Portsmouth has fewest potholes in UK, new research shows
Portsmouth has the fewest potholes in the UK proportionately, new research shows.
The city recorded the lowest rate of reported potholes with just 223 reports per 100km of road between 2021 and 2025. In total, Portsmouth has 1,021.
Motoring experts at Blackcircles sent Freedom of Information requests to local authorities across the UK to reveal the areas with the fewest reported potholes over the past five years. This follows the announcement that the backlog of pothole repairs across England and Wales has reached a record £18.6bn.
With a compact road network and consistently low annual figures, Portsmouth stands out as one of the UK’s strongest performers for overall pothole reports. For drivers, that can mean smoother daily journeys and a reduced likelihood of tyre damage, wheel alignment issues, or unexpected repair bills.
With just 551 potholes per 100km, Enfield has the second fewest pothole reports of any area studied. Westminster records the third-lowest pothole rate in the study, with 730 reported per 100km of road. While this is more than three times the rate seen in Portsmouth, it remains significantly lower than most other councils analysed. The city of Westminster, in central London, is home to the government, the royal family, and some of the country's biggest tourist attractions.
Ray Kavanagh, Blackcircles.com CEO, said: “The scale of pothole reports in parts of the UK highlights how persistent the problem remains, and our findings show that drivers are feeling the impact, both financially and in terms of road safety.
“Even relatively small potholes can cause issues if struck at speed. The most common problems we see are tyre sidewall bulges, punctures, cracked alloy wheels, and suspension misalignment. In some cases, the damage isn’t immediately visible but develops later as vibration, uneven tyre wear, or steering pull.
“If a driver hits a pothole, the safest approach is to maintain control of the vehicle, avoid sudden swerving, and check the tyres as soon as it’s safe to do so. Look for cuts, bulges, or loss of pressure, and pay attention to any changes in handling. Addressing problems early can prevent more serious (and possibly more expensive) repairs further down the line.
“Reporting potholes can help them get repaired faster, saving other motorists from potential damage and hefty repair bills. Most local councils have a dedicated page on their website for reporting road faults, but because these pages are not uniform across the country, some are easier to find than others.”