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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:
Lockheart · 21/08/2021 07:20

www.bbc.com/news/business-56748346.amp

This is worth a read. The number of cars people own in the UK is increasing faster than our population.

The80sruled99 · 21/08/2021 07:20

If it's a long journey we always book an extra day off work and travel during the early hours of the morning. The kids love it as it's exciting to be up when the sun is rising and we never get stuck in a traffic jam. We have a kip when we arrive at our destination and as we always book the extra day for travel we don't feel we're missing out on any fun time. 🙂

HollyGrail · 21/08/2021 07:20

The UK has not invested in the infrastructure to support such a large population.

London has had trillions spent on transport over the last 20 years.
I think it's that all of the population is in one area. The south east.

It's that bunch deciding to go on hols and clogging up everyone else's adequate roads Grin

Lockheart · 21/08/2021 07:21

Hmm sorry, link has broken, try this one www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/business-56748346.amp

Ozanj · 21/08/2021 07:23

We just set out earlier or later than others. Managed to get to Cornwall in 4 hours from where I live (instead of the usual 5.5) just by leaving at 3am. On the way back we left in the evening and had a similar time.

winewolfhowls · 21/08/2021 07:27

My kids would love going on holiday by train, we just can't afford it. I wouldn't even mind saving up if the trains were more frequent and actually clean and you could guarantee a seat. Pre kids ive been on trains and my booked seat has been unavailable and staff done nothing, due to the previous train being cancelled etc. I just couldn't cope with a long journey with two kids and luggage with that unpredictability.

BoaCunstrictor · 21/08/2021 07:29

@lannistunut

Stop driving everywhere, your car is part of the problem.
Having used the trains in North Wales this summer, I can tell you now that they wouldn't have solved OPs issue. They've been a nightmare. I'm very much a public transport advocate, but it's got to be there and viable for people to use it.
User135644 · 21/08/2021 07:30

We're overpopulated and there's too many cars. The roads can't cope

SpeakingFranglais · 21/08/2021 07:30

It’s the school holidays sadly, that make holidaying in the UK tough.

We went first week of July to Cornwall, 800 Mile round tip. No traffic jams although the car parks were busy I agree.

Yes I know we’re lucky and no longer have to go away at that time and it’s brilliant. I’ve never seen as much of the UK as I have since lockdown and have adult kids and it’s awesome.

Lemonsyellow · 21/08/2021 07:31

We have never owned a car and generally always travel by train, even with babies and toddlers. Yes, it can be expensive, but we did work out it was cheaper than owning a car, once you’d paid for resident parking, congestion charge, mot, insurance, etc etc.

lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:32

HS2 is using more money than it would take to make major and lasting changes to a vast number of local rail routes.

We need to stop with the big vanity schemes and invest in what is really needed - a functioning, reliable network at a decent price.

Lockheart · 21/08/2021 07:32

@BoaCunstrictor I agree serious investment is needed in public transport provision in this country, but there's a certain irony about insisting that travelling to popular destinations at peak times in your car is an absolute must, and then complaining about all the other people doing exactly the same thing.

kittycluck · 21/08/2021 07:33

We went to the Lake District recently. Go most summer holidays and it's usually fairly busy, however this year was the worst I've ever seen it. Not enjoyable really. Too busy even for my children

Lasttraintolondon · 21/08/2021 07:34

Agreed. If they staggered school holiday dates by county, even by a few weeks it would have a huge impact.

User135644 · 21/08/2021 07:34

Until the government gets a proper grip on the railways it will continue to be a ridiculous thing to say.

The trains will only ever be adequate for direct trains to and from London. Something HS2 will only increase rather than fix.

Hercisback · 21/08/2021 07:34

@Lemonsyellow Which is great if you live somewhere with decent public transport. I live in a suburb of a major city but in a different county to the city and we have a bus every hour and a train every hour. This is considered amazing by the surrounding towns and villages who have nothing.

icedcoffees · 21/08/2021 07:35

While public transport in this country is so poor, the roads are always going to be bad during the school holidays.

I used to have to commute in to Ambleside for work - in the summer my commute almost doubled some mornings. I couldn't take the train as Ambleside doesn't have a train station, and I couldn't get the bus as my rural town doesn't have a bus service.

