The UK’s spots that are most unfriendly for the less mobile
For anyone thinking of relocating as they retire, it’s worth considering the factors that might affect their lifestyles in later years. Access to health services, local shops and delivery services, as well as public transport, are all likely to become more important.
While many thinking about relocating are likely to be reasonably fit and healthy when they make that decision, the possibility that their mobility might deteriorate could be important in making choices.
With that in mind, Grosvenor Mobility, a provider of mobility aids, has analysed public data across 10 UK cities and nations to produce a ‘danger score’ ranking, based on elderly population size, step-free station access, and pedestrian-related traffic incidents.
The study into accessible cities found Wales to be the most ‘dangerous’ area in the UK for elderly and less mobile residents, with 6,464 pedestrian incidents recorded in 2024 and only 29% of its stations offering step-free access.
Close behind Wales was Birmingham, which ranked second with a ‘danger’ score of 21, despite having one of the highest proportions of step-free stations. Scotland and London also scored highly, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by older and less mobile people in urban areas. Interestingly, Westminster was the worst impacted authority in London, with 1,188 incidents reported.
The Most Concerning Areas in the UK
| Area | % of Elderly Population | Step-Free Station Access | Traffic Incidents Involving Pedestrians (2024 data) | Danger Score |
| Wales | 21.5% (10) | 29% (9) | 6,464 (7) | 26 |
| Birmingham | 18.9% (9) | 90% (3) | 8,319 (9) | 21 |
| Scotland | 18% (=6) | 53% (7) | 5,736 (6) | 19 |
| London | 12% (2) | 54% (6) | 31,512 (10) | 18 |
| Manchester | 9.5% (1) | 43% (10) | 5,634 (5) | 16 |
| Sheffield | 15.5% (4) | 50% (8) | 4,428 (4) | 16 |
| Leeds | 18% (=6) | 100% (=1) | 7,913 (8) | 15 |
| Bristol | 17.4% (5) | 62% (5) | 2,658 (2) | 12 |
| Liverpool | 15.3% (3) | 75% (4) | 3,411 (3) | 10 |
| Newcastle | 18.2% (8) | 100% (=1) | 2,451 (1) | 10 |
Leighton Roberts, managing director at Grosvenor Mobility commented: “It’s alarming to see just how many UK cities still present significant challenges for elderly and less mobile residents. Key areas such as Wales, Birmingham and Scotland topping this list highlights the stark imbalance between population needs and infrastructure provision, with accessibility requirements only set to increase in future years.
“The reality is that this lack of accessibility is dangerous, with a lack of key features, such as dropped kerbs, in infrastructure impacting those who are less mobile. As a result, it’s no wonder those living with a disability take 28% fewer journeys than those who do not. This underlines the barriers that exist, particularly when so many areas still lack basic step-free access.
“Accessible transport and urban design aren’t just a convenience; they’re a lifeline for those who rely on them. We urge local authorities and transport providers to accelerate improvements to create safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.”
Methodology
To calculate each city’s ‘danger score’, Grosvenor Mobility analysed three publicly available datasets:
- Percentage of the elderly population– to understand the scale of vulnerable residents.
- Step-free station access– the percentage of rail and underground stations in each city or region offering full step-free access.
- Traffic incidents involving pedestrians (2024 data)– to reflect the potential risk to those who are less mobile when travelling on foot.
Each city or region was ranked for all three categories, with scores then combined to produce a final danger score (a higher score indicates a greater overall level of risk).
Sources used
- https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/reported-road-casualties-great-britain-provisional-results-2024/reported-road-casualties-in-great-britain-provisional-estimates-2024
- https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/step-free-access
- https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/accessibility-london-underground-stations/
Photo by Karina Syrotiuk on Unsplash