More than 300 fuel stations across the UK have now reached the £2-a-litre mark for diesel, reflecting a continued upward trend in fuel prices. In the past week alone, 33 additional forecourts increased their diesel prices overnight, bringing the total number of outlets charging above £2 per litre to 326 nationwide, including several in Somerset.
Notably, five of these stations are also charging 199.9p per litre for standard unleaded petrol, which typically remains cheaper than diesel. At this rate, filling a standard family car’s 55-litre tank with diesel would cost approximately £110, an increase of at least £30 compared to the average fill-up price at the beginning of 2026.
The surge in fuel prices follows geopolitical tensions that began with the US and Israel launching attacks on Iran on 28 February, coupled with further recent increases since September amid ongoing conflicts exerting pressure on global oil markets.
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Approximately one-third of the petrol stations charging over £2 per litre are located at motorway service areas; however, high prices are also prevalent in suburban and rural locations. In Somerset, high diesel prices have been reported at forecourts including BP in Warminster and Bridgwater, Asda at Locking, and others.
According to data from the government’s Fuel Finder service, which compiles daily updates from retailers to help drivers find competitive fuel prices, the UK average price for diesel stands at 195.3p per litre, with standard unleaded petrol at 172p per litre. Both are at their highest levels since the price spikes caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of 2022.
Within Somerset, the most affordable petrol can be found at the Sainsbury’s garage in Bridgwater, charging 166.9p per litre. Filling a 55-litre tank there costs around £92, offering potential savings of up to £17 compared to the region’s most expensive stations.
Other competitive petrol prices in the area include Asda on East Quay in Bridgwater at 167.7p per litre, and outlets such as Total Energies and Morrisons in Bridgwater charging just under 168p per litre.
Conversely, the most expensive petrol price locally is at the BP Bridgwater Service Area, where petrol costs 196.9p per litre, making a full tank fill-up cost about £108.
Diesel costs vary similarly, with the cheapest diesel available at the Asda garage in Bridgwater, priced at 189.7p per litre. Other nearby forecourts such as Total Energies and Morrisons in Bridgwater, as well as Sainsbury’s at The Clink, also offer diesel prices around 189.9p per litre.
Currently, UK drivers pay an average of 171.8p per litre for petrol and 196.3p for diesel, with Somerset prices slightly above the national average-petrol at 1.5p and diesel at 0.9p more per litre.
Nationally, the cheapest petrol is found at Ravenspoint Trading Ltd on the Isle of Lewis, at 142.9p per litre, while the highest price recorded is at the Cluanie Inn Hotel garage in Inverness, charging 203.0p per litre.
All figures quoted refer to standard grades: petrol (E10) and diesel (B7) and are based on the latest retailer-supplied data as of 4:45am on Saturday 19 September. The data is gathered under a government scheme designed to promote fair pricing for motorists at fuel pumps.