I once looked at the price of public transport after a particularly hellish commute in. I'd need to leave at 6.12am (earliest train) and I'd still get to work 45 minutes late - having had to change trains twice, and then catch a bus!

I'd then need to leave work three hours after arriving and five hours before my shift ended, in order to do the same journey in reverse, just so I could make sure I got back home the same day Grin

The total travel time (each way) was almost five hours by public transport. The same journey by car was 40 minutes off-season and 90-minutes during the summer.

To top it all off, one daily train ticket (not including the additional bus fare) was more expensive than my weekly fuel bill! HmmGrin

itsgettingwierd · 21/08/2021 07:38

Totally agree about trains. I live 10 minutes walk from a train station.

When ds and I have have looked at travelling by train to days out this year it's been astronomical and that's with prebooking.

One trip was a 29mile journey into the countryside.

£60 return for us both.

It took me 45 minutes each way to drive and probably £10.

And having also lived in Spain for many years I agree the public transport system is much better and affordable and therefore used more. Thats why we holiday there still because we can get out and about easily on buses and trains and see so much.

Which part of Hampshire are you coming to? I love there and yesterday we did 34 mile trip and it took 1 hr 15 mins there and 55 minutes back.

The roads around the new forest are horrendous and the M27 already still has all the roadworks.

BoaCunstrictor · 21/08/2021 07:38

[quote Lockheart]@BoaCunstrictor I agree serious investment is needed in public transport provision in this country, but there's a certain irony about insisting that travelling to popular destinations at peak times in your car is an absolute must, and then complaining about all the other people doing exactly the same thing.[/quote]
There certainly is, I'm reminded of the you're not caught in traffic you are traffic line. But that doesn't mean there were viable alternatives that didn't involve driving. Personally I'd have got round the issue by avoiding the busiest times if I were OP.

Chasingsquirrels · 21/08/2021 07:38

We travelled Cambridge to North Yorkshire yesterday and most of the journey was fine, but I was STAGGERED by the queues to get into and at a service station. I wouldn't have bothered but DP needed a wee.

EileenGC · 21/08/2021 07:39

I do agree that public transport infrastructure in the UK could be much better (and cheaper).

However, it feels like abroad this wouldn’t be a problem because most holidaymakers will be picked up at the airport by a resort transfer bus, and dropped off at their hotel in less than an hour. This happens because the locals won’t be regularly driving between the airport and beach resorts.

Try driving Paris-Lyon on the 1st of August, crossing into Switzerland or Germany, or aiming to do the Pisa-Florence trip in less than 2.5 hours at the height of summer. Other countries have much better public transport and their roads still get extremely busy during the holidays, it’s just that as tourists people won’t usually experience it.

It’s a common problem we’re all creating by using more and more cars instead of walking/cycling to work and the supermarkets, and spending the annual car insurance fee on trains for the summer. I know the solution isn’t that simple, but as a society we need to start making some changes.

User135644 · 21/08/2021 07:39

@CeeceeBloomingdale

We usually head up to Scotland for UK breaks, traffic is rarely an issue. Only when skirting the major cities peak times really.
Scotland isn't overpopulated.
lannistunut · 21/08/2021 07:40

@Lasttraintolondon

Agreed. If they staggered school holiday dates by county, even by a few weeks it would have a huge impact.
This is silly, many people have kids in primary in one county and secondary in another. People wouldn't be able to align their holidays with friends/family in other areas. Holiday activities woul dbe half full for twice as long, probably making them unviable when rent is factored in.

We surely can't have to reorganise everything just so people can shave an hour off their drive.

If you want to drive the length of the country, accept you are going to sit in traffic.

Don;t bugger about with my school holidays!

Amboseli · 21/08/2021 07:40

My SIL went from Essex to Devon by train. Delays meant it took 8 hours. We flew to Majorca which took 7 hours door to door. And our holiday was cheaper.

HollyGrail · 21/08/2021 07:42

The school hols could be staggered over regions - though there is a risk of DCs living in one area are schooled in different areas if you are near the border.
But Scottish schools break up 2 weeks before english - that is when everyone takes their hols. It could be staggered between areas. That would help and would extend the season for tourism.