We're wrapping up our coverage, with millions set to be flying, taking the train or driving home for Christmas over the next few days, its sure to be a busy festive period for travel.

For tips on how to avoid disruption in case the roads are top to toe in tailbacks (as Chris Rhea says), we have this piece from BBC's Faarea Masud.

for those making a journey during the festive period, you can keep up to date with the latest travel advice via the usual outlets, including National Rail, external, National Highways, external (for England), Traffic Scotland, external and Traffic Wales, external.

And, of course,BBC weather will be bringing you the latest forecasts throughout the Christmas period, which could have an impact on your journey.

Thanks for joining us. Safe travels, and Happy Christmas!

We'll soon be closing our live coverage, but before we go here are three top tips to avoid disruption during the festive period:

• Stagger travel times on the roads - the RAC says the busiest time on the roads today is between 14:00 and 19:00 GMT - with a journey later potentially being slightly easier
• Check for rail engineering works - train services on some lines over the Christmas period are affected by engineering works, so an amended timetable and last-minute cancellations are possible
• Confirm your return flights - today is predicted to be the busiest day for air travel over the festive period, according to data analysts Cirium - but with an increase in flights over the next weeks, keep an eye out for any alterations

Read on for more tips on how to make your journey as smooth as possible in the run-up to Christmas.

Euston is suggesting that people should travel before 24 December or after 2 January to avoid difficult journeys, in a post on X., external

The London station will be closed on 25 and 26 December, but trains are expected to be "extremely busy" due to major rail upgrades on most days between 27 December and 2 January, Euston says.

Earlier, travel expert Simon Calder made an early getaway for Christmas.

“I fled the country yesterday, getting out just in time before frantic Friday,” he tells the BBC from a square in the Austrian capital, Vienna.

He warns people planning to drive today to wait until 18:00 or 19:00 GMT, when he says commuter traffic will have died down.

Adding that tomorrow is "snarl-up Saturday", as coined by the RAC, and warns that journeys between 13:00 and 18:00 will be "tricky.. especially around the big shopping centres.”

And whenever you set off, Calder adds, “be prepared for delays and disruption on roads and rail.”

Around four million people in the UK are predicted to spend Christmas and New Year abroad this year, travel trade organisation Abta says.

The busiest day for departures this festive period is expected to be Sunday, and Christmas Day should be the quietest.

"Holidaymakers are either looking for some winter sun or guaranteed snow", says Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer.

"We're encouraging people to plan ahead when making their journeys. Public transport and the roads will be very busy, so always leave plenty of time to arrive at your departure port to avoid any difficulties."

Image source, Chris Trott

Commercial airline pilot Chris Trott flew from Gatwick airport to Morocco this afternoon, and says it was anything but "frantic Friday" with the airport feeling "a bit deserted".

On his flight to Marrakech, 159 out of 177 seats were filled, but it is even quieter on the return flight to London with only 84 passengers, "a clear sign people would rather escape the bleak British winter".

“Listening to air traffic control before we got going, you could hear a pin drop. Normally it’s a hive of activity with other pilots getting clearance, negotiating delays and requesting engine start."

“I know it’s apparently the busiest day of the year, but it feels more like the quietest!”

Ever travelled long distances in England, just to find your motorway exit cordoned off or the entire section of road blocked?

To avoid last-minute disappointment, National Highways, has compiled a list of planned closures on A roads and motorways over the festive period.

Sections of the M25, M3, M6 and M62 will be closed overnight tonight, all advance notice closures are laid out here, external.

Image source, Reuters

Paddington Station will be closed from 25 to 29 December due to major works for HS2's, external new station at Old Oak Common.

Train passengers are being warned to take alternative routes or to travel on different days.

Today is expected to be the "busiest single day" at Manchester Airport throughout the holiday period, the airport says.

It believes between 70,000 and 90,000 passengers will travel from the airport each day between now and 3 January - almost as busy as during the peak summer holiday period, it says.

The airport's bosses have put together their top tips for a smooth festive getaway, external - including planning your journey to the airport and being of what you can't bring through security.

Travellers are being advised to allow extra time this weekend for journeys into and out of London St Pancras and between Euston and Milton Keynes and further north.

Engineering works on other operators will have a knock-on effect on its services, London Northwestern Railway says in a post on X, external, and trains will be "extremely busy".

Pia Harold
Live reporter

The AA is warning there could be 23.7 million drivers on the road today, as many more will be travelling by rail, air and ferry.

