Key Takeaways:
- Over 21.7 million car journeys are expected in the UK this Easter, despite fuel prices surging by up to 29%.
- UK drivers heading to continental Europe are advised to refuel before leaving, as petrol and diesel are significantly cheaper at home.
- UK holidaymakers flying to the EU face potential two-hour delays at borders due to the rollout of the new Entry/Exit System (EES).
- Major motorways like the M6, M25, and M5 are predicted congestion hotspots.
Millions of British motorists are hitting the roads for the Easter getaway, undeterred by a sharp spike in fuel costs driven by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. According to the AA, a staggering 21.7 million car journeys were planned for Thursday alone, making this one of the busiest Easter travel periods since 2022.
The surge comes as oil prices climb in response to Iran's increased control over tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. This has translated directly to UK forecourts, with the RAC reporting the average price of diesel has risen 29% since late February to 184.2p per litre. Petrol now averages 153.7p per litre, a 16% increase.
Navigating the Easter Getaway
Most drivers are planning relatively short trips. The AA survey found:
- 53% expect to travel under 50 miles.
- 5% plan trips between 50 and 100 miles.
- Visiting family and friends is the primary reason for travel.
To ease congestion, National Highways will suspend over 1,500 miles of roadworks across England's motorways and major A-roads from Thursday through Easter Monday. Drivers should still expect heavy traffic on key routes, including:
- The M6 through Birmingham and north towards Blackpool.
- The M25 between the M23 and M40.
- The M5 around Bristol and into the South West.
- The A303 in Wiltshire.
- The M4 in South Wales.
A Costly Trip to the Continent
For the estimated two million UK residents traveling abroad this Easter, there's a crucial piece of financial advice: fill up before you leave. Analysis by the RAC Foundation reveals fuel is significantly more expensive across the Channel.
"For those driving on the continent this Easter it is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. If pump prices are high here – and indeed they are – then in many parts of Europe they have gone through the roof." — Steve Gooding, Director of the RAC Foundation
As of late March, petrol in France cost an average of £1.71 per litre—25p more than in the UK. Prices are even higher in the Netherlands (203p) and Germany (180p). The trend is similar for diesel.
The Looming EU Border Bottleneck
The financial sting is paired with a major logistical hurdle for air travelers. UK holidaymakers flying to the Schengen Area are being warned to expect border delays of up to two hours.
This is due to the ongoing rollout of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals. The process involves:
- Recording the traveler's fingerprints.
- Capturing a facial image.
- Scanning the passport.
Airports Council International Europe reports a "continued deterioration in waiting times," with queues regularly reaching two hours during peak times at some airports. This new layer of biometric checks will affect all British citizens entering the 29-country Schengen zone.
Travel by Rail and Air
The disruption isn't limited to roads and borders. Network Rail will carry out over 270 engineering projects over the holiday, causing significant rail disruptions. A major six-day shutdown on the West Coast Main Line will halt all intercity services between London Euston and Milton Keynes from Good Friday.
Meanwhile, airlines like easyJet are preparing for their busiest Easter ever, with up to 16,000 flights scheduled from UK airports during the two-week school break—adding to the pressure at border controls where the EES is being implemented.
The Easter exodus highlights the complex realities of post-Brexit travel: higher costs for drivers and new, time-consuming procedures for anyone crossing the Channel, reshaping the experience of the classic European getaway.