Hi all - I will be doing the above journey with the wife and kids in a few weeks time and was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on the best route there and back. We need to be in Blackpool by about 2pm on the Monday so I'm wondering how long this journey is likely to take and where might be a good place to take a short refreshment break en route? We will be leaving at about 10am on the Friday.
Cheers !
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I know that the M6 can be a problem but 3 days is over-pessimistic! I must be misunderstanding something,,,,
I'd go M4 to J8, than A404 to the M40, then M42 northbound to M6. M6 toll is worthwhile although I think it's now gone up to £4 each way. M55 goes to Blackpool from M6 - turn off I think at J32..
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It is junction 32 for the M55 from the M6.
However, if you are leaving early on a Friday morning and arriving in Blackpool by 2pm on the Monday, why not save fuel and go by bicycle...:-))
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I'd go M4 to J8, than A404 to the M40,
>>
This is my preferred route too.
M25 past Heathrow T5 ( kids love the aircraft) to J15 and then onto the M4.
The kids can see Windsor Castle over on the left and off at J8/9
( It has a roundabout over the motorway but still all motorway with traffic lights)
The A404M and then the A404 takes a nice plunge down the hill to the Thames in the valley then up the hill to the M40
This route cuts out a chunk of M25 and I would always use comimg south.
On the way home, listen out to traffic reports re M25.
A couple of diversionary routes if there is serious traffic coming home.
Come off at M4 J5 and take the A4 toward London. Turn Right onto A3044 then the A3113 will get you get back on the M25 at J14 or stay on the A3044 to Staines and the A30 will take you back to M25 J13
Another simple but more rural bypass is comimg off the A404M at J8/9 of the M4 to take the first exit A308M ( about half a mile long) and turn right onto the A308 via Windsor to J13 M25.
I have used these routes frequently.
I hope you do not need these but it might be useful to have them in mind.
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Well I must admit I didn't know that a trip to Blackpool and back wouldn't cause so much confusion around the BackRoom - is it an age thing? :)
We're heading off on the Monday morning, staying in Blackpool until Friday then coming home - you know, the usual sort of thing people do when they go away for a few days :)
Wondered if the best routes there and back might be different given the state of the motorways at certain times of the day. To avoid the morning peak time delays on the M25 I'm tempted to either leave much earlier than necessary or wait until after 9am before setting off. I have no idea what the roads up north will be like on the return leg but I'd obviously like to avoid hitting the M25 during the afternoon peak. Anyone got any thoughts on this and what the journey times ought to be if the traffic is reasonable. No problem using the M6 toll both ways if that helps significantly.
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>>so much confusion around the BackRoom - is it an age thing? :)>>
It's probably because the query is very ambiguous regarding the start and finish of the break....:-))
Heading off on a Monday should be OK but Fridays can be a real pain on the M6, especially around the Birmingham area.
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Its M25, M40, M42, M6 (toll) - M6.
Doing a very similar route early monday morning.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Remember to take a break for a journey of that length.
I would allow about 5 hours non-stop but unlikely to be much traffic if you go outside rush hours. Going up will be much easier than going home. Don't fancy going Blackpool to London on a Friday afternoon! Would it be worthwhile breaking the journey home by stopping for a few hours at Cadbury World in Birmingham?
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Would it be worthwhile breaking the journey home by stopping for a few hours at Cadbury World in Birmingham?>>
I'll second that. It's a fascinating experience.
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That's more like it guys :)
Hadn't thought too much about the journey home TBH - we have to vacate by 10am so would prfere to leave quite early tbh. Where is ilikely to be the worst congestion on the return leg?
TVM - would appreciate your feedback on your trip when you return.
Cheers all.
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The earlier you leave the better - Friday afternoons can often find the M6 one giant car park for large sections of its length.
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Yes and from B'ham you can go back on the M40 to the Smoke.
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Via Michelin and multimap both suggest an "eastern" route via Dartford/M25/M1/M6. The suggested arrival time in Blackpool is going to involve rush hour on the M25 whichever way round you go, IMO the Dartford to M1 section is generally less congested than the western sectors. However there are presently major roadworks in Holmesdale Tunnel on the M25 and on the M1 round Luton.
M25/M11/A14/A45/Northampton/M1/M6 may be another option. All motorway/dual carriageway except for about 6 miles on the A45 east of Northampton. Used this route to return from Dover to Northampton last summer, while not measured precisely time and distance were much same as M25/M1
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If you do decide on the "eastern" route, another suggestion is to go up the M1 to Junction 24>A516 west and onto the fast dual carriageway A50.
