(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sat 20th Dec, 2025) London, UK —
Ultimate Guide to Surviving the Christmas Getaway: UK Traffic, Trains, and Airport Updates
Holiday travellers embarked on journeys across Britain's network of roads, railways, and airports on what was anticipated to be the busiest day for Christmas getaways this year.
Major UK airports were on the brink of setting new passenger benchmarks for December, with Friday projected to see approximately 460,000 individuals travelling.
The nation's motorways witnessed a significant surge in traffic, especially on Friday afternoon, with forecasts suggesting around 24.4 million vehicles would be on the move.
Network Rail issued guidance to passengers to verify their travel plans in advance, consider reserving a seat where possible, and allot additional time for their journeys.
Motorists urged to plan for delays
Nick Mullender, leading RAC's mobile servicing and repairs, advised drivers to brace for substantial hold-ups during peak periods on Friday.
“Anticipated queues could exceed half an hour from 4:30pm on the M25, stretching clockwise from Junction 15 for the M4 to Junction 19 near Watford, and anticlockwise from Kingston to East Grinstead. Meanwhile, in Manchester, expect the M60 clockwise, from Junction 7 at Altrincham to Junction 18 for the M62 towards Leeds, to be congested this afternoon,” he remarked.
The AA, renowned for its traffic insights across the UK, reported typical congestion hotspots were exacerbated by the increased volume of road traffic.
Strategic roadways like the M1 near Luton, M25 adjacent to Heathrow and Gatwick, M42 around Birmingham, the M5/M6 interchange, the M60 near Manchester, M6 between Lymm and Croft interchanges, M1 towards Mansfield, and the M20 heading towards Folkestone experienced heavy traffic on Friday afternoon.
With predictions stating this Christmas might be the busiest ever on UK highways, the AA advised motorists to factor in extra travel time.
The organisation highlighted that during the festive season, most drivers journey less than 100 miles, pinpointing motorway interchanges and shopping destinations as likely congestion points.
Significant road closures were also announced, including the M27 being shut between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from Christmas Eve to 4 January, prompting a call for travellers in Hampshire to seek alternative paths.
AA patrol expert Shaun Jones suggested, “Patience behind the wheel will be invaluable this year.”
“Today marks the peak of the Christmas travel rush, with millions anticipated to take to the roads. Our advice remains to plan your route in advance, stay updated with live traffic reports before departing, and allow extra time for your trip,” he stated.
Airports set for record holiday traffic
Airports too were bracing for a record-setting festive season, with Friday predicted to be the zenith of airport activity.
Heathrow Airport was poised to experience its busiest December and Christmas Day ever, expecting around 250,000 passengers daily.
Manchester Airport, too, was forecasting a record-breaking holiday season, with Friday anticipated as the peak day, seeing about 100,000 travellers.
Ahead of the rush, the managing director at Manchester Airport, Chris Woodroofe, shared tips for a smoother journey, such as checking in early and ensuring gifts are unwrapped before security checks to avoid unwarranted openings by security personnel.
Edinburgh Airport expected nearly 250,000 individuals to pass through from Friday to Christmas Eve, with popular destinations including Tenerife and Paris.
Gatwick Airport looked forward to 741 scheduled flights on Friday, approaching its peak of 757 flights projected for 28 December.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) noted an uptick in Christmas Day flights' popularity, advising passengers to acquaint themselves with their rights in the event of cancellations or delays, which includes entitlements to meals, accommodation for overnight delays, and options for refunds or alternative travel.
Railway disruptions expected
Network Rail also signalled passengers to prepare for railway travel disruptions due to improvement works over the Christmas period affecting several routes, with details available on their website.
With National Rail trains halting operations on Christmas Day and only a limited service on Boxing Day, Daniel Mann from the Rail Delivery Group exerted, “We urge customers to book seats where achievable, bring manageable luggage, and allow additional time for their journeys.”
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