The by-laws you may not know exist in London

What do spitting on the street, feeding a pigeon and carrying a ladder on a pavement all have in common?

They are all acts that are banned in some areas of the capital under London's lesser-known by-laws.

How many of these quirky rules are you aware of?

A by-law is a law designed to deal with local issues and is made by local authorities or certain bodies under powers granted by acts of parliament.

By-laws covering public areas in London's boroughs are enforced by the local authority through a magistrates' court. Contravening a by-law can result in a fine.

They are considered measures of last resort after a council has tried to address an issue through other means. A by-law cannot be made where alternative legislative measures already exist that could be used to address a problem.

Government guidance says by-laws must always be proportionate and reasonable. When a by-law is no longer necessary, it should be revoked.

In 2013, both Enfield and Waltham Forest councils criminalised spitting in public and became the first London boroughs to do so.

In Enfield, a specific ban on spitting can result in a £500 fine, and in Waltham Forest a fixed penalty notice of £80 could be served for committing a "littering offence".

Harrow Council enforces a public spaces protection order prohibiting the feeding of pigeons in town centres. Anyone who does so runs the risk of a £100 fine.

In Tower Hamlets, the council has tightened restrictions in parks, banning wildlife-feeding, including pigeons and squirrels, in a bid to reduce vermin and keep sites well-maintained.

In Westminster, there is a prohibition on entering Parliament in armour, which comes from a 1313 law that is still in force.

And the Metropolitan Police Act of 1839 is the source of a number of quirky rules.

The act details a ban on carrying planks and ladders on pavements in London, except for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle, or crossing the path.

And those looking to fly a kite should review section 54 of the Metropolitan Police Act first to be clear on the rules. It says kite-flying is an offence if done in a public area where it may become an "annoyance or common danger of inhabitants".

The act also says that Londoners cannot beat a carpet, rug or mat in all of the capital's boroughs except for the City of London. However, it is permissible to shake a doormat, as long as it is done before 08:00.

Could drinking a coffee on a commute be against the rules? According to TfL by-laws, hot drinks could be classed as "potentially dangerous items". The organisation also prohibits passengers from carrying anything that may "soil a person or property".

By-laws on the network also cover more familiar acts, including fare evasion, which saw its highest level of prosecutions in 2024-25 when 13,118 penalty fare notices and 850 written warnings were handed out.

There is a TfL by-law on playing music or other content out loud, and the transport body's by-laws also cover travelling the wrong way on an escalator, which can lead to a fine of up to £1,000.

TfL said its by-laws were an important way to help passengers travel easily and safely.

A spokesperson said: "While most customers comply with our by-laws, in rare instances where enforcement officers encounter someone breaking a by-law, they will engage, explain the rule and ask the individual to stop.

"Most people comply at this stage. If someone refuses, further enforcement action may be taken – this could include being asked to leave the service or station or being reported for possible prosecution."

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