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That's great, thanks. Certainly gives me a few options to check out. As you say, everyone has a different version of good/bad. I suppose it is worth trying out a few options and see which one is best for me. And yeah, I hate towpaths for commuting.
timages-
Central Uxbridge or Uxbridge-ish?
Going up Hillingdon Hill expect vehicle drivers to ignore the marked bike lane on the road, and pedestrians to be surprised to see a cyclist on the shared pavement. The newly paved cycle lane alongside the service road, Hayes-ish, has been treated merely as additional parking space by the car servicing/selling guys.
Expect non-existent lane discipline through Southall and non-checking pedestrians striding into the road.
The wider road down to the Iron Bridge is less hectic. Through Hanwell & West Ealing the continuous parking makes the roadways narrower and less relaxing. Then you are into hippy territory.
mespilus
It's 'ok' but everyone has different version of good/bad commutes. I prefer bigger/faster roads with traffic mostly going in the same direction because I'm fast and I want to be dealing with shitty rat runs, parked cars and random peds. Southall is a bit better now with the dividers but the bit west of that is still full of penises angry at you because they chose an inferior mode of transport. Acton sucks - it skinnies up and there's shit going everywhere. You get the bus lane back until Shepherds Bush and then it's shit again until you clear the big RAB and Holland Park Ave (col du Notting Hill). I would normally head north here and ride up Sussex Gardens to Marylebone Road and onto Euston Road because I always try to avoid Oxford St. Then turn right and head down Farringdon Lane.
You could also not head north to Euston and continue then use Wigmore St which runs parallel to Oxford St but isn't full of tourists and buses. Then do a bit of zig zagging to get to Farringdon.
I have a mate who does Ealing to Farringdon now and he says he prefers to use Goldhawk Road to Uxbridge as it quieter. There's bike paths through Shepherds Bush Green that will get you back onto Holland Park Rd for eastbound. I'm not sure where he goes in town, I can have a look at his Strava.
I hate canal paths for commuting.