All jam and no butter
London remains Europe's most congested city
London has once again topped the list of Europe’s most congested cities, ranking fifth globally, with drivers losing an average of 101 hours annually stuck in traffic—up 2% from last year.
The total cost of congestion in the UK capital reached a staggering £3.85 billion in 2024, which translates to £942 per driver.
City central
The city continues to account for about half of all traffic delays across the UK, maintaining its position as the country’s congestion hotspot.
For the UK as a whole, the financial toll of traffic congestion rose to £7.7 billion, an increase of £200 million from 2023.
Nationally, the average UK driver lost 62 hours to traffic last year—just one hour more than in 2023—costing an average of £581 per driver.
Growing delays
Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the Inrix 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, noted, “While congestion in the UK saw a slight uptick, it has largely remained steady overall. Key disruptions, like roadworks on vital routes such as the M25 Wisely Interchange, caused significant delays on main arteries into the capital.”
Despite a modest increase in delays for London, cities outside of the capital experienced the most significant rise in congestion.
Manchester, for example, saw a notable 13% jump in traffic delays, climbing from 8th to 4th place in the rankings. Meanwhile, Bristol and Leeds also moved up, while cities like Birmingham and Wigan saw their positions fall.
Sheffield and Edinburgh both entered the top 10 for the first time, with drivers in both cities losing 53 hours annually, up from 50 hours in 2023.
Top 10 Most Congested UK Cities in 2024
Rank (2023) | Urban Area | 2024 Hours Lost | Delay Change | Cost per Driver | City Cost | Downtown Speed (mph) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (1) | London | 101 (99) | +2% | £942 | £3.85B | 13 |
2 (3) | Bristol | 65 (62) | +5% | £606 | £125M | 17 |
3 (4) | Leeds | 60 (59) | +2% | £560 | £204M | 19 |
4 (8) | Manchester | 61 (54) | +13% | £570 | £129M | 17 |
5 (6) | Bath | 68 (67) | +1% | £634 | £26M | 15 |
6 (2) | Birmingham | 54 (60) | -10% | £504 | £300M | 20 |
7 (5) | Wigan | 57 (61) | -7% | £532 | £87M | 18 |
8 (7) | Chelmsford | 59 (60) | -2% | £550 | £46M | 22 |
9 (11) | Sheffield | 53 (52) | +2% | £494 | £133M | 18 |
10 (12) | Edinburgh | 53 (50) | +6% | £494 | £125M | 15 |
Capital compromise
London continues to dominate the list of the most delayed roads in the UK.
The westbound A40 between the North Circular and A406 remains the city’s most congested corridor, with drivers losing an additional 17 minutes during the 5:00 PM peak—translating to 68 hours annually.
Other trouble spots include the M25, where roadworks at the Wisely Bypass and the M3 contribute to heavy delays.
In Bristol, the AA420 Eastbound from Lawrence Hill Roundabout to Hollow Road is the busiest route, with drivers losing an average of 5 minutes during the 4:00 PM peak, totaling 21 hours annually.
Top 3 Congested Roads in Major UK Cities in 2024
City | Road Name | From | To | Peak Hour | 2023 Hours Lost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
London | A40 WB | North Circular | A406 | 5:00 PM | 68 |
N Circular Road NB | Falloden Way | A1110 | 4:00 PM | 40 | |
M25 SB | M3 | A3 | 5:00 PM | 34 | |
Bristol | A420 EB | Lawrence Hill Roundabout | Hollow Road | 4:00 PM | 21 |
Portway/A4 SB | Portway Roundabout | Bristol Gate | 5:00 PM | 21 | |
Leeds | A650 SB | Queen’s Road | All Saints Rd | 4:00 PM | 38 |
A657/Leeds Rd WB | Cross Road | Bingley Rd | 4:00 PM | 30 |
Global traffic trends
While London saw only a modest increase in congestion, the trend is more pronounced globally, with many cities seeing traffic return to or exceed pre-pandemic levels.
London’s 2% increase in delays was relatively low compared to other major cities in the global top 25, indicating a quicker recovery post-COVID compared to cities like Jakarta, where congestion surged by 37%, or Istanbul, where delays increased by 15%.
London remains the only UK city in the top 25 globally, ranking 5th.
Other global cities with notable congestion increases include Jakarta (up 37%), Cape Town (up 13%), and Brisbane (up 14%).
Most Congested Cities in the World in 2024
Rank (2023) | Urban Area | Country | 2024 Hours Lost per Driver | 2023 Hours Lost per Driver | Change | Downtown Speed (mph) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 (6) | Istanbul | TUR | 105 | 91 | +15% | 15 |
2 (1) | New York City | USA | 102 | 101 | +1% | 13 |
3 (5) | Chicago | USA | 102 | 96 | +6% | 14 |
4 (2) | Mexico City | MEX | 97 | 96 | +1% | 13 |
5 (3) | London | GBR | 101 | 99 | +2% | 13 |
6 (4) | Paris | FRA | 97 | 97 | 0% | 13 |
Source: Inrix