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1178 stories from and about London, mostly council & politics, transport & tfl, local news. The most recent ran on 31 October 2026. Page 25 of 59.
Reported from London
Crime & Safety · LondonTwo killed in London shootings and burglary as police hunt suspects
A 25-year-old bus driver was shot dead on the Fenwick Estate in Clapham North, and a 75-year-old woman died after an aggravated burglary in Finsbury Park. Police have arrested suspects in both cases but are still searching for others. Multiple stabbings and fires also caused injuries and transport disruption across London.
London5 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 41
Transport & TfL · LondonSouthern Rail derailment near Lewes injures 11, shuts line for days
A Southern Rail train derailed near Lewes on 29 August, injuring 11 people. Two are seriously hurt. The line between Haywards Heath and Lewes remains closed, with replacement buses running. Investigators have begun work at the site north of Lewes station.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Local News · LondonDisposable barbecue sparks Mitcham grass fire as wildfires hit record high
A disposable barbecue caused a grass fire near Commonside East, Mitcham, requiring 60 firefighters to extinguish one hectare of burning shrubs. England and Wales have already matched last year’s record of 1,017 wildfires, prompting calls to restrict sales of single-use barbecues.
London4 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 21
Council & Politics · LondonHillingdon Council blocks 30-year racing centre lease renewal after talks stall
Hillingdon Council has refused to renew the lease for the West London Racing Centre, a volunteer-built facility in Pole Hill that has run STEM workshops and holiday activities for children since 1994. The centre says new terms would force it to close on weekdays, ending council-funded programmes.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Local News · LondonPerseid meteor shower peaks 13 August with up to 100 shooting stars an hour
The annual Perseid meteor shower reaches its brightest point in the early hours of Thursday 13 August 2026. Up to 100 meteors an hour may be visible across London and the south-east if skies stay clear, the Met Office has said. A new moon will darken the sky, improving visibility.
London5 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 21
Local News · LondonBeddington Lane wildfire closes B272 and forces detours in Mitcham
A wildfire on Beddington Lane in Mitcham forced the closure of the B272 and diverted traffic on 15 August 2024. London Fire Brigade attended the scene near the industrial estate, with no injuries reported. Residents faced delays as emergency services managed the blaze.
London4 min readTrust 30 · Craft 22 · Hype 15- Crime & Safety · London
Auguste-Marie Bile-aka Amoa named as man shot dead in Clapham
Police have named the victim of Monday’s fatal shooting in Clapham as 25-year-old bus driver Auguste-Marie Bile-aka Amoa. Detectives are appealing for witnesses and footage after the incident on Willington Road, near The Landor pub, at 21:57 on 10 August.
London4 min readTrust 82 · Craft 73 · Hype 20 
Crime & Safety · LondonSimon Levy jailed for life after Met and CPS errors let him kill twice
Simon Levy, 40, was sentenced to a whole-life prison term at the Old Bailey for the murders of two women in 2025. Police and prosecution errors allowed him to remain free after the first killing, leading to a second murder in Tottenham five months later. The Met and CPS have admitted failings.
London6 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Transport & TfL · LondonChiltern Railways cuts London Marylebone services due to 38C heat
Chiltern Railways will run a reduced timetable on Thursday as temperatures reach 38C. Off-peak services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street will drop to one train per hour, while some Oxford services will be cancelled. Passengers are advised to travel only if essential.
London4 min readTrust 68 · Craft 73 · Hype 21
Local News · LondonThames Water restores supply to half of 10,000 homes after five-day outage
Thames Water has repaired one of two burst mains in South Woodford, restoring water to some of the 10,000 affected homes. The second burst on Chigwell Road remains unresolved, leaving residents in parts of Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Epping Forest without reliable supply since Saturday.
London4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 73 · Hype 20
Local News · LondonGuy's and St Thomas' staff face 669 assaults in one year as violence surges
Physical assaults on staff at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust rose by 60% in 2025-26, reaching 669 reported cases. Nurses and security teams report broken bones, knife threats, and racist abuse, prompting a new poster campaign to deter violence against NHS workers.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Business · LondonUK’s largest Harry Potter shop to open at 134-140 Oxford Street on 4 November
The flagship store, occupying two floors at 134-140 Oxford Street, will open on 4 November 2026. Warner Bros promises a Ukrainian Ironbelly Dragon, a full-sized Knight Bus and a themed pub serving Butterbeer, aiming to draw half a million daily visitors to the West End.
London4 min readTrust 78 · Craft 44 · Hype 15
Crime & Safety · LondonClifford Wilby convicted of harassing Stella Creasy on Victoria line train
A 63-year-old man from east London was found guilty of harassing Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy after blocking her exit, shouting about knife crime, and filming her on a Victoria line train on 15 July 2025. Passengers intervened before she escaped at Finsbury Park.
