Busking in London

Reams of red tape and a myriad of confusing rules could force talented buskers off London’s streets, the Mayor Boris Johnson has warned as he launched a new campaign to nurture the capital’s street musicians. There is no doubt that live music on our streets adds to the city’s vibrancy, but I fear some parts of the capital could become no-go areas for buskers. Rather than shackling our musicians with unnecessary bureaucracy, we should treasure the spontaneity they bring to our high streets and town centres. Since Boris Johnson launched his campaign to make London the most busker-friendly city in the world in 2014, a lot has happened. As we feared at the time what has happened has been entirely the opposite. What has been supported and nurtured is a sanitised, regulated, corporate version of street performance, whilst genuine grassroots busking has been systematically marginalised and criminalised. The sad fact now is that there is virtually nowhere viable and open to busk in central London. London Boroughs Overview: