Britain, you queue like it’s a sport.
Ex-queues-me! Unpacking Britain’s obsession with waiting in line
5 years, 3 months
That’s how long the average Brit spends queuing over their lifetime. Why? Because needs must. But also, honestly, because queuing is a national sport for us. And it’s a sport that comes with unwritten rules.
We asked the nation* everything anyone could possibly want to know about the quirks of British queuing and the results are fascinating. Good queues? Yup, they exist. Queue etiquette? It’s a real thing. Meditative queuing? For sure.
Here’s a little taster of what we found out:
1
Over their lifetimes, the average Brit will spend 18 months queuing in traffic, 6.6 months waiting to pay at the supermarket checkout, and a staggering 4.2 months on hold to call centres.
2
93% of Brits agree queuing is a great British tradition – with half saying it’s because queues are fair and polite, just like us.
3
More than one in six Brits say queue-jumping is “completely unacceptable”.
4
Best queues to be in: In front of an ice cream van or boarding a plane for a holiday. (And the worst queues? Traffic jams and public loos).
5
19% of Gen Z admit they’d happily jump a queue, compared to just 5% of over-60s.
Here’s a little taster of what we found out:
1
Over their lifetimes, the average Brit will spend 18 months queuing in traffic, 6.6 months waiting to pay at the supermarket checkout, and a staggering 4.2 months on hold to call centres.
2
93% of Brits agree queuing is a great British tradition – with half saying it’s because queues are fair and polite, just like us.
3
More than one in six Brits say queue-jumping is “completely unacceptable”.
4
Best queues to be in: In front of an ice cream van or boarding a plane for a holiday. (And the worst queues? Traffic jams and public loos).
5
19% of Gen Z admit they’d happily jump a queue, compared to just 5% of over-60s.
*Online survey of 2,000 UK-based adults, commissioned by American Holidays, and in association with Walr – 13th-16th June 2025.
Prize Draw Terms & Conditions
Queue Better American Holidays Voucher Prize Draw
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FREE ONLINE PRIZE DRAW: TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ENTRY (“Prize Draw”)
Who can enter
The Prize Draw is open to entrants who are: (a) resident in the UK/NI, Channel Islands or Isle of Man during the competition period and prize fulfilment period; (b) aged 18 years or over; and (c) not employees of the Promoter, companies, or are an immediate family member of the same (including any live-in partner); and (d) not in any way or professionally connected with the Prize Draw.
Please note that entrants must have a UK/NI, Channel Islands or Isle of Man phone number and address in order to be eligible to win the Prize Draw.
Opening/closing date & time
Prize Draw opens for entries online via www.americanholidays.com/queue-better-now on 30 June 2025.
Prize Draw closes for entries online at 12.00 p.m. on 31st July 2025.
Winner selection & contact
The draw will take place within 48 hours of the closing date and time for all entries.
Subject to eligibility and compliance with all applicable terms and conditions, the first entry drawn at random from all eligible entries will win the prize.
The prize is time sensitive and the winner will be contacted on or after the close date.
How to enter
You must enter online by going to the Website and following the instructions; one (1) entry per email provided. There is no charge for entry but internet service provider’s fees may apply when accessing the internet.
Prize
There is one (1) prize consisting of a holiday voucher to spend on a holiday to North America with American Holidays, worth two thousand pounds (£2,000) (the “Holiday Voucher”).
The Holiday Voucher must be used to make a holiday booking with American Holidays by 31 December 2025, for travel up to and including 30 November 2026.
The Holiday Voucher can be redeemed against a singular holiday booking only and cannot be used across multiple bookings, travel insurance, food and drink, spending money or personal expenses. If the cost of the holiday is under two thousand pounds (£2,000) the remaining balance will be forfeited and no cash exchange will be offered. The Holiday Voucher has a maximum value of two thousand pounds (£2,000), and any cost above this amount is the responsibility of the winner and must be paid at the time of booking. The Holiday Voucher is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any other alternative, and may not be re-sold.
The Holiday Voucher will be sent to the winner via email, including instructions on how to redeem the Holiday Voucher. The Holiday Voucher can be redeemed over email or telephone with American Holidays directly.
It is the responsibility of the winner to inform the Prize Provider of any wheelchair or similar access requirements for the winner and/or their companion(s) when taking up the Holiday Voucher, and to adhere to any applicable health and safety guidelines. It is the responsibility of the winner to ensure that they and/or their companion(s) adhere to the visa entry requirements to Italy. It is the winner’s responsibility to ensure all visa and passport requirements are fulfilled and to arrange their own travel insurance.
Use of the Holiday Voucher will be subject to American Holidays booking terms and conditions, which can be viewed at https://www.americanholidays.com/Booking-Terms-Conditions/
Prize provider: SPECIALIST HOLIDAYS (TRAVEL) LIMITED, Platinum House, St. Marks Hill, Surbiton, United Kingdom, KT6 4BH
