National statistics

National Travel Survey: 2020

Published 22 September 2021

Applies to England

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About this release

The National Travel Survey (NTS) is a household survey of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary, which enables analysis of patterns and trends. This release covers the main findings from these travel behaviours during 2020. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from March 2020, has had a substantial impact on travel trends in 2020 and has affected the operation of this survey.

Fieldwork for the NTS 2020 survey was impacted by the coronavirus restrictions with interviews being conducted via telephone instead of face-to-face, resulting in a reduction of more than a half of the response rate to the survey compared to previous years (6,239 individuals in 2020 compared to 14,356 individuals in 2019).

There was also substantial missing data for March 2020 and no households were sampled in April 2020 when fieldwork was paused due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and lockdown measures being introduced nationally. Consequently, caution is needed when interpreting these results for 2020 as they are likely to be less representative of residents of England, compared to previous years. Please see our technical note for more details.

Headline figures

The average number of trips made by people living in England has decreased by almost a quarter (22%) since 2019 with 739 trips made on average in 2020, the lowest since records began in 1972 to 1973.

There were decreases in trip rates amongst all modes of transport in 2020 compared to 2019, apart from cycling and walking of over a mile. Average cycling trips increased by 26% to 20 trips per person in 2020 compared to 16 trips per person in 2019 and average walking of over a mile trips increased by 34% to 87 trips per person in 2020 compared to 65 trips per person in 2019. Most of the decrease in overall average trips was due to a reduction in the number of average car trips taken. There were 22% fewer car driver trips in 2020, down to 295 trips per person, and 33% fewer car passenger trips, down to 134 trips per person.

There have been decreases in all trip purposes in 2020 apart from day trip and other including just walk. The trip purpose of day trip increased from 32 trips per person in 2019 to 45 trips per person in 2020, an increase of 44%. The trip purpose of other including just walk was the second most common trip purpose in 2020. There has been a sharp increase of average trips for other including just walk from 61 trips per person in 2019 to 114 trips per person in 2020, an increase of 87%. There were also increases in average miles travelled for these trip purposes.

Miles travelled per person for day trips increased from 435 miles per person in 2019 to 488 miles per person in 2020, an increase of 12%. Miles travelled for other including just walk increased from 58 miles per person in 2019 to 125 miles per person in 2020, an increase of 116%. As restrictions were placed on people’s travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting in a decline in trip purposes such as commuting, business and education, this resulted in more trips for the purposes of day trips and other including just walk during 2020. There were also decreases in average trip rates for the trip purposes of visiting friends at private home and personal business in 2020.

The most common trip purpose in 2020 was for shopping and the third most common trip purpose in 2020 was for commuting, however, there have been fewer trips for these purposes in 2020. Similar to other trip-based trends, this is likely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There were 141 shopping trips per person in 2020, a decrease of 22% compared to 2019 (181 trips per person). There were 91 commuting trips per person in 2020, a 35% decrease compared to 2019 (140 trips per person).

Chart 1: Trends in trips taken, miles travelled, and hours spent travelling: 1972 to 2020 (NTS0101)

From the early 1970s to the early 2000s, the average distance people travelled per year increased, but the number of trips and time spent travelling stayed broadly the same. Since then miles travelled on average has gradually declined, however the average number of trips per person and hours spent travelling have remained broadly stable. In 2020 there was a sharp decline in average miles (-33% to 4,334 miles), trips (-22% to 739 trips) and hours travelled (-27% to 269 hours) compared to 2019, all having the lowest on record during a year when the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in restrictions on people’s travel.

Chart 2: Trends in trips taken, miles travelled and hours spent travelling: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0101)

People made 739 trips on average in 2020, or 14 trips a week. This was a 22% decrease compared to 2019 (953 trips on average) and the lowest number of trips since records began in 1972. People travelled on average 4,334 miles in 2020, a 33% decrease compared to 2019 (6,500 miles on average). People spent 269 hours on average travelling in 2020, a 27% decrease compared to 2019 (370 hours on average). This includes 30 minutes per cycling trip, 20 minutes per car driver trip and 19 minutes per walking trip, on average in 2020.

