Mayor unveils capital's first 'code of conduct' plan for buskers

Boris Johnson today announced the capital’s first “code of conduct” for buskers as he launched its annual competition for street musicians.

City Hall said the new rules — which cover where to busk, avoiding complaints, money collection and resolving problems — aim to make busking and street performance easier.

Mr Johnson today joined band The Tailormade at London Bridge Tube station to launch this year’s Gigs competition, which searches for the capital’s best buskers aged 11 to 25.

The three-piece from Ealing won last year’s contest. Dozens gathered to watch as they entertained commuters, with the Mayor joining them for one song, Rum And Red Bull.

The Mayor also announced plans for a National Busking Day to take place in cities around the country on July 18, including in Trafalgar Square. He said the new Busking Code of Conduct is “putting a scythe through the acres of unnecessary bureaucracy”.

He added: “Our Gigs busking competition has over the last seven years provided fantastic opportunities for hundreds of young musicians to develop their skills and confidence playing to audiences on the streets of London and at other locations around the capital.

"Busking adds to the capital’s joie de vivre but in spite of its popularity buskers have sometimes encountered problems when plying their trade. Some have even been put off.

“Working with our partners, we are putting a scythe through the acres of unnecessary bureaucracy to make it easier to entertain on our city’s streets.

"We want to make London the busking capital of the world.”