I have looked this up on different map sites and received completely different routes. I would love to hear an opinion from someone who has made the drive.

If the issue is speed, why are you driving? Take the train or fly.

We have a family, so generally find it less expensive to drive and easier than messing with the luggage (though we do travel light).

I would do A20 to Flokestone; M20 to M25, M25 clockwise to M40; M40 to M42; M42 toM5; M5 to M6; M6 to Scotland; M74/A74 to Abington; A702 to Edinburgh.

Hi bth,

I think you'll find as much variation in the responses from humans as from route planners!!

My advice would be to miss the M6. It is almost always bad around Birmingham. Personally, from the M25 I would instead take the M11/A1/A696/A68/A7 route. But I think it would depend on the traffic on the day (maybe switch the radio to BBC Radio Five Live, 909 & 693 AM) to get some idea of the traffic.

The choices will be:
* Go up the west coast using the M6, or
* Go up the east coast using the A1
Some might also recommend going up the middle using the M1, then the east coast using the A1.

Different people will give you different answers as to which one is the best. As I said, I would listen to the radio on the day and try to gauge which route seems the clearest.

In any case, watch out for speed cameras if using the eastern route. You will see them on the A14 and A1.

I have driven both routes several times - well not all the way from Dover, but from London and other parts of S. England.

Both Sheila's and melr's directions are good, and 6 of 1, half dozen of the other.

melr's idea to check traffic problems on the day you are doing the drive and decide then. A bad accident on the A1 or M6 could cause 10 miles back-ups and add 2 hours to your trip. The traffic reports on BBC are very comprehensive and will tell you about road construction as well as accidents.

And your car radio will automatically switch to traffic alerts - really blows your mind the first couple of times it happens.

Thanks for the advice--especially the part about the speed cameras!

Would anyone venture a guess at how many hours the drive would take?

Hard to estimate the drive time since everyone has different "bum" tolerance. How often do you need to stop, eat, how fast you drive - all make a big difference.

It is about 475 miles whichever route you take. So w/o any major traffic problems count on 8 hours straight drive time plus any stops along the way.

If by "family" you mean small children, you will likely have to stop more often.

fwiw, I NEVER take the A/M1 which is a nightmare of a road.

Nowadays I check for major roadworks before finally deciding; 10 years ago I wouldn't even have done that, the A1 was so bad.

I live on the north east coast of Scotland and to get to the south east of England I cross to the west, drive down the west and cross over again. That must tell you something (Maybe just that I'm nuts, but.....) Most of my pals would do the same.