This takes you to Stoke-on-Trent where you can elect to join the M6 at Junction 15 via Fenton and past Trentham Gardens or continue on the A500 to Junction 16; this avoids the Midlands area altogether.
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I'd agree with trying the A50 its straight driving except for a few roundabouts...drive past the britannia stadium on your left then drop down onto the A500 going north to take you onto Junc 16...
Other than that, itf you go the established route invest in the Toll Road....its worth it even if it means you have 20-30 mins of relaxed driving...
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If you're in Blackpool in March/April, take a jumper and something to read - the place is pretty much closed until Easter!
Not sure where j4 M25 is, but I know Ryanair do Stansted to Blackpool very cheaply two/three weeks in advance, might be another option.
If you're defo taking the car, I'd second cabury world and I'd think about IKEA at j8-10 (Walsall anyhow) of the M6 - way, way cheaper for some grub than any service station, doddle to get to from the M6.
-- He\'s a cheeky wind-up scamster and he\'s on the radio....
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I was in Blackpool a couple of weeks ago and plenty to do - we were lucky with the weather which helped though.
I used to live in Orpington (M25 J4) and now live in the North and still travel up and down weekly for work. Would suggest you go M25 clockwise to M40, M42, M6 Toll, M6. The other options people have suggested are tempting, and without the M1 J6-10 roadworks I'd say do that and then across to the M6 but the roadworks are just too slow. If you go M11 etc you may get stuck either towards the North end of the M11 (where it is only two lanes) or on the A14.
On the return leg I would not have thought you are likely to get stuck until the M25 given the time of day. The M42 area can be bad but you should be at a good time then, also the very bottom of the M6 can be bad if you are there at the wrong time. If you want to stop I would do it after you get to the M40 to lessen your chance of getting stuck later. Later in the evening the M1 roadworks will be quieter so you may want to go back that way and stop somewhere on the M1. No suggestions for stopping though I'm afraid, virtually all my journeys are in the early hours/late evening on my own and I haven't got time to stop for activities!
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Cheers for all the advice folks - much appreciated :)
TVM - are you back yet or did you get stuck in traffic ? :)
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Mazda Man
It was 4 hours there on the cruise set at 68mph from J11M25. Went M25, M40, M42, M6 toll, onto M6 normal, then M55.
It was clear all the way, tho there are some long roadworks on the M6 just north of Brum (long with specs cameras) that could turn nasty. M6 seemed busy southbound.
Left last night at 7pm, road clear, home in bed snoozing by 11:30 (including a wee and a take out costa coffee on the run) same route. You need to time it so the m25, m42, and the m6 (j18 up wards) are not in rush hour. The m6 Junct 15-17 was locked solid due to an accident northbound last night,
Stafford services (between m6 J14 & 15) are modern clean and pleasant (tho with alteration works being carried out)
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Cheers for that TVM ;)
TYVM for all the feedback guys - very helpful. Thinking we're going to be leaving early on the Monday c. 5am to get clear of the M25 before it all kicks off. Better to be there early than get all stressed up :)
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Indeed, how times have changed, for the worse? Many moons ago I used to drive regurlarly to Blackpool (Bispham, actually) from Bromley in Kent. Came home from work at about 6pm on a Friday evening and then at 7pm left to pick up g/f at Wimbledon and then made our way via inner London to pick up the M1 at Watford (Aldenham) or wherever it started and then up the M1, M45 and around Birmingham to join the M6 at Gailey. Up the M6 leaving it on the A55? towards Kirkham and then Blackpool/Bispham - total driving time about 6 hours including a short comfort stops and a nibble at a sandwich.
All this, in very mundane cars such as early minis and morris minor and Austin Healey Sprites.
Have things really improved 30 years later?
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the timing may not appeal to everyone, but I make an occasional Memory Lane trip back to Blackpool (was born in Little Bispham, left there in 59, Oldgit) by getting up at 4am on a Sat, getting there via M25, M4O M6 etc comfortably by 8.30 am. After day of tramrides and beach walks, book in for B&B on seafront, return South mid morning Sunday, 4hrs max all being well. Do miss that ozone, but little else abt Fylde, am afraid!
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It still amazes me that people will travel so far to visit Blackpool, but I'm glad they still do... just watch out for the speed cameras.
These days Blackpool doesn't really close down - the Pleasure Beach has been opening most weekends all winter, there's always something on at the Grand, and the weather's totally unpredictable at any time of the year so there's not much point in having a 'season'.
