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[Kate]

I'm moving to Looe in Cornwall in the next couple of days. I'm currently living in Warlingham, a few miles south of Croydon.

Should I take the M4/M5 or would M3/A303 be better?

I'll have an omega full of animals and other stuff.

Thanks for any advice.

[Elite Pete]

Try the aa route finder

[Kevin Wood]

M3/A303 is a more interesting route, certainly. Most of the 303 is dual carriageway. I think the only bit that's not these days is the few miles either side of Stonehenge.

M4/M5 is quite a bit further and boring!

I think the 303 is good enough these days that I wouldn't bother going M4/M5.

If you want a leg stretch along the way, I can recommend both the Fleet Air Arm museum and the Haynes motor museum. Both are right on the A303 in the Yeovil area and about half way for you, I'd imagine.

[taitinson]

M4/M5 for me everytime on my trips back to Oxfordshire, mind you that's more to do with my need to "press on",   A303 is, as said, a much less boring route 

[Kate]

M3/A303 is a more interesting route, certainly. Most of the 303 is dual carriageway. I think the only bit that's not these days is the few miles either side of Stonehenge.

M4/M5 is quite a bit further and boring!

I think the 303 is good enough these days that I wouldn't bother going M4/M5.

If you want a leg stretch along the way, I can recommend both the Fleet Air Arm museum and the Haynes motor museum. Both are right on the A303 in the Yeovil area and about half way for you, I'd imagine.

Thanks for that advice Kevin. Those museums will be great.

[Kate]

M4/M5 for me everytime on my trips back to Oxfordshire, mind you that's more to do with my need to "press on",   A303 is, as said, a much less boring route 

Yes 140mph would be fun.

[Kate]

Try the aa route finder

Thanks Pete. They recommend A303.

[Sir Tigger KC]

If your not in a rush take the A303 as it's a nice drive, although as has already been pointed out there are a few stretches of single carriageway which can get congested.... 

You'll also have get into the dialect Kate if your going to live in Kernow, you should be asking for 'drek-shuns' ! 

So take the A303 as you'll be there drekly!   

[pscocoa]

A303 can be an absolute horror if you do not get your time right. As a regular visitor to family in Cornwall the safest bet for me has been M4 M5  Roughly 3 hours 45 mins. Using 303 i did once do 3 hours 15 mins leaving at 7.15 pm. But also had a mammoth one with Stonehenge etc

[Lizzie_Zoom]

A303 can be an absolute horror if you do not get your time right. As a regular visitor to family in Cornwall the safest bet for me has been M4 M5  Roughly 3 hours 45 mins. Using 303 i did once do 3 hours 15 mins leaving at 7.15 pm. But also had a mammoth one with Stonehenge etc

I agree

Kate I covered the whole of the South and South West on business for 15 years, so travelled 100's of thousands of miles and my experience was that from Croydon to South Cornwall / Looe I would always go M25, M4, M5, A38, then choose the best local route South to wherever you are moving to in Looe.

[Gaffers]

A303, take in the sights, stop along the way, lots to see, make day of it and you'll love it

[Nick W]

I''ve family in Plymouth, and have been going there from Kent for over 40 years. I''ve been driving professionally for some time now, and wouldn't even consider the M4.
M3, A303, M5 before Taunton past Exeter, and A38 into Plymouth. That's a 4 hour trip, Chatham to Keyham. There's less than 10 miles past Stonehenge that isn't dual carriageway. Using the M4 adds 70 miles, which is an hour extra no matter how you look at it.

If you need a stop, then Haynes museum at Sparkford is worth a visit and is halfway.

[Kate]

Oh I can't decide now.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Oh I can't decide now.

I could always loan you my Learjet.

[chrisgixer]

A303 is a bloody ridiculous road. Roundabouts every 1/2 mile. Single carriageway by stone henge and every bugger in a caravan wants to stop and have a look. It might be a shorter route, but its by no means a fast route.

Horses for courses though. Some family members are scared stiff of motorways, to the point they'll happily take 6 hours to drive from Epsom via the 303 instead of the m4 or m5 in 4 hours to wade bridge. Wadebridge from here in 3hours, yet Dartmouth which is nearer took over 4 hours via the 303.

There's another option following the m3 all the way down to Sputhampton and turn right through the new forest, but I've never been that way and google maps says its half hour longer than the 303.

My thoughts for you though, with a car full of pets. Keep the ship steady on the m4/5 and take a longer but quicker and more economical route with cruise set, and stop at the services for the pets for a break brake.

303 is a good place to have an accident with all those roundabouts/side exits/dual carriageway slip roads that are too short for some people. I've rarely encountered such bad driving in one journey that on the 303. Avoid IMO.