Journey lengths

Chart 3: Mode share of trips by main mode for different trip lengths: England, 2020 (NTS0308)

Most trips are relatively short. In 2020, 25% of trips were under 1 mile, and 71% under 5 miles. These proportions of short trips are higher than they were in 2019, with 24% of trips being under 1 mile, and 68% under 5 miles. Walking was the most frequent mode used for short trips: 82% of trips under one mile were walks in 2020, slightly higher than in 2019 where 80% of trips under one mile were walks.

For all other distance bands, the car was the most frequent mode of travel. Nearly all walks recorded in the NTS were under 5 miles in 2020 (99.6%), compared with 59% of car trips, 62% of bus trips and 14% of trips by surface rail. This was similar to 2019 where 99.8% of walks were under 5 miles, compared with 58% car trips, 69% bus trips and 8% of trips by surface rail. Under two-thirds (63%) of rail trips were 10 miles and over in 2020, slightly less than in 2019 where 74% of rail trips were 10 miles and over.

Household car and van access

Chart 4: Percentage of households by access to a car/van: Great Britain (1971 to 1988) and England (1989 to 2020) (NTS0205)

There have been long-term increases in the proportion of households with access to more than one car/van since 1971, with 36% of households having two or more cars/vans in 2020 compared to 8% in 1971. The proportion of households with one car/van was 44% in 2020, however, the long-term trend has remained broadly constant since 1971 with an average of 43%. The proportion of households without a car has fallen from 48% in 1971 (based on the Census) to 21% in 2020. In 1985 to 1987, there were 8 cars/vans for every 10 households in Great Britain. In 2020, there were 12 cars/vans for every 10 households in England.

Types of vehicles people own

Chart 5: Proportion of cars people own by fuel type: England, 2019 and 2020 (ad hoc analyses)

The NTS has a wealth of information about the types of vehicles that people own including fuel type, the transmission and where they are usually parked. In England in 2020, 65% of cars people owned were petrol (63% in 2019), 32% were diesel (34% in 2019) and 3% were another fuel type (2% in 2019) such as plug-in hybrid or electric. These figures are broadly comparable with the Department for Transport’s vehicle statistics based on DVLA data. In England in 2020, 75% of cars people owned were manual (74% in 2019) and 25% automatic/semi-automatic (26% in 2019).

Chart 6: Percentage of vehicles parked overnight within a private property or garage: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0908)

In 2020, around 61% of vehicles are usually parked on private property (not garaged), down from 63% in 2018 (this question is asked in the NTS every other year). However, there has been a general upward trend since 2002 when 50% of vehicles were usually parked on private property (not garaged). The proportion of vehicles that are usually parked in garages decreased from 22% in 2002 to 9% in 2018 and has increased to 12% in 2020. People living in the most rural areas have a higher proportion of vehicles that are usually parked on private property (not garaged) than people living in urban conurbations (71% of vehicles compared to 53% of vehicles respectively).

Chart 7: Trends in car/van trips and miles travelled (as driver or passenger): England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0303)

Car/van driver and passenger trips in 2020 were 33% and 44% lower respectively than levels seen in 2002. Car/van drivers and passengers have shown a gradual decline in the number of trips per person since 2002 with 2019 levels being similar to 2015, followed by a sharp decline in 2020 to 295 car/van driver trips per person and 134 car/van passenger trips per person. For average miles travelled by car/van, the trend since 2002 is similar to that for trips, with a 37% decrease to 2,323 in 2020 for car/van driver miles per person, and a decrease of 43% to 1,200 in 2020 for car/van passenger miles per person, when compared to 2002.

Chart 8: Proportion of car trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 and 2020 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for a trip by car was for leisure with 30% in 2020. This was followed by shopping (22%), commuting (15%) and other escort (11%). In 2019, the most common car trip purposes were the same as in 2020, with similar percentages observed.

