Busking

busker violin This smash hit with performers and the travelling public sees around 400 buskers perform more than 3,000 music events every week on the Tube network.

The London Underground (LU) busking scheme was set up in 2003 to manage what was previously an illegal and unregulated activity.

Now you need a licence to busk on the Underground. It has proved a great success and the Mayor and LU are committed to making sure the success continues.

We now have a dedicated team to manage the scheme in-house so buskers and passengers can continue to benefit.

Booking a pitch

We are currently offering an interim in-house booking system while we develop a new in-house system to take bookings and look for a sponsor.

Booking line: 0845 330 9878.
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday between 09:30 and 14:00.

New available dates are released on Tuesday mornings each week.

If lines are busy, call later in the week as good pitches and times can remain available.

Cancellations

To cancel bookings, email us at busking@tube.tfl.gov.uk detailing your licence number, pitch, date and time and put 'CANCELLATION' in the subject field.

Alternatively, if you do not have an email account, phone the booking lines after 14:30.

Licences and rules

Currently we have a full complement of buskers and are not considering new applications.

To renew your busking licence, email busking@tube.tfl.gov.uk at least two weeks before the expiry of your existing licence.

Pitch rules that were enforced previously will remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Sponsorship

We are continuing to look for a sponsor for the London Underground Busking Scheme.

Previous sponsors include Carling, Capital FM and The London Paper.

If you would like to be associated with one of the greatest, year-round, music schemes in the Capital, email busking@tube.tfl.gov.uk for more information.

Background on busking

Talented performers have met the Queen, performed for other European royalty and worked with established musicians, ranging from Simply Red to principals of the English National Opera.

The scheme has attracted international media interest and some buskers are regularly booked for events and recording sessions.

In 2005 buskers also supported the Make Poverty History campaign by taking part in Busk8, a concert which coincided with the global Live8 event.