London is the UK’s hub for business travel roles, according to a new Booking.com for Business study.
However, ongoing Transport for London strikes, with further walkouts scheduled for early June, continue to pose a significant challenge for corporate travellers based in the capital.1
The experts at Booking.com for Business have analysed data from job listings site Adzuna to reveal the UK cities that offer the most jobs involving business travel, with the capital home to more than a quarter of national roles (28.5%).
The regions with the most roles requiring business travel:
| Rank | Region | Population | Business travel roles | Business travel roles per 100,000 people | Share of business travel roles |
| 1 | London | 9,089,736 | 1,856 | 20.42 | 28.5% |
| 2 | South East | 9,642,942 | 1,001 | 10.38 | 15.4% |
| 3 | West Midlands | 6,187,204 | 621 | 10.04 | 9.5% |
| 4 | South West | 5,889,695 | 517 | 8.78 | 8.0% |
| 5 | Northern Ireland | 1,927,855 | 168 | 8.71 | 2.6% |
| 6 | East of England | 6,576,306 | 562 | 8.55 | 8.6% |
| 7 | North West | 7,737,414 | 582 | 7.52 | 8.9% |
| 8 | Yorkshire & the Humber | 5,672,962 | 368 | 6.49 | 5.7% |
| 9 | East Midlands | 5,063,164 | 323 | 6.38 | 5.0% |
| 10 | Scotland | 5,546,900 | 303 | 5.46 | 4.7% |
Source: Booking.com for Business analysis of Adzuna data, collected on and correct as of 2.4.26
- London
London stands out as the UK’s leading region for business travel roles, with nearly one in three (28.5%) of all jobs requiring travel located in the capital. It also records the highest concentration of roles per 100,000 people, once adjusted for population, with 20.42 roles, significantly above the UK average (9.4) and nearly double the next-highest-ranking region.
This reflects London’s role as the country’s primary economic hub, home to a high concentration of financial, professional, and business services firms that routinely operate across the UK and internationally.2
- South East
The South East ranks second, accounting for 15.4% of UK roles that involve business travel. When adjusted for population, this equates to 10.38 roles per 100,000 people, placing it firmly among the highest-ranking regions.
While proximity to London plays a role, the region also has a strong and diverse economic base of its own.3 Technology clusters, advanced manufacturing, and professional services are spread across towns and cities such as Reading, Brighton, and Southampton.
- West Midlands
The West Midlands accounts for 9.5% of UK business travel roles and ranks third overall, with 10.04 roles per 100,000 people, only slightly behind the South East, when adjusted for population.
Centred around cities such as Birmingham, Coventry, and Wolverhampton, the region combines a strong manufacturing base with growing financial, digital, and life sciences sectors.4 Many of these industries rely on multi-site operations, supplier networks, and in-person delivery.
Joshua Wood, Managing Director at Booking.com for Business, comments:
“The data shows that business travel continues to play a vital, practical role across the UK. Demand is highest in regions where in-person work remains critical to day-to-day operations. For employers, understanding where travel demand is coming from helps shape smarter travel policies and better support for employees on the move. And for workers, it highlights where opportunities exist to build careers that combine flexibility, progression, and meaningful face-to-face connection.
“For SMEs, understanding who is travelling and where demand is concentrated isn’t just an interesting insight; it’s a practical planning tool. It’s also a benchmark for where travel is truly business‑critical and which hubs and routes to prioritise to leverage the best connections and business facilities. Booking.com for Business can help with this, bringing visibility into one place; this can simplify the process of managing bookings, reporting, and control without adding administrative burden.”
