What's the M6 like around Brum at 6pm ish ?

[garystu1965]

We are driving down to Henley-on-Thames after work on Wednesday and I will be leaving Manchester at about 4.30pm. We'd probably be hitting Birmingham at 6pm. Is the M6 toll road making a difference in the levels of traffic at peak time ?

 

[PaulE230]

I live right by the M6 near Birmingham and North bound at that time can be very bad. when you get past Birmingham it gets bad right up to junction 12 or even 13
sometimes it can be clear but I owuld count on a good hour to get through it

 

[ADY1983]

Well I'm heading up to 124Works in the morning I plan to leave at 5am what is it going to be like at say 7am? by the time I get there...

 

[recycled]

Use the M40 and pray

 

[recycled]

From manchester you are better off going through stoke on trent i think, direct to the M1

 

[Chris_J]

You'll be stuck or slowed down near Sandbach J17 before you get near B'ham. The Northbound at J6 to 9 is pretty bad at 6ish. The Southbound can be bad as it's the M5 interchange at J8 but usually north is worse.

Last time I went through Stoke it was a nightmare, loads of roadworks. Not sure if they're still going on the A500 now though.

 

[Rory]

Well I'm heading up to 124Works in the morning I plan to leave at 5am what is it going to be like at say 7am? by the time I get there...

At 7AM should be fine.

 

[Rory]

We are driving down to Henley-on-Thames after work on Wednesday and I will be leaving Manchester at about 4.30pm. We'd probably be hitting Birmingham at 6pm. Is the M6 toll road making a difference in the levels of traffic at peak time ?

I guess it depends how long it takes you to get out of Manchester, but I reckon you'll be later than 6PM in Brum.
I was a conscientious objector to the toll road at first (even though I can claim the cost back), but I pretty well always use it now.

 

[Rory]

You'll be stuck or slowed down near Sandbach J17 before you get near B'ham. The Northbound at J6 to 9 is pretty bad at 6ish. The Southbound can be bad as it's the M5 interchange at J8 but usually north is worse.

Last time I went through Stoke it was a nightmare, loads of roadworks. Not sure if they're still going on the A500 now though.

The A500 is all sorted now, but that route across to the M1 doesn't really make sense for a trip to Henley, where (in my opinion) it would be best to go M6, M6 toll, M42, M40.

 

[garystu1965]

Thanks for the help.

Ok what if I left Manchester at 6pm ?

 

[crockers]

Thanks for the help.

Ok what if I left Manchester at 6pm ?

you would get there later..............

 

[garystu1965]

you would get there later..............

Not if I borrowed your C320 CDI

 

[Rory]

Not if I borrowed your C320 CDI

You'd get stopped 14 times before you even got out of Cheshire!

I tend to be driving the other way around - heading South in the morning, and back in the evening. I usually join/leave the M6 at J16 (Stoke/Crewe).

The M6 heading South late afternoon always looks very busy, and is often at a standstill for miles. I would say that the later you leave, the easier the journey you will have. Take it easy - if you rush then you'll just catch up with the 'rush hour' traffic. At this time of year it'll be light all the way, and that always makes the journey less tiring.

 

[Rose Chap]

I don't know much about the M6 at Birmingham but I do know a bit about Henley on Thames!

I recommend you come into Henley from the Marlow side, rather than coming in following the sign posts off the A404.

The queues down Remenham Hill can be very unpleasant, particularly now the town is getting into regatta mode. Are you coming down for the Ladies Regatta this coming weekend?

Best of luck with your journey.

RC

 

[garystu1965]

We are staying there to break the journey to Dover as we are sailing to Calais on Thursday. To be honest I'm not sure it's a great idea staying there considering the traffic situation. Leave early and hit the Brum traffic, leave late and get to Henley too late. Can't win.

 

[PaulE230]

Just leave plenty of time for your journey and hope for the best

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Probably too late now, but I would definitely take the M6 Toll and be prepared to go slooooow through the M42.

 

[barryj]

Well it was crap tonight @ 7pm I can tell you that much

 

[Dieselman]

Here, have a bit of salt for the wound it was good last night and empty on Saturday..ha ha..