M25 named UK’s most boring motorway as 83% of London drivers seek scenic routes
Tempcover survey reveals most capital motorists would add 41 minutes to avoid the orbital road’s monotony
Trust 58Craft 64Hype 30How this was reported ▾
Only a named source and attributed figures from Tempcover; lacks documents or multiple outlets.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Mix of promotional language and limited reporting; reads like a press release despite some quotes.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline and tone are mildly sensational but not unsupported by the article.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
The M25 has been named the UK’s most boring motorway, with 83% of London drivers saying they would choose a more picturesque route instead. The finding comes from a survey of 2,000 UK motorists conducted by temporary car insurance provider Tempcover, as reported by This Is Local London.
The survey revealed that 41% of motorists find motorway trips boring, with the M25 topping the list as the dullest. Drivers in London were more likely than the national average to seek alternatives, with only 15% saying they would not know how to find a scenic route.
Broken-down vehicle causes M25 delays near Sevenoaks on 5 August 2026
Drivers faced heavy traffic after a vehicle broke down on the clockwise carriageway
Scenic routes preferred despite time costs
On average, drivers said they would add 41 minutes to a journey to enjoy better views. However, 37% reported that scenic detours did not take significantly longer than motorway routes, and 25% said detours sometimes saved time by avoiding traffic.
Tempcover’s research highlighted that 53% of UK drivers are planning a staycation this summer. Scenery was a top priority for 52% of those planning long journeys, while 34% wanted to ensure everyone in the car could enjoy the views.
M25 crash near Waltham Abbey causes long delays for drivers
A multi-vehicle collision on the anti-clockwise carriageway led to queues stretching several miles this morning.
Barriers to scenic driving
Despite the preference for scenic routes, many drivers face obstacles. Nearly half, 49%, said they rely too heavily on sat navs to discover alternatives, while 57% said they rarely have time to plan a scenic detour in advance. One in five drivers said they would not know how to find a more picturesque route even if they wanted to.
Tempcover has launched a free online tool, the Scenic Route Finder, to address this. The tool suggests bespoke scenic alternatives based on users’ start and end postcodes. It also identifies safe locations to pull over and change drivers, known as "swap spots".
Motorways are essential for efficient travel, but we also want to give holidaymakers an easier way to discover stunning scenic detours alongside their usual routes.
Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover
Insurance and practical challenges
Insurance concerns were cited as a barrier to sharing driving duties. While 47% of drivers said they simply preferred to drive, 27% said their passengers were not insured. Another 15% felt adding another driver to their policy was too much hassle.
Tempcover’s tool aims to simplify this by offering temporary comprehensive cover that can be arranged in minutes. Adam Craddock, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said the tool was designed to help drivers share the journey and avoid one person monopolising the best views.
Ricky Wilson, frontman of the Kaiser Chiefs, has partnered with Tempcover to promote the Scenic Route Finder. Wilson contributed some of his favourite scenic stops to the tool, based on his experiences touring the UK.
Taking the scenic route turns a boring drive into part of the holiday.
Ricky Wilson, frontman of the Kaiser Chiefs
What happens next
The Scenic Route Finder is now available online for free. Drivers can enter their start and end postcodes to receive suggestions for scenic alternatives to motorway routes. Tempcover has not announced any further updates or changes to the tool at this stage.
Questions this report answers
+How many London drivers would choose a scenic route over the M25?
Tempcover’s survey found 83% of London drivers would choose a scenic route over the M25. The survey included 2,000 UK motorists and was reported by This Is Local London. This preference reflects a broader trend among drivers seeking more picturesque journeys.
+What is the Scenic Route Finder tool?
The Scenic Route Finder is a free online tool launched by Tempcover. It suggests scenic alternatives to motorway routes based on start and end postcodes. The tool also identifies safe locations to pull over and change drivers, aiming to make journeys more enjoyable.
+How much longer are drivers willing to spend for a scenic route?
Drivers said they would add an average of 41 minutes to a journey for better views. However, 37% reported that scenic detours did not take significantly longer than motorway routes, and 25% said detours sometimes saved time by avoiding traffic.
+Why do drivers struggle to take scenic routes?
Nearly half of drivers rely too heavily on sat navs, and 57% said they rarely have time to plan scenic detours in advance. One in five drivers said they would not know how to find a more picturesque route even if they wanted to, according to Tempcover’s survey.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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