Britain's roads are braced for unprecedented festive congestion as experts warn of a record-breaking Christmas getaway, with a staggering 24.4 million car journeys expected today, Friday, December 26, 2025.
Critical Congestion Hotspots Identified
The AA has issued a major traffic alert, pinpointing several high-risk areas for severe gridlock. Foremost among these is the M5/M6 interchange near Birmingham, a crucial motorway link expected to face immense pressure as families embark on post-Christmas visits and Boxing Day sales trips.
This year is projected to be the busiest Christmas getaway since records began, with traffic volumes climbing steadily since the end of pandemic travel restrictions. A poll of over 10,000 AA members revealed that nearly two-thirds of drivers plan journeys of up to 50 miles today.
Nationwide Gridlock and Relief Measures
The congestion is not confined to the Midlands. Other critical hotspots across the UK include:
- The M60 near the Trafford Centre in Greater Manchester.
- The M25 around Heathrow Airport and Bluewater shopping centre.
- The M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, where delays peak between midday and early evening.
In a bid to keep traffic moving, National Highways has suspended over 90% of roadworks on motorways and major A-roads. This measure, which started at 6am on Sunday, will remain in place until January 2, 2026, freeing up lanes for millions of leisure trips.
A Prolonged Festive Travel Surge
The RAC estimates that a colossal 37.5 million leisure journeys were made between Wednesday and Christmas Eve, marking the busiest pre-Christmas week since their data collection began in 2013. While Christmas Eve was predicted to be the single busiest day, the volume of Boxing Day travel indicates heavy congestion will persist throughout the holiday period.
Mapping firm TomTom has also warned that Saturday is expected to be "super busy" as last-minute shoppers and travellers converge. Data shows city-centre congestion in London, Manchester, and Birmingham often peaks around midday, with journey times significantly longer than usual into the early evening.
The travel surge extends beyond the roads. UK airports are preparing for their busiest Christmas exodus on record, with Abta projecting over five million Britons will fly abroad between today and January 4, 2026. Popular destinations include Spain, Portugal, and Turkey, alongside festive city breaks to Vienna, Gdansk, and Cologne.
