London, is it fun anymore? Show me!

[AdvocatusDiaboli]

I live in London, and I have a 944 Turbo Cabriolet. Now, I don't want to have to go all the way to Scotland to enjoy my car.

Can anyone suggest some nice, winding roads where I can have some fun and not get hit by speed cameras or lasers?

I don't intend to speed just enjoy the car's handling... And if speeding happens..! :angel:

I just love driving and bumper to bumper just isn't my idea of fun. Happy to drive up to an hour away, enjoy the road, have a meal at a pub and drive back.

Suggestions?

[7db]

Which side of London?

I'm an West and hoon around Bucks plenty. M4 -> Jn 7 gives a wide curving road to kick off, followed by twisties past Cliveden. Over A40, twisties round the back of High Wycombe to Chinnor, and you are away.

M40 out to Stokenchurch gives you Fish Hill followed by the Christmas Common s section through to Henley

Going south on A3 gives you access to the terrific roads around Chiddingley

If you are feeling adventurous, The Mall, up Constitution Hill, down Knightsbridge to the Gate, along the park up to HPC, up Piccadily, down haymarnet to Trafalgar square and you've completed a lap of the proposed London Grand Prix circuit.

Really only much good at 4am. And if you are out then go and give some loud outside Downing Street. (And don't forget to post your lap times!)

[trackdemon]

Take M11 nth, come off at Birchanger and take various routes cross country towards Newmarket. Quality, and a high country pub count. Watch out for bikes though...

[DamnFineChim]

South of the M25 you gotta try the A272. Lovely long windy road but WATCH OUT for the tiny, un-signposted bridge that I almost got airborne over...

[ubergreg]

A264 (Sussex) between East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells. Good scenery, and it's pretty open and fast in places. You can even peel off that road at almost any point and find loads more spectacular b-roads. M23 from South London will get you to A264 (one junction after Gatwick, and head East). Or out of S/E London: A21 to A26 through T' Wells

In fact, almost anywhere in East Sussex will serve you up some nice roads, and you don't need silly speeds either. But it helps. Theoretically speaking.

[simes205]

DamnFineChim said:

South of the M25 you gotta try the A272. Lovely long windy road but WATCH OUT for the tiny, un-signposted bridge that I almost got airborne over...

lol... I have!

[djfaulkner]

You can try the M3 junction 1 - 3 if you get the time right....

I managed 110 in the outside lane, but had to shift for a merc.

[dcb]

ubergreg said:

A264 (Sussex) between East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells. Good scenery, and it's pretty open and fast in places.

Packed full of the 40 mph mob [ i.e. Disgusted of T. Wells ]
whenever I'm on it.

There are three overtaking places. Nice scenery though.

ubergreg said:

You can even peel off that road at almost any point and find loads more spectacular b-roads.

Spectacular ?

Very very ordinary in my opinion.

ubergreg said:

M23 from South London will get you to A264 (one junction after Gatwick, and head East).

I think the fastest bit has a 50 mph limit, but you
will never go that fast because it's either stopped,
or if by some mystery chance it is moving, it's only doing
40 mph.

Should have been dual c/way years ago.

I do a fair few Gatwick airport runs.

[sl114]

There are a few roads just on the outskirts of north london round my area that are great for nice drives. Well its Herts so a bit countryfied. In London, im not sure anymore like you, there are speed bumps everywhere and numerous traffic lights and speed restrictions!

[ubergreg]

dcb said:

ubergreg said: A264 (Sussex) between East Grinstead and Tunbridge Wells. Good scenery, and it's pretty open and fast in places. Packed full of the 40 mph mob [ i.e. Disgusted of T. Wells ] whenever I'm on it. There are three overtaking places. Nice scenery though. ubergreg said: You can even peel off that road at almost any point and find loads more spectacular b-roads. Spectacular ? Very very ordinary in my opinion.

I still managed to have lots of fun on that road on an early weekend morning, but has now indeed been rendered very ordinary to me now.

Just came back from a drive, through France, to Tuscany. My first Euro-drive since coming to UK/Europe (from Canada) almost four years ago. Love France's open motorways and mountain passes, and Italy's country roads. Did Route Napoleon on the way back.

Everything seems ordinary now. Nothing I've driven in England -- let alone around London -- will ever be considered 'decent' again.

[alex_123_fra]

Those are some serious roads ubergreg

[ubergreg]

alex_123_fra said:

Those are some serious roads ubergreg

I know -- I was in heaven

I'm posting pics and vids on my web site -- I'll put up a link if you're interested in seeing more.

But since I pulled this thread slightly off-topic, I shall attempt to bring it back in line:

London roads? Well, I love the eastbound A40 just before the Paddington exit. Something to do with that super-tight right-hander at the bottom of the (double lane) slip road that plunges under the motorway. It's always a case of how big are your balls (brakes?)...

And from there to Marble Arch, then Hyde Park Corner (it's like being in that scene from Spartacus), and finally Victoria onward to Vauxhaul (I love worrying the pedestrians who encroach on the roadway as I make the final left onto Vauxhaul Bridge Road ). And Vauxhaul roundabout is just one great big game of chicken .

Elephant and Castle is a good laugh, too...

[edswales]

You could always try the following if either early in the morning (sunday is good) or late in evening:

Start: Anywhere northbound on Park Lane; Marble Arch go left through the top of Hyde Park (new speed bump so careful), at the end pull into right hand lane, double back towards bayswater road. Left on bayswater road, stay right and go around Lancaster gate, pull left onto stanhope terrace then right onto brook street; left back through the park; round Marble Arch and down Park Lane; just before the bottom, go left onto Curzon street; at the bottom follow the road round then stay left before sweeping right at the top to go down Charles Street; go around Berkely square; at the bottom right hand corner, go left onto Fitz Maurice place then left up Bolton Street; take a right onto Picadilly; go around Hyde Park Corner and left back up Park Lane. Repeat as necessary.

I nice circuit for central london, no need to hammer-it as ther corners are sufficient within the speed limit (hyde park corner at 30 with the right timing on the lights and the chicane at the bottom of Park Lane are good fun).

[Fiskkeeper]

unposted bridge on the A272? where abouts i've done that road a lot & cant think of it. unless you mean the one just west of pulborough by the garden center? halfway bridge i think it is.

[MrJelly]

Fiskkeeper said:

unposted bridge on the A272? where abouts i've done that road a lot & cant think of it. unless you mean the one just west of pulborough by the garden center? halfway bridge i think it is.

I think Corey means the one near Coneyhurst on the 272. A nasty ramp if you hit it hard...