More than 300 fuel stations across the UK are now charging over £2 per litre for diesel, reflecting a continued upward trend in fuel prices. This includes several outlets in Gloucestershire, where diesel prices have recently crossed this significant milestone.
In the past week, 33 additional forecourts have increased their diesel prices to over £2 per litre, bringing the total number of such stations in the country to 326. Notably, at five petrol stations, the price of standard unleaded petrol, typically less expensive than diesel, has also risen close to £2 per litre, standing at 199.9p.
For motorists, this means the cost to fill a standard family car with diesel now reaches £110, which is at least £30 more than the average fill-up cost at the start of 2026.
READ MORE: Steve Cotterill: Cheltenham Town Deserved Victory at Colchester Despite Draw
READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson to Auction Three Iconic ‘The Grand Tour’ Cars
Fuel prices surged following the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran on 28 February, and there has been an additional price increase since early September due to ongoing geopolitical tensions, which have further pressured oil markets.
Approximately one-third of the forecourts charging over £2 per litre are located at motorway service stations. However, high prices are also evident in numerous suburban and rural filling stations.
In Gloucestershire specifically, some of the stations charging more than £2 per litre for diesel include Esso forecourts in Brookthorpe and Lower Wick.
According to the government’s Fuel Finder service, which compiles retailer data updated daily to assist motorists in finding competitive fuel prices, the average diesel price nationwide is now 195.3p per litre. Meanwhile, standard unleaded petrol is averaging 172p per litre, both figures reaching highs not seen since the price spikes triggered at the end of 2022 due to the conflict in Ukraine.
For those looking for more affordable petrol options within Gloucestershire, the cheapest place to fill up a car with unleaded petrol is the Sainsbury’s garage on St. Ann Way, Gloucester, charging 160.9p per litre. Filling an average 55-litre tank here would cost about £88-potentially saving motorists up to £20 compared to the highest priced stations in the area.
The prices at other relatively economical petrol stations in the region include:
- Asda, Naas Lane Link Road, Quedgeley: 161.7p per litre
- Sainsbury’s, Barnett Way, Gloucester: 161.9p per litre
- Tesco, Bristol Road, Gloucester: 161.9p per litre
- Sainsbury’s, Gallagher Retail Park, Cheltenham: 162.9p per litre
At the upper end, the most expensive petrol station in Gloucestershire is the BP station at Lower Wick, Dursley, where petrol costs 196.9p per litre, equating to approximately £108 for a full tank.
Diesel drivers in Gloucestershire can find the most affordable fuel at the Sainsbury’s garage on St. Ann Way, Gloucester, where diesel is priced at 181.9p per litre. Other local diesel prices include:
- Asda, Naas Lane Link Road, Quedgeley: 182.7p per litre
- Tesco, Bristol Road, Gloucester: 182.9p per litre
- Sainsbury’s, Barnett Way, Gloucester: 184.9p per litre
Currently, UK motorists pay an average of 171.8p per litre for petrol and 196.3p per litre for diesel. Petrol prices in Gloucestershire are on average 2.1p per litre cheaper than the national average, while diesel prices are 2.5p less.
Nationally, the cheapest petrol is found at a Costco Wholesale garage in Sheffield at 155.9p per litre, whereas the most expensive is at the Cluanie Inn Hotel garage in Inverness, charging 203p per litre.
The prices quoted are for standard grade petrol (E10) and standard grade diesel (B7), supplied by major retailers under a government scheme designed to ensure transparency and fairness in fuel pricing.
All price data referenced is accurate as of 4:45 am on Saturday, 19 September.