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21st December 2025
11:25am GMT
It's no secret that the Holidays are one of the busiest travel times of the year, as millions of people rush to get home to spend time with their loved ones across the UK and abroad.
Warnings have already been issued regarding planned railway works, which will result in passengers having to endure longer journeys and limited services during the festive season.
However, below you can find a rundown of the most significant disruptions which could potentially disrupt your travels.
Notably, the UK's busiest station will be shut between December 27 and January 1, meaning that there will be no trains departing or arriving at the station.
However, the Elizabeth line and Tube will run as scheduled for those services that have their own platform.
Greater Anglia and London Overground services are disrupted due to engineering work in the Bishopsgate tunnel and roof refurbishment at the station. Trains will terminate at Stratford and London Fields, respectively, per National Rail.
There will be no trains running on Saturday and Sunday after Christmas at London Waterloo and Vauxhall stations. Instead, trains will depart and terminate at Clapham Junction or other stations, so make sure to check schedules before travelling.
South Western Railway services will be affected, with possible changes due to engineering work between Basingstoke and Andover/Winchester on Sunday, January 4.
Waterloo will also run a limited train service from Monday, December 29, to Friday, January 2, because of track and points renewal works.
Buses will replace trains on the West Coast Main Line between Saturday, December 27 and Sunday, January 4, from Milton Keynes Central to Rugby and Northampton, leading to slower journeys than usual.
This is the route used by trains to and from Euston. National Rail warned that journeys from the station to the Midlands, the North West – including Manchester and Liverpool – and Scotland will be ‘significantly disrupted.
Further travel disruptions include:
When it comes to UK airports, it seems like most of them are running as normal over the festive period, except for Luton and Heathrow Airports.
The Unite Union has described it as ‘festive travel turmoil’ as check-in and baggage handling staff go on strike.
It is believed that dozens of flights will be affected over the strike days happening between December 19 and 22, and again from December 26 to 29.
It is understood that around 200 workers will strike during the peak travel season over a pay row, according to Unite, per Metro.
Over 130 cabin crew working for Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS) based at Heathrow have decided to strike following disagreement over a pay offer.
Unite have warned the strikes could threaten flights to and from Scandinavia.
SAS cabin crew at Heathrow will walk out on December 22, 23, 24 and 26.
It’s important to check your travel plans in advance, as there will be no Tube services on Christmas Day (December 25) and no Elizabeth Line or Heathrow Express services on Boxing Day (December 26).
TFL services such as the Tube, Overground, Elizabeth line and buses will not run on Christmas Day, and services will finish early the day before.
Some limited services are running on Boxing Day on a Sunday service timetable.
Routes like the Elizabeth line will be closed.
There will be no Night Tube or Night Overground service on Boxing Day (Friday, December 26).
However, Santander and Lime bikes will be available as usual for travelling around the capital.
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