Chart 9: Average car trips and miles travelled, by age and gender: England, 2020 (NTS0601)

From ages 21 to 59, females made more car trips on average than males. However, for those aged 0 to 20 and 60 and over, males made more car trips. The age group with the highest number of car trips on average for males is 60 to 69 and for females is 40 to 49, with 554 and 579 car trips on average respectively in 2020. Overall, males made longer car journeys than females, apart from the age group 17 to 20. In 2020, males travelled on average 3,876 miles in car trips, compared to 3,176 miles travelled on average in car trips by females.

Chart 10: Frequency of private car use: England, 2020 (NTS0313)

Around 84% of people reported to have used a private car at least once a week, and 5% less than once a year or never in 2020. These proportions were similar in 2019, when 85% of people reported to have used a private car at least once a week, and 5% less than once a year or never.

Chart 11: Average cycling trips made, and miles travelled per person per year: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0303)

The average miles cycled in 2020 (88 miles per person) was 128% higher than in 2002 (39 miles per person). There has been a general upward trend in the average cycling miles travelled from 2002 to 2019 (54 miles travelled per person) and then a sharp increase in 2020. However, when looking at the number of trips cycled per person the trend has remained broadly similar between 2002 to 2019, and then increased by 26% to 20 trips per person in 2020 compared to 16 trips per person in 2019. This is also a 13% increase since 2002 (18 trips per person). The relatively small number of cycle trips in the sample means that this series can be volatile, but it has remained between 14 and 20 trips per person per year since 2002.

Chart 12: Proportion of cycling trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 and 2020 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for a trip by cycling was for leisure with 55% in 2020. This was followed by commuting (20%), shopping (11%) and education/escort education (6%). In 2019, the most common cycling trip purposes were the same as in 2020, for leisure (34%), commuting (33%), shopping (12%) and education/escort education (10%).

Chart 13: Average cycling trips and miles travelled, by age and gender: England, 2020 (NTS0601)

In 2020, males made more cycling trips on average than females in all age groups, with an overall average of 28 cycling trips per person in 2020, compared to 13 cycling trips per person by females. Males aged 17 to 20 made the highest number of cycling trips with 40 trips per person in 2020. For females, those aged 40 to 49 made the highest number of cycling trips with 21 trips per person in 2020. Overall males travelled over twice the distance on average with 127 miles cycled as opposed to 50 miles cycled by females. Females aged 21 to 29 cycled the longest distance with 102 miles on average. For males, those aged 17 to 20 cycled the longest distance with 231 miles on average.

Chart 14: Percentage of people with access to a bicycle, by age group: England, 2020 (NTS0608) [footnote 1]

In 2020, 47% of people aged 5 and over had access to a bicycle. Young children aged 5 to 10 years old had the highest rates of bicycle access at 88%, followed by 11 to 16 year olds (74%) and 40 to 49 year olds (58%).

Chart 15: Frequency of cycling: England, 2020 (NTS0313)

Around 20% of people reported to have cycled at least once a week, and 61% less than once a year or never at the time of interview in 2020. In 2019, 14% of people reported to have cycled at least once a week, and 67% less than once a year or never. Figures have been broadly unchanged from 2003 to 2019 however, the frequency of cycling at least once a week has increased to the highest proportion in 2020 and with the smallest proportion of people cycling less than once a year or never, since 2003.

Chart 16: Average walking trips made, and miles travelled, including walking of over a mile, per person per year: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0303)

In 2020, average walking trips decreased to 236 trips per person, a decrease of 5% since 2019 (250 trips per person) and a decrease of 10% compared to 2002 (264 trips per person). Conversely, the number of walking trips of over a mile increased to 87 trips per person in 2020, an increase of 34% compared to 2019 (65 trips per person) and an increase of 16% compared to 2002 (75 trips per person). The average miles walked per person per year increased by 7% to 220 miles per person in 2020 compared to 2019 (205 miles per person). This is a 6% increase compared to 2002 (206 miles travelled per person). The distance travelled for walks of over a mile also increased by 35% to 135 miles per person in 2020 compared to 2019 (100 miles per person), which is an increase of 16% compared to 2002 (117 miles per person).

