UK Christmas travel 2025: what runs and what’s shut

It’s Saturday 20 December 2025 and the big getaway is on. Motoring groups say this could be the busiest festive travel period on record: the RAC expects 37.5 million leisure trips in the run‑up to Christmas Day, while the AA warns Friday 19 December alone could see around 24 million cars on the road. Expect heavier traffic after lunch today and again on Christmas Eve late afternoon into the evening. Build in extra time and keep plans flexible. According to the RAC and AA, these patterns reflect people starting trips earlier to beat crowds before the bank holidays.

If you’re driving, check two things before you pack the car: planned works and weather warnings. National Highways and the devolved traffic teams list closures and diversions, and the Met Office issues colour‑coded warnings that focus on likely impacts, not just rainfall or wind speed. Keep a charged phone, water, snacks and warm layers in the car; top up screen wash and de‑icer; and don’t rely on last‑minute fuel - some forecourts change hours. Tesco says its filling stations close on Christmas Day, and supermarket‑linked hours can differ from the main store.

One major closure to know about in Hampshire: the M27 will shut in both directions between Junctions 9 (Whiteley) and 11 (Fareham) from 20:00 on Wednesday 24 December until 04:00 on Sunday 4 January. A signed A27 diversion will operate and is expected to be busiest between 10:00 and 16:00 each day. This is to slide a pre‑built 8,500‑tonne underpass into place at Junction 10 - an approach designed to avoid months of lane closures later. If your plans cross south Hampshire, consider re‑timing or re‑routing.

Rail runs differently at Christmas. Services finish earlier on Christmas Eve, there are no National Rail trains on Christmas Day, and only a very limited service runs on Boxing Day with a handful of operators. Always check journey planners on the day you travel, as timetables can change while engineering work is confirmed.

Some headline rail works affect London and Wales. London Liverpool Street mainline platforms are closed for eight days from Thursday 25 December to Thursday 1 January while Network Rail continues roof and tunnel works; many Greater Anglia services run to/from Stratford and the Stansted Express runs to/from Tottenham Hale. London Waterloo has no trains to/from the terminus on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 December, with a reduced service through to Sunday 4 January as upgrades take place near Queenstown Road. Around Cardiff, essential works west of Cardiff Central run from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve. Plan alternative routes and allow for extra time to change trains.

Eurostar does not operate to or from London on Christmas Day. On other festive dates trains are scheduled, but always confirm your train and arrival time because security and border checks add time, especially at peak hours.

In London, TfL services wind down earlier than usual on Christmas Eve, there’s no Tube, bus, Overground, DLR or Elizabeth line on Christmas Day, and the Elizabeth line is not running on Boxing Day. Most modes operate overnight on New Year’s Eve. Santander Cycles, rental e‑scooters, taxis and private hire will be available across the period, including on Christmas Day. Road charging also changes: the Congestion Charge is suspended from Thursday 25 December to Thursday 1 January inclusive; ULEZ is suspended on Christmas Day only; LEZ remains in force; Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel charges are paused on Christmas Day.

Local buses typically do not run on Christmas Day and may run Sunday‑style or reduced timetables on other bank holidays. If you need an alternative, coach operators expand capacity. National Express is adding extra services between 20 December and 4 January and will run 355 Christmas Day services from 96 locations, including routes serving Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton. Book ahead where you can.

Ferry terminals change hours too. The Port of Dover closes at 15:30 on Christmas Eve and reopens at 07:30 on Boxing Day, with last departures on 24 December varying by operator. Given today’s reports of French border IT issues causing delays at Dover, don’t arrive excessively early and follow port advice if you miss a booked crossing - operators will move you to the next available sailing.

Airports remain open on Christmas Day, but schedules are lighter. The Civil Aviation Authority expects this to be the busiest Christmas on record for UK aviation, with around 460,000 passengers flying on Friday 19 December and roughly 160,000 on Christmas Day. Standard guidance still helps: arrive two hours before short‑haul and three hours before long‑haul; check in online; and confirm your return flight before you switch off for the holidays. If you’re using London Luton, note planned strike action by DHL‑employed check‑in and baggage staff working on easyJet flights from 03:00 on 19–22 December and again 03:00 on 26–29 December; easyJet says it aims to operate its schedule but delays are possible.

Health services also move onto bank‑holiday footing. GP surgeries are generally closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, but NHS 111 runs 24/7 and can direct you to urgent treatment centres or out‑of‑hours GP services. If you’ve run out of repeat medication, NHS 111 Online has an emergency prescription service that can arrange a limited supply. A&E remains open throughout; call 999 only for life‑threatening emergencies such as severe chest pain, stroke symptoms, heavy bleeding or difficulty breathing.

Most pharmacies close on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, but at least one will open near you on a local rota - check pharmacy posters or the NHS website for details. Boots says more than 750 of its pharmacies will open across the festive bank holidays, with selected stores open on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Superdrug pharmacies say they will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day unless part of an NHS rota; always check your local branch hours.

Shops vary by chain and location, but a simple rule holds: expect early closing on Christmas Eve, widespread closures on Christmas Day, reduced hours on Boxing Day and early closing on New Year’s Eve. Smaller convenience stores and some petrol‑station shops often open when superstores are shut, but food delivery apps depend on restaurant choice - check the app before you count on it.

Payments are adjusted for bank holidays. The DWP says some benefits due between Wednesday 24 December 2025 and Friday 2 January 2026 will be paid earlier than usual, with Universal Credit and most benefits arriving on the last working day before a bank holiday. HMRC also moves Child Benefit when a bank holiday falls on your due date. Check your online account for the exact date so you can budget across the longer gap to the next payment.

How to use this guide with learners and families this week: pick your travel mode, note your key date in full (for example, “Saturday 20 December” rather than “today”), and build a short plan - ticket status, last trains or road closures, and a back‑up route. For health and medicines, think ahead: order repeats early, save NHS 111 on your phone, and map the nearest urgent care. For money, confirm the banked date and set a reminder for when the next one lands. That’s the difference between a frantic week and one you can actually enjoy.