Let’s break down the timetable, because it’s wild. 1975 gave us the first taste near Reigate. 1977 saw the Surrey section grow a bit. But the real push came in the early 1980s. Margaret Thatcher’s government went full throttle, determined to finish the circle.
The opening of the final section in 1986 was a huge deal. Margaret Thatcher herself cut the ribbon. She called it a “great achievement.” I call it the day London lost its peace and quiet. The M25 was now a 117-mile ring of steel and asphalt.
It was officially done. But let’s be real: it was never truly finished. They’ve been widening it ever since.
In pictures: A history of the M25 motorway and how it was built
The Nightmare Begins
Here’s the funny thing—the M25 was supposed to reduce traffic in central London. It did the opposite. It created traffic. It’s like building a bigger pair of pants to stop you from eating cake. Suddenly, everyone wanted to drive around London just because they could.
By the 1990s, it was already a joke. The M25 car park, people called it. You’d set off for a drive, pack a picnic, and maybe finish your novel before you reached the next junction. It became the busiest motorway in Europe.
And the worst part? There’s no alternative. It’s the only game in town. Miss your exit? Enjoy an extra forty-minute tour of Surrey.
