Monday meltdown as roads clogged with 13 million staycationers heading residence

On Aug 24, 2024

Britain faces sunshine jams on Sunday followed by a Monday meltdown as Bank Holiday daytrippers clog roads at the same time as 13 million staycationers head home.

After queues delayed the long weekend getaway on Friday, 22C bright skies on Sunday and 24C sun Monday will trigger a days out dash by millions after Storm Lilian’s leftovers saw a quieter soggy 20C start to the weekend yesterday, Saturday

Coastal routes including the A31 to Dorset, A23 to Brighton and M55 to Blackpool are set for snarl-ups today Sunday and tomorrow Monday.

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Roads are braced for close to double the number of day trips of May bank holiday weekends

The beach in Southend-on-Sea has been packed this month
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

And holidaymakers were told to travel home at breakfast time or wait until mid-evening tomorrow to avoid the worst delays.

RAC spokesman Simon Williams said: “As soon as the sunshine again and temperatures shoot up, so will the traffic. More vehicles are expected on the roads in bright conditions, especially with many drivers telling us they would wait for good weather for trips out this weekend. And Monday will also see many people travel home.”

Tourism chiefs Visit England predicted a day trips glut.

cars — Public transport isn’t helping with the traffic on Sunday
(Image: Getty Images)

But days out will be derailed by engineering works on train lines, seeing some journey times treble.

Tens of thousands face mega delays with the East Coast Main Line shut from London King’s Cross on Sunday.

Airports, which saw check-in queues as the weekend getaway began, are now set for passport control hold-ups, especially tomorrow Mon, as two million Brits rush home from the long weekend.

Channel ferries are also set for queues on the French side for check-in as families return home from summer breaks, with road congestion around UK ports as ferries unload cars.

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