Potters Bar to Banbury - alternative routes?

[Chris71]

I'm soon going to be travelling regularly between Potters Bar and Banbury.

On the face of it, M25 -> M40 is a bit of a no brainer, but are there any realistic alternatives when one or both of these roads inevitably gets clogged?

[Red Devil]

M40 heading away from London should be fine. It's the M25 to get to it which could be the problem. The following route avoids motorways completely and is much more direct. Conversely there are some towns to cope with (Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, and Bicester). Horses for courses. Depends on how much those extra minutes matter to you.

B656
A1081
A414
A41

then
M40
or
A4421/A4095 (Bicester ring road)
B4100
A4260

[Chris71]

Good thinking on the A41. Basically this sort of thing?

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=potters+bar&a...

Anyone have any idea if the A41 around Aylesbury tends to be any worse at rush hour than the northern stretch of the M25 at the same time? I guess the best option is probably to default to the M25, but check the traffic reports in the morning to check for any closures.

Any tips for not going postal when you have a two hour commute?

[Snowboy]

There's a cut through at St Albans to go from m25-m40.
It's a bit of a gamble whether it saves much time though.

[Chris71]

Snowboy said:

There's a cut through at St Albans to go from m25-m40.

Do tell...

[Red Devil]

Chris71 said:

Good thinking on the A41. Basically this sort of thing?

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=potters+bar&a...

Spot on.

Chris71 said:

Anyone have any idea if the A41 around Aylesbury tends to be any worse at rush hour than the northern stretch of the M25 at the same time? I guess the best option is probably to default to the M25, but check the traffic reports in the morning to check for any closures.

All the roads on that part of the route are two lane - no D/Cs at all so it will be slow going at rush hour. I'm a bit puzzled why you would be in Aylesbury at the peak though.

Chris71 said:

Any tips for not going postal when you have a two hour commute?

Change jobs/work from home?

Chris71 said:

Snowboy said:

There's a cut through at St Albans to go from m25-m40.

Do tell...
[/quote
I think he is confusing the M40 with the M1...
M25 J22 -> A1081 -> A414 -> M1 J8
It's part of the route I posted earlier.