World’s most congested cities are revealed – with London named Europe’s worst
Share:
Traffic delays are a part and parcel of life in London – and now a new study has revealed the cost of congestion in the world’s most gridlocked cities. Escaping traffic jams in London is almost impossible if you cannot swap a car for public transport or a bike.
![[Cars queueing up in London at traffic lights.]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235163203-8526.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
For those stuck behind a wheel on UK roads, the delays come at a cost as time and fuel are lost. While also being mentally taxing, constant stop-and-go driving and stationary vehicles cause pollution. Now the traffic analyst Inrix has ranked cities based on congestion – and it is not good news for motorists in London as the city was in the top spot again.
Scroll down to see the breakdown of the most congested cities in Europe. Drivers in London spent an average of 101 hours in traffic jams last year, according to Inrix analysis. London trumped European capitals like Paris, Brussels and Rome for worse queues.
Last year, London traffic delays increased by 2% on the previous year and 5% from 2022. Motorists in the Big Smoke drove at an average speed of 13mph for the last mile of their journey. The delays are estimated to cost London around £3,850,000,000 last year – an equivalent of around £942 per driver, Inrix said.
Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst and author of the Inrix 2024 Global Traffic Scorecard, said: ‘While the UK did see a slight increase in congestion again this year, overall congestion has remained steady. Here are most congested urban areas in the UK according to the study.