Chart 17: Proportion of walking trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 and 2020 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for walking trips was other including just walk, with 48% in 2020. This was followed by education/escort education (16%), shopping (15%) and leisure (8%). In 2019, the most common purpose for walking trips was also other including just walk (24%), followed by education/escort education (21%), shopping (18%) and leisure (16%).

Chart 18: Average walking trips and miles travelled, by age and gender: England, 2020 (NTS0601)

Overall females made more walking trips on average in 2020 with 265 trips per person, compared to males with 207 trips per person. This was seen across all age groups apart from those aged 60 and over. For females, those aged 40 to 49 made the most walking trips on average with 366 trips per person, while for males those aged 0 to 16 made the most walking trips with 240 trips per person.

Females aged 40 to 49 walked the longest journeys, travelling 299 miles per person, while males aged 60 to 69 walked the longest journeys travelling 258 miles per person in 2020. Overall females also walked longer journeys than males with 231 miles per person, compared to 208 miles per person walked by males in 2020.

Chart 19: Frequency of walks of 20 minutes or more: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0312)

The proportion of people who reported to have walked for a mile or more 3 or more times a week was 60% in 2020, the highest proportion since 2002 (35%). The proportion of people who reported to have walked for a mile or more less than once a year or never has decreased from 23% in 2002 to 12% in 2020, the lowest proportion since 2002.

Chart 20: Frequency of walks of 20 minutes or more: England, 2020 (NTS0312)

Around 79% of people reported to have walked 20 minutes or more at least once a week, and 12% of people reported to have walked 20 minutes or more less than once a year or never in 2020. In 2019, 71% of people reported to have walked 20 minutes or more at least once a week, while 18% of people reported to have walked 20 minutes or more less than once a year or never.

Chart 21: Trips per person per year by selected public transport modes: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0303)

All of the selected modes of public transport have shown a sharp decline in trip rates in 2020, this is likely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Trends in other local bus have been showing a gradual fall from 46 trips per person in 2002 to 32 trips per person in 2019, further decreasing to 15 trips per person in 2020, an overall decline of 67%. Surface rail trips per person increased from 13 trips per person in 2002 to 21 trips per person in 2019, an increase of 58%, this then fell to 11 trips per person in 2020, an overall decline of 20%. Trends in average trips of the London underground and buses in London were relatively stable from 2002 to 2019, an average of 10 and 19 trips per person respectively, however these both fell to 5 and 7 trips per person respectively in 2020.

Chart 22: Miles travelled per person per year by selected public transport modes: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0303)

There are broadly similar trends for distance travelled as there has been for trips for these selected modes of public transport. Surface rail has the highest distance travelled on average compared to other public modes, with 241 miles travelled per person on surface rail in 2020, a 45% decrease compared to 436 miles travelled per person in 2002. Miles travelled on average on the London underground have shown a decrease compared to 2002 of 53% from 93 miles travelled per person in 2002 to 44 miles travelled per person in 2020. Miles travelled on average on buses in London and on other local buses have both declined by 56% and 63% respectively from 2002 to 2020.

Chart 23: Trips per person per year by selected purposes: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0403)

There have been decreases in all trip purposes in 2020 apart from day trip and other including just walk. From 2002 to 2019, the trip purpose of day trip has increased very slightly from 23 trips per person to 32 trips per person, followed by an increase in 2020 to 45 trips per person, an increase of 44% compared to 2019 and an overall increase of 95% compared to 2002. The trip purpose of other including just walk was the second most common trip purpose in 2020.

From 2002 to 2019, other including just walk has shown a gradual increase from 41 trips per person to 61 trips per person, this was followed by a sharp increase in 2020 to 114 trips per person, an increase of 87% compared to 2019 and an overall increase of 177% compared to 2002. Day trips include trips for pleasure (not otherwise classified as social or entertainment) within a single day and other including just walk includes walking trips for pleasure or exercise along public highways, including taking the dog for a walk and jogging.

