As the August Bank Holiday weekend approaches, millions across the UK are bracing for what experts are calling one of the most congested travel periods of the year. With the last long weekend before Christmas looming, nearly 18 million car journeys are expected to take place between Friday, August 22, and Monday, August 25, 2025, according to estimates from the RAC. The South East and South West of England are forecast to bear the brunt of the traffic, while rail travelers face a barrage of engineering works and strike-induced disruptions.
The RAC’s data, drawn from a survey of 2,080 UK adults and extrapolated to the country’s 34 million licensed cars, paints a picture of eager holidaymakers determined to make the most of the late summer break. The motoring group predicts 3 million leisure journeys on Friday, with numbers swelling to 3.4 million on Saturday, 2.4 million on Sunday, and 2.7 million on Monday. An additional 6.1 million drivers are expected to set out for trips at some point over the four-day stretch. As Nick Mullender, the RAC’s mobile servicing and repairs team leader, put it, “With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18 million drivers planning getaway trips.”
But this enthusiasm may come at a cost. The RAC is urging drivers to set off as early as possible or, as Mullender warned, “be prepared to spend longer in traffic.” He further explained, “More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations. We’re expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the south-east and south-west regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups.”
Transport analytics company Inrix has identified the M5 motorway between Bristol and Devon—specifically the stretch from junction 15 north of Bristol to junction 23 for Bridgwater—as the likely epicenter of traffic chaos. Delays exceeding 40 minutes are anticipated on both Friday and Saturday. Meanwhile, drivers on the M20 in Kent, a crucial route for Channel crossings via Dover or Folkestone, should brace for hold-ups of more than half an hour on Friday. The worst congestion is expected between junction 7 near Maidstone and junction 3 (Addington Interchange), as well as from junction 1 at Swanley to junction 5 at Aylesford.
The Midlands region is also expected to suffer, particularly due to public transport problems that will force more travelers onto the roads. This situation is compounded by the closure of several major rail routes, as Network Rail embarks on 261 engineering projects across Britain during the holiday period. Helen Hamlin, Network Rail’s chief network operator, emphasized the necessity of these works: “With the August bank holiday weekend approaching, we’ve carefully planned our engineering work to minimise disruption, allowing people to rely on the railway and make the most of the late summer bank holiday weekend. While the vast majority of the railway will be running, works on some parts of the network are unfortunately unavoidable, as we complete major work to support a better, more reliable railway that we wouldn’t be able to complete in a normal weekend. So we’re asking passengers to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route isn’t affected.”
Among the most significant rail disruptions, no long-distance services will operate between London King’s Cross and Peterborough on Sunday, August 24, affecting LNER and Lumo journeys on the East Coast Main Line. Avanti West Coast will run a reduced and amended service to and from London Euston throughout the weekend, while trains between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International will be diverted from Saturday to Monday, extending journey times. London Northwestern services will operate only to and from Birmingham International during this period. Southeastern services from London Victoria to Dartford will be suspended on Sunday and Monday due to re-signalling work in Lewisham, with replacement buses running between New Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath.
The situation for CrossCountry rail passengers is even more dire. The company has warned of a reduced timetable over the weekend, with no services running on Saturday due to industrial action by the RMT union and likely cancellations on Sunday. CrossCountry also expects only a “very limited service” on Monday between 8am and 6pm. In response to the rail disruption, coach operator National Express is adding 9,000 extra seats on intercity routes this weekend, focusing on cities such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and London. The company reports passenger numbers up 20% compared to the same period last year.
Large events are expected to add further strain to the network, with crowds flocking to London’s Notting Hill Carnival, the Reading and Leeds festivals, and Creamfields in Cheshire. All of this, of course, is happening under the watchful eye of the UK’s famously unpredictable weather. According to BBC Weather, Friday will be largely dry but cloudy, with temperatures warming up on Saturday and Sunday—central and southern England could even see highs between 23 and 25°C (73 and 77°F). However, Bank Holiday Monday might bring unsettled conditions, as the remnants of Hurricane Erin approach, potentially delivering bursts of rain just when travelers are returning home.
Travel expert Nicky Kelvin, editor-at-large at The Points Guy, stressed the importance of preparation. “The planned engineering works will affect several routes across the rail network over the Bank Holiday weekend, with services across several operators impacting passenger journeys, with reduced and amended timetables in place. I always suggest that rail passengers should always make sure they are checking their operator website ahead of time, or websites such as Trainline.com or the National Rail website to see if their planned route will be impacted. Another great tip is on the travel day itself to go on X to see what other passengers are saying and have experienced when travelling on the revised route.”
Kelvin also offered practical advice for those determined to travel: “Given how the August bank holiday weekend is always a popular time for Brits to make the most of the three-day weekend, most people will not be able to avoid travelling so my advice is to look at alternative options for travel as rail replacement bus services can take longer than other modes of transport. If passengers need to travel, try and look at alternative times to avoid peak journey times when they will be notoriously busy and crowded. For those hitting the roads, make sure you set off early and allow extra journey time for traffic and congestion – there is nothing worse than spending hours in tailbacks and gridlock traffic, which can be avoided if drivers set off a little earlier.”
With millions on the move, a patchwork of rail closures, and the ever-present threat of unpredictable weather, the August Bank Holiday promises to be a true test of patience for UK travelers. Whether by car, train, or coach, those venturing out this weekend would do well to heed the experts’ advice: check routes, plan ahead, and, above all, pack a little extra patience.
