M25, best time to travel

I live it Kent and used to spend a lot of time going "up North". Less now but still do it. Coming from Durham I would recommend the route you are planning. I guess A1 all the way to Alconbury (J14 of A1(M)) then A14 towards Cambridge, then M11 and M25 to the crossing. Generally A1 is quieter than M1, and quicker now they have got rid of nearly all the roundabouts.

Pleasantly surprised at how the removal of the barriers has sped up the flow across the bridge going South. But, just like any busy road, one small shunt can cause chaos for hours. Going North they still have barriers and I understand that they are going to continue to use them in order to govern the flow through the tunnels. It seems they think we are incapable of actually entering a tunnel successfully without stopping! North bound can be a pig from 6 to 10am and 4 to 7pm on many weekdays. Having said that I did it on a week days last week at just before 9am and I sailed through!

As others have said the Western side of the M25, from about A3 to M40 can be an absolute nightmare, especially in the rush hour. I don't think it is worth the extra mileage to risk it.

Toll system now is complicated. They use ANPR and you have to pay by phone or internet within a certain period. £2.50 for cars and motorhomes. We have an account which reduces it to £1.67 and means it gets paid automatically, but I doubt that would be worth it for you. But, as others have said it is free from 10pm to 6am. But I would happily pay the toll to be tucked up in bed at those times of the day!

What part of Kent are you planning to visit? If you are over on the North/East side Whitstable is nice (but getting a bot to up-market. Also worth a try is a Brewery visit to Shepherd Neame at Faversham.
 
GJH said:
Is there a minimum amount to open an account and does it last until used or run out after a certain time (like the credit on some mobile phones for instance)?

If we use it at all we wouldn't normally use the Dartford Crossing more than once in each direction in a given year. An account would be more convenient than having to mess about paying by phone but would not be practical if the credit did not last.
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Probably not worth it Graham unless you intend to at least two return crossings per year.
You have to put minimum £10 to open the account and there is a clause somewhere in the small print that they may grab your funds if the account is not used for a period of twelve months.
Oh, and the discount rate is £1.67, not £1.63 I put in previous post.
 
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NickNic said:
You have to add a minimum of £10 to your account and I can't find anything in the T&Cs that suggests that the credit runs out only that if the account is not used for a year they may close it but that isn't really the same thing.

http://assets.highways.gov.uk/specialist-information/dart-charge-alpha/Dart Charge Consumer TC - alpha site.pdf
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Thanks. I've found the Dart Charge Facebook account so I've sent them a message to check.

I didn't think the need was all that immediate but we have to visit Sussex in a couple of weeks (in the car) and, on checking the route, see that the recommended one is to use the A1/M11/M25, as we would for Kent, rather than the A1/M18/M1/M25. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other as far as mileage goes but I note the warning about the Western side that has been posted.
 
icantremember said:
Probably not worth it Graham unless you intend to at least two return crossings per year.
You have to put minimum £10 to open the account and there is a clause somewhere in the small print that they may grab your funds if the account is not used for a period of twelve months.
Oh, and the discount rate is £1.67, not £1.63 I put in previous post.
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Thanks Brian, cross-posted as I was posting my previous comment :)
 
GJH said:
recommended one is to use the A1/M11/M25
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That's the route I would use from your area to the crossing.

Does Sussex know you are coming? ..... If so you may find the Dartford Crossing closed when you get there!;)

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peterc10 said:
What part of Kent are you planning to visit? If you are over on the North/East side Whitstable is nice (but getting a bot to up-market. Also worth a try is a Brewery visit to Shepherd Neame at Faversham.
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No definite plans other than a visit to Canterbury, any suggestions welcome. Depending on time available may head down to south coast and along to the south downs then New Forest .
 
NickNic said:
You have to add a minimum of £10 to your account and I can't find anything in the T&Cs that suggests that the credit runs out only that if the account is not used for a year they may close it but that isn't really the same thing.

http://assets.highways.gov.uk/specialist-information/dart-charge-alpha/Dart Charge Consumer TC - alpha site.pdf
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Its not worth me opening an account probably not be using the crossing again for a while. I will look at the web site and suss out how to pay.
 
icantremember said:
That's the route I would use from your area to the crossing.

