With the holiday season fast approaching and travel plans to be with friends and family, getting there safely and quickly is at the front of mind. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the busy roads that you should avoid this season. Though Britain is only 874 miles long, it contains 245,000 miles of road. Of the 56 motorways you could travel, we point out the ones facing the most congestion, from London to Gretna Green. So, whether you’re heading to a festive gathering nearby or a cosy Christmas retreat across the country, our guide will help you navigate the holiday traffic with ease.
Congested Motorways to Avoid
M1 | London to Leeds
The M1, a 194-mile motorway running from Edgware in North London to outside of Leeds, is a critical road for commuters and holiday-makers alike. It won’t come as a surprise that the heaviest congestion on that motorway is northbound vehicles leaving London—Junctions 1 through 10. Another spot that sees frequent traffic jams is the M6 intersection in Leicestershire.
M4 | London to Swansea
The motorway running west from London to Swansea sees over 130,000 vehicles per day. The busiest stretches of road occur where it intersects with the M25 and at Junction 20 near Devon, where the M4 joins the M5.
M6 | Rugby, England to Gretna Green, Scotland
The M6 is the longest motorway in the United Kingdom, running 230 miles long. Be particularly careful with your planning around Junctions 21A through 26. Not only does that junction pull in commuter traffic from Lancashire, Merseyside, Cheshire, and the Greater Manchester areas, but it is also undergoing roadworks.
With the goal to improve this stretch of the M6, ongoing construction is projected until spring 2025. Not only does the M6 face heavy traffic, increased merging at Junctions 21-26, and construction, but it has the lowest-rated motorway satisfaction rate according to a Telegraph survey. The 66% satisfaction rating can be accredited to tarmac issues and outdated signage. These issues make a chaotic drive even more difficult.
Manchester Commuter Roads
As the M6 is an essential road connecting southern England to Scotland, the Manchester commuter roads that connect to the M6 are also prone to congestion. The M60 ring road, notably Junctions 15 and 16 in northeast Manchester, face delays. Another road to avoid if possible is the M61, busy as it connects the Manchester ring road with the M6. The M62 is an essential road connecting Liverpool through Manchester to Hull—the closest the country has to a coast-to-coast motorway. As some journeys cannot circumnavigate the M62, be sure to plan ahead to avoid rush hour traffic (8-9 am and 5-6 pm).
M8 | Glasgow to Edinburgh
The M8 is Scotland’s busiest motorway, conveying over 150,000 vehicles per day from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Not only is it an artery for the country’s largest populated cities, but it also cuts through the centre of Glasgow. As a result, the section that runs through the congested city centre of Glasgow is best to be avoided when possible.
M25 | London
The fact that the M25 has made this list will be a shock to absolutely no one! As one of the world’s largest orbital motorways, it carries 15% of the United Kingdom’s motorway traffic. With anywhere from 204,000 to 250,000 vehicles travelling along it per day, Londoners know that the west portion of this road from Junctions 13 through 16 are to be avoided at all costs. The turn for Heathrow Airport is the eye of the storm at Junction 14.
For Londoners noting we’ve listed the M1, M4 and M25 as motorways to avoid, they may be wondering “well how am I supposed to leave the city?” Motorways like the M11 from northeast London to Cambridge and the M40 from northwest London to Birmingham, though still heavily trafficked, are better alternatives. This does, of course, depend on what date and time you are leaving, as well as your destination. Again, planning ahead is essential to beating the traffic and avoiding annoying standstills.
Busy Roads to Avoid
London
London roads are some of the busiest in the UK. In fact, London leads in hours spent in traffic annually. The average Londoner is expected to lose 156 hours per person each year to traffic. North Londoners will know the nuisance that is driving the A406. Not only is it very industrial, without greenery to break up the ride, but it is also a busy road. With particular delays near Fulham and Peckham, try timing this portion of your drive outside of rush hour. Other notable busy roads include the A219 in Fulham and A202 heading into central London.
Manchester
A663
Manchester takes third place for most hours spent in traffic after London and Bristol. The average Mancunian will spend approximately 84 hours in traffic every year. The one road you’ll want to avoid to reduce that average? A663. Though the speed limit is 40mph, the average speed along that road in 2023, according to the Department of Transport, was 22mph.
Birmingham
We hope you don’t have to take the A45 eastbound, particularly the closer you get to Bordesley Circus. As this is one of the main entry points to the centre of the city, it may be unavoidable. If that’s the case, be aware that you will likely face heavy traffic. Particularly avoid this junction during peak rush hour.
Best Practices for Beating Traffic
A well-constructed plan is the best way to beat busy traffic. When plotting your route, research if there are any road closures or ongoing construction. Whether you plan to travel before or after most start their holiday break from work will have an impact. If driving prior to the week of Christmas, particularly Monday through Friday, be sure to avoid commuter traffic. Roads are usually congested with commuters from 8 to 9am and in the evening from 5 to 6pm.
The ideal traveling time may interfere with your sleep as the recommended times are between 4 and 6am. Alternatively, late at night around 10pm – 12am sees limited traffic. If you choose to drive in the wee small hours of the morning (or evening), check out our tips for driving in the dark.
Should you hit a spot of traffic, the best advice is to stay calm. We know, easier said than done. Getting hot-headed will lead to reckless, distracted driving and impaired judgement. Instead of repeatedly smacking the steering wheel, tune into one of our recommended audiobooks or podcasts so you can learn something new and feel like time hasn’t been lost.
Safe Travels!
Driving congested roads during peak travel times can add hours onto travel. Plan ahead, avoiding motorways like London’s M25, Scotland’s M8, and Mancunian commuter roads. If you can’t avoid taking any of these busy roads, be sure to travel between 4 – 6am or 10pm – 12am for the least amount of vehicles on the road and to reduce the holiday stress. Whether traveling near or far, we wish you a happy and safe journey!
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