As restrictions were placed on people’s travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, resulting in a decline in trip purposes such as commuting, business and education, this has led to people making more trips for the purposes of day trips and other including just walk during 2020. There were also decreases in average trip rates for the trip purposes of visiting friends at private home and personal business in 2020.

The most common trip purpose in 2020 was for shopping, however, there have been fewer trips for this trip purpose in 2020. Similar to other trip-based trends, this is likely due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. There were 141 trips per person in 2020, a decrease of 22% compared to 2019 (181 trips per person) and an overall decrease of 36% compared to 2002 (222 trips per person).

The third most common trip purpose in 2020 was for commuting with 91 trips per person, this was however a 35% decrease compared to 2019 (140 trips per person) and an overall decrease of 45% compared to 2002 (164 trips per person). Business trips have shown the largest percentage decrease in 2020 compared to 2002, with a decline from 36 trips per person in 2002 to 14 trips per person in 2020, an overall decrease of 60%. Business trips include personal trips in the course of work. This includes all work trips by people with no usual place of work (for example, site workers) and those who work at or from home.

Chart 24: Miles travelled per person per year for selected purposes: England, 2002 to 2020 (NTS0403)

There were similar trends for the same purposes for the average miles travelled per person per year compared to average trips. There were decreases in miles travelled per person for all trip purposes apart from day trips and other including just walk. Miles travelled per person for day trips has steadily increased from 380 miles per person in 2002 to 488 miles per person in 2020, an overall increase of 29%. Miles travelled for other including just walk gradually increased from 43 miles per person in 2002 to 58 miles per person in 2019 and has since increased to 125 miles per person in 2020, an overall increase of 194% compared to 2002.

Even though average miles travelled for commuting purposes has declined to 799 miles travelled per person in 2020, a decrease of 37% compared to 2019 (1,276 miles travelled per person) and an overall decrease of 43% compared to 2002 (1,400 miles travelled per person), this trip purpose was the largest distance travelled on average. The second largest distance travelled on average was for the trip purpose of visiting friends at private home, with 674 miles per person in 2020, a decrease of 23% compared to 2019 (872 miles per person) and an overall decrease of 42% compared to 2002 (1,159 miles per person).

The largest decrease in average miles travelled compared to 2002 was for the trip purpose of business which has gradually declined from 702 miles per person in 2002 to 555 miles per person in 2019 and then sharply declined in 2020 to 253 miles per person, a decrease of 54% compared to 2019 and an overall decrease of 64% compared to 2002. Miles travelled per person for the trip purposes of education, shopping and personal business had all shown a decline in 2020.

Chart 25: Average trips made, and miles travelled per person per year by gender: England, 2020 (NTS0601)

In 2020, males made 4% fewer trips (722 trips per person) than females (755 trips per person) but travelled 22% further (4,777 miles travelled per person by males, as opposed to 3,901 miles travelled per person by females). This partly reflects differences in the type of trips made and the mode of travel used with males making more trips by car (1% more), by cycling (110% more) and fewer walking trips (22% less) than females in 2020.

Females make more shopping trips which tend to be relatively short, whereas males make more commuting and business trips which tend to be longer. In 2019, males made 915 trips per person, 8% less than females who made 990 trips per person. Males travelled 17% further in 2019 compared to females with 7,013 miles travelled per person compared to 5,998 miles travelled per person by females.

Chart 26: Proportion of trips per person per year, by gender, age and mode: England, 2020 (NTS0601)

In 2020, the majority of trips made by males and females were by car, which accounted for more than half of trips for males of all ages, except for 17 to 20 year olds (49%), and for females of all ages except 0 to 16 year olds (47%) and 17 to 20 year olds (46%). The proportion of trips made by males as car drivers was greater than that of females for all age groups. This may reflect differences in access to cars as well as different trip purposes.

