Riding to London - best time to set off?

[GhostRider]

Booked a 2 day stint at Thorpe Park for me an the missus next monday, involves biking it down there Monday morning.

Having not done a stint to London during peak times before, wondering if anyone has experience of whats the best time on average to hit the motorway. I reason that setting out at 8am would not be the best strategy as I predict hitting rush hour traffic would mean filtering slowly for the most part of the journey, and that heading out at 9.30am instead would be a wiser move, but having no experience to base that on, I pose the question to BCF.

GhostRider
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[c_dug]

If you're riding through the centre the traffic starts at around 6.30 and doesn't really let up until close to midday. If you're going around the M25 it really depends on any accidents. Either way from Romford (Basically the direct opposite side of the M25) I can make it in between an hour to an hour and a half to Thorpe park regardless of route.
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[esullivan]

Judging from your profile, you'll be coming from the north, going around the M25 and then to the M3, correct? You'll only be barely entering Greater London. As mentioned, traffic on that route is already heavy by 6:30 and really doesn't let up much, so it doesn't matter too much when you come in. You can filter pretty easily on the M25 and M3, but take it easy and leave plenty of room for error. If you aren't used to it, the wankers on M25 can be a bit of a shock -- sudden yanks on the steering wheel with no indicators because the lane over there looks like it's moving 0.5mph faster, that kind of thing.
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[GhostRider]

Will be M40 for vast majority of the journey, with only about 10 miles on the M25 going by google maps, so really just wondering what the state of the M40 will be like.

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[esullivan]

[GhostRider]

Ay I feared as much, might as well set off early doors then.

Cheers for the input.

GhostRider
____________________
I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Derivative]

Have to agree with the rest of the posts, to be honest.

London is busy at any reasonable hour. Not to mention one accident on a major road and the whole thing will turn to gridlock.

If you don't want to set off at 5am then just go whenever's convenient.

[FriendlyEllis]

I think you'll be fine up to M25.

You can go on https://www.motorwaycameras.co.uk and check the density of traffic anytime. It's still images though, so don't think everyone has parked up

I would consider A355 from M40 jcn2, round the top of Slough though Datchet and across Staines on A320. Cut the M25 out?

[GhostRider]

[thx1138]

about 1954 I think, there wasn't much traffic then

[G]

M25 and M40 filtering is only slow if you filter slowly!

In London it's easy to get held up by other bikes if you 'make progress' through traffic, but it's generally pretty easy to get past them on the motorways.

In a car, I generally try and avoid the M25 as there's a relatively high risk of delay, but wouldn't take back roads on a bike to avoid.

[GhostRider]

[gorillaonabik...]

[CarlosCBR]

Ghost how did you find the trip down? Taking the misses down to Thorpe Park tomorrow, aiming to get there between 930-1000. Mostly M11/M25.

Is there any specific bike parking or do you have to lump it with the cagers? Also, is the parking free for bike or do i have to stump up for that too?
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[c_dug]

Parking is free for bikes, just skirt around the barriers and ask an attendant where to pop it, (usually there is somewhere close to the ticket bit).

I'd advise getting there as early as possible, to avoid queueing for an hour just to get in to the park. You're probably looking at around an hour on the M25 from the M11 at that time of morning. Lastly IIRC there are roadworks around jct 5-7 at the moment and last time I went that way it snarled everything right up (think there was a crash too) so may be worth considering going counter-clockwise to avoid roadworks? Up to you I guess! Similar distance either way around from the M11.

HTH
____________________
I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.