London to Brighton Veteran Car Run to split event into two routes

The route from Hyde Park to the Sussex coast has been subject to various minor changes since the automotive pioneers celebrated the passing into law of the Locomotive on the Highway Act in November 1896.

Until 2018, all participants in the Emanicpation Run have always followed the same officially designated route to Brighton.

This year organisers cite increasing Sunday morning traffic congestion as the reason for their decision to split the route into two between Westminster and Croydon.

They claim that as well as reducing traffic jams, the decision will give many more people the chance to see hundreds of pre-1905 cars motoring through their neighbourhoods.

After a sunrise departure from Hyde Park on Sunday 4 November, the route will split at Parliament Square, with half the cars crossing Westminster Bridge before heading south via Kennington Road.

Meanwhile the other half will cross the Thames at Lambeth Bridge before heading via Vauxhall, Tooting and Mitcham.

"Mounting congestion on the streets of south London has been a growing concern among run regulars, so we set out to evaluate several new options and, it was agreed, that the two-route policy was a very suitable solution," said Ben Cussons, chairman of the VCR Steering Group.

"By splitting the 450-car entry into two groups, it is envisaged that traffic bottlenecks will be halved, quickening the exit out of London, so making the historic pilgrimage to Brighton an even more pleasurable event for all."