Street Lighting Across London’s Boroughs

We calculate a simple metric to compare street lighting between boroughs — the share of paths that are fully lit. "Fully lit paths" are defined as having a lamp post every 30 metres, which aligns with common urban lighting practices. While other lighting sources like store fronts and building illumination contribute to street luminosity, especially in busy commercial areas, they are not accounted for in this map.

Not surprisingly, busy and densely populated central London boroughs have a higher share of fully lit streets than more residential, outer boroughs.

Path lighting is typically limited or intentionally reduced in parks and other green spaces. So when comparing boroughs, it's important to consider what share of each borough is covered in green areas (including play fields, golf courses, and cemeteries), as shown in the accompanying table.

For example, only around 40% of streets in Richmond upon Thames are classified as fully lit, but this borough is home to the massive Richmond Park and many other open spaces that naturally have unlit paths.

Data Note: Kensington and Chelsea appear lower on the list due to incomplete data. We are working with these councils to obtain complete information, and will update the map once resolved.

Notice something that doesn't match your experience?
If you spot a street that feels darker (or brighter) than shown on our map, or have any questions about the data, we'd love to hear from you. Your local insights help us improve accuracy and identify areas needing attention.

The lighting dataset provided by all London councils, TFL, Mappilary and other sources powers our safe walking navigator - Safest Way.
Now available in London on the Apple App Store, Safest Way helps you choose well-lit walking routes for safer journeys.

Download the app, walk smarter, and share your feedback . We’re building this together.

Looking for additional streetlight data insights for your business or project? Don’t hesitate to reach out for a chat.