London’s orbital highway – the M25 – is often derided as a traffic hazard to be avoided. However, it has a rich history and it’s route goes through iconic British countryside.
In recognition of this – Brighton & Hove Bus company has launched a guided Coach Tour of the M25 to highlight the history and sights.
From their website:
This day is designed for lovers of modern coach travel. The M25 has been named the least entertaining and most boring road in Britain over the years. BBC Radio 4 listeners voted it the most hated place in Britain in 2002, while in 2008 Caterham Cars claimed it was the country’s worst driving road. Let us try to prove these judgements wrong with a “flight of fancy” around the London Orbital. The coach direction will be decided on the day by the drivers and we will stop to take refreshment at the services. An entertaining commentary by our co-driver will accompany the journey covering interesting facts about the motorway’s evolution. Passengers are invited to guestimate to the nearest mile the distance the coach will travel around the route, a bottle of Champagne is the prize for the closest.
In the event of a tie the winner will be drawn from a hat
Due to huge public and media interest in our planned orbital sightseeing coach trip around the M25 following the launch of our 2012 Days Out earlier this month, we’ve added an extra tour date on Thursday 22 March 2012.The original planned trip on Thursday 11 October will still be operating but for those that can’t wait that long.
We’ll drive you up the A23 and M23 to begin our tour at Junction 7 on the M25. We’re keeping it as a surprise whether we’ll travel clockwise or anti-clockwise but suffice to say, all the great opportunities to see the amazing sights around this iconic motorway will be available, including Epping Forest, Heathrow Airport’s Terminal Five, Lakeside, the magnificent Dartford River Crossing bridge and much more. Our guided commentary will reveal a whole host of fascinating facts about the UK’s most talked about road.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take a leisurely trip around the M25 with, for once, no time pressures or worries about arriving at your destination on time!
The tour will take 4 hours and costs just £15 for the journey. There are two dates on offer in March and in October.
See their website for details.
Author: jonathan
Jonathan is a consummate Anglophile who launched Anglotopia.net in 2007 to channel his passion for Britain. Londontopia is its sister publication dedicated to everything London.
I’ve often thought that when I pick up my American friends at Heathrow to drive them to my house, the M25 does provide plenty to see and enjoy on the way. Harry Potter and Hagrid were pursued by Death Eaters through the Dartford Tunnel, and there are views across some gorgeous villages just past the junction with the M1. Plus the M25 itself has an interesting history, and there are lots of funny stories related to it too.