M1 / M11 on a Sunday evening

[alexjp1976]

Hi. Travelling down to Folkestone on a Sunday evening leaving Derbyshire at around 5pm. Can anyone tell me if it's a busy time on the M1 and if it is, whether we'd be better taking the M11 as we get further south? Also advise on how busy the M25 is at that time would be great. Trying to judge the best eurotunnel crossing time to book for our family holiday.

Thanks in advance for any replies

[truck71]

If you leave Derbyshire at 5pm you'll hit the M25 from the M1 at 7ish, it will be busy but largely anti clockwise. M1 south will be busy but bearable. M11 is better but you've got to get across to the A1 first, may not help for time.
QE bridge is a lottery but if there aren't weather or accident related problems it'll be the usual 40mph crawl until the booths and a bit of a wait.

If I was leaving at 5pm I'd be booking a 930pm crossing but no earlier- you'll likely turn up sooner but not worried about missing your slot.

[alexjp1976]

Thank's very much

[chilistrucker]

I'd go m11 at the mo that way you'll avoid tbe big roadworks on the m25 between j23-j25

[Who me ?]

A few years ago , routes into /out of London could be congested on Sunday afternoons by hordes of weekend visitors heading back up to Birmingham and parts of Yorkshire. The wealthier ones clogged up L3 and the not so wealthy L2. Seldom in any of the weekends I worked down south did I see any of them in L1.Possibly still happens, and for that reason I always used the A14 and M11 .A lot faster , no congestion ,and better still no MLM, or some idiot in a MERC ( OLD OR NEW) trying to get you to exceed NSL ,by sitting inches from rear bumper.