London5 min readTrust 86 · Craft 95 · Hype 12
Lifestyle & Food · LondonSelena Gomez spends weekend in rose-petal suite at London hotel
Selena Gomez and husband Benny Blanco spent the weekend in a rose-petal-covered suite at a London hotel. The stay was arranged by Blanco, who travelled from the US to visit Gomez while she filmed the sixth series of Only Murders in the Building in Shoreditch. The couple married in September 2025.
London4 min readTrust 30 · Craft 32 · Hype 30
Local News · LondonBarnet parks turn brown as London drought threatens homes and wildlife
Satellite images reveal London’s parks have turned brown after record-breaking heatwaves, with Barnet’s green spaces at risk of wildfires. The Mayor of London has urged residents to create fire breaks in gardens, while the London Fire Brigade warns dry grass can spread flames to nearby homes within minutes.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 83 · Hype 21
Local News · LondonThree deaths linked to St Helier lung doctor’s advice as 203 patients face review
Veronica Varney, a former St Helier Hospital consultant, was suspended after a review found her advice on flu jabs, rapeseed oil and off-label treatments contributed to three premature deaths. The trust will now examine 203 more of her interstitial lung disease patients, a process expected to take two years.
London5 min readTrust 88 · Craft 83 · Hype 20
Property & Planning · LondonBarnet estate agent pioneered virtual property tours in the 1840s
A high-end estate agency in Old Bond Street used convex lenses and controlled lighting to create immersive property previews in the 1840s and 1850s. Researchers say Brooks and Green’s cosmorama displays, which required artists to visit estates, were an early form of virtual tour decades before photography became standard.
London4 min readTrust 82 · Craft 73 · Hype 20
Transport & TfL · LondonHeathrow loses Europe’s busiest airport title to Istanbul after July dip
Heathrow handled 7.86 million passengers in July 2026, 1.5% fewer than last year, while Istanbul Airport recorded 8.15 million. The decline follows a 20.2% drop in Middle East routes and ongoing capacity constraints. A public consultation on Heathrow’s expansion is underway.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 80 · Hype 30
Crime & Safety · LondonJoshua Kerry charged with Ann Widdecombe murder, linked to Farage firebomb attack
Joshua Kerry, 28, faces murder charges in the death of former Tory MP Ann Widdecombe. Counter-terrorism police are now investigating whether he is connected to a 2025 firebomb attack at Nigel Farage’s south London home. The IOPC is probing a CTP London staff member for failing to pursue a potential lead.
London4 min readTrust 78 · Craft 85 · Hype 30
Local News · LondonBarnet faces drought as London heat alert extended to Friday
Barnet residents are under an amber heat health alert until 29 August as England faces its driest July since 1836. The Environment Agency has declared drought across more than two-thirds of the country, with rivers and reservoirs declining and hosepipe bans in place for 27 million customers.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 73 · Hype 21
Also affecting London
Borough-wide and national stories that name London or bear directly on it.
Local News · City of LondonOxford Street decline blamed on rents, rates, and bus cuts
High rents, business rates, and reduced bus services are identified as primary drivers weakening Oxford Street. Experts suggest the current approach of pedestrianisation and the impact of Crossrail have worsened the situation, with calls for central government intervention.
City of London3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 65 · Hype 20
Property & Planning · LewishamLewisham refuses 802‑home Deptford Creek scheme, mayor declines to intervene
Lewisham Council rejected a cross‑borough plan for 802 homes on either side of Deptford Creek in late September 2026. Greenwich approved its part on 13 October, but the mayor will not use his powers to reverse the decision. The development offers only 24 affordable units, 5 % of the total, and the Secretary of State may still intervene.
Lewisham3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 85 · Hype 15
Local News · WestminsterWestminster records most London hate crimes in September 2026
Westminster recorded the highest number of hate crime offences in London during September 2026, with 120 incidents. Across the capital, 1,868 offences were logged. Transport for London is providing free bystander training in response to rising incidents on its network.
Westminster2 min readTrust 48 · Craft 61 · Hype 61
Transport & TfL · City of LondonFatal incident on Cannon Street tracks disrupts District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines
A fatal incident on the tracks at Cannon Street station on 28 October 2026 led British Transport Police to declare the victim dead at the scene. Transport for London halted sections of the District, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines until about 7 pm, leaving commuters facing long delays.
City of London3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 87 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · LewishamLewisham Council adopts new housing strategy
Lewisham Council has approved a new housebuilding strategy focused on supporting community groups and housing co-operatives to deliver more affordable homes. This initiative gains importance after Landsec abandoned plans for the Lewisham Shopping Centre, which would have provided approximately 1,700 homes.
Lewisham4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 18
Council & Politics · CamdenCamden High Street car ban made permanent, residents face new bus lane
Camden Council confirmed the car‑free status of Camden High Street will become permanent at the end of October 2026 following an 18‑month trial funded by Transport for London. The move costs £10,000 to administer and includes a new northbound bus lane on Kentish Town Road to cut bus delays.
