National Travel Survey

About the survey

The National Travel Survey is used by the Government to develop its transport policy and make sure transport plans meet England's travel needs. We conduct the National Travel Survey (NTS) every year. It is the only national source of information on where, why, how and how far people travel.

Reporting of NTS results has been annual, based on a calendar year of data collection. Starting from NTS 2023, an additional mid-year data delivery has been commissioned for 12 months’ worth of data collected from July of the previous survey year to June of the most recent survey year. This inaugural mid-year data delivery, therefore, combines the first 6 months of NTS 2023 with the last 6 months of NTS 2022 to give a more recent 12-month data delivery. 

Findings

Some initial findings from the mid-year results were published in April 2024 by the Department for Transport. The latest full National Travel Survey report was published in August 2023 by the Department for Transport.  

How often people travel

People living in England made on average 882 trips in the year ending June 2023. Overall trip rates were 2% higher in the year ending June 2023 compared to calendar year 2022, however, trip rates remain 7% lower than in 2019.

How far people travel

The average distance travelled in the year ending June 2023 was 5,720 miles, a 6% increase compared to 2022 (5,373 miles on average) but 12% lower than 2019 (6,500 miles on average).

Time people spent travelling

On average, in the year ending June 2023 people spent 338 hours travelling, 4% higher compared to 2022 (324 hours on average) but a 9% decrease compared to 2019 (370 hours on average).

How people travel

In the year ending June 2023, average trips increased for car passengers, buses in London, London Underground and surface rail compared to 2022. Trip rates for these modes, however, remained lower than pre-pandemic levels (2019). Walking, pedal cycling, non-London buses and car driver trips remained similar in the year ending June 2023 compared to 2022. Average walking trips in the year ending June 2023 are higher than in 2019, average pedal cycle trips are similar to 2019 and average non-London buses and car driver trips remain lower than in 2019.

Why people travel

The most common trip purpose in the year ending June 2023 was shopping, with 165 trips per person. This was an increase of 9% compared to 2022 (151 trips per person), however remained 8% below 2019 (181 trips per person). Commuting was the second most common trip purpose in the year ending June 2023, with 119 trips per person. This remained similar to 2022 (119 trips per person), and a decrease of 15% compared to 2019 (140 trips per person). Trip rates for visiting friends at home and for others, including just walking, have decreased in the year ending June 2023 compared to 2022.

Methodology

• The combined 2022 and 2023 mid-year data is based on a random sample of 15,380 household addresses in England. The 2022 and 2023 samples were drawn separately, but follow the same random sampling principles outlined in the 2022 Technical Report. The 2023 portion of the sample is larger than the 2022 portion due to an increase in sample size implemented for the 2023 survey year.  
• Everyone living in England has an equal chance of being asked to take part in the survey.
• We ask everyone living in these households if they will be interviewed and keep a travel diary for one week.
• We find out what types of transport they use, why they make the trips they do and how they go to work, school and to the shops. The information gathered is then used to help create a national picture of how people travel.
• The mid-year data was mainly collected using the traditional NTS methodology: face to face (F2F) interviewing with doorstep recruitment. However, where interviewers encountered respondents with COVID-19 or respondents who were shielding or otherwise unable to take part face-to-face due to COVID-19, a phone back-up (PB) alternative was available. Additionally, due to ongoing challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a small proportion of the NTS 2022 fieldwork was issued using the Push-to-Telephone (P2T) approach. This involved the respondents actively opting in to the study on the basis of a letter invitation only (no doorstep recruitment), and participation was always conducted via telephone.
• A National Travel Survey technical update note about the mid-year data was published in April 2024 by the Department for Transport. The latest full National Travel Survey 2022 Technical Report was published in August 2023 by the Department for Transport.

Click on the links below to read the mid-year findings and technical note.