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Britain braces for busy roads as May bank holiday temperatures set to pass 30C
TL;DR
Britain is anticipating heavy traffic over the May bank holiday weekend as temperatures are expected to exceed 30C. Nearly 19 million drivers are projected to travel, with coastal roads and the Port of Dover likely to experience significant congestion.
Key points
- Temperatures expected to exceed 30C during the bank holiday
- Almost 19 million drivers projected to travel
- Coastal roads and Port of Dover likely to be busiest
- Average petrol price is 158.52p, highest since December 2022
- Traffic expected to peak on Friday and Saturday
An especially hot late May bank holiday weekend is expected to bring even more traffic to the roads than usual at the start of the half-term break taking place in parts of the UK, motoring organisations have warned.
With temperatures forecast to pass 30C in places by Monday, coastal roads are predicted to be among the busiest, with long queues expected towards seaside resorts and the Port of Dover, where delays in border checks are compounding the holiday rush.
The RAC expects almost 19 million drivers to hit Britain’s roads over the long weekend, 1 million more than the same holiday period in 2025.
Its polling found almost four in 10 drivers intend to take a leisure trip, with the heaviest traffic likely to be on Friday and Saturday, although about 5% of drivers said high fuel prices would keep them at home. The average price of petrol across the UK is 158.52p, the highest since December 2022, according to the RAC.
Cars queue to cross the Channel at the Port of Dover in Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA
The AA said its polling suggested day trips to the coast would account for a bigger proportion of leisure journeys than overnight getaways, although shopping centres and retail parks would draw in more traffic overall.
It warned of traffic jams heading towards resorts on the east and north-west coasts of England and queues on roads leading to the south-east and Cornwall, including the A303, M5 and A38.
The parking company RingGo said its data across previous bank holidays suggested Saturday would be the busiest day of the long weekend for seaside day trips, with Bournemouth normally showing the biggest rise in visitors.
The transport analytics company Inrix said the worst traffic this weekend would be on the M1, M25, M5 and M6.
Ferry passengers travelling through the Port of Dover have been warned to expect long queues for border checks with the implementation of the EU’s entry-exit system (EES).
About 18,000 travellers are due between Friday and Sunday, with departures peaking on Saturday morning.
The EES software for the French borders is yet to be fully operational, meaning police are still conducting manual checks despite expensively installed kiosks at the port, with hour-long processing waits reported at the border by 6am on Friday.
Q&A
What are the expected temperatures for the May bank holiday in the UK?
Temperatures are forecast to pass 30C in parts of the UK by Monday of the May bank holiday.
How many drivers are expected to travel during the May bank holiday weekend in Britain?
Almost 19 million drivers are expected to hit Britain's roads over the long weekend, which is 1 million more than the same period in 2025.
Which roads are predicted to be the busiest during the May bank holiday?
Coastal roads, particularly towards seaside resorts and the Port of Dover, are predicted to be among the busiest.
What is the average price of petrol in the UK as of May 2023?
The average price of petrol across the UK is 158.52p, the highest since December 2022.
