Yes, this will be a mare either way.

I do these sorts of trips all the time. Leaving the fine city at teatime on Friday, the A14 gets all f**ked up at Cambridge and then it still seems like the world's longest slog to the M1 junction, let alone the 150 miles you probably still have to do at that point. I'd M6 it, not M1 it, if I was going that way. The motorway bit at least would be reliably faster because you'd be at 8 or 9pm by the time you got there.

The Lynn way is s**tter but quieter roads - and definitely to be recommended if you HAVE to leave between 4 and 6pm on the Friday. It's a long old way on A-roads. Your best bet would be A47 - A1 - A57 (to Manchester) - M62. Stop in Sheffield for dinner and overnight if you want. It's then 2 hours from there in the morning.

Only other thought is wait in Norwich until perhaps 6 or 7pm, have dinner before leaving, and then just drive in the night until you get there? I've done Norwich to Holyhead that way before, arriving some time around 1am - it takes f**king ages and you need a big lie-in to make up for it, but it's well worth avoiding all the traffic, of which there is none by that point, and it reminds you that motoring can be a calm flowing experience. If you chose that option, definitely go Cambridge way.

Good luck!

Posted By: Yarf, Jan 26, 10:04:50