i do the trip almost weekly from south east london up to Crewe.

i only use the M6 Toll if im getting to that area at a bad time of day, and id certainly not bother using it on a saturday atall

if i were you id head up the M40, then take the M42 westbound towards the M5, head north on the M5 for about 10 mins until you join the M6 and then just follow it on until you reach the M54.

nice and easy mate.

i was averaging from Jct 8 M25 to Crewe (M6 Jct 16) in just shy of 2h 45m.