Driving to London E1 tomorrow morning

[Graham M]

Hi I'm driving into London E1 tomorrow morning and I'm trying to work out the best way, last time I went, I drove up the M4 and went right through the centre of London which turned out to be a bit of a nightmare, is there a better way anyone can suggest please?

Thanks
Graham

[Kymmy]

You have three choices

1# Drive straight down the M4/A4
2# Take the M4 then go north on the A406
3# take the M4 then go south on the A205

2 and 3 are longer and at that time will probably be just as congested as the most direct route which is still CC free as long as you stick with the paddington/euston/KingsX route

Do you need the car or can you park it on the west side and take the tube??

[Graham M]

Need the car really, can you enlighten me on the best route to take once off the M4 as I ended up in congestion charge zone last time

[Rob]

From the end of the M4 you are onto the A4. You need to be off the A4 by Hammersmith and hang a left towards Shepherds Bush where you can pick up the A40 Westway that takes you down the Marylebone Road Euston / Kings X route.

In some respects it might be easier to do M4 - M25 - M40/A40.

[Kymmy]

You really if possible want to come in via the A40 than the A4 (just head north at hammersmith or even earlier at the A312. The A40 goes right through the top half of the city and is cc free

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/roadusers/...ailMapECCZ.pdf

EDIT: Used to live at Heathrow(harlington) and you might find it easier on the A312 than the M25 which can be standstill between M4/M40

[Graham M]

Bearing in mind where I'm coming from, might it just be better to ignore the M4 all together and just follow the M25 'round to the M40/A40?

[Kymmy]

Answered already in above edit

[Flyboy]

It would help if you could confirm where you will be driving from. I know your profile says Poole, but is that where you will be coming from?

[Kymmy]

He's coming via the M3, in that case I would suggest either the M3, A316 to hammersmith then north to the A40

or

M3, A316, right onto the A205 then follow it round to the A3 then across the river at somewhere like tower bridge (also avoiding the CC)

[Graham M]

Yes sorry should've made that clear

[Flyboy]

I concur with Kymmy. Although an alternative route is follow the M25 to the A20 and come in from the southeast.

[Kymmy]

Have suggested two routes to him
(both have the departure and destination points slightly changed to adhere to privacy)

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&so...1&ie=UTF8&z=11

and

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&so...7&ie=UTF8&z=12

any views anyone??

PS..Google maps seemed determind to send him via the M25/A4

[Julian]

Depending on the time of day I'd be sorely tempted to avoid getting to the A3 in London. The A31 from Wichester to Guildford is a good quiet road (dual carriageway most of the way too) and would get you on the A3 much earlier.

[Flyboy]

That is certainly the most direct route, but necessarily the best route. I think he should swing further around the south of London, to avoid the congestion of southwest corridor. The A20 is probably the better alternative. Yes he will find some congestion around the Kidbrooke Interchange and maybe at the Blackwall tunnel, but, depending on which time of day (Graham, can you confirm what time you will be leaving Poole) he arrives at London.

Graham, you will need to decide which is more important; paying the CC, or getting to your destination without getting stuck in lots of traffic.

[Graham M]

Ill be leaving here around 8, and OK as another question, what would be a good route, while still missing central London would be less congested due to the charge