For the third consecutive year, London has been ranked the most congested city in Europe, according to a report by traffic information supplier Inrix. In 2023, drivers in

the capital spent an average of 99 hours stuck in traffic, up from 97 hours in 2022. This places London behind only New York and Mexico City globally, though the report did not include data from China and India.

Rise Above Pre-Covid Levels

The time lost to traffic jams in London last year was 3% higher than pre-coronavirus levels, indicating a significant return to pre-pandemic travel patterns. In 2022, London was ranked as the world's second most congested city.

Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the report, noted, "We are seeing travel return to pre-Covid levels. The UK and Europe have seen smaller increases in congestion this year than in other parts of the world, indicating these countries have found their new travel norms."

Pishue added, "While London remains the most impacted by congestion in the UK, its drop to third place globally suggests other large cities have also returned to pre-Covid levels of activity. Increased congestion can be a positive sign of strong economic activity."

National Congestion Trends

The report revealed that a typical driver in the UK lost 61 hours to traffic jams in 2023, up from 57 hours in the previous year. This equates to a financial impact of £558 per driver. After London, the UK's most congested urban areas were Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, and Wigan. Photo by Mike Malone, Wikimedia commons.