Travellers across the UK are being warned to expect significant travel disruption over the upcoming bank holiday weekend, with heavy congestion forecast on key roads and major rail services facing delays due to engineering works.
Motoring groups are predicting that Friday will be the busiest day on the roads, as many drivers begin their holidays early ahead of the long weekend and half-term break. According to the RAC, an additional 3.4 million leisure car journeys are expected to take place on Friday alone, while the AA estimates over 20 million vehicles will be on the roads in total.
Traffic hotspots are expected to include the M25, particularly near the Dartford Crossing, and key routes heading to the South West such as the A30, A303, and the M5 southbound towards Devon and Cornwall. Delays of up to an hour are possible, especially during peak travel times.
The traffic data firm Inrix has warned of significant congestion on the M25’s anticlockwise stretch during Friday lunchtime and on the western section during the evening rush hour.
Drivers are advised to consider travelling in the afternoon on Friday or Saturday to avoid the worst of the delays, although traffic is expected to remain heavy throughout the weekend. Wet and unsettled weather, as forecast by the Met Office, could also affect road conditions.
Passengers planning to travel by rail should brace for disruption, particularly on two of London’s major rail routes. Engineering works tied to HS2 development and essential track upgrades will see reduced services and some full closures.
There will be no train services between London St Pancras and Bedford on Saturday and Sunday, impacting East Midlands Railway and Thameslink routes, including access to Luton Airport.
From Saturday through to Friday, the West Coast Main Line will also operate a reduced service. This affects Avanti West Coast routes from London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow. Extended journey times and rail replacement buses are expected, particularly around Coventry. Services by West Midlands Trains and CrossCountry will also be disrupted.
Network Rail’s director of system operations, Helen Hamlin, urged passengers to plan ahead:
“While the majority of the network will be open, we strongly advise travellers to check their journey details in advance to avoid surprises.”
Air travel is also expected to surge, with UK airports preparing for their busiest day of the year so far on Friday. Aviation analysts at Cirium report that over 3,200 flights are scheduled to depart on Friday alone, with 12,185 flights planned over the four-day weekend, potentially carrying up to 2.2 million passengers.
This marks a 4% increase compared to the early May bank holiday. The most popular international destinations include Dublin, Amsterdam, Palma, Alicante, and Málaga.
The UK travel association ABTA is advising all travellers heading abroad to ensure they have valid travel insurance. Recent research revealed that one in four holidaymakers went without insurance last year, with over 40% of those aged 25 to 34 travelling uninsured.
As millions prepare to get away, experts across all sectors are urging caution, preparation, and patience to navigate one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.
