Skip to content
Sunday 16 August 2026London --:--Frankfurt --:--Zurich --:--
NewslettersSearchEN · DE
MorningWire

European business, markets and politics

FTSE 100
10,750.11
-0.21%
DAX
26,440.31
+0.53%
CAC 40
8,636.80
-0.16%
STOXX 50
6,539.59
-0.09%
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
More
GermanyFranceBankingAIEnergyFintechPropertyCapital Markets
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Technology
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • DE
Tuesday 28 April 2015 7:58 am

London commuting is more stressful than moving house, going to the dentist or dealing with money matters

By: Catherine Neilan

Add as a preferred source on Google

Commuting in London is more stressful than moving house, going to the dentist or dealing with money matters.
 
Our daily journey to and from work is even more infuriating than the job itself.
 
For those of us who have had to put up with months of stress at London Bridge, the Farringdon flood, last night's South West Trains network problems or the near-daily travel chaos on the Tube, this will probably not come as a surprise. 
 
Unsurprisingly for those of us who do the daily trek across the capital, London has come out with one of the worst scores out of six of Europe's major cities. Only Rome registers as more stressful out of the cities surveyed.
 
Across Europe, nearly two-thirds of commuters were late at least once every month because of problems with public transport. Almost a third – 27 per cent – said they were late three times a month. 
 
London comes out worse on average, however. Some 80 per cent of commuters said they were late at least once a month, while 49 per cent failed to get into work at all on at least one occasion last year. 
 
In total, 41 per cent of Londoners said their commute was becoming increasingly stressful
 
Andreas Ostendorf, vice president of sustainability, environment and safety engineering for Ford of Europe, said: “For many people it can feel like they have done a full day before they have even set foot in the office.”
 
This is not the only recent study that shows the toll commuting is taking on our emotional wellbeing. 
 
According to a survey put out by the ONS in February, the UK's commuters have lower life satisfaction, a lower sense that their daily activities are worthwhile, lower levels of happiness and higher anxiety on average than non-commuters.
 
Average happiness levels begin to fall and anxiety levels begin to rise after the first 15 minutes of the commute to work.
 
Another survey carried out by Moovit suggests the average London commute takes 104 minutes each day.
 
Rome is the worst European country, with commuters spending 111 minutes getting to work, but Bogota and Los Angeles came out as the worst globally, with residents taking 134 and 133 minutes respectively.  

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business
  • Transport & Infrastructure

Related Topics

  • Transport for London
  • Travel delays and disruption

Trending Articles

  • Grandparents fund university degrees to avoid inheritance tax net

  • Revolut chatbot goes rogue by charging users to cancel subscription

  • Brompton Bicycle sues former adviser for ‘professional negligence’

  • Revolut takes flight with launch of new airport lounges

  • Is the Zeekr 9X Super Hybrid the new luxury SUV to beat?

More from Morning Wire

  • Burnham accused of gutting tech department’s ‘biggest strength’

    Tech
    Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, smiling in glasses, dark jacket, light blue shirt, blurred green background.
  • How can wealthy Scots save £46,000 on income tax? Commute from England

    Tax
    Baillie Gifford runs three of the trusts targeted by Saba Capital.
  • Britain needs a new Richard Branson

    Opinion
    Richard Branson in a suit, holding an umbrella and bowler hat, smiling in a swimming pool
  • McMurtry Spéirling Pure: the £1m electric hypercar redefining what speed means

    Sponsored
    McMurtry Spéirling track hero showcasing sleek design and performance on a racing circuit.
  • As it happened: Stocks rise as oil lower; Iran threatens ‘forceful response’ over Strait of Hormuz

    Markets
    North Sea oil terminal with storage tanks and docking facilities under a clear sky, highlighting energy infrastructure.
  • Conga Announces Netflix Documentary Star and Survival Expert Chris Lemons as Its Featured Speaker at Conga Connection 2026

    Business Wire
  • Gino D’Acampo restaurants face HMRC winding-up order

    Hospitality
    Gino DAcampo, smiling in a bright yellow jacket, against a dark background with GES & CO and WHSmith logos
  • Prince Harry defeated in phone hacking legal battle against Daily Mail publisher

    Lawsuit
    Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
MorningWire

Independent European business, markets and political news for decision-makers.

Morning Briefing

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Business

  • Markets
  • Banking
  • Technology
  • Energy
  • Property
  • Fintech

Editorial

  • Opinion
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact

Company

  • About Morning Wire
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 Morning Wire Ltd · Published by Morning Wire Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Privacy · Terms · Cookies · Facebook