Town & City Guides
Official busking guidance from UK councils. Know your rights and responsibilities before you perform.
50+
UK Councils Engaged
Best Practice
Guidance System
All Stakeholders
Performers, Businesses, Residents
Our Approach
Since our first success in Liverpool, we have worked with several dozen UK councils to introduce best practice guidance for busking, applicable to performers and the street side community of businesses and residents.
Our guidance is a system based on dialogue, mutual respect, and backed up with properly-used enforcement action where necessary. The approach is flexible, constructed involving all stakeholders, and can be adapted to suit the particular geographical and cultural needs of any town or city.
Complete City Guides
Detailed official guidance compiled from council sources
Bath & North East Somerset Council welcomes busking. No permit required for performance, but a street trading consent is needed to sell merchandise.
Canterbury City Council welcomes busking. No permit required. A comprehensive PDF guide is available.
Cumberland Council regulates busking under a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) with a Code of Conduct. No licence required.
Cheshire West and Chester Council welcomes busking and has developed a Code of Practice with the Chester Buskers Association.
Warwick District Council does not require a licence for busking. A Best Practice Guide has been developed with local partners.
City of York Council allows busking without a permit. Managed by Make It York with specific guidelines for major locations.
Other Council Resources
Direct links to official council busking pages
Scotland
Governed by the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. No national permit required, but police can request performers to stop if causing annoyance.
View Scottish ResourcesWales
Most Welsh councils rely on voluntary codes. Cardiff recently introduced trial guidelines with 90-minute pitch limits and 10am-7pm busking hours.
View Welsh ResourcesDon't see your city?
We're constantly working with new local authorities to protect street culture. Get in touch if you'd like us to engage with your council.