The proportion of walking trips made was greater by females than by males, with the greatest difference shown amongst the 21 to 29 year age group where 39% of females aged 21 to 29 made walking trips, compared with 27% of males aged 21 to 29. For both males and females, the 0 to 16 year age group had the highest proportion of walking trips, with 38% and 45% respectively, both higher than the national average. The proportion of trips made by bus was highest for the 17 to 20 year age group by both males and females, with 10% and 12% respectively.

Chart 27: Proportion of trips per person per year, by gender, age, and purpose: England, 2020 (NTS0611)

The reasons why people travel, differ for males and females of different ages. In 2020, the largest proportion of trips were for shopping, with 18% of trips being for shopping purposes by males and 20% by females, slightly higher than males. Females aged 17 to 20 had a much higher proportion of trips for the purpose of shopping compared to males aged 17 to 20 (16% of females aged 17 to 20 compared to 8% of males aged 17 to 20). People aged 70+ completed most trips for the purpose of shopping and this is the age group whereby the highest proportion of shopping trips were completed, with 33% by males and 38% by females, aged 70+.

In 2020, the second largest proportion of trips were for other including just walk, for both males and females, with 15% for males and 16% for females. The age group of 21 to 29 were showing the highest proportion of trips for the purpose of other including just walk for both males and females (18% and 21% respectively).

The proportion of trips for commuting was greater for males than for females, with the age groups of 21 to 29 showing the highest proportion of trips for the purpose of commuting for both males and females with 27% and 18% respectively. The proportion of trips for commuting was low compared to shopping and other including just walk trip purposes, with the national average being 15% for males and 10% for females, this could reflect the increase in working from home during this time.

The proportion of trips made for education and escort education was also low with the national average being 7% and 4% respectively for males and 6% and 8% respectively for females, reflecting the increased home schooling during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The age group of 0 to 16 had the highest proportion of trips being completed for education where the proportion of trips being completed by both males and females were 32%.

Frequency of working from home

Chart 28: Frequency of working from home: England, 2019 and 2020 (ad hoc analyses)

As restrictions were placed on people’s travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the frequency of working from home increased in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2020, 11% of people reported to have worked from home 3 or more times a week, this compares to 3% in 2019. There were also more people working from home once or twice a week in 2020 at 10%, compared to 8% in 2019.

In 2020, there were less people working from home less than once a month, more than twice a year at 2% and once or twice a year at 1%, compared to 2019 where these proportions were 3% and 2% respectively. There were 70% of people in 2020 who reported to have worked from home less than once a year or never, this was lower than in 2019 where 77% of people reported to have worked from home less than once a year or never.

Chart 29: Frequency of working from home by gender: England, 2019 and 2020 (ad hoc analyses)

There are some differences in the frequency of people reporting to have worked from home by gender and these proportions have changed compared to 2019. In 2020, the proportion of both males and females working from home 3 or more times a week was 11%, this was higher compared to 3% of both males and females in 2019. The proportion of males working from home once or twice a week was 10% and for females was 9% in 2020, this compares to 8% of both males and females in 2019.

In 2020, the proportion of females working from home less than once a week, more than twice a month was 2%, this proportion is slightly higher than for males which was 1%, and in 2019, the proportions were 2% of both males and females. In 2020, the frequency of working from home once or twice a year for both males and females was less than in 2019. The proportion of both males and females working from home once or twice a year was 1% in 2020, this compares to 3% and 2% respectively in 2019.

There were also less males and females reported to have worked from home less than once a year or never in 2020, with the proportions being 68% of males and 71% of females, this compares to 76% of males and 79% of females in 2019.

Chart 30: Frequency of working from home by age: England, 2019 and 2020 (ad hoc analyses)

The frequency of reported working from home also differs by age band and these proportions have changed in 2020 compared to 2019. In 2020, the 50 to 59 year age band had reported to have worked from home 3 or more times a week with the highest frequency at 13%, this was higher compared to 2019 when the proportion of this age group was 4%. The proportion of people working from home 3 or more times a week was also higher in 2020 across all age groups.

