Cambridgeshire city among most expensive places to buy petrol

Petrol prices remain higher than they were at the start of April and recent data has revealed that a Cambridgeshire city is among the most expensive for petrol

Petrol prices have flatlined in the UK and are still higher than they were at the start of April. The price of standard unleaded across the country has remained at around the 157p a litre mark for the last five days, meaning anyone filling up the average-sized family car for a Bank Holiday getaway will spend over £86.

According to the latest data supplied by government retailers, Cambridge is among the 10 local authorities with the most expensive average prices for petrol, reaching 160.9p per litre (3.4p above national average).

Other local authorities listed with the most expensive include East Hertfordshire at 160.2p a litre, Denbighshire at 160.4p a litre, Harlow with an average of 160.4p and Westminster reaching 162.1p.

You can view the average prices in your local authority with this interactive map:

In comparison, UK drivers are currently paying an average of 157.3p per litre of petrol, while people who own diesel vehicles are spending around 189.8p on average. In England the cheapest petrol station is in Witton, Birmingham, where unleaded is 146.6p a litre.

Motorists are still paying 24p a litre more for standard unleaded than they were charged before the US and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28. Prices remain higher than they were on April 7, when Donald Trump warned a “whole civilisation will die” if Iran refused to agree to his demands.

The following day, Iran and the US announced a two-week ceasefire which has since been extended. So far UK motorists have not seen any benefit from the halting of US and Israeli attacks on Tehran.

Soaring fuel prices amid the conflict in the Middle East are being driven by the higher cost of oil rather than retailers increasing margins, an investigation has found. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the difference between the price retailers pay for fuel and the price they sell it at have been “broadly unchanged” since the start of the war on February 28.

Increased fuel margins in March “for a minority of retailers” were discovered. It was also noted that fuel margins in March were close to or equal the average of 107p per litre seen last year. This shows they remain at “historically high levels” reflecting “ongoing concern about a lack of competitive pressure”.

The prices quoted are correct as of Friday, May 1, 2026 at 4:45am for standard grade petrol (E10) and for standard grade diesel (B7).