Easter 2023 travel advice: The best and worst days to travel

Based on past Easter weekend chaos, millions of Brits are gearing up for a bank holiday filled with traffic and delays. To avoid getting caught out this year, leading flexible car insurance provider, Cuvva shares top tips on when to travel so you can have a cracking Easter.

Traditionally, the Easter weekend is a busy period for travel across The UK. 2022’s holiday was particularly hectic, and drivers should expect more of the same this year. Last year, after a series of Easter holidays ruined by Covid, traffic analysis warned the four-day weekend would see people taking in excess of 21 million leisure journeys, the busiest Easter since 2014.

Combined with a surge in UK staycations, the Easter bank holiday (7th-10th April) is again expected to be a busy time on the roads. Although no rail strikes are planned, there are a series of planned engineering works on many routes taking place between the Easter weekend and 28th April – 1st May, causing disruption across the UK.

This weekend, train maintenance will affect travel between London Euston and Milton Keynes. At London Victoria, there won’t be any trains running between platform 9-19. Tunbridge Wells to Hastings is also out of action this weekend. Long-term improvements at Carstairs will also affect journey’s over the East weekend between Carlisle, Glasgow and Central Edinburgh.

Darryl Bowman from Cuvva said: “We usually see a big spike in people opting for short-term car insurance over the Easter break as people share a long journey or drive a friend’s or the family car over the weekend. And we’re expecting the same this weekend. With planned rail engineering works, driving might be the safest bet while getting around this Easter.”

The worst time of day to travel this weekend is likely to be between 9:30am – 7:00pm on Friday, late morning through to early afternoon on Saturday and Sunday and from noon to early afternoon on Monday.

Where possible, Cuvva recommends avoiding the busy travel times to save you getting caught up in the Easter rush. Instead opt for setting off early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Cuvva also urges drivers to plan journeys ahead of time and keep an eye on congestion before you set off.

Top tips for Easter travel

Spring road trips become more inviting as temperatures rise and the evenings get lighter. Before setting off for the Easter break, Cuvva offers top car and passenger checks to ensure a safe and relaxing bank holiday break.

Car checks before you set off

There are several simple, yet critical, vehicle checks you should do if you’re planning an Easter getaway:

Fuel and oil check – make sure you have plenty of fuel and check your oil levels. And remember motorway services can charge around 30p more per litre than a non-motorway petrol station.
Coolant and screenwash – check you are topped up.
Tyres – ensure they are inflated to the correct pressure, especially if your car is packed to the brim, and also check the tread is at least 3mm deep. Don’t forget to check the spare, too.
Lights – check your lights all work correctly.
Wiper blades – check they clear your windscreen properly.

Passenger checks
There have been several important changes to the Highway Code this year, so it’s wise you read up on these before you head off.

Mobile phone – make sure your phone is fully charged before you set off, and that you have the appropriate hands-free equipment.
Insurance and breakdown cover details – make sure all drivers behind the wheel are fully insured and keep your policy details in a handy place.
Water or juice and snacks – it’s important to remain hydrated, especially travelling long distances.
First aid kit – this is essential.
Entertainment – if you have children with you, don’t forget to pack something to keep them happy; the “are we there yet?” can rapidly increase your stress levels!