UK Traffic Cameras: 5,000+ Live Cams

The United Kingdom operates a vast and high-density road network spanning over 246,500 miles, with motorways and A-roads carrying approximately 65% of all traffic. According to 2024 data, the average daily commute in England is 28 minutes, with individuals spending an average of 362 hours annually traveling. National Highways (formerly Highways England) manages the Strategic Road Network in England, while Transport Scotland, Traffic Wales, and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland maintain their own camera systems.

Our platform aggregates live feeds from all four national agencies plus local authority cameras into a single interactive map, giving you comprehensive real-time coverage. Whether you're navigating the M25 during rush hour, checking conditions on the M6 through the Lake District, or monitoring A-roads in rural Wales, these feeds help you plan smarter journeys.

Regional Camera Coverage

Major Motorway Corridors

The UK motorway network carries the bulk of long-distance traffic. Camera coverage along these corridors helps drivers monitor congestion, incidents, and weather conditions in real time.

M25 — London Orbital: Britain's busiest motorway encircles Greater London across 117 miles. Cameras cover every junction from the Dartford Crossing (junction 1A/31) through the congestion hotspots at the M1, M4, M3, and M23 interchanges. The Dartford Crossing alone has dedicated camera coverage of both tunnel and bridge approaches. Rush-hour congestion between junctions 7 and 16 (the southern and western sections) is notorious, making camera feeds essential for timing your journey.

M1 — London to Leeds: The backbone of England's north-south motorway network stretches 193 miles from the A1(M) near London to Hook Moor, Leeds. Smart motorway sections between junctions 10-13 (Luton to Milton Keynes) and 24-25 (near Nottingham) have closely spaced cameras. Monitor congestion around the M25 interchange, Northampton, Leicester, Sheffield, and the approach into Leeds.

M6 — Birmingham to Carlisle: England's longest motorway covers 232 miles through the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, and up to the Scottish border. Congestion hotspots at Spaghetti Junction (Birmingham), the M6/M62 interchange at Croft, and Thelwall Viaduct near Warrington are all well-covered. The Shap Summit section in Cumbria requires monitoring during winter weather.

M4 — London to South Wales: Running 189 miles from West London to Pont Abraham in Carmarthenshire, the M4 connects England and Wales via the Prince of Wales Bridge (Second Severn Crossing). Cameras cover the Heathrow spur, the Almondsbury Interchange with the M5, the Brynglas Tunnels at Newport, and the approaches to Cardiff and Swansea.

M62 — Liverpool to Hull: The main east-west trans-Pennine motorway crosses some of England's most exposed terrain. The highest point on any UK motorway (372 metres near junction 22) experiences severe weather conditions. Cameras monitor the climb from Manchester over the Pennines, congestion around Leeds and Bradford, and the approach into Hull.

M5 — Birmingham to Exeter: Running 162 miles southwest from the M6 interchange at Birmingham, the M5 passes through Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon. Holiday traffic during summer weekends creates severe congestion, particularly between junctions 19-23 (Bristol to Bridgwater). Cameras help time journeys to avoid the worst of the seasonal surges.

Key A-Road Networks

Beyond the motorway network, thousands of A-road cameras cover trunk roads and major routes across the UK:

• A1/A1(M) — London to Edinburgh via the Great North Road. Cameras cover the A1(M) sections through Hertfordshire, the Doncaster bypass, and the approach to Newcastle and the Scottish border.
• A14 — Connecting the M1/M6 with Felixstowe port via Cambridge. One of the UK's busiest freight corridors with camera coverage along the recently upgraded section.
• A303 — London to the Southwest via Stonehenge. Cameras at the notorious Stonehenge bottleneck and Ilminster bypass.
• A9 — Scotland's main Highland route from Perth to Thurso via Inverness. Transport Scotland cameras cover the dualled sections and critical single-carriageway segments.
• A55 — North Wales expressway from Chester to Holyhead along the coast. Traffic Wales cameras monitor this route to the Irish Sea ferry port.
• A2/M2 — London to Dover via the Channel Tunnel approach. Cameras cover Operation Brock contraflow sections activated during port disruptions.

Weather and Seasonal Conditions

Fog: One of the most dangerous UK driving hazards. Dense fog regularly affects the M1 through the Midlands, the M4 across the Severn Estuary, and the M62 over the Pennines. Camera feeds show visibility conditions that radio updates cannot convey — if you can barely make out vehicles in the camera image, conditions are severe.

Rain and Surface Water: The UK averages 150+ rainy days per year. Heavy rain causes surface water accumulation on motorways, particularly in low-lying sections and beneath bridges. Camera feeds reveal spray conditions and standing water that affect stopping distances.

Winter Snow and Ice: While less common than in northern Europe, snow disrupts UK roads precisely because the network is not built for sustained winter conditions. The M62 Pennine section, A66 Stainmore, M74 Beattock Summit, and A9 Drumochter Pass are among the first routes affected. Check cameras before travelling these routes from November through March.

Summer Holiday Traffic: Bank holiday weekends and school half-terms create predictable congestion on routes to coastal destinations. The M5 southbound towards Devon and Cornwall, M4 westbound to Wales, and A303 to the Southwest experience severe delays. Camera feeds help you identify when traffic is flowing freely versus when queues are building.

Driving Tips for UK Roads

Left-hand driving: The UK drives on the left. All motorway cameras show traffic flowing in the correct direction for the carriageway — use this as a visual reference if you are unfamiliar with left-hand traffic patterns. Overtaking lanes are to the right.

Speed cameras: The UK has an extensive network of fixed and average-speed cameras, particularly in smart motorway zones. Traffic cameras on our platform are separate from enforcement cameras — they show live conditions, not speed readings. Fixed enforcement cameras are typically yellow and forward-facing.

Congestion Charge and ULEZ: Central London operates the Congestion Charge zone (weekdays, 07:00-18:00) and the Ultra Low Emission Zone covering Greater London. Traffic cameras around these zones show approach traffic, but charges are enforced by separate ANPR cameras. Birmingham and Bath also operate Clean Air Zones.

MOT and roadworthiness: All vehicles over three years old require a valid MOT certificate. Visiting drivers should ensure their vehicles meet UK roadworthiness standards, including proper headlamp alignment for left-hand traffic.

Motorway services: Unlike many countries, UK motorways have designated service areas rather than roadside facilities. Camera feeds at service area approaches can help gauge how busy rest stops are during peak travel periods.

Platform Features for UK Cameras

Our platform provides 135,000+ street cameras and traffic cameras from 600+ sources across 130+ countries, with 5,000+ focused on UK coverage:

• Region Filtering: Instantly filter to England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland
• Road Search: Type any motorway number (M25, M1) or A-road (A1, A14) to find cameras along that route
• Interactive Map: Zoom into any area to discover cameras visually, with clustering that reveals individual cameras as you zoom in
• Grid View: Scan conditions across an entire motorway or region in a thumbnail grid layout
• Route Planning: Build custom routes and see all cameras along your path — ideal for long motorway journeys
• Favorites: Save frequently checked cameras for one-tap access on any device
• Mobile Optimized: Check conditions from your phone before setting off or during rest stops

Related Coverage

• Canada Traffic Cameras: 4,900+ cameras across all Canadian provinces, from mountain passes to prairie highways
• United States Traffic Cameras: 15,000+ cameras covering all 50 US states and major interstates

Frequently Asked Questions