The proportion of those reporting working from home once or twice a week was highest amongst the 30 to 39 year age band where 13% of 30 to 39 year olds had reported to have worked from home once or twice a week. For those aged 70+, the highest proportion of reported working from home was once or twice a week at 11%. The highest proportion of people reporting to have worked from home less than once a month, more than twice a year was 5% of 60 to 69 year olds, this proportion was 2% for the other age groups aged 30 years and over.

The proportion of people reporting working from home less than once a year or never was much less in 2020 across all age groups aged 21 and over. Of those aged 21 to 29, 75% reported to have worked less than once a year or never in 2020, this compares to 85% in 2019.

Chart 31: Average trips per adult (aged 16+) per year, by disability: England, 2020 (NTS0711)

For participants who had a disability or illness expected to last more than 12 months, 485 trips on average in 2020 were completed by people who were affected a lot with their condition or illness in their ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. This increased to 664 trips on average where the participant’s condition or illness affected them a little in their day-to-day tasks and increased to 832 trips on average for participants whose condition or illness had no effect on carrying out day-to-day tasks. In 2020, there were 801 trips per person for those whose disability or illness was not expected to last more than 12 months.

Chart 32: Average trips per adult (aged 16+) per year by mobility status and main mode: England, 2020 (NTS0709)

Average trips completed by participants with a mobility difficulty were greatest as car drivers with 198 trips per person, this compares to 380 trips per person for those without a mobility difficulty. Walking trips per person were around a half less for those with a mobility difficulty with 121 trips per person compared to 241 trips per person for those without a mobility difficulty. Car passenger trips were greater for those with a mobility difficulty with 97 trips per person, compared to 91 trips per person for those without a mobility difficulty in 2020.

There were slightly less average bus trips completed for those with a mobility difficulty with 21 trips per person in 2020 as opposed to 24 trips per person for those without a mobility difficulty. In 2020, there were hardly any participants with a mobility difficulty who completed rail trips with a trip rate of 0.5 trips per person, as opposed to 13 trips per person completed for those with no mobility difficulty.

Chart 33: Average trips per adult (aged 16+) per year by mobility status and purpose: England, 2020 (NTS0710)

Average trips completed by participants with a mobility difficulty in 2020 were lower for all purposes except personal business, compared with participants without a mobility difficulty. In 2020, there were 77 trips per person for the purpose of personal business by those with a mobility difficulty compared with 62 trips per person by those without a mobility difficulty.

Personal business was the purpose with the second greatest number of average trips completed for those with a mobility difficulty in 2020. It is likely that trips for medical consultations or treatment in particular within the trip purpose of personal business could be the main reason for higher trips on average for those with a mobility difficulty.

The greatest number of average trips completed for those with and without a mobility difficulty in 2020 was for shopping with 143 and 173 trips per person respectively. The greatest differences amongst the average trip purposes between participants with a mobility difficulty and without a mobility difficulty were for the trip purposes of commuting, followed by other including just walk.

In 2020, those with a mobility difficulty completed 26 trips per person for commuting, this compares with 120 trips per person by those without a mobility difficulty. In 2020, those with a mobility difficulty completed 42 trips per person for the purpose of other including just walk, this compares with 128 trips per person by those without a mobility difficulty.

Chart 34: Average trips made, and miles travelled per person per year by rural and urban areas: England, 2020 (NTS9903 and NTS9904) [footnote 2]

People living in rural areas in England made more trips and travelled further than those living in urban conurbation areas in 2020. People living in rural towns and fringes made the most trips on average with 801 trips per person, and people living in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwelling travelled the furthest distance on average with 5,767 miles travelled per person in 2020. People living in urban conurbations made the fewest trips on average with 690 trips per person and travelled the shortest distance on average compared to other rural urban areas with 3,625 miles travelled per person in 2020.

