Friday will be the busiest tourist day of the holiday season

Britain’s roads, railways and airports will be packed with festive travelers on what is expected to be the busiest day for Christmas travel.

The AA warned of gridlock on Friday, with a survey suggesting up to 24.4 million cars could hit the roads.

It is also expected to be the busiest day of the Christmas period for airports, with 460,000 trips planned.

Network Rail has also advised travelers to review their journeys and book a seat if possible.

The AA said this Christmas could be the busiest ever on UK roads and advised drivers to allow extra time to complete their journeys.

The insurance company said most people driving over the festive period traveled less than 100 miles, meaning there was likely to be congestion at motorway junctions and at business destinations.

Some of the interchanges expected to be congestion hotspots near and outside London include the M3/M25 interchange in Surrey, the M25 around Heathrow and the M25 around Bluewater in Kent.

Outside London, commuters should expect congestion in areas such as the M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, at the M5/M6 junction near Birmingham, the M1 J10-15a in the East and South Midlands and the M4 around Cardiff and Newport.

The M27 will be closed between Junction 9 (Whiteley/Park Gate) and Junction 11 (Fareham East/Gosport) from Christmas Eve until January 4, so anyone traveling to Hampshire should plan alternative routes.

AA patrol expert Shaun Jones said patience behind the wheel “will be your greatest gift this year”.

“Plan ahead, check your route and reserve extra time,” he said.

Network Rail also encouraged passengers to allow extra time for train travel. The improvement works that will be carried out during the Christmas period will involve the closure or restriction of several routes.

Information about which routes will be closed for repairs can be found on the Network Rail website.

National Rail trains do not run on Christmas Day and only a small number will run on Boxing Day.

Daniel Mann, director of industrial operations at Rail Delivery Group, said: “We encourage customers to reserve seats where possible, only bring luggage that is easy to transport and fits in designated storage areas, and allow extra time for their journeys.”

Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the festive season for airports, but the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said flying on Christmas Day was becoming more popular.

He advised customers to know their rights in case their flight is canceled or delayed.

If this happens, airlines must support passengers. This may include:

• Provide food and drink during extended delays.
• Cover accommodation if passengers are delayed overnight
• Offer a refund or alternative travel if a flight is cancelled.

If your flight is canceled and you are covered by UK law, your airline must allow you to choose between getting a refund or booking an alternative flight.

You can check if your flight is covered by UK legislation here.

The CAA also said travelers can minimize the risk of delays by ensuring their bags are packed correctly.

This includes leaving gifts unwrapped, as they may need to be inspected.

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