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Poll reveals England’s best and worst major roads
Which roads are the most satisfying to drive on?
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 21/07/2026
Ryan Barham
Last updated: 21/07/2026
We all know England’s roads can get busy but, as The Rolling Stones once almost but didn’t quite sing, which ones provide the most satisfaction?
As reported by the BBC, a Transport Focus poll of 9,500 drivers has revealed the satisfaction scores for England’s 32 motorways and major A roads that are managed by National Highways.
| Position | Road | Satisfaction score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A30 | 79% |
| 2 | M20 | 79% |
| 3 | M56 | 78% |
| 4 | M5 | 78% |
| 5 | A19 | 77% |
| 6 | A23 | 77% |
| 7 | M4 | 76% |
| 8 | A14 | 76% |
| 9 | A303 | 74% |
| 10 | M40 | 74% |
| 11 | M1 | 74% |
| 12 | A1 (M) | 74% |
| 13 | M3 | 72% |
| 14 | A5 | 72% |
| 15 | A3 | 72% |
| 16 | A38 | 72% |
| 17 | A2 | 72% |
| 18 | A64 | 71% |
| 19 | A46 | 71% |
| 20 | M61 | 70% |
| 21 | A34 | 70% |
| 22 | M11 | 70% |
| 23 | A1 | 69% |
| 24 | A47 | 69% |
| 25 | A27 | 69% |
| 26 | M62 | 69% |
| 27 | M6 | 68% |
| 28 | M25 | 65% |
| 29 | A12 | 64% |
| 30 | M60 | 63% |
| 31 | M42 | 61% |
| 32 | M27 | 56% |
England’s roads with the highest satisfaction scores are both busy transport and traveller hubs:
Other roads in the top 10 include the M5 (north of Birmingham to Exeter in Devon), M4 (London to south west Wales) and A303 (Hampshire to Devon) - the latter, with its drive past Stonehenge often being cited as one of the nation’s favourite scenic routes.
The M27, a 27.9-mile-long smart motorway used by commuters in the Solent region, came bottom of the poll with a satisfaction rating of just 56%. This stretch of road runs between Cadnam and Portsmouth, passing Southampton along the way, and has long been the subject of roadworks, construction, congestion and resurfacing works.
One of the Strategic Roads User Survey respondents described the roadworks on the motorway as “terrible” due to its variable speed limits and effect on the width of lanes. This appears to be a national issue, with only 50% of drivers satisfied with roadworks management over the past year.
Drivers who had to deal with roadworks were significantly less satisfied with overall journeys (58%) than those who didn’t encounter them (77%). Looking for ways to keep calm while driving? Check out our guide to dealing with driving anxiety.
There was better news overall for drivers, with 71% now satisfied with their journey, compared to 69% in 2024/25.
Louise Collins, the Director of Transport Focus, welcomed the progress made: "This year’s results show that positive improvements to the road user experience are possible. Overall satisfaction has increased and there are encouraging signs that drivers are noticing improvements in key areas, however drivers continue to tell us that roadworks can make or break a journey.
“The next five years will bring significant investment as National Highways embarks on a major programme to repair and renew England’s roads. By applying the positive lessons from recent schemes, National Highways has an opportunity to ensure roadworks are well planned, clearly communicated and minimise disruption wherever possible.”
In the BBC article, a National Highways spokesperson added: "We manage our roads to ensure the highest levels of safety while minimising disruption to drivers. The survey results show our work to improve road conditions and incident response times have had a positive impact for drivers.
"When roads are well maintained, businesses and communities feel the benefit, and we are committed to tackling an ageing network head-on to keep the country moving and give drivers better experiences."
Whether you’re driving on one of the nation’s best or worst roads, you need to make sure you’re covered for every eventuality.
Driving someone else’s car or need to take the wheel? Don’t forget you can take out temporary car insurance to ease any concerns. It’s comprehensive as standard, and available from 1 hour to 28 days.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg30jypn0ko
https://nationalhighways.co.uk/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/07/21/britains-worst-motorway-m27-hampshire-smart-roadworks/
https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/best-and-worst-motorways-and-a-roads-revealed
Motorways are the safest type of road in the UK. Despite higher average speeds, motorways recorded only 84 deaths in 2023, while rural roads saw nearly 1,000 fatalities. This makes motorways significantly safer than other road types (Department for Transport). Always drive responsibly and stay alert, as conditions and risks can change quickly.
UK roads have a mixed reputation for quality. While historically known for safety, recent issues include deteriorating surfaces and persistent potholes. These problems contribute to more accidents, vehicle damage, and delays. Congestion is another growing concern, impacting travel times and road conditions. The RAC and other UK organisations have highlighted these issues, calling for improvements to ensure safer and more efficient travel for all road users.
The M25 is often considered England's worst motorway, known for severe congestion (BBC). The M6 also faces criticism due to frequent roadworks and delays (Highways England). The M1 and M62 experience heavy traffic and disruptions, making them unpopular. The M4, M27, and M42 are similarly notorious for delays and congestion. Each motorway presents unique challenges, but experiences may vary based on time and location.
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