Londoners face travel mayhem and gridlocked roads as summer staycations spike

Summer of staycations are set to cause chaos on the roads as thousands of Britons get ready for family getaways, according to new research.

Despite a surge in foreign travel bookings following relaxed travel restrictions, the uncertainty on travelling has led to two thirds of Brits polled to book a staycation this year.

There has been a 52 per cent increase on the number of staycations planned compared to a “typical” year, which usually is around 27 per cent, the Waze study found.

Apparently Londoners were most likely to travel the furthest for their staycations in the UK while those in the North and the South West prefer holidays near home, according to the research.

The Lake District, Cornwall and Devon have been reported to be the most popular holiday destinations of 2021.

As a result, routes including the M6, A30, A38, M5 and A303 are likely to be hotbeds for traffic throughout the summer season, the company said.

Meanwhile, journeys to major UK airports like Heathrow, Bristol and Manchester are expected to become congested by those travelling abroad.

Ru Roberts, Waze UK Country Manager, said: “Our data shows a huge eagerness to get back on British roads this summer, and there are already more cars than ever being driven following the initial relaxing of restrictions in April.

“Without proper planning, the UK motorway network will become gridlocked - which is not only a bad start to a staycation, but a substantial trigger for the 43 per cent of respondents who become frustrated with just 30 minutes of traffic.

“Where possible, avoid travelling during peak hours, plan your journey ahead of time and consider a route which may be longer in miles but fewer in cars.”

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