UK's worst motorways including one where 'aggressive drivers abandon speed limit (2025)

Drivers have revealed the worst UK motorways – and why one London road has been ranked the lowest.

Spending hours of your life stuck in traffic gridlock is far from ideal – especially on a motorway where traffic is expected to flow.

Motorists have named the M25 – the UK’s busiest motorway – as their nemesis number one as part of an AA survey.

Reasons ranged from aggressive fellow drivers to hold-ups and delays across the National Highways network.

Here is a look into what UK motorways were the most detested.

List of UK motorways rankings

The M25 was crowned the most detested motorway in the country, according to more than 13,000 AA members in a new survey.

Around 40% of drivers said the M25 is the worst to drive on.

One driver said the M25 has ‘a poor surface and is very noisy in places.’

Certain junctions have ‘hold-ups’ caused by auto signage gantry boards, another driver complained.

One said: ‘I have been horrified by aggressive drivers changing several lanes impulsively, at speed, without indicating. It feels as ifthenational speed limit has been abandonedthere. 80 mph is not only acceptable but essential and average.’

The M25 has made headlines recently due to weekend closures at junction J10 as part of upgrade works.

A cafe owner nearest to junction 10 accused the works of ‘ruining’ his business after customers were put off by the works and traffic delays on surrounding roads.

RHS Gardens Wisley claimed it will suffer £11,000,000 losses by the time the roadworks end.

While the final full weekend closure is now done and dusted and there is no need for further full closures, the £317,000,000 upgrade works will continue into the summer after they were delayed due to ‘extreme weather,’ National Highways said previously.

The M6 took the second spot, with 21% of respondents finding it unpleasant.

One driver described the M6 as ‘dangerous,’ claiming that it has ‘always hold-ups or accidents.’ Another driver complained that it has ‘lots of sections without hard shoulder, which makes me uncomfortable.’

The third worst motorway was M1, according to 13% of drivers.

The AA said nine of the top ten motorways have sections known as smart motorways.

But, instead of speeding traffic flows, they have led to years of roadworks bringing more misery, the motoring expert said.

Jack Cousens, the AA’s head of roads policy, said: ‘TheM25is notorious for its heavy traffic and frequent delays. As one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country, it is no surprise that drivers find it frustrating. Little wonder Chris Rea declared it the ‘Road To Hell.’

We approached National Highways for a comment.

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