travel

[itsonlyme]

hi. i was just wondering how long did it take you lot to travel up and how many stops u made.
just so we can plan journey down
thank

[Unbelievable Jeff]

4 and a half hours ish with one stop. The 50mph zones are a bit of a killer.

[Sutekh]

Yep, keeping reasonably to the speed limits 4 to 4.5 hours is about right.

Biggest annoyance is the M1 and mile after mile after mile of a 50 limit with nobody doing anything between Nottingham and the M18 junction

These things really annoy me, why can't they break the work into smaller sections so at least motorists don't have quite so much of a frustrating time.

[leww_rfc]

Not relevant but they seem to be all over the country now, i encountered far too many coming M5, M6 way... with the majority reading "upgrading to smart motorway"

What is a smart motorway?

[kwik-silva]

A smart motorway (formerly managed motorway) is a section of motorway in Great Britain which uses active traffic management (ATM) techniques to increase capacity by use of variable speed limits and hard shoulder running at busy times

[From Despair To Where?]

Yep, keeping reasonably to the speed limits 4 to 4.5 hours is about right.

Biggest annoyance is the M1 and mile after mile after mile of a 50 limit with nobody doing anything between Nottingham and the M18 junction

These things really annoy me, why can't they break the work into smaller sections so at least motorists don't have quite so much of a frustrating time.

The 4 lane bit of the M1 around Mansfield had an 18 mile long 50mph limit for about 2 and a half years whilst they worked on it. I presume this is an extension of the work they were doing there

[bobby1413]

hi. i was just wondering how long did it take you lot to travel up and how many stops u made.
just so we can plan journey down
thank

Why don't you stay over?

You can experience the amazing Reading nightlife then.

I will show you around if you like, as long as you buy me drinks all night.

[Lower West]

Yep, keeping reasonably to the speed limits 4 to 4.5 hours is about right.

Biggest annoyance is the M1 and mile after mile after mile of a 50 limit with nobody doing anything between Nottingham and the M18 junction

These things really annoy me, why can't they break the work into smaller sections so at least motorists don't have quite so much of a frustrating time.

On the way home we reckoned it's about 50 miles.

[EverHopeful]

Got there in 3.5 hours but did leave at 6.20 - got back in just under 4 - leave at least 4.5 hours on a working day. Let's hope the away end is full for a good atmosphere

[RoyalBlue]

Really depends what time of day you are travelling. If you can leave Bradford in time to get to Reading by 5ish the journey shouldn't be too bad. Anything after that and you really have to start adding quite a bit of extra time. So basically you can leave that bit earlier and spend time in a pub in Reading or end up spending virtually the same amount of time stuck in traffic and worrying whether you are going to get there on time.

However, as others have mentioned, the 50MPH sections are a right pain in the rear. Infuriating that the barstewards barrier off >20 miles in a stretch but then only work on a mile or so at any one time. Don't make the mistake that I did and floor it in frustration after you leave the first massive section of average speed cameras. There is a bank of normal speed cameras hidden on the back of the very next gantry!

[Maguire]

We left Reading at 0810 and were parked in Bradford in 3.5hrs with one short stop. Left straight after the game and were back in central Reading in 3.5hrs with no stops. Really have no idea how it's taken people 4.5hrs to make that journey on a Saturday.

For a weekday I'd add an extra hour and also get off the M1 asap. M69 route worked well.

[Mr Angry]

What were the roadworks like around Coventry near the M69? 2-0 and I carried on up the M40 and then got on the M42/A42 to join the M1 at 24a, which cut out the roadworks between Leicester and Northampton.

3.5hrs on the way back with no stops.

For the evening game on a week day, I'd give myself 4.5 hrs from Bradford as the absolute minimum time for the journey, and take the M606/M1/A42-M42/M40/A404/M4 route to the Mad Stad.

[Maguire]

They're not particularly extensive Mr A and certainly no worse than the endless areas of 50mph on the M1

[Maguire]

3.5hrs also gave us time to take the Ginger Goose beforehand.

[Platypuss]

For a weekday I'd add an extra hour and also get off the M1 asap. M69 route worked well.

Has the A45/A46 Tollbar island works eased off now? That was horrific last time I went north via the A46/M69 (about 2 weeks ago).

[UpThePrem]

Coaches left at 6:10 and got there at 12pm with a 45 minute stop at Woodall services. Went via the back roads through Woodcote to A34 and M40 before cutting up the M69 at Coventry and onto M1. Seemed a long and slow way to do it.

[CountryRoyal]

I'd recommend M606 then M6 (toll), you cut out most of the 50mph avg (worst from brum - Stafford), then down M40 past oxford.

The 50mph average are utter balls and you want to completely avoid going anywhere near them on rush hour - the slightest increase in traffic and you get huge back ups. The toll is £5.50 which is something to consider but it's just another option.


Out of interest, one in the past could bypass the cameras by alternating lanes at each set of cameras, I've heard they've recently fixed this. Anyone been unfortunate enough to find out?

[West Stand Man]

I'd recommend M606 then M6 (toll), you cut out most of the 50mph avg (worst from brum - Stafford), then down M40 past oxford.

The 50mph average are utter balls and you want to completely avoid going anywhere near them on rush hour - the slightest increase in traffic and you get huge back ups. The toll is £5.50 which is something to consider but it's just another option.


Out of interest, one in the past could bypass the cameras by alternating lanes at each set of cameras, I've heard they've recently fixed this. Anyone been unfortunate enough to find out?

I concur that the Western route, using the M6 is a good way to avoid the M1 nightmare. My daughter drove up to Bradford from Stafford on Saturday, around Manchester on the ring road and did it in well under 2 hours. Factor in the drive from Stafford to Reading and it should be doable in under 4 hours in total.

The cameras are no longer open to being spoofed by lane changers. Mind you, a few people were caught out before, forgetting that on a long stretch with multiple cameras you eventually have to go back into a previously occupied lane.

It would be interesting to do a survey of drivers to see how many people understand how the cameras work. I watched a guy on the M4 today speeding well over the 50 limit and then slowing to about 50 for the camera.

[CountryRoyal]

It would be interesting to do a survey of drivers to see how many people understand how the cameras work. I watched a guy on the M4 today speeding well over the 50 limit and then slowing to about 50 for the camera.

Providing his average between the two cameras on any section was under 55mph he'd be fine, but the way your describing makes that sound unlikely.

I was always under the impression that's how they worked as apposed to just doing the limit at both cameras - which seems silly and little different from normal cameras.

[Maguire]

For a weekday I'd add an extra hour and also get off the M1 asap. M69 route worked well.

Has the A45/A46 Tollbar island works eased off now? That was horrific last time I went north via the A46/M69 (about 2 weeks ago).

Well they're still there but they've not posed me much of a problem the last couple of journeys up i've made. There's a delay but nothing compared to the M1 shenanigans.