What the number means
A Car-Free Score answers one question: if you showed up here with no car and no plan to rent one, how well would the trip actually go? Higher scores mean fewer compromises — shorter waits, shorter walks, fewer places you'd need a taxi to reach.
Each score comes with a verdict — Excellent, Good, Workable, Challenging — so you don't need to interpret the raw number on your own.
What goes into the score
The overall score is built from a handful of components, weighted for the kind of place. Each is shown as its own bar, so you can see exactly where a destination shines and where it asks more of you.
- Arrival — how realistic and frequent rail, bus or ferry connections are from major hubs.
- Getting around — how easily you can move between neighbourhoods or villages once you land.
- Last-mile — the gap between the nearest stop and the attraction, viewpoint or trailhead itself.
- Luggage ease — how much stairs, cobbles and long transfers work against a suitcase.
- Accessibility — where step-free routes exist and where they run out, factored in whenever data allows.
How we calculate it
Each component starts from our own transport database — timetable frequency, journey times, walking distances, elevation and known seasonal gaps — not a general sense of how "walkable" a place feels.
Where hard data exists, the score reflects fact. Where it does not, we estimate conservatively and label it as an estimate — the score never quietly assumes the best case.
Destination, neighbourhood and itinerary
The same score applies at three levels: a destination overall, a specific neighbourhood or base town within it, and a full multi-stop itinerary. A place can score well overall while one base within it scores poorly — that gap is exactly what the score is meant to surface.
Always dated, never assumed
Every score carries a verified date — the month we last checked the underlying schedules and conditions. Transport networks change: operators adjust timetables, ferries stop for winter, stations get renovated.
We refresh scores on a regular cycle and sooner when we learn something has changed. Treat an older date as a signal to double-check details close to your travel dates, not as a reason to distrust the score.
Frequently asked questions
What does a score of 90+ mean versus 60?
Above 90 usually means frequent connections, short last-mile gaps and an easy time with luggage — few compromises. Around 60 means it is doable, but expect longer waits, more walking, or at least one attraction that is genuinely awkward without a car.
Does a low score mean I can't visit without a car?
Not necessarily impossible — but expect real trade-offs: longer transfers, patchy schedules, or attractions that are hard to reach without a taxi or tour. We publish those scores too, so you can decide with open eyes rather than find out on arrival.
How often are scores updated?
On a regular review cycle, and immediately whenever we learn of a meaningful change — a route cancelled, a new ferry line, a station closed for works. The verified date on each score tells you exactly when it was last checked.
Does the score account for accessibility needs?
Yes, where our data supports it — step-free routes, lifts and known stair-only stretches feed into the score. Coverage varies by destination, so treat it as a strong first signal and confirm specifics for anything safety-critical.