P&O Ferries has issued a travel alert for passengers planning to travel over the bank holiday weekend, urging them to 'plan ahead' as ports are expected to be busier than usual. The popular ferry operator, which runs services between Dover and Calais, Hull and Rotterdam, and Larne and Cairnryan, shared the warning on social media.
Advice for Travellers
In a post on X, P&O Ferries addressed holidaymakers: 'Ahoy half-term heroes and Bank Holiday adventurers! The port will be busier than usual, so pack your bags with a travel pillow and those extra snacks you've got in the cupboard.' The company advised passengers to check traffic and their route before setting off, bring refreshments and snacks, exercise pets before entering the port, bring entertainment for children, and keep documents handy while removing passports from cases.
Road Congestion Expected
Families driving to the port should be aware that the bank holiday is set to be the busiest on UK roads in two years, according to the RAC. Research indicates that nearly 19 million Britons will be travelling over the long weekend, with 3.4 million journeys expected on Sunday and 3.1 million on Monday. The RAC advised: 'Drivers looking to spend less time in the car should consider making their getaway outside of peak hours.'
Transport analytics experts INRIX identified the M1, M25, M5, and M6 as potential hotspots. On Friday, the M25 anticlockwise between junctions 10 and 6 could see heavy traffic from around 4.45pm, with a second spike on Saturday around lunchtime, potentially doubling journey times. The M5 southbound near Bristol may also experience 45-minute queues at midday.
An extra one million Britons are expected on the roads compared to the same weekend last year. RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Sean Kimberlin commented: 'With the weather looking like it may improve, millions are planning to make a getaway trip over the bank holiday weekend. And the fact our research shows it's set to be the busiest late May bank holiday since 2024 shows that even though fuel prices remain uncomfortably high, it takes a lot to stop drivers taking to the roads to make the most of a long weekend.'