Does Sussex know you are coming? ..... If so you may find the Dartford Crossing closed when you get there!;)
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That's certainly the route to use to the crossing and the one we have used several times in the past when going to Kent and to Abbey Wood. Our initial destination at the end of the month is Crawley though (for a friend's funeral). I thought it would have been shorter to use the western side but it turns out that it is actually about the same whichever way round we go.
 
Is it possible for 2 friends or family to have thier car/Motorhome on 1 account for people who use it less often. That way you get discount plus not having to pay before set time to avoid a fine.

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Ivory55 said:
Is it possible for 2 friends or family to have thier car/Motorhome on 1 account for people who use it less often. That way you get discount plus not having to pay before set time to avoid a fine.
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Yes, you can register multiple vehicles, up to 20 I believe, on one account. When I set mine up I put both of our cars and the MH so if we ever do go that way now it's one less thing to have to think about.
 
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Please be aware that sections are often closed at night for maintanence and detours put in place.
Steve
 
If your traveling around the M25 and haven't been to London for a long time be aware of the LEZ unless your vehicle is compliant an innocent straying into it can be very expensive
 
mitzimad said:
ive got all four vehicles on my account just tops up automatically
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I've both the Mh and car (not the toad) on my acc...........
Certainly, when I'm going north I would never consider going round M25, always A21/M25 tunnel then on up M11, A1 (M)

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golly said:
No definite plans other than a visit to Canterbury, any suggestions welcome. Depending on time available may head down to south coast and along to the south downs then New Forest .
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Don't forget the aire at the Park n Ride at Canterbury ( New Dover Rd) £3 gets you free bus travel into Canterbury too. Whitstable is nice, but we moved from there to just outside Deal last year. Too many DFL's, too much building going on and the town has lost its appeal for us now, but nice to visit out of season.
Dover Castle is well worth a visit anytime. Parking available in the castle grounds, depending on the size of your MH ( best ring first to check if yours will fit) but parking available close by and if there is an event, loads of parking in their overspill car park up the hill with a courtesy bus to the castle.
Dungeness is strangely interesting and you can see the RHD railway there.
Deal is a nice town with fish for sale from the fishing boats drawn up on the beach. ( call in for coffee if we are home, we are close to Deal) Nice walk along the front, Deal and Walmer castles within walking distance ( English Heritage) and a great day out.
In fact, all of Kent is great to visit.
Have a great time
Allan
 
My question to Dart Charge:
Hello,

We live in Middlesbrough so don't use the Dartford Crossing very often. When we do it is normally in our motorhome rather than our car.

If I open a Dart Charge Account does the credit endure until it is all used up or does it run out after a certain time (like the credit on some mobile phones for instance)?

I don't mind keeping a small credit balance in place for use when necessary (and fully understand that it would not earn interest) but, naturally, I wouldn't wish to lose unused credit.

I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
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And the prompt reply
Hi there,

When setting up an account an initial payment of £10:00 is required. This credit will be used to pay the charge each time a road user uses the Crossing; it is fully refundable if not used. These minimum payment levels have been set to help ensure that pre pay accounts stay in credit and the road user charge can be paid in full each time a crossing is made. If there were no minimum levels there would be a greater chance that account holders would not have sufficient money in their account and could face a penalty charge.

Alternatively if you would not like to set up an account you can make a one of payment for your online at https://www.gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge, over the phone on 0300 300 0120 or at a pay zone retail outlet.

Keith
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That's straightforward enough :) I think I'll set up an account for the car and the van and then we have all options covered :)
 
Just after 9am seems to be good time to travel on most normally busy roads as all of the workers are now at work
 
Just set up the Dart Charge account for the car and the van. It found both vehicles by registration number and although the van came up as Fiat Ducato it is registered properly for the car rate. First class (y)(y)
 
its good to know its free after 22.00. thanks for that.

