motorways

Motorists are expected to make 13.9 million trips over the coming days as we start the school summer holidays and here is a list of the roads which are likely to have most congestion

Brits are being warned of the roads to avoid as the UK is expected to see the biggest number of car trips over the coming days since records began.

Drivers are planning 13.9 million midweek journeys from today until Thursday according to new data from INRIX. School holidays are beginning this week with many pupils breaking up for the summer tomorrow and it means many families will be hitting the roads for tourist hotspots. The new data estimates that 2.3 million trips will be made on UK roads today, while a further 2 million are expected on the next three days. And unusually this year many people are trying to get away before waiting until the weekend.

“This year, a larger number of drivers than ever expect to head off on holiday at some point this week, rather than wait until the weekend to get away – with an additional 5.6m journeys likely at some point between Monday and Thursday,” states the RAC, which has released the INRIX data.

And the midweek travel chaos is only the beginning as there is also likely to be plenty more mayhem on the roads come the weekend and further into the holiday period.

According to INRIX the M40 northbound between J12 for Gaydon and the M42 exit at J3A in the West Midlands could see mid-morning delays of up to 40 minutes on Tuesday.

Later on, queues of up to 50 minutes are likely from 4pm on the M1 northbound from J12 to J16 through Northamptonshire and on the M4 westbound from J22 for the Pilning Interchange near Severn Beach across the Prince of Wales Bridge to J26 for Newport.

The queues are set to continue through Wednesday afternoon as people attempt to get away before the weekend. The M1 northbound from J22 near Leicester to J26 for Nottingham, near the Peak District, may face 40-minute delays as early as 3pm.

INRIX is predicting early-evening queues of 50 minutes along the M25 anticlockwise from J4 for Sevenoaks to the Dartford Crossing, as holiday traffic clashes with rush-hour commuters.

Then for the weekend the RAC is recommending that people start as early or as late as possible to avoid the worst of the traffic. This means either before 10am or after 7pm.

RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “Normally the weekend bears the brunt of getaway traffic but this year we’re expecting ‘midweek mayhem’ as schools finish for summer.

“We typically see a peak on ‘Frantic Friday’ when holidaymakers share the roads with commuters heading home, but our figures indicate these trips will now be spread across several days with millions more weekday journeys planned. To avoid the worst of the traffic, travel outside peak times and steer well clear of morning and evening rush hours.

“Saturday is expected be the single busiest day for summer traffic with many drivers travelling long distances to get to their holiday destination. If a getaway journey involves hours in the car, it’s essential to be well rested and fresh for the trip. If possible, share the driving with another passenger to ensure concentration levels stay high, while those travelling with children should pack plenty of entertainment to keep them occupied and minimise questions of “are we there yet?”. Water, snacks and phone chargers are essential!

“Before setting off, drivers should do whatever they can to avoid their vehicles letting them down, like checking oil and coolant levels as well as the condition and tread on all tyres. There’s also still time to book an RAC Mobile Mechanic who can carry out a wide range of repairs at home or work, as well conducting a full or interim service.”

The UK’s poshest service station boasts a fancy cheese counter, rustic farm shop, and canteen-style kitchen – but is it really worth the hype, and how much can you get for just £5?

Liam Gilliver is an NCTJ-trained journalist with more than six years of experience in the industry. He first joined Reach Plc back in 2021 and is now a Senior Reporter for the Mirror. He covers a wide range of topics, from the EU travel destinations to huge infrastructure projects, personal finance and much more.

The crème de la crème of UK service stations feels like the love child of Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm and Booths – but how far can you get with just a fiver? If you’ve ever endured a long slog on Britain’s motorways, you’ll quickly learn that there is an art to pit stops.

You see, you have your bottom-tier service stations, the ones that offer an overpriced Burger King, tiny Costa Coffee and wee-drenched loos. If you ever stop at one of these unfortunate hell holes, hold your bladder and get out of there. Then there’s the more premium stations, where you’ll find an even-more-than-usual overpriced Waitrose, Starbucks, M&S and potentially something resembling a vegetable (like a Subway or Pret).

READ MORE: UK’s worst motorway revealed and it’s a 193-mile stretch nowhere near the M25

Gloucester Services states it works with more than 130 producers within 30 miles of the area, which is easy to believe when you see the stunning displays of pastries, cookies, pies, and cheeses. Of course, there are a bunch of packaged snacks available too – from sour cream pretzels to fancy meringue bites and classic cola bottle sweets.

