Brits stuck in huge queues as summer holiday getaway begins & drivers warned of ‘midweek mayhem' as 14m take to roads
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THOUSANDS of drivers are stuck in huge queues at the Port of Dover, as Brits head off on their summer getaways.
The disruption has been caused by a series of road closures and weather warnings, just as millions of other drivers prepare to hit the roads.
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Massive queues have built up at the Port of Dover
Credit: Gary Stone
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Travel plans have been thrown into chaos after a series of disruption
Credit: Gary Stone
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Drivers have been spotted getting out of their cars as they wait
Credit: Gary Stone
The end of July is one of the most popular times for Brits to head off abroad, as the long school year finally draws to a close.
However, the huge surge in journeys to airports and staycation destinations means more people will be on the roads than ever.
The RAC estimates that up to 13.9 million journeys could be made between July 21 and July 24.
2.3 million trips were estimated on Monday, with a further 2 million being made just a day later.
The RAC believes that this could be the biggest number of car journeys made midweek since records began.
The dreaded annual 'Frantic Friday' - the first Friday following the end of the school term - is set to land on July 25, bolstering the huge number of drivers even further.
The closure of the M2 eastbound in Kent, between Junction 1 and 2, has thrown even more travel plans into chaos.
Authorities closed the road at 5.40am, with police responding to 'concern for a person' spotted on the motorway.
Although the road reopened at 8.40am, congestion is still easing after a huge backlog of cars.
Throughout all of the chaos, heavy queues have been steadily building at the Port of Dover - with drivers being forced to wait before heading abroad.
July 1 'backseat passenger' law will fine drivers $25 for every single person in car who fails to 'make it click'
Some holidaymakers have been spotted leaving their cars, as the queues continued to build, waiting beside the side of the road.
Brits have been spotted sitting on fences between roads as they wait, despite travel experts previously warning that this is unsafe.
The Port of Dover is a popular travel route for Brits heading to France and, then, onto Europe.
The Met Office has placed the area, along with much of the South East, under a yellow weather warning which disrupt travel even further.
The warning will last until 5pm today, as the area is hit with 'slow-moving heavy showers'.
Thunderstorms could also lead to disruption in the tourist route, as the Met Office has warned of damage to buildings, delays to train services and power losses throughout the region.
Residents in Kent and Sussex have been told to expect 25mm on rain in less than an hour, which could build to 40mm of rain in some areas.
Meteorologists have urged drivers to avoid delays by checking road conditions before driving and to prepare for rapidly changing weather warnings.
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of Brits now have access to a supercharged version of Google called AI Mode. A new button is now appearing on UK phones and computers that makes Google more 'powerful' than ever – and insiders told The Sun it could save you time, money and even bag you bargain holidays. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Google has added a new AI Mode button to its search bar Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 13 You'll be able to ask far more complicated queries Credit: Google AI Mode is powered by Google's brainy bots and launched in the US earlier in the year. Now the new version of Google has made it to the UK, and will appear for all Brits by the end of the week. It lets you make 'previously impossible' searches, like complicated questions about planning your big summer holiday. 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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
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Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
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Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I CONFESS, I have never read a James Bond novel – but I do know that 007 and I have one thing in common. No, it's not a licence to kill, it's that we both take our martinis shaken, not stirred. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Oceania's new 1,200-passenger ship, Allura is an elevated, luxury vessel Credit: NICK TORTAJADA 8 There's plenty of gorgeous spaces to enjoy the breathtaking views Credit: NICK TORTAJADA 8 Sophie enjoying the ship's exceptional bars Credit: supplied And that's exactly how mine is served on Oceania's shiny, new 1,200-passenger ship, Allura. Freshly shaken at the table by a black-tie waiter and swirled into a frosted glass, just as I like it. It's perfecting tiny, personal details like this that Oceania prides itself on. And Allura is no exception. The 15-deck ship embarked on her maiden voyage just over a week ago, sailing around the sun-soaked Med. 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Here, dark wooden tables are dressed in a pressed white cloth adorned with polished silverware, and waiters in dicky-bows are preparing elegant plates of steak tartare tableside. The only giveaway that I'm not in a posh restaurant in some fancy district of Paris is my view of the ocean through the window next to me. I order a cheese soufflé to start, a dish for which Oceania is renowned, followed by lobster thermidor (would you wince if I told you that this was the third lobster I've devoured since being on board?). Even the side basket of warm bread has me salivating. But that's no surprise, really. Allura is one of the only ships in the world to bake fresh bread at sea every day. The doughy smell wafting from the galley — which is larger than that of any other cruise ship, I might add — is guaranteed to awaken your stomach in the mornings. With one chef per every eight guests, the cruise line can certainly lay claim to having the most food-focused fleet on the seas. And even if you do consider yourself a top home-chef, a cooking class at the on-board Culinary Center should still be on every passenger's list. And even if you do consider yourself a top home-chef, a cooking class at the on-board Culinary Center should still be on every passenger's list It's not a crime to eat pasta at 10am, especially not in chef Kathryn Kelly's kitchen. Just avoid the faux-pas of putting oil in the pasta water. Kelly tells us that our spaghetti strands need to be starchy in order to soak up all the sauce which, in this instance, is a simple mixture of Parmesan, chilli and lemon, inspired by the location of this very sailing (around the boot of Italy). Having coined the first cooking school at sea, Kelly, who credits her youthful looks to her love of food, has evolved the on-board foodie experiences over her 14 years under the Oceania umbrella. Guests now have the choice of 60 different chef-led excursions in small groups of 18, while those who prefer less of a hands-on experience can slurp on wine from a bar stool in the Chef's Studio while Chef whips them up a sumptuous feast. 8 Even the most basic staterooms on board are ultra-fancy Credit: NICK TORTAJADA 8 Sophie enjoying her cooking class Credit: supplied 8 Take a lesson in chef Kathryn Kelly's kitchen Credit: Supplied Of course, away from the food experiences and 12 dining venues, there's plenty more to keep cruisers entertained during days at sea. Allura is home to the second Oceania Lync Digital Centre, where you can get free lessons in subjects like smartphone photography and how to create a TikTok. For sun-seekers, the main pool is flanked by cushioned loungers and cabana beds, while the spa terrace offers a more relaxed space, where loungers are dotted between three bubbling Jacuzzis. On the upper decks, there are all manner of sports and games — croquet, cornhole, a padel court, mini-golf course and putting area. Then there's the evening entertainment, from the casino to the Allura Lounge showcasing nightly musical performances. And if it all gets too much, you won't feel like you're missing out just lounging in your stateroom — even the most basic of which is ultra-fancy, with marble-clad bathrooms (scan the QR code below for a detailed look). The gorgeous mattresses will ensure you get a good night's kip. And if that doesn't work, there's always Martinis for a quick cocktail nightcap. 8 The lobster pasta is exquisite Credit: Matt Dutile Creative 8 Scan this for a tour of the penthouse suite GO: OCEANIA ALLURA SAILING THERE: A four-day round trip from New York on board Oceania Allura is from £649pp, departing on September 30 and calling at St John in New Brunswick, Canada. Flights cost extra. 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