The motoring organisation compiled the data from 11,306 responses to an online poll carried out by Yonder in mid-November.

"Our figures are taken from the biggest survey of UK drivers," the AA's Gareth Jones told the BBC.

The survey asked drivers what their overall travel intentions were, including work trips, shopping, and leisure, for each day.

The RAC, which looked at a survey of 2,100 drivers, predicted nearly three million cars would be travelling specifically for Christmas getaways today.

Spokesperson Rod Dennis told the BBC: “Our traffic estimations are based on drivers’ plans to embark on getaway trips this Christmas – ones where they are using major roads to visit friends and family, to go on holiday or for another leisure purpose.

"They therefore exclude everyday road journeys, including those made by commuters.”

National Rail says there is "lots" of planned engineering works taking place over the Christmas and New Year holiday period, and advises customers to check before travelling.

There are several projects taking place - including near London Paddington, at London Liverpool Street, and in Cambridge and Crewe areas - so there is potentially some disruption expected there.

It says there will be no services at all on Christmas Day, with many operators not running on Boxing Day.

Timetables are currently being finalised, it says, urging travellers to check their journeys well in advance.

• Read more on National Rail's advice about travelling by train over the festive period, external

Lora Jones
Business reporter, BBC News

The government is concerned that Christmas train services could be disrupted by staff shortages, the rail minister has said.

Lord Hendy says Department for Transport is going to "keep a close watch on staffing" throughout the holidays.

Disruptions may also be exacerbated by fresh industrial action, with Avanti West Coast train managers voting to strike for three days over the festive period.

Recruitment has proven difficult across the rail industry, leaving train operating companies dependent on staff volunteering to work extra paid shifts, particularly during big occasions.

Image source, Getty Images

Are you travelling home for Christmas? If so, how is your journey? Send us your pictures, videos and experiences.

You can get in touch in the following ways:

• Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
• Upload your pictures and video
• Tag us on X: @BBC_HaveYourSay, external
• Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy

Darren Bett
BBC lead weather presenter

The rain currently sweeping over England and Wales will clear this evening.

The weather will start to take a turn for the worse after midnight - when more rain comes in to the north-west and wind starts to pick up by morning.

The weekend is going to be windy everywhere.

The strongest winds on Saturday will be for northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, with gusts of 50-60mph (80-96 km/h) widespread. That possibly increases to close to 80mph (129 km/h) in the far north of Scotland.

This will bring in frequent and heavy showers for the northern half of the UK - driving conditions could be hazardous and there is likely to be ferry disruption.

The southern half of the UK looks windier on Sunday, and many parts of the country will have gusts of 50-60mph (80-96 km/h). Showers will be more widespread too, with some accompanied by hail and thunder.

But the cold and windy weather won’t last - it will be much milder by Christmas Eve, with lighter winds too.

As millions are making Christmas getaways, roads are predicted to see a higher volume of cars. The AA expects the following areas to be busier than usual:

On Friday: M4/M5 interchange, M3/M25 interchange, M25 around Heathrow Airport, M5/M6 interchange, M6 J4-11 (M42-Wolverhampton), M27 J14-13 (Southampton to Portsmouth), M4 around Cardiff and Newport, M4 around Cardiff and Newport, A38 in Somerset, A34 Oxford to Newbury, M8 between Edinburgh and Glasgow, M90 Queensferry/Forth Road Bridge

On Saturday: M1 around Meadowhall, M25 around Bluewater, M60 around the Trafford Centre, A34 Oxford to Newbury, M62 Simister Interchange, M74 Glasgow

On Monday: M1 J10-15a (Luton to Northampton), M42 J3A-J8 (M40 to M6 interchanges), A64 around York, A303 around Stonehenge, M5 J16-25 (Bristol to Taunton), A34 Oxford to Newbury, M90 Perth area, M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh

Good afternoon. Weather and travel warnings are in place as millions of travellers embark on their Christmas getaways.

The RAC has dubbed today "frantic Friday" and they say there's "no sign of traffic letting up throughout the Christmas period."

On the roads: An amber travel warning has been issued to drivers by the AA. Today is expected to be the busiest day for motorists in the lead up to Christmas Day, it says.

On the rail: The government has raised concerns that train services could be disrupted by staff shortages over the festive period.

In the skies: Airports are expected to be busy, as Manchester Airport says it expects numbers to be close to those during the peak of the summer holidays.