London travel news LIVE: Drivers facing nearly double journey times in Easter 'nightmare'

Drivers are facing “nearly double” journey times in some places as heavy traffic hits holidaymakers travelling home after the long weekend.

Around two million leisure trips by road are expected to be made on bank holiday Monday, according to the RAC and transport analysis company Inrix.

The Met Office has warned heavy rain may cause disruption on Britain’s roads.

Earlier on Easter Monday motorists endured long delays on the M25 as a number of incidents caused huge tailbacks.

There were reported delays of up to eight miles near Heathrow Airport. A vehicle breakdown also restricted access to the Dartford Tunnel, causing 10-mile queues back to the Swanley junction.

One motorist caught up in the traffic said: “It's an absolute nightmare. I'm sick of the M25 at Easter.”

Follow latest updates below.

Live coverage ends

Monday 1 April 2024 22:24 , Jacob Phillips

Our live coverage has ended.

Read all the latest transport stories from the Evening Standard here.

All lanes shut due to crash on M1

Monday 1 April 2024 20:51 , Jacob Phillips

All lanes have been stopped due to crash on M1 Southbound from Junction 6 (North Watford / Bricket Wood) to Junction 5 (Watford).

Traffic was held at around 8.30pm.

Two lanes shut due to crash on M1

Monday 1 April 2024 18:38 , Jacob Phillips

Two lanes are closed and there is heavy traffic due to crash on M1 Northbound from Junction 5 (Watford) to Junction 6 (North Watford / Bricket Wood).

Drivers facing ‘nearly double’ journey times in heavy Easter holiday traffic

Monday 1 April 2024 18:22 , Jacob Phillips

Drivers are facing “nearly double” journey times in some areas as heavy traffic impacts holidaymakers returning home after the long weekend.

Around two million leisure trips by road will be made on bank holiday Monday, according to the RAC and transport analysis company Inrix.

Heavy rain showers with potential hail and thunder may cause further disruption for those travelling on Easter Monday, the Met Office has warned.

Read the full story here.

Delays on some trains to London Victoria

Monday 1 April 2024 17:40 , Jacob Phillips

There are delays on some trains travelling to and from London Victoria following emergency services dealing with an incident between East Croydon and Gatwick Airport.

Trains running between the stations may be delayed for up to 15 minutes until 6pm.

Lane closed on M25 due to crash

Monday 1 April 2024 17:19 , Jacob Phillips

A lane of the M25 is closed in north London after a crash near Potters Bar.

There is slow traffic due to the collision on the motorway clockwise from J24 A111 Stagg Hill (Potters Bar) to J25 A10 Great Cambridge Road (Enfield).

All lanes now reopen on M25 after closure near Heathrow

Monday 1 April 2024 15:35 , Will Mata

All lanes have been re-opened on the M25 from J13 A30 (Staines) to J14 A3113 Airport Way (Heathrow).

Slow traffic due to earlier stalled vehicle on the M25 clockwise led to lanes being closed.

There are still tailbacks of several miles along the stretch.

ICYMI: Thousands object to 'ugly' £1.5bn Liverpool Street station

Monday 1 April 2024 14:52 , Will Mata

From yesterday - More than 2,000 people have raised objections to plans to redevelop London Liverpool Street railway station, with many calling the designs “ugly”.

See the full plans and story here.

Now only one lane closed on M25 near Heathrow

Monday 1 April 2024 14:33 , Will Mata

Latest highways data shows that only one lane of the M25 is now closed on the lead up to Heathrow Airport.

Inrix data showed at 2.30pm that the majority of the lanes are now open for the section from J13 A30 (Staines) to J14 A3113 Airport Way (Heathrow).

Lane closed on M25 near Heathrow approach

Monday 1 April 2024 14:23 , Will Mata

Tailbacks of around eight miles have been reported on the M25 due to a stalled vehicle.

There are now just two out of five lanes in operation on the clockwise section J13 A30 (Staines) to J14 A3113 Airport Way (Heathrow).

Easter Monday traffic is adding further pressure to the congestion.

All lanes now reopen towards Dartford Crossing

Monday 1 April 2024 14:10 , Will Mata

Live data has shown that all lanes have been reopened towards the Dartford Crossing after an earlier incident.

There are still, however, long delays along the section towards the M25 junction 3.

All roads now reopen on M25 section

Monday 1 April 2024 14:05 , Will Mata

All lanes have re-opened on the #M25 clockwise in #Kent between J5 (#A21, #Chipstead) and J6 (#Godstone).

A 30 minute delay remains in the area but should now start to ease, National Highways has said.

“Thanks for your patience this afternoon,” the statement added.

One lane reopens at Godstone on M25 allowing faster moving traffic

Monday 1 April 2024 13:02 , Will Mata

Only one lane of four is now closed on the M25 clockwise in Kent.

There had been two lanes closed between J5 (#A21, #Chipstead) and J6 (#Godstone) following a vehicle fire.

“Recovery is en-route to scene,” National Highways tweeted. “There's a 45 minute delay on approach with six miles of congestion.”

'Nightmare' on the M25

Monday 1 April 2024 12:50 , Will Mata

The situation around the Dartford Crossing now means that there are two sections on the M25 that have heavy traffic.

The section at Godstone and Dartford are only around 6 miles apart and are giving drivers a long afternoon.

One motorist caught up in the traffic said: “It's an absolute nightmare. I'm sick of the M25 at Easter.”

Long queues on the M25 approaching Darford Crossing

Monday 1 April 2024 12:48 , Will Mata

There are now also long queues on the section of the M25 either side of Dartford Crossing after a stalled vehicle.

Pictures from the scene show tailbacks from junction 1 to junction 3 on the anitclockwise section from Kent into Essex.

After a closure in the right-hand Dartford tunnel all lanes have been re-opened.

Flood warnings in place as millions return from Easter travels

Monday 1 April 2024 12:44 , Will Mata

A number of flood alerts for London are in place on Easter Monday as travellers return to the capital at the end of the bank holiday.

Forecasters have flagged the potential for heavy rain across the south of England on Easter Monday, with the risk of hail and thunder.

See the full story here.

Traffic now building on the A224

Monday 1 April 2024 12:33 , Will Mata

The A224 is now blocked with traffic for around two kilometers due to the M25 incident.

The junction near Otford is seen to have the delays as a knock-on impact.

The photo below was taken at around 12.30pm by Traffic Cameras.

Part closure on Overground, Tram and Elizabeth line networks

Monday 1 April 2024 12:28 , Will Mata

Transport for London has said that several methods of transport are running a reduced service on Easter Monday due to works and the bank holiday.

All Tube lines are running a good service apart from minor delays on the Circle line.

On the tram there is no service between Wellesley Road / George Street and Beckenham Junction / Elmers End / New Addington.

For the rest of Easter Monday, there has been a partial closure of the Overground from Highbury & Islington and New Cross / New Cross Gate / Clapham Junction.

Also on Monday, a reduced service will operate between Paddington and Maidenhead / Heathrow. All trains will start and terminate at Paddington National Rail station.

Welcome to the blog

Monday 1 April 2024 12:23 , Will Mata

We are providing live updates on Bank Holiday Monday due to a car fire on the M25 clockwise.

There is now a five mile queue, according to data around 12.20pm, with congestion on the anticlockwise section too.

The fire is now extinguished but there is said to be a 30 minute delay for cars approaching the scene.