Editing M25 motorway (section)

==Cultural references==
{{quotebox|quote=The M25 is a form of social control to ensure disruptive elements in society are neutralised by keeping a significant proportion of them in continual motion.|source=[[Will Self]]{{sfn|Hamilton|2015|p=6}}|align=right|width=18em}}

The M25 and the Dartford Crossing are known for frequent traffic jams. This was noticed before the entire road had been completed; at the official opening ceremony Margaret Thatcher complained about "those who carp and criticise". The jams have inspired derogatory names, such as "Britain's Biggest Car Park"<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.itv.com/news/2016-10-29/m25-britains-biggest-car-park-turns-30/|title=M25 turns 30 : Ten facts about "Britain's Biggest Car Park"|work=ITV|date=29 October 2016|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref> and songs (e.g., [[Chris Rea]]'s "[[The Road to Hell (song)|The Road to Hell]]").<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,,790672,00.html |title=Chris Rea interviewed by Will Hodgkinson, ''The Guardian'', Friday 13 September 2002 |access-date=31 January 2009 | location=London | date=13 September 2002}}</ref> Nevertheless, coach tours around the M25 have continued to run into the 21st century.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/mar/12/m25-coach-tour-surprise-hit|title=M25 is UK's newest tourist attraction|newspaper=The Guardian|date=12 March 2012|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref>

The M25 plays a role in the comedy-fantasy novel ''[[Good Omens]]'', as "evidence for the hidden hand of Satan in the affairs of Man".<ref name=independent_20161017/> The demon character, Crowley, had manipulated the design of the M25 to resemble a Satanic [[Sigil (magic)|sigil]], and tried to ensure it would anger as many people as possible to drive them off the path of good.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pratchett|first1=Terry|last2=Gaiman|first2=Neil|title=Good Omens|year=1993|publisher=Corgi Books|location=London|isbn=0552137030|page=19}}</ref><ref name="Gaiman 2003">{{cite web|author=[[Neil Gaiman]]|url=http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2003/04/image-stolen-from-patrick-nielsen.asp?m=1|title=Neil Gaiman's Journal|work=[[HarperCollins]]|publisher=[[News Corp (2013–present)|News Corp]]|date=11 April 2003|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> The lengthy series of public inquiries for motorways throughout the 1970s, particularly the M25, influenced the opening of ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'', where the Earth is destroyed to make way for a hyperspace bypass.{{sfn|Hamilton|2015|p=10}}

The M25 enjoyed a more positive reputation among [[rave]]rs in the late 1980s, when this new orbital motorway became a popular route to the parties that took place around the outskirts of London.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-39960232|title=Castlemorton Common: The rave that changed the law|work=BBC News|date=28 May 2017|access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> Its use for these raves inspired the name of the electronic duo [[Orbital (band)|Orbital]].<ref name=independent_20161017/>

[[Iain Sinclair]]'s 2002 book and film ''London Orbital'' is based on a year-long journey around the M25 on foot.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lezard|first=Nicholas|title=Meandering round the M25|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2002/sep/21/featuresreviews.guardianreview6|newspaper=The Guardian|date=21 September 2002}}</ref>

[[File:Give Peas A Chance - geograph.org.uk - 1723109.jpg|thumb|The "Give Peas a chance" graffiti on the Chalfont Viaduct, before its removal in 2018]]
A piece of [[graffiti]] on the [[Chalfont Viaduct]], clearly visible from the M25 and reading "Give Peas a chance" (parodying [[John Lennon]]'s "[[Give Peace a Chance]]") became popular with the public, attracting its own [[Facebook group]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-45564552|title='Give peas a chance' M25 bridge graffiti removed|work=BBC News|date=18 September 2018|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/give-peas-chance-graffiti-m25-425872|title=Give pease a chance graffiti on M25|work=Croydon Advertiser|date=22 July 2016|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> The message originally read "Peas", supposedly the tag of a London graffiti artist; the rest of the wording is reported to have referred to his frequent clashes with the law.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-40485543|title=The landmarks that mean you're nearly home|work=BBC News|date=20 August 2017|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13524208|title=Graffiti campaigns that stuck in the mind|work=BBC News Magazine|date=25 May 2011|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> In September 2018, after almost 20 years, the graffiti was vandalised and then removed and replaced with the message "Give Helch a break".<ref name=bbc_20180921>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-45593174|title=Petition calls for M25 'give peas a chance' graffiti return|date=21 September 2018|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref> A spokesman for [[Network Rail]] sympathised with the requests to restore the "much-loved graffiti", but said they do not condone people putting their lives at risk by trespassing.<ref name=bbc_20180921/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/motorists-devastated-as-iconic-give-peas-a-chance-m25-graffiti-is-erased-a3941311.html|title=Motorists devastated as iconic "Give Peas A Chance" M25 graffiti is erased|work=London Evening Standard|date=20 September 2018|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref>