What to do and where to avoid this bank holiday

09:45 28 August 2009

According to VisitEngland, Brits arenÂ’t going away this bank holiday. Instead, theyÂ’re discovering all of the local charms over the bumper weekend.

Perhaps whatÂ’s keeping the nation put is the prospect of scorching barbecue weather conditions, which may result in packed beaches and back gardens, as four out of five Brits have decided not to go abroad this year.

The south of England will see the most of the sunshine, but that isnÂ’t warm enough for those who bagged some last minute flights. Their main holiday spots are Majorca, Ibiza, mainland Spain, Turkey, Portugal and the Greek islands.

For those staying in Britain, the 200 milesÂ’ worth of roadworks could bring misery for thousands of drivers.

While most have been suspended over the weekend to keep traffic flowing, 40 locations have kept theirs up “for safety”. Here are some of the worst remaining hotspots to watch out for.

• M25 Junction 27-28 Romford: 50mph Major widening work.
• M25 Bell Common tunnel, Epping: 40mph speed limit. Major tunnel refurbishment.
• M25 Junction 16-18 Rickmansworth: 50mph. Carriageway widening work.
• M25 Junction 12/M3 Junction Thorpe: 50mph. Junction trial layout.
• A1(M) Junction 2-4 and Junction 3 entry slip road Hatfield Tunnel: 40mph. Refurbishment work.
• M4 Junction 11 Reading: 50 mph. Refurbishment work.
• M3 Junction 3-4 Lightwater: 50mph. Drainage repairs.
• M3 Junction 5-6 Basingstoke: 50mph. Surface and barrier replacement.
• A34 Newbury Bypass: 50mph. Refurbishment work.
• A3 junctions Hook to Esher, Hook: 40mph. Major resurfacing.

A study by Total Assistance has revealed that the car is still the nationÂ’s most preferred method of transport.

The company also published its top 10 UK destinations (or more accurately, English destinations) for the August bank holiday weekend, as voted for by their customers:

1. Alton Towers, Staffordshire
2. Blackpool Leisure Beach, Lancashire
3. Thorpe Park, Surrey
4. Chester Zoo, Cheshire
5. Eden Project, Cornwall
6. London Zoo, London
7. Warwick Castle, Warwickshire
8. Brighton Pier, Brighton and Hove
9. Stonehenge, Wiltshire
10. Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey

However, for those who do brave the roads some more, this list of things to do by the Guardian provides some excellent opportunities over the weekend. Catch them before theyÂ’re gone!