Short answer: There is no single London rule: each borough sets its own. Westminster requires a licence and a designated pitch in its regulated central areas, Camden only requires a licence for louder or larger acts, the City of London does not allow performers to collect money, and the Tube needs a TfL licence won by audition.
Do you need a permit to busk in London?
| Permit needed? | It depends on where and how you play |
| Permit | Westminster busking and street entertainment licence; Camden busking licence; London Underground busking licence |
| Cost | Westminster: £20 for 6 months or £10 for 1 month (students half price). Camden: £150 for 24 months. |
| How to apply | Apply online to the borough you want to play in (Westminster or Camden council websites); for the Underground you must pass a TfL audition. |
| Regulated by | The individual London borough councils (e.g. Westminster City Council, Camden Council, City of London Corporation) and Transport for London for the Underground |
| Official page | westminster.gov.uk |
The rules in London
- In Westminster's regulated areas you may only perform on a designated pitch and must hold the council's busking licence.
- Westminster's code of conduct limits busking to between 10am and 9pm.
- In Westminster a set should last no more than 40 minutes, followed by a 20 minute break before the next act.
- A Westminster licence application needs photo ID, a right-to-work declaration and public liability insurance of more than £2 million.
- Selling merchandise in Westminster needs an added temporary street trading permission on top of the busking licence.
- In Camden you need a licence if you use an amplifier, play drums or wind instruments (flutes and recorders excepted), use dangerous props, perform outside 10am to 9pm, or perform in a group of three or more.
- In the City of London (the Square Mile) street performers are not allowed to collect money.
Where buskers play in London
- Leicester Square (Westminster). Pitches 8 and 9 have been suspended since 17 April 2025 after a magistrates' court noise abatement order; the council page still listed them as suspended in October 2026.
- Trafalgar Square (Westminster). Licensed pitches that are often temporarily suspended for events, so check the council's suspension list first.
- Covent Garden Market Building. Private estate run by Shaftesbury Capital; you must pass one of its auditions, and it bans wind, brass, drums, electric guitars, accordions, bagpipes and didgeridoos.
- Covent Garden James Street and the Piazzas. These outdoor pitches fall under Westminster City Council, not the market's audition scheme.
- Camden Town. Busking is not allowed in certain crowded places such as outside the Camden Town Tube station entrance.
London area by area
| Area | Permit | What applies |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster | Required | Licence plus designated pitch in regulated areas; £20 for 6 months or £10 for 1 month; 10am to 9pm; 40 minute sets; Leicester Square pitches 8 and 9 suspended since 17 April 2025. |
| Camden | Depends | Licence (£150 for 24 months, at least 20 days to process) needed only for amplified, drum or wind acts, dangerous props, groups of 3 or more, or playing outside 10am to 9pm. |
| City of London | Depends | Performers may not collect money, under the Police, Factories etc. (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916. |
| Covent Garden Market Building | Required | Audition run by Shaftesbury Capital with the performers' associations; battery-powered equipment only. |
| London Underground | Required | TfL licence by audition; around 39 pitches at 25 central stations were reported in 2023. |
Stations and public transport
Busking on the London Underground is only allowed for performers licensed through TfL's audition-based scheme, playing on marked pitches; TfL said the next auditions were expected in late 2026.
Good to know
Westminster pitches are regularly suspended for events, so check the council's 'information for buskers' page before travelling. Covent Garden's market auditions for 2026 were listed for January, April, July and October.
Taking card tips on a London pitch
Whatever the permit position, the audience in London has the same problem as everywhere else: they liked it, and they have no coins. A QR code on a sign beside your case lets them tip in pounds by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Visitors can pay with a card from home, and nobody needs an app.
- Print it large. A phone reads a code from about ten times its width, so a 10 cm code works from a metre and an A3 sign from about three.
- Stand it upright at knee to waist height, with your name and one line saying what it is for.
- Check the rules above on signs and selling. A tip sign is not a sale, but some cities restrict signs, and most treat CDs and merchandise separately.
- Playing as a group? One code can split every tip between the members automatically.
The full set-up, with sign sizes and pitch advice, is in how to set up a digital tip jar for busking.
Sources
Checked in October 2026. Rules and fees change, and enforcement varies from street to street, so confirm with The individual London borough councils (e.g. Westminster City Council, Camden Council, City of London Corporation) and Transport for London for the Underground before you play. This page is general information, not legal advice.
- westminster.gov.uk
- westminster.gov.uk
- westminster.gov.uk
- westminster.gov.uk
- camden.gov.uk
- cityoflondon.gov.uk
Common questions
Do you need a permit to busk in London?
There is no single London rule: each borough sets its own. Westminster requires a licence and a designated pitch in its regulated central areas, Camden only requires a licence for louder or larger acts, the City of London does not allow performers to collect money, and the Tube needs a TfL licence won by audition.
How much does it cost to busk in London?
Westminster: £20 for 6 months or £10 for 1 month (students half price). Camden: £150 for 24 months.
Can you use an amplifier when busking in London?
In Camden you need a licence if you use an amplifier, play drums or wind instruments (flutes and recorders excepted), use dangerous props, perform outside 10am to 9pm, or perform in a group of three or more.
Can buskers in London take card payments?
Yes. A printed QR code lets listeners tip in pounds by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay from their own phone, with no card reader to carry or charge.