Universities are still doing exams this week.

Only private schools break up that early

Read what is written before spouting your mouth off.
Private schools are still schools

[Furyblade_Lee]

Truckosaurus said:

It's all back to normal as far as I've noticed.

My M25 rule is to get through by 7am otherwise it is a stshow.

Damn right. I live near jct.6, and clockwise I try to be OFF it by 7am latest no matter where I am going. Anti-clock towards Dartford you are generally ok until you hit the crossing.