A vehicle control system comprising a speed control system and a traction control (TC) system, the TC system being operable to cause a reduction in speed of one or more wheels when a speed of the one or more wheels exceeds a TC system intervention threshold value, the speed control system being operable in an active state in which the speed control system causes the vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, wherein when the speed control system is in the active state, the TC system intervention threshold value is set to a value selected in dependence at least in part on the target speed value.