For the first time ever, many of London’s buskers have been left with nowhere to perform during the city’s busiest festive period, putting livelihoods at risk.
This week, the Trafalgar Square busking pitch has been closed to make way for the annual Christmas Market, with the closure set to remain until Wednesday 7 January 2026. This follows a City of London Magistrates Court ruling earlier this year that banned busking in Leicester Square, making this the first year both key pitches have been unavailable to musicians reliant on them as part of their income.
Following a City of London Magistrates Court ruling earlier this year that banned busking in Leicester Square, buskers have expressed their despair at the ruling, citing loss of earnings and the potential long lasting effect it could have on the industry. After describing it as a “statutory nuisance” and even comparing it to “psychological torture techniques”, performers have been left with limited viable options across Westminster.
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