London is the slowest city in the world thanks to widespread 20mph limits

And in 21 of the 25 UK cities analysed, travel times increased in the last year.

Stephanie Leonard, head of government and regulatory affairs at TomTom, said: ‘London really is the slowest place in the world to drive a car.

‘Especially in the core city centre, you don’t have maximum speed limits of 50mph or higher, it’s a maximum of 20mph.

‘You don’t have the infrastructure for driving very quickly.

‘Our analysis of the economic impact of congestion showed that London’s slow-moving traffic and higher fuel consumption made it one of the most expensive cities in the world for driving.

‘Avoiding peak hours could save Londoners up to £187 per year on fuel costs.

‘At the same time, local authorities must put support behind programmes that encourage cycling, public transport and other modes to take a larger share in transportation.’

During the last four months of 2023, Transport for London (TfL) lowered speed limits to 20mph on a further 65km (40.4 miles) of London’s roads.

When the measure was announced in September, the transport body said it would bring the total length of roads with a 20mph limit to 140km (87 miles), making them ‘safer for everyone’.

But last October, the government published a Plan for Drivers which included an intention to curb the use of those limits.