August Bank Holiday: Travel advice for across the West Country

Credit: PA

Motorists looking to get away for the Bank Holiday weekend are being urged to travel after 9pm on Friday to avoid getting stuck in traffic jams.

Tourism experts predict a record 16.5 million Britons will enjoy a domestic getaway this weekend, with West Country coastal resorts and countryside beauty spots likely to be among the busiest.

Millions of Brits will enjoy a domestic trip this bank holiday weekend like these people in Newquay Credit: PA

  • What motorists can expect over the Bank Holiday weekend:

Friday is expected to be the worst day for traffic jams as five million Britons are expected to take the roads. It's thought travel between 11am and 6.30pm will be the busiest time.

The best time to hit the roads will be after 9pm, but for some travelling longer distances, this might not be feasible.

Ben Aldous, from RAC, said: "For many people, this coming weekend is the last chance to enjoy a long weekend this side of Christmas.

“With the weather improving, that’s likely to mean a lot of cars on the road heading to popular tourist destinations.

Highways England has said 97% of its motorways and A-roads are roadworks free for this Bank Holiday, however, it is not possible to remove all roadworks.

The remaining roadworks in the South West are as follows:

  • M5 junction 24 to 25 (near Taunton to Bridgwater)

  • M48 junction 1 to 2 (near Aust to Chepstow)

  • M49 (near Avonmouth) new junction scheme

  • M5 junction 17 to 18 (near Avonmouth to Cribbs Causeway)

  • M5 junction 12 to 13 (near Stonehouse)

  • M5 junction 31 (near Exeter)

Keep across Highways England updates for the West Country here.

Bristol Airport is expecting more than 125,000 passengers over the weekend. Credit: PA

  • What to expect if you're travelling by air:

Bristol Airport has warned it is preparing for a busy bank holiday weekend, with a record number of passengers expected to use the airport.

Bosses say they are expecting an increase of 4% in passenger numbers bringing the total number to more than 125,000.

Those heading to the airport are reminded to allow extra time for their journey, and to arrive in the terminal a minimum of two hours before their flight departure.

Read more: Ryanair pilots to strike but airline says flights will go ahead as scheduled

Elsewhere Ryanair says it expects flights in and out of the UK to run as planned, despite losing a High Court bid to block strikes by its UK pilots.

Strikes will be held from 00.01am on Thursday August 22 until 11.59pm on Friday August 23 and from 00.01am on September 2 until 11.59pm on September 4.

Credit: PA

  • What rail passengers can expect

The CrossCountry network is expecting strike action on Sunday, meaning a severely reduced service and replacement bus services too.

There is a limited service south of Bristol and buses are supplementing trains between the East and West Midlands.

Elsewhere in the country, a number of train firms have issued ["do not travel" warnings](http://Train firm issues ‘do not travel’ warning as King) for the weekend due to the closure of King's Cross Station in London.

More bank holiday travel tips here.