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GJH said:
Just set up the Dart Charge account for the car and the van. It found both vehicles by registration number and although the van came up as Fiat Ducato it is registered properly for the car rate. First class (y)(y)
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How refreshing to know a government body can get it right for once, albeit a bit of kerfuffle when it began.
 
Dungeness is well worth a visit..............and if you speak to the guys in the Brittania Inn you may well be ok to overnight there. (something I'm planning to do very soon........well when gearbox is back in Hymer)
If you are into History, there are sound mirrors and wall nearby...........along with a memorial to two polish airmen who gave their lives for us to enjoy the freedom we do; if you find the pub, head up between café and old lighthouse, onto shingle and keep walking keeping the buildings facing you on your left.
RH&D railway is a great way to travel, hythe and New Romney are interesting places to visit..............in fact Romney Marsh has a beauty all of its own.
Coming back into Sussex, the town of Rye, again worth visiting....although parking may be restricted to coach park by railway station (check though)

Have a good time.
 
Allanm said:
Don't forget the aire at the Park n Ride at Canterbury ( New Dover Rd) £3 gets you free bus travel into Canterbury too. Whitstable is nice, but we moved from there to just outside Deal last year. Too many DFL's, too much building going on and the town has lost its appeal for us now, but nice to visit out of season.
Dover Castle is well worth a visit anytime. Parking available in the castle grounds, depending on the size of your MH ( best ring first to check if yours will fit) but parking available close by and if there is an event, loads of parking in their overspill car park up the hill with a courtesy bus to the castle.
Dungeness is strangely interesting and you can see the RHD railway there.
Deal is a nice town with fish for sale from the fishing boats drawn up on the beach. ( call in for coffee if we are home, we are close to Deal) Nice walk along the front, Deal and Walmer castles within walking distance ( English Heritage) and a great day out.
In fact, all of Kent is great to visit.
Have a great time
Allan
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Andy said:
Dungeness is well worth a visit..............and if you speak to the guys in the Brittania Inn you may well be ok to overnight there. (something I'm planning to do very soon........well when gearbox is back in Hymer)
If you are into History, there are sound mirrors and wall nearby...........along with a memorial to two polish airmen who gave their lives for us to enjoy the freedom we do; if you find the pub, head up between café and old lighthouse, onto shingle and keep walking keeping the buildings facing you on your left.
RH&D railway is a great way to travel, hythe and New Romney are interesting places to visit..............in fact Romney Marsh has a beauty all of its own.
Coming back into Sussex, the town of Rye, again worth visiting....although parking may be restricted to coach park by railway station (check though)

Have a good time.
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Thanks for the suggestions, all sounds good. All we need now is 2 or 3 weeks free from Grand son wrangling / baby sitting ;)
 
You can always pay in advance at shops using pay zone, saves hanging on the phone. We've got 5 cars and Motorhome on the account even registered my Mums irish registered car. Easy to check payments and crossings. I know exactly when my lot cross. Dart charge are very geared up to answer questions on Twitter and Facebook.

Sonja
 
Drove down to Crawley today and Tom Tom tried to take us west of London instead of east as advised by everyone. We went east anyway and the Dart Charge account worked properly. Still slow though -there was a 30 limit, presumably because of the high winds.

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Came back from Crawley today and Tom Tom tried to take us west again at the junction (J7) from the M23. It was so desperate it even wanted us turn round at J6 and J5.

Maybe we should have done and saved the crossing charges :)
 
I travel the M25 a lot from Kent to head to the Midlands or North and find. Unless there is an accident going anti-clockwise via dartford is usually clearer than clockwise via Heathrow. Clockwise its busy from m23 to Reigate, leather head and around m3/m4.

Usually travelling north in the mornings.
 
Andy said:
I always try and hit M25 VERY early mornings...........as others have already said, tunnel/bridge crossing is free, and the level of traffic is reduced to mainly lorries...........certainly the 'two junction racers', won't be about............
Might well be worth getting down towards M11 during day, and parking up etc.....then going for it.

Kent is almost as nice as Sussex :whistle::)
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East Sussex you mean
 

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