Route Planner Advice - South Mimms to Blackwall Tunnel?

Planning to ride down from Bedford to see #1 son in Blackheath on Saturday to show him my new toy. It's 20-odd years since I drove a car in that part of the world (I usually train it to Blackfriars and then push-bike it across the 7 miles). So come on you guys with local knowledge, which is the best route in from South Mimms where I'll probably be taking a comfort break? RAC route planner wants to take me all the way round to Dartford on the M25 lol. AA reckons A1-North Circular-A12? I thought maybe M25-M11-A12? or is there summat else entirely that's more pleasant than all that motorway on a Saturday morning? btw, I could come down the M1 rather than A1, but hate the M1 much preferring the A1 for the added variety of a few roundabouts. Then of course I could add seven miles to the trip and hack it across on the very pleasant B1042 back road and then come down the A10 via Royston and Buntingford to Waltham Cross. But really it's the other side of the M25 I'm not sure about. I do recollect from years ago the A10 south of the ring road was an absolute pain to drive on a Saturday. Remember guys, before taking the piss, never in my life have I ridden a motorbike SE of Bedford before, only every other point of the compass.

 

Thx guys. Yeah I figured. A1-M25-M11-NCR-A13. Pretty much shortest too, save for cutting through Town.