Due to a widespread issue with e-gates at ports and airports, there are huge lines and “scenes of utter chaos” at the UK border.
Due to a technical issue, electronic gates stopped working late on Friday, forcing all passengers to be processed through staffed airport desks.
It comes as traffic builds on motorways and queues grow at Dover due to the bank holiday getaway.
Heathrow Airport said it was aware of the problem affecting its passengers.
The e-gates are operated by Border Force, the airport said, adding that the problem was widespread across airports and ports.
It said: “Our teams are working closely with Border Force to help resolve the problem as quickly as possible and we have additional colleagues on hand to manage queues and provide passenger welfare.
“We apologise for any impact this is having to passenger journeys.”
The Home Office also confirmed the delays for arrivals in the UK.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK.
“We are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible and are liaising with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”
One traveller at Heathrow said on Twitter they had been waiting in a queue for four hours.
Another said they were met with the “mother of queues” for manual passport checks.
Another person at Heathrow tweeted: “Just landed to scenes of utter chaos. 2 hour queues just to get to the real queue. Gates broken.”
There are more than 270 eGates at the UK border.
They can be used by British and EU citizens over the age of 12, as well as people from several other countries including Australia, Canada, the US, Japan and New Zealand.
Returning from Dubai overnight to this mother of queues. Apparently national outage in border control machines 🤷🏼♀️so manual passport checks. Moreso ridiculous when paying ££ extra for the privilege of travelling through @HeathrowAirport pic.twitter.com/pcPCkoxdVy— Lina Tayara (@FabLoulou) May 27, 2023
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Travellers on the roads also face the prospect of long queues throughout the weekend.
Journeys on some stretches of the M25 could take up to three times longer than normal, transport data company Inrix has warned.
Long delays are also expected on the M5 in Somerset and the M6 in Cheshire and Greater Manchester.
Drivers across the UK will make 19.2 million leisure car trips between Friday and Monday, according to estimates from the RAC, with the hottest day of the year so far forecast on Sunday.
Ferry passengers through Dover were advised to allow two hours to complete border controls and check-in – even before the e-gate problems.
DFDS ferry company tweeted: “Please be prepared with refreshments & use facilities before arriving at the port.”
The Port of Dover said delays at French border control were due to “IT issues” with “high volumes of tourist and freight traffic on Port approaches”.
People queuing at Dover told Sky News they had missed their ferry because of the queues and were “about to find out” whether they could get on a later sailing.
“It’s frustrating, but it is what is,” they said.
The resigned attitude was shared by other travellers, who said they had come expecting delays after seeing long queues on previous bank holiday weekends.
At Easter, passengers faced waits of up to 14 hours.
One couple in the queue of cars today told Sky News they had travelled half a mile in 35 minutes.
They said they had left three hours instead of 90 minutes but had still missed their check-in time.
The RAC said it was expecting the busiest weekend of traffic since before the pandemic.
“Getting away early in the morning or delaying trips until the evening are the best way to avoid the inevitable delays,” spokesman Rod Dennis said.
While holidaymakers face the prospect of long queues, those staying at home for the long weekend should enjoy some of the hottest weather of the year.
Southeast Wales and around the Bristol Channel will get the best of the weather, with temperatures up to 24C on Saturday and Sunday.
Other parts of the UK could see temperatures reaching the high teens and low 20s.
The dry and bright weather is likely to continue for most with little rain expected throughout next week during half term.