Need some local knowledge - Hertford to Whetsone

[Chris71]

I know there are a couple of Hertford people on here, so I wondered if anyone could recommend the best rush-hour route into North London?

I need to get from the eastern tip of Hertford, by the A10, to North Finchley High Road/Whetstone type area. The A10 itself will take me too far east, the A1 might be an option but sounds potentially problematic on a weekday morning and the B158 is far more pleasant, but it still means negotiating Hertford at one end and Potters Bar at the other - both of which will presumably get busy when the schools go back.

So far I've been using the Ware Rd to go through Hertford and that gets snarled up near the train station. As far as I can see, doubling back onto the A414 would still leave me negotiating the same roundabouts near the town centre. Would it make sense to go out through Hertford Heath or nip on the A10 initially before cutting across country towards Cuffley?

Not that I'm complaining, you understand. After five years of suburban purgatory it was faintly surreal to be doing the morning commute on the B158 this morning...

[E36GUY]

I almost do this every day from Essendon to North Finchley. The route is entirely dependent on whether the schools are in or out.

You need to learn the side streets through Hertford to avoid your snarl up. I can't help you there as I don't do this bit but I know there is a way as my bother in law did it for years. Then it's follow the road to Essendon, past my gaff and through the village and down Kentish Lane. Through Potters Bar (never too bad) then on down the A1000.

When the schools are out, it's joyous simply following the main road all the way but when they are in, any time after about 0745 the end of Kentish lane can be difficult but there are other routes to the A1000 that avoid this. Then, when one gets to Hadley Wood, you'll want to turn left and learn the Barnet back streets that can pop you out in Whetstone as the main road is nightmarish.

Been doing this for four years so have got it nailed. I'd be happy to show you the way.

[Chris71]

Sounds good. I think I stumbled across the back way through Hertford this morning (Hagsdell Rd). I've been using the A111 through Cockfosters so far, but did wonder about the A1000 - that's the one that goes past the Duke of York, I believe?

I lived in Northaw briefly and Enfield before that, so I know the road that runs across to Botany Bay. I guess that's one way of cutting out the end of Kentish Lane. (I notice a lot of people take the Newgate St turning - probably for this reason?)

Is it Wagon Road you use to cut across if you're coming down the A1000?

Looking at the map there are plenty of different options. Currently it's taking me about 40 minutes. I'm just hoping I can keep it under an hour come September.

ETA Got me road numbers mixed up! :-)

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 5th August 13:40

[decadent]

I cross the A1000 on my walk to the station everyday through Potters Bar at 730 and sometimes 8AM. It's never busy as in stop start traffic, but there is a flow of cars.

I have driven from Potters Bar to High Barnet tube Station at 8AM and once you hit Hadley Green & the high street the traffic is terrible (took me 15 mins to get from there to the tube station), best off shooting down the back of hadley green toward monken hadley and using the back road to navigate through East Barnet, Oakleigh Park and then up to the A1000 for Whetstone.

[Chris71]

When you guys use the A1000, are you turning down Dury Rd/Hadley Green Rd - the one with the gates? I did that this morning and emerged onto the main road near Barnet tube.

[E36GUY]

Chris71 said:

When you guys use the A1000, are you turning down Dury Rd/Hadley Green Rd - the one with the gates? I did that this morning and emerged onto the main road near Barnet tube.

Yes but my route goes towards richmond road, then down past oakleigh road train station then right at the roundabout just beyond then right again emerging practically on the traffic lights at the junction of totteridge lane

[Chris71]

E36GUY said:

Chris71 said:

When you guys use the A1000, are you turning down Dury Rd/Hadley Green Rd - the one with the gates? I did that this morning and emerged onto the main road near Barnet tube.

Yes but my route goes towards richmond road, then down past oakleigh road train station then right at the roundabout just beyond then right again emerging practically on the traffic lights at the junction of totteridge lane

Think I cracked it this morning. Popped out of Plantagenet Rd, cut across towards East Barnet Village type area on York Rd and then dog legged onto the road with the width restriction that runs past Oakleigh Park Station.

Also experimented with an alternative route off Kentish Lane - Wildhill Rd, although looking at the map I realise this wasn't the best way of doing it.

[E36GUY]

The turning off Kentish Lane that I use is turn after Wildhill. The last one on the right before the final straight. It's called Grubbs Lane then you turn left into Woodside Lane and pop out but the Total petrol station.

[Chris71]

Yep, that looked like a good option on the map.

Thanks for the help. On a more PH-relevant topic I'll have to pick your brains on BMWs at some point. Promised myself a new daily driver once the house was sorted out and I think I'm heading towards an E36 coupe. That or maybe an E46 compact...