Warm weather predictions of setting record May temperatures are anticipated to inspire a busy bank holiday exodus. Approximately 23 million car trips are projected to take place starting from Friday, especially towards coastal areas and popular tourist destinations. This surge coincides with families embarking on vacations for the school half-term break, with airports also gearing up for increased international travel.
Following a notably cold May, temperatures are poised to rise above 30°C in certain regions, potentially signaling a heatwave for parts of the UK. Greg Wolverson, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, noted that high pressure will dominate the UK’s weather during the bank holiday weekend, bringing clear and stable conditions to most regions. Any temperature exceeding 29.4°C would mark the highest May temperature since 2012, while the all-time May record stands at 32.8°C.
The AA motoring group predicts Friday to be the busiest day with an estimated 23.4 million journeys, followed by 22.8 million on Saturday and 22.4 million on both Sunday and the bank holiday Monday. Most trips are expected to be local, with about half of respondents in an AA survey planning daily excursions of up to 50 miles. Shopping ranks as the primary reason for travel, cited by 40% of drivers, closely trailed by visits to family or friends at 39%. Additionally, 23% plan to visit DIY or garden centers, while 22% anticipate work-related travel.
A separate study by the RAC revealed that 28% of drivers are increasingly concerned about fuel costs. Current data shows petrol prices at 158.52p per liter and diesel at 185.92p per liter across the UK, marking the highest prices since December 2022. This translates to £87 to fill a family car with unleaded, £14 more than a year ago, and over £102 for diesel, which is £26 more than the previous year.
Lee Morley, an AA expert patrol, highlighted that a warm bank holiday weekend typically spurs last-minute travel plans and outings. He cautioned drivers to expect rapid congestion on popular routes due to the favorable weather conditions. Sunday, in particular, may see increased traffic due to the final round of Premier League matches adding to the road congestion around stadiums and city centers.
Anticipated busy routes include those leading to the South West and Cornwall, the M4 from London towards Wales, the M6 towards Blackpool, as well as roads connecting popular seaside towns, national parks, ports, and airports. Travel disruptions are expected on various train routes due to planned engineering works, impacting passengers during the holiday period.
London Stansted Airport foresees over one million passengers by the following Sunday, with 400,000 expected over the bank holiday period. Manchester Airport is gearing up for 1.2 million passengers during the half-term week, while East Midlands Airport anticipates 167,000 travelers.
Popular half-term destinations include Spain, Italy, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Portugal, Croatia, and Greece. Travelers heading to Europe may face delays at passport control due to new fingerprinting and facial scanning checks. The Entry-Exit System (EES) rollout has caused significant issues at European airports, raising concerns about potential disruptions during the summer holiday season.
EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis expressed dissatisfaction with the new checks, urging EU authorities to follow Greece’s lead in suspending biometric checks for British citizens to avoid major disruptions. He advised passengers to arrive early to accommodate any delays.
