This paper uses a new latent categorisation approach (LCA) in structural equation modelling (SEM) to gain fresh insights into the influence of the built environment characteristics upon travel behaviour. So far as we are aware this is the first LCA-SEM application in this field. We use all the main descriptors of the built environment in the UK National Travel Survey (NTS) data in the analysis whilst accounting for the high correlations among the descriptors – this is achieved through defining a categorical rather than continuous latent variable for the built environment characteristics. This novel approach to defining a tangible typology of the built environment in the UK is capable of making the analytical results more cogent to formulating new, proactive land use planning and urban design measures as well as monitoring the outcomes of on-going planning and transport interventions. Since travel survey data is regularly collected across a large number of cities in the world, our approach helps to guide the design of future travel surveys for those cities in a way that enhances the analysis and monitoring of the impacts of planning and transport policies on travel choices.