Britain is bracing for long, hot traffic queues as an especially warm late May bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of the half-term break in parts of the UK. Motoring organisations have warned that nearly 19 million drivers are expected on the roads, 1 million more than the same period in 2025.
Heat and Traffic Jams
Temperatures are forecast to exceed 30C in some areas by Monday, with coastal roads predicted to be among the busiest. Long queues are expected towards seaside resorts and the Port of Dover, where delays due to border checks are compounding the holiday rush. The RAC polling found that almost four in 10 drivers plan a leisure trip, though 5% cited high fuel prices as a reason to stay home. The average petrol price across the UK is 158.52p, the highest since December 2022.
Day Trips to the Coast
The AA noted that day trips to the coast will likely account for a larger share of leisure journeys than overnight stays, though shopping centres and retail parks will attract more traffic overall. Jams are expected on routes to east and north-west coast resorts, as well as roads to the south-east and Cornwall, including the A303, M5, and A38. RingGo data suggests Saturday will be the busiest day for seaside trips, with Bournemouth typically seeing the biggest visitor surge. Inrix identified the M1, M25, M5, and M6 as the worst traffic hotspots.
Port of Dover Delays
Ferry passengers at the Port of Dover have been warned to expect long queues for border checks due to the EU’s entry-exit system (EES). About 18,000 travellers are due between Friday and Sunday, with departures peaking Saturday morning. The EES software for French borders is not fully operational, forcing manual checks despite new kiosks. Hour-long processing waits were reported by 6am on Friday.
Air Travel and Half-Term Breaks
Despite concerns over EES delays at airports and jet fuel uncertainty related to the Iran war, up to 2 million people are expected to fly abroad from the UK. Airlines report slow forward bookings for summer, but half-term demand remains strong. Abta members report strong demand for Mediterranean trips, especially to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece. Cirium data shows over 12,000 flights scheduled from the UK this weekend, with Friday the busiest day and Palma de Mallorca the top destination after Dublin.
Rail Disruptions
Network Rail said most of the rail network will be open despite £64m worth of planned engineering work. Disruptions include parts of the east coast mainline between London and Edinburgh, with rail replacement buses between York and Darlington from Saturday to Monday. Buses will replace trains between Newport and Bristol Parkway on the Great Western mainline. Thameslink trains will not run through central London, requiring passengers to start or end journeys at King’s Cross St Pancras or London Bridge. Strikes by TSSA union members at West Midlands and London North Western railways will reduce timetables on Friday and Saturday, affecting services in the Midlands and between Birmingham, Liverpool, and London.
