The London Flag

London is a global centre for finance, culture, education, and innovation, attracting people from all over the world.

However, London doesn't have an official flag, making it one of few capital cities without one. This means London is the world's most influential city to lack a flag of its own.

These seven symbols are often mistaken for the flag of London:

❌ Flags flown by City Hall (2001-)

City Hall often flies flags with the word "London". However, these flags are not official or even flags in the common sense. The most recent flag used was adapted from a London Underground poster by artist David Shrigley for the #LondonIsOpen ad campaign in 2020.

❌ Greater London Council (1965-1986)
❌ London County Council (1888-1965)

The Greater London Council (GLC) and its predecessor, the London County Council (LCC) used these heraldic banners. Margaret Thatcher controversially abolished the Greater London Council in 1986, and its symbols are no longer used or recognised by Londoners today. The former London County Hall, on the South Bank of the river Thames, was sold off by the government and today houses Shrek's Adventure.

❌ City of London flag (1381-)

This flag represents only the , which is a small and unique part of London, with a separate government and home to only 0.1% of the population of Greater London. The flag closely resembles England's flag and is often mistaken for it.

❌ Union Jack (1801-)

The Union Jack is sometimes mistaken for the flag of London or used in the absence of one. It is known worldwide, but it represents the entire United Kingdom, not just London.

A new London Flag

White

Blue

Red

The River & Roundel flag.

As recommended by the Flag Institute and the North American Vexillological Association:

Simple

Meaningful symbolism

3 basic colours

No text or seals

Distinctive

Related to other London symbols

The stripes can be recoloured to create flag variants, to represent London's global community and its multicultural heritage, and to celebrate every Londoner who calls the city their home.

LGBTQ+ Londoners

Trans Londoners

Ukrainian Londoners

Indian Londoners

Nigerian Londoners

German Londoners

EU Londoners

Pan-African London

LGBTQ+ Londoners

Trans Londoners

Ukrainian Londoners

Indian Londoners

Nigerian Londoners

German Londoners

EU Londoners

Pan-African London

Symbols and meaning

1 The Sky

The white field, reminiscent of London's ~~infamous~~ renowned white overcast sky, pays homage to Britain's sense of humour and the nation's fascination with the weather.

Bright White

RGB 0, 0, 0

As used in the
City of London flag

2 The River

The blue and white wavy stripes represent the river Thames and London's heritage at the center of a maritime nation, once the largest port in the largest city in the world.

Map of the river Thames with the docks from Woolwich to the tower, 1882

The river Thames with the Docks in 1882

The 4 blue stripes represent the 4 nations of the UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Royal Blue

RGB 1, 33, 105

As used in the
Union Jack

The wavy stripes are inherited from the Greater London Council's heraldic symbols, connecting London's history with other county flags in the UK.

GLC (1965-1968)

Hertfordshire

3 The Roundel

The red circular disc represents Greater London, its central nature to the UK and its global outlook.

It also references many of London's cultural icons.

The red roundel is a symbol of London's rich transport and design heritage, featuring the red colour used in London buses, postboxes and telephone boxes, which are recognized around the world.