UK's 'worst' broadband confirmed and these postcodes come top of the bad list

It's probably one of the most annoying things about UK broadband speeds. When everyone is out during the day, downloads remain rapid due to low usage, but in the evenings, things then grind to a halt due to online congestion. Broadband is a bit like a motorway as the more traffic that runs along it the slower it gets. So, when everyone is at home after work, speeds can suddenly drop.

Now a new report from the team at Broadband Genie reveals the areas where users suffer the worst slowdowns at peak times and it's bad news for anyone living in Wigan (WN1).

According to Broadband Genie, users in this area can see download performance drop by a whopping 55 percent between 7pm and 11pm.

Next on the list is Galashiels (TD1), in Scotland, followed by Harrogate (HG1), Exeter (EX1) and Rochester (ME1).

SEE THE PERFORMANCE CHART BELOW

Wigan • Off peak 167Mbps - Peak (7pm to 11pm) 75Mbps - 55% change

Galashiels • Off peak 135Mbps - Peak 77Mbps - 43% change

Harrogate • Off peak 133Mbps - Peak 81Mbps - 39% change

Exeter • Off peak 55Mbps - Peak 34Mbps - 37% change

Rochester • Off peak 195 Mbps - Peak 127Mbps - 35% change

So what about the best towns for not dropping speeds?

At the other end of the table is Newport, where speeds actually increase in the evening. Oxford, Glasgow, Blackburn and Cambridge also performed well, with users getting improved performance at night.

"Have you ever noticed your broadband slowing down in the evening? Just like our roads, our internet network can experience congestion," Broadband Genie explained.

"We have analysed 144,509 broadband speed tests to find the best and worst locations where your broadband speed drops at peak times.

"Broadband customers in Wigan experience the biggest drop off at peak times. On average, users see their broadband speed drop by 55%."

"Surprisingly, not all areas were affected as badly at peak times. Broadband customers in Newport typically see a speed boost at peak times."

Along with towns, Broadband Genie also says that different parts of the country perform better than others.

Scotland comes out on top, with speeds improving at peak times. Wales and the East of England also perform well.

Coming bottom of the league is the South West, with things dropping by around 15 per cent in the evening compared to daytime speeds.

Of course, there are some things UK homes can do to help improve downloads, including making sure their router is in a prime position and keeping it clear from obstacles. Virgin Media has also issued recent advice, recommending that routers be rebooted to clear any issues.