Motoring Discussion > London to Devon - best route? Legal Questions
Thread Author: Fursty Ferret Replies: 14
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 Wed 10 Mar 10 21:35 
 London to Devon - best route? - Fursty Ferret
What's the best way to do Gatwick to Devon tomorrow night? Will be leaving Gatwick at about 0030 in the morning.

Used the M4 / M5 a few weeks ago and it seemed OK but obviously it's about 50 miles further than the A303, which of course is closed. Is it worth taking the A303 and following the diversion?

* Thanks to the supreme example of joined up thinking from the Highways Agency the M4 was also closed the last time I did this journey, but that's another matter.
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 Wed 10 Mar 10 21:45 
 London to Devon - best route? - Avant
Diversions are no fun at the best of times, let alone in the middle of the night. I'd go M23 / M25 / M4 / M5.

Thanks for telling us that the A303 is closed - don't you get sick of these little tinpot tyrants who assume their job is more important than anyone else's.
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 Wed 10 Mar 10 23:17 
 London to Devon - best route? - henry k
At night, from the M25 J12 take the M3 to J3 then A322 to Bracknell and then A329 (M) to M4 might be worth considering.
Zero might confirm this
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 Thu 11 Mar 10 07:01 
 London to Devon - best route? - MD
A303 every time from Gatwick. I too was unaware of a closure so go with Avant's advice.

Martin Devon.
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 Thu 11 Mar 10 07:30 
 London to Devon - best route? - Pat
I would go with the A303 and use the diversion.

Night time will mean it is running freely and during the day lorries are using it succesfully even if adding time to the journey.

Full details are available here

www.trafficengland.com/disruptions.aspx

Pat
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 Thu 11 Mar 10 08:13 
 London to Devon - best route? - Zero
The A303. As Pat says at that time of night, diversion or not, it will be free running and 50 miles extra via motorway is a long way.

If you did motorway it, I would cut the M25/M4 corner off via M3/Bracknel as Henry suggested.
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 Thu 11 Mar 10 10:31 
 London to Devon - best route? - Dog
In the dark ages, when I drove V8's & XJ6's I would fly down the M4/M5 from S.London & stop at Honiton for a full English.
But these days, when flying is frowned upon - its gotta be M3/A303/A30 IMO.
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 Thu 11 Mar 10 11:32 
 London to Devon - best route? - J500ANT
I did Exeter to Guildford last Friday, my satnav diverted me south via the A35, sort of Dorchester - Wimborne and then back up onto the bottom of the M27 (iirc). It was a nightmare (Friday afternoon)

But the approved diversion isn't a huge amount better, its virtually taking you up to Bristol and then across. If I was you i'd go as far as you can on the A30 then A303, then try and divert south around Yeovil and then back up.
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 Fri 12 Mar 10 09:13 
 London to Devon - best route? - J500ANT
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/8562432.stm

Roadworks end tonight :)
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 Fri 12 Mar 10 19:54 
 London to Devon - best route? - MD
>> The A303. As Pat says at that time of night diversion or not it will
>> be free running and 50 miles extra via motorway is a long way.
>>
>> If you did motorway it I would cut the M25/M4 corner off via M3/Bracknel as
>> Henry suggested.
>>
Doesn't that just still just form a square? Only asking. Has anyone clocked it?

Best reg's .........M
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 Fri 12 Mar 10 20:33 
 London to Devon - best route? - Zero
yes i did a few years back

Its about 7 miles shorter via M3/ Bracknel / A329M than M25/M4

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 Sat 13 Mar 10 00:09 
 London to Devon - best route? - Avant
Only 7 miles - interesting; I'd thought more. Given the number of roundabouts on the Bracknell route, the difference in time taken may be even more marginal.
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 Sat 13 Mar 10 00:45 
 London to Devon - best route? - crocks
Yes, but on empty roads they are the fun bits. :-)
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 Sat 13 Mar 10 09:49 
 London to Devon - best route? - Zero
Time saved on the bracknell route is entirely dependent on time of day and traffic on either route.

Its marginal for those who want to carry on down the M25, for me its a no brainer route to M4 east due to where I live.
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 Sat 13 Mar 10 15:58 
 London to Devon - best route? - Fursty Ferret
Thanks for the advice - was feeling lazy and couldn't be bothered to mess around with roundabouts and diversions so took the M4/M5 route. Shade under 4 hours with a 5 minute toilet stop.
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