The choice, and constant bustle, can be slightly overwhelming – but there’s no denying you’ll be spoilt for choice. Some items seemed ludicrously overpriced, but then others felt a lot more affordable. I picked up two dark chocolate and ginger balls for less than £1 – mistakenly thinking my budget would go a lot further than it did.

I headed to the canteen, which sells flatbreads for £9.25 or £11.75 if you add salad. While the lemon and garlic tofu sounded delicious, I was told they’d run out of the vegetarian dish (somewhat unsurprising when you’re just an hour away from Bristol) and that I’d need to wait ‘for a while’. Slightly deflated, I headed over to the Quick Kitchen and picked up a sandwich… for £5.75.

Despite not being a huge fan of the sarnie (which was extremely dry) and having failed my mission – I found a seat right next to the window and watched a group of baby ducks follow their mum into the waters. It felt like I was a million miles away from the bleak M5 – and made me realise that the service station has turned into the destination itself for many visitors. This is fine if you have hours to kill, but if you’ve still got hundreds of miles left – you may leave feeling slightly rushed.

The entire place was faultlessly clean, and the lush green space at the back of the service station really elevated the experience. My partner had a much better culinary experience too, and wouldn’t stop raving about how nice his chicken wrap and sausage roll were while I picked at my crumbling sandwich.

In fairness, a packaged sandwich is ever only going to be so good, and I would have probably spent a similar amount if I’d stopped at a service station with an M&S or Waitrose. So, I would still recommend Gloucester Services, especially if you have children (who get to eat for £1.50 when you buy an adult meal).

However, my favourite service station has to be Annandale Water in Scotland, on the A74. Its offerings might be a little limited (there’s a Chopstix, McDonald’s, WHSmiths, and that’s about it) but it has bizarrely become a haven for a group of geese who now permanently roam around the green. You’ll spot them as soon as you come up, along with the signs warning you to slow down in case they’re crossing. Seriously, it’s the cutest sight ever – and in my opinion – trumps an endless row of pies and pasties.

*Which? rankings were based on a survey of 8,677 experiences from 4,078 Which? Connect members in November – December, 2024.

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Bank holiday traffic is expected to be heavy this weekend, particularly along the usual hotspots of the M25 around London and all routes to the Southwest of England

Bank holiday traffic is expected to be worst today – and UK airports are anticipated to experience their busiest day for departures so far this year.

Transport analysts predict roads will be congested today with many drivers taking an extra day off before the long weekend and half-term break for most schools in England and Wales. The RAC said an extra 3.4million car trips for leisure would be made today, while the AA said the total number of cars on the road would top 20million.

The M25 around London and all routes to the Southwest of England, such as the M5, are anticipated to be among the busiest roads. However, engineering work is expected on some railways this weekend, including the West Coast Mainline, and so more cars will be on roads as a result.

READ MORE: Tiny UK village 50 miles from capital where London Underground once stopped

Motorists are likely to experience delays on the A30 or A303 westbound or the M5 southbound towards Devon and Cornwall, where journeys could take up to an hour more than usual this weekend.

Those driving this afternoon or on Saturday may dodge some queues, as the majority of motorists surveyed said they expect to hit the road this morning. However, return journeys, especially from coastal areas, are anticipated at various times across Friday May 30, so drivers should allow for extra time for their jaunts.

But the unsettled weather could dampen the traffic over the bank holiday weekend. The Met Office says it will be rainy in places, including across the Northwest of England on Saturday and most of Scotland on Sunday.

Disruption, though, is expected on two major rail routes out of London over the next few days. There will be no trains between London St Pancras and Bedford on Saturday or Sunday, affecting East Midlands Railway and Thameslink services, including services to Luton Airport. A reduced service will operate on Britain’s busiest rail route, the West Coast Mainline, from today until next Friday, affecting Avanti intercity trains from London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. West Midlands Trains and CrossCountry services will also be affected.

More than 3,200 flights will take off at UK airports today, making it the busiest for departures so far in 2025. Over the next four days some 12,185 departing flights are scheduled, according to the aviation analytics firm Cirium, carrying up to 2.2 million passengers.

No disruption at airports has been reported as yet today, though results of a survey published last month identified Gatwick Airport as the worst in the UK for flight delays. Air traffic control (ATC) chaos meant departures from the West Sussex airport were an average of more than 23 minutes behind schedule in 2024, according to analysis of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) data.