Region and Rural-Urban Classification
Source: gov.uk (2025-08-27)

Data about travel by region and mode of transport, produced by Department for Transport.

Accessible Tables and Improved Quality

As part of the Analysis Function Reproducible Analytical Pipeline Strategy (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-official-statistics-published-by-the-department-for-transport/analysis-function-rap-strategy-2023-implementation-plan-at-dft), processes to create all National Travel Survey (NTS) statistics tables have been improved to follow the principles of Reproducible Analytical Pipelines (RAP). This has resulted in improved efficiency and quality of NTS tables and therefore some historical estimates have seen very minor change, at least the fifth decimal place.

All NTS tables have also been redesigned in an accessible format where they can be used by as many people as possible, including people with an impaired vision, motor difficulties, cognitive impairments or learning disabilities and deafness or impaired hearing.

If you wish to provide feedback on these changes then please contact (#contact) us.

Rural Urban Classification

Prior to 2024 rural-urban classification of residence is based on the 2011 ten-category breakdown. There is a break in series from 2024 as these are based on the 2021 six-category rural-urban classifications (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/rural-urban-classification). A number of output areas have been reclassified from 2024 due to the new methodology, therefore the new categories are not directly comparable to the old ones.

Driving licence and car ownership

NTS9901: Full car driving licence holders by sex, region and rural-urban classification of residence, aged 17 and over: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a32d2c63f869343c3/nts9901.ods) (ODS, 35.1 KB)

NTS9902: Household car availability by region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b19246cc964c53d2988/nts9902.ods) (ODS, 51.9 KB)

Mode of transport

NTS9903: Average number of trips by main mode, region and rural-urban classification of residence (trips per person per year): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1950939bdf2c2b5e6d/nts9903.ods) (ODS, 108 KB)

NTS9904: Average distance travelled by mode, region and rural-urban classification of residence (miles per person per year): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b19f49bec79d23d2986/nts9904.ods) (ODS, 112 KB)

NTS9908: Trips to and from school by main mode, region and rural-urban classification of residence, aged 5 to 16: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1950939bdf2c2b5e6e/nts9908.ods) (ODS, 74.9 KB)

NTS9910: Average trip length by main mode, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b19a66f515db69343d0/nts9910.ods) (ODS, 110 KB)

NTS9916: Average number of trips and distance travelled by mode, trip length, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1acd7b7dcfaf2b5e72/nts9916.ods) (ODS, 1.38 MB)

NTS9917: Average number of trips and distance travelled by mode, ethnic group, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1af49bec79d23d2988/nts9917.ods) (ODS, 555 KB)

NTS9919: Proportion of stages preceding a surface rail stage, by stage mode and region of residence: England, 2017 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1aa66f515db69343d1/nts9919.ods) (ODS, 14.9 KB)

Purpose of travel

NTS9906: Average number of trips by trip purpose, region and rural-urban classification of residence (trips per person per year): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b19a66f515db69343cf/nts9906.ods) (ODS, 98.1 KB)

NTS9907: Average distance travelled by trip purpose, region and rural-urban classification of residence (miles per person per year): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1932d2c63f869343c1/nts9907.ods) (ODS, 101 KB)

NTS9912: Average trip length by trip purpose, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a50939bdf2c2b5e6f/nts9912.ods) (ODS, 99.3 KB)

NTS9913: Average time spent travelling by trip purpose, region and rural-urban classification of residence (hours per person per year): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1af49bec79d23d2987/nts9913.ods) (ODS, 95.6 KB)

NTS9914: Average trip duration by trip purpose, region and rural-urban classification of residence (minutes): England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a246cc964c53d298a/nts9914.ods) (ODS, 93 KB)

NTS9918: Average number of trips and distance travelled by trip purpose, ethnic group, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a32d2c63f869343c2/nts9918.ods) (ODS, 557 KB)

Trip length

NTS9911: Average number of trips by trip length, region and rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a246cc964c53d2989/nts9911.ods) (ODS, 69.8 KB)

Parking

NTS0908: Where vehicle parked overnight by rural-urban classification of residence: England, 2002 onwards (https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68a42b1a246cc964c53d298b/nts0908.ods) (ODS, 15.9 KB)

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