M25 Traffic Delays – Live Updates and Road Conditions

If you plan to travel on the M25 motorway, you can check the latest traffic news and delays before leaving.

The M25 is one of the UK’s busiest and most congested roads, especially around the Dartford Crossing and the smart motorway sections.

On this page, you will find live M25 traffic updates, travel maps, incident reports and roadworks information to help you avoid traffic jams and save time on your journey. Travel reports for the M25 motorway in Southern England. Latest live traffic news from official UK Traffic Delays open data sources.

QEII Bridge Dartford Crossing Traffic News

Live M25 Congestion and Delays

Avoid M25 roadworks, accidents and traffic congestion on the UK’s major roads and motorways. Click a blue incident headline below to open a scrollable traffic speed map showing the exact reported location.

M25 Accident and Incident Reports

Traffic delay information supplied by UK Traffic Delays open data. The latest live M25 traffic news, roadworks and travel reports for South East England. Updated every 5 minutes, 24 hours a day.

Clockwise M25 Roadworks Delays

Anti-clockwise M25 Delays and Roadworks

M25 Motorway Map

Our M25 motorway data is as up to date as possible but please do always check with local radio news sources and always allow plenty of time for your journey.

The M25 Motorway, often referred to as London’s Orbital Motorway, is a vital arterial route encircling the bustling metropolis of London. This iconic 117-mile-long motorway is renowned for its consistently high traffic volumes, particularly in its busiest sections. Among these congested areas, the stretch between Junctions 14 and 15 near Heathrow Airport and Junctions 7 and 8 close to the M23 interchange are notorious for their substantial traffic flow.

Commuters on the M25 experience an unparalleled driving experience as they navigate through the UK’s most heavily trafficked highway, accommodating over 200,000 vehicles daily. As a strategic transport hub, the M25 connects various motorways and A-roads, facilitating seamless journeys for countless motorists traversing the country’s extensive road network.

Live UK Motorway Reports

• M3 eastbound within J1 | Eastbound | AuthorityOperation | Surrey2nd December 2023
• M3 eastbound between J3 and J2 | Eastbound | Broken down vehicle | Surrey2nd December 2023
• M40 J16 southbound exit | Southbound | Road Works | Warwickshire2nd December 2023
• M40 northbound between J15 and J16 | Northbound | Road Works | Warwickshire2nd December 2023
• M40 J16 northbound access | Northbound | Road Works | Warwickshire2nd December 2023
• link road from M40 northbound to M42 J3A northbound | Northbound | Road Works | Warwickshire2nd December 2023

History of The M25

The M25 is a major road that encircles most of Greater London and connects to 10 other motorways. It is one of the most important and busiest roads in the UK and Europe, carrying over 200,000 vehicles a day. But how did this “wonderful” road come to be? Here is a brief history of the M25 motorway.

The idea of a ring road around London dates back to the 1940s when Patrick Abercrombie proposed an orbital motorway in his Greater London Plan. This evolved into the London Ringways project in the 1960s, which planned four ring roads for the capital. The M25 was initially conceived as two separate motorways: the M16 for the north and the M25 for the south.

However, when construction began in 1975, it was decided to combine the two projects into a single orbital motorway. The M25 was built in sections with different contractors and engineers working on other parts. The road was one of the first motorway projects to consider environmental concerns and faced many public inquiries and protests from residents and environmentalists.

The M25 was officially opened by Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in October 1986, making it the longest ring road in Europe at 117 miles (188 km). The Dartford Crossing, which connects the two ends of the M25 over the River Thames, is not part of the motorway but a trunk road designated as the A282.

The M25 was designed to carry 100,000 vehicles a day, but it soon became apparent that it was insufficient for the growing traffic demand. The road earned nicknames such as “Britain’s biggest car park” and “The Road to hell” because of severe congestion and delays. Since its opening, the M25 has been progressively widened, especially near Heathrow Airport, and has introduced traffic management schemes such as variable speed limits and smart motorways.

The M25 is more than just a road; it symbolises London’s expansion and development. It has shaped the identity of the city and the lives of its residents and visitors. It has also inspired art, music and literature, such as Iain Sinclair’s book London Orbital and Chris Rea’s song The Road to Hell. The M25 is a grand design that reflects London’s history and culture.

M25 Junctions Map

M25 Scenic Views

The M25 may not be known for its scenic beauty, but there are some parts of the road that offer more pleasant views than others. According to some sources, some of the most scenic parts of the M25 are:

• The stretch between junctions 5 and 6 in Surrey, where the road passes through the North Downs and offers views of rolling green hills and woods.
• The stretch between junctions 9 and 10 in Surrey, where the road curves around Box Hill and provides panoramic vistas of the countryside and the River Mole.
• The stretch between junctions 25 and 26 in Essex, where the road crosses the River Lea and skirts the edge of Epping Forest, one of London’s largest ancient woodlands.
• The stretch between junctions 1B and 2 in Kent, where the road approaches the Dartford Crossing and gives glimpses of the Thames Estuary and its marshlands.

UK Traffic Delays is a reliable source of updated travel information obtained under licence from official data providers. London travel information is used under license from TfL: Powered by TfL Open Data. Our website contains public sector travel information licensed under the: Open Government Licence v3.0.

Share Your Live Traffic Reports

The national radio traffic reports and Sat Nav updates are often delayed, so we’ve added the option to leave live comments on our primary pages. Share your travel updates with thousands of other road users on this page and help keep Britain moving.

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M25 Junction 17 Clockwise, severe delays still ongoing. Avoid this route if you can. Heavy rain causing flooding.