Chart 35: Household car ownership, by rural and urban areas: England, 2020 (NTS9902) [footnote 2]

Households living in rural areas are more likely to own a car or van than urban residents. In 2020, 32% of households living in urban conurbations have no car or van, however, only 6% of households living in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings have no car or van. The proportion of households with one car/van is fairly equal amongst households in urban and rural areas. Households living in the most rural areas are more likely to own two or more cars/vans, with 61% of households living in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings having two or more cars/vans, more than twice that of those living in urban conurbations (25%) in 2020.

Chart 36: Average trips per person, by mode and rural and urban areas: England, 2020 (NTS9903) [footnote 2]

The difference in overall trip rates between types of residence is mainly due to differences in levels of car use. In 2020, people living in the most rural areas made fewer walking trips and more car trips than the national average. People living in the most rural areas rely more on the car, which accounted for 72% of all their trips in 2020. By comparison 50% of trips by residents of urban conurbations (including London residents) were made by car in 2020. People living in urban conurbations made use of buses more (35 trips per person, with 16 of these trips in London) and rail (16 trips per person, excluding London Underground) than people living in other types of areas. Bus and surface rail trips combined accounted for 7% of trips by residents in urban conurbations, compared to 2% of trips by residents in the most rural areas.

Chart 37: Average trips per person by selected purposes and rural and urban areas: England, 2020 (NTS9906) [footnote 2]

Shopping trips were greatest amongst people living in urban cities and towns with 153 trips per person in 2020. Commuting trips were higher in urban conurbation areas compared with rural areas, where residents in urban conurbations made 95 commuting trips per person in 2020 whereas residents in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwellings made 88 trips per person.

For the trip purposes of personal business, sport/entertainment and holiday/day trips, people living in rural villages, hamlets and isolated dwelling made more trips on average compared to people living in urban conurbation areas. In 2020, there were 64, 45 and 60 trips per person for those living in the most rural areas, compared with 53, 27 and 45 trips per person for those living in urban conurbations, for the trip purposes of personal business, sport/entertainment and holiday/day trips respectively.

Other including just walk trips were greatest amongst people living in rural towns and fringes with 134 trips per person in 2020. Residents from rural towns and fringes also made the highest trips on average for the trip purposes of business, education and visiting friends at private home. In 2020, there were 20, 56 and 77 trips per person for those living in rural towns and fringes, compared with 10, 40 and 62 trips per person for those living in urban conurbations, for the trip purposes of business, education and visiting friends at private home respectively.

Background information

The 2020 National Travel Survey (NTS) is the latest in a series of household surveys of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary. The NTS is part of a continuous survey that began in 1988, following ad-hoc surveys from the 1960s, which enables analysis of patterns and trends.

Some key uses of the data include describing patterns, for example how different groups of people travel, monitoring trends in travel, including sustainable modes; assessing the potential equality impacts of different groups; and contributing to the evaluation of policies.

We always welcome feedback to help ensure that the survey meets the needs of users, and any feedback provided will help inform the future design and development of the survey. If you have any feedback, see contact details.

National Statistics

These statistics are designated as National Statistics. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Code of Practice for Statistics plays an essential role in ensuring that statistics published by government inspire the public confidence through demonstrating trustworthiness and providing high-quality statistics. These statistics were designated as National Statistics in July 2011. The continued designation was confirmed in September 2018.

Further information about these statistics is available, including:

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Contact details

National Travel Survey statistics

Email national.travelsurvey@dft.gov.uk

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  1. These statistics are usually presented as three years combined; however, these statistics are presented as a single year for 2020. This is due to changes in the methodology of data collection, changes in travel behaviour and a reduction of data collected during 2020, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Such changes remove our ability to combine data for 2020 with other years to create a three-year figure. Care should be taken when interpreting this data and comparing to other years, due to the small sample sizes. ↩

  2. These statistics are usually presented as two years combined; however, these statistics are presented as a single year for 2020. This is due to changes in the methodology of data collection, changes in travel behaviour and a reduction of data collected during 2020, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Such changes remove our ability to combine data for 2020 with another year to create a two-year figure. Care should be taken when interpreting this data and comparing to other years, due to the small sample sizes. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

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