M1 or A1(M) to go South

[pvr]

Done the trip up North via the M1, but it was an awful road with miles and miles of roadworks and traffic jams adding about 2 hours to the total journey.

I see you can also go the A1(M) and M11, is that at the moment a better route to go back South?

 

[john-e89]

Ugh I hate the A1(M), it's a dangerous narrow dual carriageway, awful road. It's a ball ache but I'd stick to M1 all day.

 

[original guvnor]

I've done both recently PVR. There isn't a lot in it really. The A1/M11 route means you'll have to go A14 around Huntingdon/Cambridge which is a blooming nightmare of a road with average speed checks too. The rest of the A1 is ok but it is dangerous and has several fixed cameras too. You could do M1/A43/M40?

 

[gov]

Ugh I hate the A1(M), it's a dangerous narrow dual carriageway, awful road. It's a ball ache but I'd stick to M1 all day.

+1 May be miles of 50 mph limits but at least you keep moving !

 

[Smartbear]

I prefer the A1 route as the occasional roundabout is a blessed relief from the monotony of the M1 motorway & the average speed cameras are a lesser evil than roadwork standstill olice:
Regards

 

[markplant]

Now only 1 roundabout on a1 unless you get very northern and or count inside the m25 , a1 has been shut around Worksop for most of the day due to a lorry fire

 

[Scooba_Steve]

I always used to enjoy the London to Newcastle drive on the A1, are there still less cameras?

 

[pvr]

On the way up, we had a number of stand stills on the M1 for no obvious reason. Just parked for 30 minutes at a time, move for 30 minutes, then stop for 30 minutes again.

Roadworks are just frustrating as there was not a single bit being worked on, just cones for miles on end for no reason.

 

[Darren Slone]

I'm an A1M fan all the way turn left at Alconbury them M11, I think it's a faster route, ref traffic and better scenery too, it takes me 2 hrs to Cambridge services, 3hrs to the Dartford crossing and 4hrs to the Eurotunnel :driving:

 

[pvr]

And now for the second part of the question … this is for monday, I can pick the time. So what time would be best to go South.

 

[LeeZ4MR]

The A1/M11 route means you'll have to go A14 around Huntingdon/Cambridge which is a blooming nightmare of a road with average speed checks too.

I am doing this route almost every weekend at the moment and I have been stuck in stand still traffic for the last couple of weekends and it drives me mad, I used to commute on the M1 as well a few years ago and I didn't like that much either...so it seems you just cant win! :headbang:

 

[Smartbear]

I would leave at 3AM or after 10AM to miss the traffic

 

[LeeZ4MR]

And now for the second part of the question … this is for monday, I can pick the time. So what time would be best to go South.

I would go after the morning rush hours around 10am and that should cut a fair bit of the pain out I would have thought.

 

[pvr]

From South to North I left at 10 am and was amazed to find so much traffic still. Doesn't anybody work anymore?

 

[original guvnor]

10am. I went from North Nottinghamshire to Bracknell in 2.40 on Monday morning and that was in wet weather too.

 

[bluestreak56]

Ugh I hate the A1(M), it's a dangerous narrow dual carriageway, awful road. It's a ball ache but I'd stick to M1 all day.

+1

 

[srhutch]

If I'm coming back from Nottingham during the week I come off te M1 at 15A and use the A43 towards Silverstone and pick the M40 up at junction 10. Also helps by missing out the top section of the M25. Its a little further but better than the M1/M25

 

[PerryGunn]

I can pick the time. So what time would be best to go South.

You 'Went South'* a long time ago mate.....








*Deteriorate or decline [colloq.] [The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003]

 

[pvr]

I can pick the time. So what time would be best to go South.

You 'Went South'* a long time ago mate.....

Can't go more South then you

Besides, need to see some decent cars again - Oop Norf is rather boring in the car selection.

 

[markeg]

For me (from Lincolnshire) its A1 to the Black Cat roundabout, A421 around Bedford, then M1 south. If i was further north I might use the A1 to Newark, the A46 to Leicester, then onto the M1 south - I check the AA Roadwatch app before travelling.

Travelling south, don't be on either the M1 or A1 between 7am and 10am on a Monday especially Luton on the M1 or Stevenage on the A1 - PITA areas.