5 worst motorway delay ‘hotspots’ Brit drivers are urged to avoid this bank holiday – as MILLIONS brace for disruption

BRIT drivers are bracing themselves for a chaotic bank holiday on the roads with a handful of motorway delay hotspots revealed.

Travel disruption over the holiday weekend is largely expected, with some particularly likely to be heavily hit.

Bank Holiday gridlock expected as millions hit the roads for the long weekend[/caption]

Delay hotspots include the A627(M), M25 and M67 with severe congestion expected[/caption]

Drivers are being urged to plan ahead and avoid peak travel times to reduce delays[/caption]

Rail strikes and engineering works cause major disruptions for passengers this bank holiday[/caption]

Dry weather expected for the bank holiday but traffic build-up near events is likely[/caption]

A recent report by Co-op Insurance found heavy traffic is expected in a number of delay-prone areas – including the M5 between Bristol and Devon.

A major route for holidaymakers heading to popular coastal destinations in the south-west, this stretch, especially from J15, north of Bristol, to J23 for Bridgwater, is to bear the brunt of traffic over the weekend.

The worst of the congestion has been predicted on Friday and Monday, with those braving the route advised to set off early or late to avoid peak traffic periods.

Another hotspot is the A627(M), between the M62 and A664 Northbound located in Rochdale, which consistently saw the worst traffic delays in both 2024 and the first half of 2025, as reported by Co-op Insurance.

It connects the M62 motorway to the A664 and serves as a vital link for commuters and holiday travellers in Greater Manchester.

The M25 is another motorway notorious for being bumper-to-bumper.

Situated near the Dartford Crossing, many drivers know it for its bottleneck traffic that’s travelling around Greater London.

It is also a key link between Kent and Essex, with heavy congestion exacerbated by holiday travel and local commuter traffic.

Significant delays are likely in the anticlockwise direction, particularly near the A206 junction, with motorists urged to use alternative crossings or plan their journey for off-peak hours.

Two other hotspots include the M67 westbound, specifically between Junction 1A and the M60 near Denton in Greater Manchester, and the M20, with delays expected between Junction 7 for Maidstone and Junction 3 westbound, as well as between Junction 1 (Swanley) and Junction 5 (Aylesford) eastbound.

That stretch of the M67 to the M60 is a major orbital route around Manchester and is critical for those heading west towards the city or further afield, while the M20 provides access to the Channel Tunnel and Kent’s coastal destinations.
The theme, it seems, is that all five hotspots are critical routes for holidaymakers, commuters and regional traffic which will likely be exacerbated by the sheer volume of vehicles heading to popular destinations.

This comes as millions of journeys are expected over the bank holiday weekend, according to the RAC.

It’s not just road traffic that is anticipated to be especially heavy either, with rail travel also to be severely disrupted – thanks to well-timed strikes by the RMT union and planned engineering works.

CrossCountry routes will be particularly affected, with no direct services running between key cities on Saturday and limited operations on Monday.

Passengers travelling on Sunday will also face alterations and cancellations, while those using the East Coast Main Line or routes in the West Midlands may have to use replacement bus services.

Network Rail has urged travellers to check their journeys before setting off as disruptions are expected – even on non-strike days.

Adding to the difficulties, large crowds are expected at festivals and events across the UK, including the Notting Hill Carnival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Creamfields Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe closing weekend.

Co-op Insurance found that Fridays before bank holidays are the days with the highest traffic volumes on motorways, based on Freedom of Information data from 2024.

Specific dates in 2024 with the highest traffic volumes included May 24 (Spring Bank Holiday weekend) and August 23 (August Bank Holiday weekend).

July 26, August 30 and August 16 also made their top five.

Paul Evans, Head of Motor at Co-op Insurance, said: “From commuting to leisure trips and visiting loved ones, our motorway network is a vital part of so many people’s Bank Holiday plans.

“However, our findings suggest that getting from A to B via the motorway can sometimes be less than straightforward, with delays sometimes unavoidable and particularly common on certain stretches of motorway.

“We’re therefore urging drivers to plan their journeys carefully this weekend before they set off so that they can be prepared for any road closures, avoid rushed or panicked decisions and safely navigate diversions.”