London flagUK flag

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:

City Hall London Flag 2001 City Hall London Flag 2020 Greater London Council Banner of Arms Greater London Council Flag London County Council Flag City of London Flag UK Flag
City Hall London Flag 2001 City Hall London Flag 2020 Greater London Council Banner of Arms Greater London Council Flag London County Council Flag City of London Flag UK Flag
City Hall London Flag 2001 City Hall London Flag 2020

❌ 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 Banner of Arms Greater London Council Flag
London County Council Flag

❌ 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

❌ 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.

UK Flag

❌ 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

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.

Flag Variant LGBTQ+ Londoners
LGBTQ+ Londoners
Flag Variant Trans Londoners
Trans Londoners
Flag Variant Ukrainian Londoners
Ukrainian Londoners
Flag Variant Indian Londoners
Indian Londoners
Flag Variant Nigerian Londoners
Nigerian Londoners
Flag Variant German Londoners
German Londoners
Flag Variant EU Londoners
EU Londoners
Flag Variant Pan-African London
Pan-African London
Flag Variant LGBTQ+ Londoners
LGBTQ+ Londoners
Flag Variant Trans Londoners
Trans Londoners
Flag Variant Ukrainian Londoners
Ukrainian Londoners
Flag Variant Indian Londoners
Indian Londoners
Flag Variant Nigerian Londoners
Nigerian Londoners
Flag Variant German Londoners
German Londoners
Flag Variant EU Londoners
EU Londoners
Flag Variant Pan-African London
Pan-African London

Symbols and meaning

1
2
3

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.

London with overcast white sky
City of London Flag
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.

UK Flag
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.

Greater London Council Heraldic Banner Hertfordshire County Flag
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.

London Underground Roundel
Big Ben Clock Face

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.

London Bus London Telephone Box
Currant Red
RGB 218, 41, 28
As used in buses, postboxes and telephone boxes

London deserves a proper city flag to sit proudly among the great city flags of the world.

Flag of Washington D.C. Flag of Barcelona
Washington D.C.
Barcelona
Flag of Tokyo Metropolis (Symbol) Flag of Tokyo Metropolis
Flag of Hong Kong
Tokyo
Hong Kong
Flag of Amsterdam Flag of Chicago
Amsterdam
Chicago
Flag of Berlin
London
Berlin
London flag London, United Kingdom

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Get in touch

Please reach out via email at juan(at)castrovaron.com with the subject line "london.flag".
Flag of London