Millions head home for Christmas on busiest day of festive getaway

On what is predicted to be the busiest day for Christmas travel, festive visitors are expected to throng Britain's roads, railways, and airports.

The AA has warned of potential gridlock on Friday, with a report predicting that as many as 24.4 million cars could hit the roads. It is also expected to be the busiest day of the festive season for airports, with 460,000 journeys planned. Meanwhile, Network Rail has advised travellers to plan their journeys carefully and book seats where possible.

Drivers told to allow extra time 🚗

The AA has predicted that this Christmas will be the busiest on record for UK highways, advising drivers to allow extra time to complete their journeys.

According to the motoring association, most people driving during the holiday season will travel less than 100 miles, meaning congestion is likely to focus around motorway interchanges and retail destinations.

Key hotspots include:

• The M3/M25 interchange in Surrey

• The M25 near Heathrow

• The M20 in Kent

Outside of London, visitors should expect traffic jams along the M8 and Glasgow highways, the M5/M6 junction near Birmingham, the East and South Midlands, and the M4 between Cardiff and Newport.

Additionally, the M27 will be closed between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from Christmas Eve until 4 January. Anyone travelling in Hampshire is advised to plan alternate routes.

"Patience will be your best present this year," said AA patrol expert Shaun Jones.

"Today marks one of the busiest days for holiday journeys," he added, noting the millions of drivers expected on the roads. "Our recommendation is straightforward: with more than 24 million car journeys planned today, plan ahead, check live traffic updates before you set off, and allow extra time for your ride."

RAC mobile service and repairs lead, Nick Mullender, warned drivers to plan for long delays at peak times on Friday.

"From 4:30 pm, we're expecting queues of more than half an hour clockwise to J19 (Watford) and anticlockwise from Kingston to East Grinstead," he said. "The M60 clockwise from J7 (Altrincham) to J18 for Leeds is also expected to be jammed this afternoon."

Airports expecting record Christmas numbers ✈️

Friday is also set to be the busiest day of the holiday season for airports.

• Heathrow Airport is expected to record its busiest-ever December and Christmas Day, with around 250,000 passengers passing through.

• Manchester Airport is on schedule for a record Christmas period, with Friday likely to be the busiest day, handling nearly 100,000 passengers.

• Gatwick Airport has 741 flights scheduled for Friday, just shy of the record of 757 flights set for 28 December.

• Edinburgh Airport expects over 250,000 people to pass through between Friday and Christmas Eve, heading to destinations including Tenerife and Paris.

Passengers have been advised to check in ahead of time and be mindful of regulations regarding taking gifts through security to ensure a smooth journey.

"You want your presents to be opened by your loved ones, not our security staff," a spokesperson noted.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), flying on Christmas Day is becoming increasingly popular. Customers are advised to know their rights if their flight is cancelled or postponed. Airlines are expected to assist passengers if this occurs; if a flight is cancelled and is covered by UK legislation, the airline must offer a refund or a transfer to another flight.

Rail closures 🚆

Network Rail has also advised passengers to allow extra time for train travel. Several routes will be blocked or restricted due to ongoing engineering projects over the Christmas period. Information about which routes will be closed for repairs can be found on the Network Rail website.

National Rail trains do not operate on Christmas Day, and only a small number will run on Boxing Day.

"We encourage travellers to book seats where possible, bring only luggage that is convenient to carry and fits in designated storage areas, and allow extra time for their journeys," said Daniel Mann, director of industry operations at the Rail Delivery Group.