In case you weren’t aware, the UK is about to have a very busy weekend. Leeds and Reading festivals are happening at the same time as Creamfields, which is happening at the same time as the Notting Hill Carnival, which is all happening at the same time as the last bank holiday this summer. Basically, roads are going to be pretty packed up and down the country.
And those roads are going to be especially packed the closer you get to the events, particularly Leeds. National Highways has warned anyone driving into the festival to give themselves a lot of extra time to get to or from the festivals, or to pass through the area. A spokesperson said: ‘plan your journey, check traffic conditions before setting out and give yourself plenty of time.’
Drivers are also advised to follow signs rather than satnavs, as a lot of roads will be closed or one-way and so GPS systems won’t have accurate information. Here’s everything you need to know about the roads which will be closed, open, and disrupted by Leeds festival this weekend and beyond.
RECOMMENDED:
🎸 The best music festivals in London.
🎤 The UK’s best music festivals.
🎵 Our official guide to Reading and Leeds 2024.
⏰ The full Reading and Leeds 2024 lineup with timings and stage splits.
Where are Leeds Festival 2024 road closures?
A few roads around Leeds will be closed from Wednesday (August 21) until Monday (August 26) aside from those which will be one way, which are all detailed below.
The motorway closures include:
- Kiddal Lane at the junction with the A64/York Road
- Potterton Lane at the junction with Kiddal Lane
- Red Bus Layby – only accessible for residents or those headed to festival
There will also be closures in nearby Thorner Village from 7am until 1am on Tuesday-Thursday, and from 7am until 3am on Friday and Saturday, and all day on Sunday. On Monday these roads will reopen at 3pm. These will be:
- Northern part of Mangrill Lane
- Carr Lane (very close to the A58)
- Thorner / Skeltons Lane
- Skeltons Lane / ELOR (signed soft closure only)
- Thorner / Milner Lane (next to the green triangle)
- Wothersome corner (west of junction of Thorner Lane / Thorner Road)
- Thorner / Holme Farm Lane and Bramham Lane
There will also be disruptions in Aberford Village during Leeds fest. The junction of Main Street with the A64 just to the West of Junction 44 will be closed from Monday until Sunday.
How to get to Leeds festival
In an effort to direct festival traffic more efficiently, there will be a couple of different colour-coordinated one-way routes into the grounds.
If you’re coming into the site from the south you’ll be on the brown route, which you can enter from a few places which will be clearly signposted. This will be in place throughout the entire duration of Leeds, from Wednesday (August 21) until Sunday (August 25). From Sunday it will reverse and be one-way out.
Conversely, those travelling down from the north will be on the white route. This will also be one-way from 4am on Wednesday 21st August to 3pm on Monday. Start looking for signs on the A1 southbound before Junction 44.
Those doing a drop-off or pick-up will be on the red route, which will also be managed by signs which will be easy to follow. This starts on the A1 before directing you to leave at Junction 44 and join York Road (A64) Westbound.
Locals have been advised to ‘use routes via Clifford/Boston Spa/Tadcaster but avoiding the A1 (M) / Grange Moor / Wattle Syke roundabouts throughout at the peak times [8am-6pm] hours daily when peak incoming traffic is anticipated.’
‘If Thorner residents require access to the A1(M) from Wednesday 21st August to Sunday 25th August, we would suggest travelling along Thorner Road, turning left on West Woods Road and travelling north to access the A1(M) at Wattle Syke.’
For further information on routes for party-goers or residents, consult the Leeds festival’s official page for travel information here.
Other travel disruption over Bank Holiday weekend
Insurance company RAC has estimated that this will be the worst bank holiday weekend for traffic in nearly a decade, so if you can avoid driving probably do, unless you like being in traffic jams listening to Radio 2 for several hours.
Some roads will be more impacted than others, which you can read about here. Other public transport should be running as normal, but it’s always worth giving yourself extra time on busy days no matter how you’re getting around.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.