Driving from London-Dublin

Jonnykitedude

Hi Guys

Im picking a car up on Friday in London, have any of you done that trip before? Whats the best port to Drive to?

Jonny

amacachi

What time? Depending on the Ferry Times I'd've thought Holyhead would be handiest, Motorway pretty much the whole way.

Jonnykitedude

Sorry, Picking the car up at about 11am, going for a bite to eat then hit the road. Was thinking that way alright but wasn't too sure.

Colm R

Holyhead is the best for ferry times. However pembroke or Fishguard might be easier to drive to, and the road from Rosslare to Dublin is not too bad.

Going to Hollyhead involves taking the M6 or M6 Toll around Birmingham which can have really heavy traffic.

L1011

The M6 Toll has never had heavy traffic in its life! The reason being the toll on it.

Drive I've done many times before, its grand except on bank holiday weekends or in the pissing rain. The M6T is worth it - empty road, does cost about £5 for a car though. I've always used Holyhead, the roads to Fishguard/Pembroke are quite poor vs. the A55.

amacachi

MYOB wrote: »

The M6 Toll has never had heavy traffic in its life! The reason being the toll on it.

Drive I've done many times before, its grand except on bank holiday weekends or in the pissing rain. The M6T is worth it - empty road, does cost about £5 for a car though. I've always used Holyhead, the roads to Fishguard/Pembroke are quite poor vs. the A55.

I meant for the time he'd be hitting Birmingham the M6 itself should be fine, though it probably would be worth taking the toll road for the sake of a fiver just in case.

Jonnykitedude

Cool thanks guys, Also what ferry company do you find to be the best???

corktina

go holyhead if you are heading for Dublin from London... remember the M40 goes to Brum too....hit the TA button on the radio if it has one, really helpful...check your mirrors a lot and dont forget to indicate... :-)

L1011

Jonnykitedude wrote: »

Cool thanks guys, Also what ferry company do you find to be the best???

I've always used Irish Ferries since the days that Stena's reliability was a bit poor - don't think there's much in it on that factor anymore but I'm happy enough with IF. Just don't be relying on the Swift to sail in the winter! Either book on the Ulysses to begin with or prepare to be moved around. Admittedly the last time I was shunted to the Ulysses was the weekend Cork and Galway got drowned...

ardmacha

Be sure that the car has up to date UK roadtax, otherwise they'll tow you.

Jonnykitedude

Tow, really??? from the boat

corktina

no...to the scrapyard.....REALLY

Fratton Fred

Jonnykitedude wrote: »

Hi Guys

Im picking a car up on Friday in London, have any of you done that trip before? Whats the best port to Drive to?

Jonny

It depends where in London, but from Maidenhead (which is near Heathrow) I can get to Pembroke in about 3.5 hours, or Holyhead in about 4.5 but it depends a lot on the time of day. from Rosslare you then have a two hour drive back up to Dublin but it is usually cheaper.

Jonnykitedude wrote: »

Cool thanks guys, Also what ferry company do you find to be the best???

the cheapest usually. From Holyhead, if you are getting a cabin then there is nothing in it, if you are booking a club class seat then Stena (Quite handy on your own, you can get a couple of hours sleep and it includes free tea and coffee, if you don't plan on booking anything, then Irish ferries because they seem to have more seats.

If you head for Pembroke then you only have the choice of irish ferries. personally i have driven to Fishguard once and the drive just seemed to go on forever and it has put me off that route.

Tarabuses

Fratton Fred wrote: »

It depends where in London, but from Maidenhead (which is near Heathrow) I can get to Pembroke in about 3.5 hours, or Holyhead in about 4.5 but it depends a lot on the time of day. from Rosslare you then have a two hour drive back up to Dublin but it is usually cheaper.

I wouldn't describe Maidenhead as being in London.

ballsymchugh

the road to pembroke is great apart from the monotony of the m4 practically the whole way. there's only one speed camera on it too, at port talbot, unless there's some roadworks on the way.
the last 30 miles or so are on single carraigeway roads, can be bendy in some places, but mostly grand. and if you need shopping, there's an outlet place near newport or bridgend which is good for a break.
it's the shortest trip to a ferry from london, but then you have the drive from rosslare.
the ferry at night is usually at 2.45, so if you leave london at 9 you'll have plenty of time, but no shopping!!
i did the pembroke drive every year until last year i realised that it was 50 miles less to go by holyhead. the UK drive is longer, but still grand.
make sure you plan that route though, you can do m40 and m6 toll, which will avoid loads of traffic esp about luton or birmingham. the last time i did that, i left south london at 5am, had a break at wolves for a snooze for an hour, and still had way too much time for the ferry at about 2.30
safe journey!!

Fratton Fred

Tarabuses wrote: »

I wouldn't describe Maidenhead as being in London.

neither would I. just trying to point out journey times. London is kind of a big place and most routes would go fairly near Maidenhead. ie up the M40 (Maidenhead is near Junc 4) or the M4 (Maidenhead is ten minutes down the M4 from Heathrow).