London is known for its slow-moving traffic (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
London is well known for its public transport network, with the Underground and a network of trains and buses linking the capital together.
But if you’re a driver, you’ll be well aware the city’s traffic isn’t always easy – or speedy – to navigate.
And new research shows London is the world’s slowest city centre – and that widespread 20mph limits are to blame.
The findings, from sat-nav company TomTom, found that journeys of 10km (6.2 miles) in central London took an average of 37 minutes and 20 seconds in 2023 – one minute longer than in 2022.
It analysed data from 387 cities in 55 countries – and London ended up in the top spot.
Second place was Dublin, where trips of the same length take 29 minutes and 30 seconds.
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.’
The top 5 slowest moving cities in the world
These are the five slowest cities for car drivers in the world.
This is how long the average 10km (6.2 mile) journey takes in each of these cities:
London, England – 37 minutes and 20 seconds
Dublin, Ireland – 29 minutes and 30 seconds
Toronto, Canada – 29 minutes
Milan, Italy – 28 minutes and 50 seconds
Lima, Peru – 28 minutes and 30 seconds
And these are the five slowest cities within the UK:
London – 37 minutes and 20 seconds
Manchester – 23 minutes and 30 seconds
Liverpool – 22 minutes and 50 seconds
Bristol – 22 minutes and 40 seconds
Edinburgh – 21 minutes and 30 seconds
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.
