Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the reason UK holidays can be shit is not the weather but the traffic?

398 replies

MrsBede · 20/08/2021 21:51

....and it's much worse this year?

I went from the Midlands to North Wales a couple of weeks ago and it took twice as long as it should have both there and back. Just got back from London and it took about 90 minutes longer than it should have. For both these trips it wasn't just one delay, but several unrelated ones - for the former every step of the journey pretty much had long delays. For London it's just the M1 - that was slow going there for a long stretch and on the way back my SAtnav recommended a detour and that had delays too.

As well as this, my city is being dug up here there and everywhere - I can think of about 5 different local routes that all have roadworks on them and ensuing delays - one was the bloody slip road when I finally got off the motorway today!

It just spoils everything - we're going to Hampshire for a few days next week and the thought that the 3.5 hour trip is likely to be more like 6 is really putting me off and I half feel like cancelling, which is very unlike me indeed. I certainly expect some delays when going longish distances but AIBU to think this year has been worse than ever, and it's not fair! (Yes, I'm tired and very pissed off...)

OP posts:
countrytown · 20/08/2021 22:40

Stop driving everywhere, your car is part of the problem.

There's not great alternatives though. I went away on the weekend & decided not to drive & chose the train. Absolutely awful, my 2nd train was canx & eventually they put on a bus thing & of course my way home was delayed as well. 🤬

HungryHippo11 · 20/08/2021 22:41

@ShaunaTheSheep

Why are you all being sheep and travelling at the busiest times to and from popular locations? Baffling.
Because everyone has the same school.holidays and if you take holiday at other times you risk a fine. Its a ridiculous policy.
countrytown · 20/08/2021 22:42

Have a short break in your own county.

Im a Londoner, can I not visit the countryside or sea?

countrytown · 20/08/2021 22:44

Have you ever driven across Europe? We've driven to Czech Rep a couple of times - the traffic jams are horrendous in some places.
Also some French autoroutes in the summer holidays. Around Lyon as just one example. We've queued for hours there. Also round Paris.

The French peage is fantastic, but yes you need to go around Paris.

Lightisnotwhite · 20/08/2021 22:44

@lannistunut

Stop driving everywhere, your car is part of the problem.
But you can’t physically get to many holiday places without a car. Train stations are often too far out and buses connecting them don’t run frequently. Public transport is unreliable and the more changes involved the more chance of it going wrong.

The roads are shocking and standard of driving pretty awful. People seem incapable of using the outside lanes on dual carriageways and motorways for actual overtaking.

PumpkinKlNG · 20/08/2021 22:45

Trains are really expensive though, I don’t drive and we were going to go away but the train fair for our family would have been £420

countrytown · 20/08/2021 22:47

About 10 yrs ago I had a work thing in Edinburgh, it was considerably cheaper for us to fly!

DuggeeHugPlease · 20/08/2021 22:48

Agree I wouldn't use complicated public transport involving multiple changes partly because of costs but mainly with 2 small kids and luggage it would be even more hellish than being stuck in the car. At least in the car they can sleep and you can easily bring lots of toys/snacks to entertain them.

MinesAMassiveSalad · 20/08/2021 22:48

Yes flying is usually cheaper than the train long distance. It's mad.

Whattodonow5 · 20/08/2021 22:49

Trains are expensive plus when you actually get to your destination you generally need the car for going out and about. It gives you options and freedom especially with changeable weather.

For the 'sheep' comment as well. Most accommodation like lodges and cottages having bookings either Monday to Friday or it's Saturday to Saturday which also fits in to most people booking a week off work.

I've also noticed the roads being so much busier this year, it's not been a fun summer to drive long distances.

InTheMiddle23 · 20/08/2021 22:52

It would help if schools took holidays at different times, by region or by county.

SmokeyDevil · 20/08/2021 22:56

It's also annoying when you live in a touristy area. So many slow drivers dawdling along, too scared to go any faster than 30 on an A road. Hmm Seen so many drivers this summer who are too dangerous to be allowed to drive.

thelastgoldeneagle · 20/08/2021 23:00

@InTheMiddle23

It would help if schools took holidays at different times, by region or by county.
But then how would friends and families in different counties see each other? It's bad enough trying to see my sister who lives in Scotland - English and Scottish holidays are so different!
Kiduknot · 20/08/2021 23:02

Both, but this week it was definitely the weather more!

Dailywalk · 20/08/2021 23:04

Yanbu
It took nearly two hours for me to drive 62 miles today. For me and the kids to do the same journey by train would take at least three hours and cost over £60.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 20/08/2021 23:05

We usually head up to Scotland for UK breaks, traffic is rarely an issue. Only when skirting the major cities peak times really.

Forgothowmuchlhatehomeschoolin · 20/08/2021 23:07

Short break in my own county- love that!

AfternoonToffee · 20/08/2021 23:08

Have a short break in your own county.

I don't live in a county, how would that work?

As for the train, my parents went from the Midlands to Devon, they came back last weekend, over-run engineering works meant that trains were cancelled, they had a nightmare getting back, (including buses, trains to locations they didn't want to be) so trains are not always the answer.

PyongyangKipperbang · 20/08/2021 23:19

@MrsBedeAs a fellow Midlander who is driving back from N Wales tomorrow may I suggest you forget the M6 exists? I go the back way through Nantwich etc and its quicker than the M6 because there is always a massive queue on it! Also it takes you past the utter joy that is Snugburys Ice Cream parlour (which also has drinks and loos, they have really cottoned on!) with their straw sculptures.

snugburys.co.uk/sculptures/

PyongyangKipperbang · 20/08/2021 23:20

I live in Staffordshire.... a break in my own county would mean staying exactly where I live as it is the only fucking visit worthy town in the county!

LadyCatStark · 20/08/2021 23:31

@countrytown

About 10 yrs ago I had a work thing in Edinburgh, it was considerably cheaper for us to fly!
DH managed to fly his entire team of 11 to their Barcelona office for less than the cost of his train fare to those London office pre Covid 🤯.
ShaunaTheSheep · 20/08/2021 23:38

@Whattodonow5

Trains are expensive plus when you actually get to your destination you generally need the car for going out and about. It gives you options and freedom especially with changeable weather.

For the 'sheep' comment as well. Most accommodation like lodges and cottages having bookings either Monday to Friday or it's Saturday to Saturday which also fits in to most people booking a week off work.

I've also noticed the roads being so much busier this year, it's not been a fun summer to drive long distances.

Yes, but why do people travel at peak times then moan about everyone else doing the same Hmm?

Get up earlier, or leave the night before and overnight in a cheap hotel, take an alternative route...plenty of options.

Dailywalk · 20/08/2021 23:40

@AfternoonToffee

Have a short break in your own county.

I don't live in a county, how would that work?

As for the train, my parents went from the Midlands to Devon, they came back last weekend, over-run engineering works meant that trains were cancelled, they had a nightmare getting back, (including buses, trains to locations they didn't want to be) so trains are not always the answer.

You don’t live in a county?
Planty13 · 20/08/2021 23:44

It’s the weather IMO. But I drive to our destination then the car sits there until we leave. Never had a traffic issue.

Ricepops · 20/08/2021 23:50

Just got back from our UK cottage holiday, and agree that the traffic was awful. It took pretty much all day there and back.

It was lovely and quiet in Northumberland though. I'm not sure I appreciated it enough at the time, but I definitely do after having read this thread!

We've stayed in the UK for our summer holidays for the past 6 years or so, and never had terrible weather. Sometimes it's been on the cool side, but usually pleasant. Maybe we've been lucky.