Uber reveals which UK cities have been ‘naughty or nice’ to drivers

Belfast tops Uber’s annual “nice list” for rider behaviour while Bristol ranks as the UK’s naughtiest city, based on a year of driver ratings.

Uber has published its annual “naughty or nice” list for rider behaviour across the UK – and Belfast has been crowned the nation’s most courteous city, while Bristol takes the unwanted title of naughtiest.

Ahead of what is traditionally Uber’s busiest month, the company analysed a year’s worth of driver ratings to determine where passengers are most respectful.

Riders in Belfast topped the charts with an impressive average rating of 4.91, well above the national average of 4.84.

Cambridge (4.89), Oxford, Liverpool and Cardiff completed the top five, earning praise for consistently polite passengers who keep cars clean, arrive on time, and treat drivers with respect.

But not every city made Santa’s good list – Bristol riders averaged just 4.7, with London close behind at 4.75, placing both firmly in the naughty camp.

Birmingham, Leicester and Manchester also ranked among the lowest-rated cities, suggesting even major metropolitan hubs struggle with rider etiquette.

Uber UK boss Andrew Brem said the findings highlight the importance of “mutual respect” during the service’s peak festive period, when drivers handle everything from office parties to late-night trips home.

To help riders improve their scores, Uber shared common pitfalls that often lead to fewer stars, those being showing up late, leaving messes, changing destinations mid-journey without asking, or treating the car like an after-party.

Experienced drivers echoed the advice, with Uber podcaster Tabraiz saying the simplest rule is “don’t make a mess in the car,” while London drivers Todor and Kamel stressed basic politeness – a hello, a please and a thank you – goes a long way.

Riders can check their own rating breakdown via Uber’s Privacy Centre, giving them a clear view of whether they’ve landed on the nice list, or need to improve before booking their next festive trip.