Snow chains?

[Rhyso]

I could negotiate are least 12-18 inches of fresh snow on them

Sadly when you hit gritted roads you will have to remove them.  I drove for a brief period on gritted roads and one or twos holes did appear in the material

I'll be fitting winter tyres this year although up until I do I'll be keeping the snow socks in the boot just in case we get hit by a freak storm

[Chris MKV]

It's alright someone in London saying not to bother but there is a lot of the country where you may need to drive on snow.  If you take the car skiing there are rounds where it is illegal to travel without chains.

The socks have had a really good review so for most folks this might well be the best option.

[AlanD]

Yeah but he is talking about going skiing is he. Just because I live in London doesn't mean I don't appreciate that there are plenty of roads that would require some form of traction assistance to get through.

[Ads17]

I have 2 words for you WINTER TYRES 
You don't need to stop and mess about with socs, chains etc... especially in mixed conditions but the downside is the cost.
My tyres were £550 for 4 if memory serves and I also picked up a 2nd set of alloys but they are an asset which could be sold on later if need be.

I got a set of Vredstein Wintrac Extreme for my golf GT last year.  I was about the only non 4x4 that got down the country road near where I stay succesfully with about a foot of snow on it    passing all the Audi's and BM's abandoned at the side.

Over the course of last winter the fronts went down 1mm the back 0.5mm.  This year they will be rotated round so I reckon they will give me about 5 years of winter driving and while they are on my normal tyres are not wearing out so they will last longer too. 

Just got a set of Toyo Snowprox for the missus's MK3 Golf GTI for this year. That's how impressed I was with the difference in traction.