The RAC has forecast 4.2 million drivers will take to the roads on Christmas Eve, making it the busiest day since the pandemic. Popular routes are expected to be particularly congested between 11am and 7pm, with the worst conditions between 1pm and 7pm.
Drivers face disruption from an extended road closure: the M27 in Hampshire will be shut in both directions between junctions 9 and 11 from 8pm on Christmas Eve until 4am on 4 January. The RAC also highlighted heavy traffic on the M25 and M60 near Manchester.
Rail passengers face early finish times, with the last train from London to Edinburgh departing at 4.30pm and the final service from Newcastle to Birmingham at 5.40pm. No trains will run on Christmas Day, and only a limited service operates on Boxing Day.
Great Western Railway warned of disruption on services between Reading and Gatwick Airport on Christmas Eve due to a staff shortage, with delays expected until 5pm. Meanwhile, Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester airports are all reporting their busiest Christmas period on record, with 3 million passengers expected to fly from UK airports in the week up to Christmas.
Bus travel is also seeing a surge: the Confederation of Passenger Transport predicts over 100,000 people will take a local bus journey on Christmas Day, the highest figure in a decade and up from 87,000 in 2023.