I second the comments about returning on the Friday - the Monday ought to be OK, but Fridays are a nightmare from Preston onwards. If this is over the Easter break (school holidays) you could hit congestion within minutes of leaving Blackpool - there are roadworks near the Kirkham exit of the M55, though they might be aiming to finish before Easter. Check the traffic news, and consider joining the motorway at the Kirkham junction rather than Blackpool itself.
In the town itself the trams aren't running because of track renewal and promenade reconstruction, but otherwise things are pretty much normal.
Whereabouts in Blackpool are you staying?
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I'm somewhat puzzled about using the M6 toll road - no one from my area (NW coast) uses it...:-)
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SWMBO (who is working in Birmingham for three months) avoids the M6 toll whenever possible - at any time. Its invariably a bottleneck at rush hours, and slows to a standstill rapidly following the smallest of accidents or incidents.
(I'm still in shock at the outrageous prices charged in motorway services too, but that's another story!)
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This trip is now imminent so does anyone have any recent feedback which might affect the route we choose?
TVM :)
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It's so long now, I've forgotten where we left off...............
I would probably go M25 to M40. The A404 is/was a pain.
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Daughter did Camden to near Liverpool on a Friday recently. She picked up a passenger at junction 1 of the M40 then up via the M5 round Birmingham onto the M6, as there was a delay round Birmingham, and on. She left London around 5 and got to West Kirby (just north of Liverpool) before registration for her sailing event closed, at 10 - so that is slightly further north but a clear run on a Friday evening! She was the only driver so plenty of stops too. On her return on the Sunday she had a really clear run through and was home before 8.30pm.
If you are going to break the journey with children consider going off the M6 and visiting the potteries (Stoke) if Cadbury World does not appeal - something for everyone! If you want to stop overnight there is a good Travelodge in Middlewich which also has the cheapest petrol for a long way in either direction!
Although my kids loved Blackpool, they preferred the beach just up the coast in Morcambe.
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>>West Kirby (just north of Liverpool)>>
For as long as I can remember West Kirby has always been situated west of Liverpool, on the Wirral...:-)
Your daughter most likely came off the M6 onto the M56 and then up to West Derby.
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Thanks again guys - there's been a last minute change and we're leaving on Sunday morning now so there is no Monday morning rush hour to contend with. This means we can leave at a more reasonable hour and take in a stop or 2. Will let you know how it goes.
Thanks for all the advice!!
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>>and then up to West Derby.>>
...West Kirby even...:-)
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Blushes - of course you are right Stuartli - west it is. Still, twas a good journey for a Friday night.
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Well guys just a quick note to say TVM for the advice :) Took the M25,M40,M42,M6,M55 option and all went very well indeed. 280 miles almost exacty, just over 5 hours outbound (including a 30 min break on the M6) and 4hrs 30 mins on the return leg with no break. Left Blackpool at just after 10.00am and arrived back at 2.30. The MPV purred nicely all the way and was no doubt very glad of a nice long run for a change. Just one thing - where is all the traffic oop Norf ??
Cheers as always :)
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Probably on the M60 around Manchester and the A556 to/from the M6..:-)
The M6 around Preston can also be a huge car parking area at certain times of the day and even more so in the summer as its the gateway to the Lakes and Scotland.
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>> Just one thing - where is all the traffic oop Norf ??
I dunno.
Watching t'elly?
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Well I don't know but we didn't come across a single significant traffic hold up all the time we were there :) The M6 was fine and the toll section very light indeed on both legs of the journey. Parking was easy too - so easy in fact, that I felt the need to check with a friendly warden that we were ok to park FOC in one of the numerous empty bays around the Pleasure Beach area. Of course at peak times I can see the whole sea front area being a lot busier but, compared to where we live, Blackpool last week reminded me of quiet Sundays when I was a lad.
One other observation - the standard of driving in the area was far more disciplined than here IMO. Even white van man maintained a safe distance at all times and there was none of the sort of crazy speeding, intimidation and reckless overtaking which is common here. I drove to Preston and back twice in one day and found that overall things were a lot less stressful on the roads even at peak times.
Another world it was :)
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We do get congestion but it's all about timing - try getting from Fleetwood to the M55 at 8am, or into Manchester on the M61/M60.
Blackpool in the week is never that busy - all the car parking capacity is for the weekend trippers and the Illuminations.
As for the driving - I don't know about disciplined, I would say there's more of a zombie tendency. There isn't much aggression but there's usually somebody in front doing 10mph below the speed limit! There's so many speed cameras that it's just not worth the bother - driving's disciplined, but just a tad boring.
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