Camden3 min readTrust 64 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council orders end to short-term lets at 113 Gassiot Road
Wandsworth Council will issue an enforcement notice requiring 113 Gassiot Road in Tooting Bec to cease unauthorised short-term holiday lets. The property was found listed on Airbnb and Booking.com, letting for over 90 nights.
Wandsworth3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 80 · Hype 15
Local News · City of LondonRussell Brand denies non‑consensual sex as trial hears his past was ‘reframed’
In a Southwark Crown Court hearing, Russell Brand asserted that his history of public kissing and casual encounters has been wrongly portrayed as rape and sexual assault. He denied all six charges, and a charge of indecent assault was altered to attempted indecent assault.
City of London3 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 20
Local News · IslingtonInquest into Pentonville suicide forces NHS policy overhaul
The death of Stephen Nuth, 51, in HMP Pentonville prompted an inquest that blamed a nurse’s failure to read his medical notes. The coroner’s report has pushed the North London NHS Foundation Trust to amend its policy on reviewing records before inmate assessments.
Islington4 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 15
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth Council allocates £30,000 for John Archer statue
Wandsworth Council has agreed to allocate £30,000 towards a statue of John Archer, London's first Black mayor. The decision has drawn criticism from Labour councillors, who argue the funds could be better used for services, especially with a proposed 94 per cent council tax increase.
Wandsworth3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 70 · Hype 40
Crime & Safety · SouthwarkMark Tyrrell convicted of rape and sexual assault in Southwark
A jury at Southwark Crown Court convicted former police officer Mark Tyrrell of rape, three sexual assaults and perverting the course of justice on 27 October 2026. He remains in custody, will be sentenced on 16 December, and the Met Police may seek to strip his pension.
Southwark3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Crime & Safety · LewishamLewisham escapee Anthony Lloyd still at large
Anthony Lloyd, 38, escaped from a Lewisham medical facility on 23 October 2026. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on 27 October 2026 that he remains at large and is considered a risk to the public.
Lewisham2 min readTrust 66 · Craft 80 · Hype 30
Local News · CamdenCamden Council makes Camden High Street permanently car‑free after trial
Camden Council has confirmed that the pedestrian zone on Camden High Street, introduced as an 18‑month trial, will become permanent. The decision follows a consultation where 57% of respondents backed the move, while the council also plans a design test for an extension over Camden Lock Bridge and a trial bus lane on Kentish Town Road.
Camden4 min readTrust 70 · Craft 75 · Hype 20
Transport & TfL · WestminsterCyclists breach Oxford Street ban as 51 ride through on 27 Oct
The Standard recorded 51 cyclists travelling through Oxford Street’s newly pedestrianised stretch on 27 October 2026. TfL says breaches can attract fines of up to £160, reduced to £80 if paid within two weeks, and is trialling geofencing with dockless operators to limit e‑bike access.
Westminster3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 28
Council & Politics · WandsworthWandsworth residents invited to free event on Heathrow expansion on 10 Nov
Wandsworth Council is hosting a free meeting on 10 November at All Saints Church, Putney, to brief residents on Heathrow Airport’s third‑runway plans. Over 400 daily overflights have been recorded in Battersea, and the council will use community input for its response to the consultation running until 22 December.
Wandsworth3 min readTrust 74 · Craft 72 · Hype 15
Crime & Safety · GreenwichMan shot in Woolwich car, police seek public help as suspect flees
Police were called to Frances Street in Woolwich at 8:09 pm on 22 October after a 32‑year‑old man was shot inside a parked car. The victim remains in critical condition, and detectives are urging anyone with information to contact the Met.
Greenwich3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 80 · Hype 25
Transport & TfL · IslingtonTfL may limit Angel station exits evenings and weekends, full year‑long shutdown also under review
TfL is considering making Angel station exit‑only during evenings and weekends from November and is also studying a full closure that could last up to a year. Local traders and the Islington Council leader warn the move would hurt businesses, while TfL says no decision has been taken yet.
Islington3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 95 · Hype 18
Transport & TfL · WestminsterOxford Street traffic ban begins on 26 Oct, deliveries limited to night hours
From 26 October a stretch of Oxford Street in Westminster became vehicle‑free. Deliveries may occur only between midnight and 07:00, while emergency services keep full access. The mayor and TfL say the change will be monitored and the street will gain trees, squares and new seating by spring 2027.
Westminster4 min readTrust 66 · Craft 80 · Hype 55
Local News · City of LondonOxford Street section pedestrianised from Monday
A significant section of Oxford Street, between Orchard Street and Great Portland Street, has been pedestrianised. The move aims to revitalise the area, boost economic growth, and create a greener environment, though some concerns about traffic diversion have been raised.
City of London3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 60 · Hype 40
Local News · BarnetMan dies after tree falls on car in Finchley
A man has died after a tree fell onto a vehicle in Finchley. The incident occurred on Nether Street, which was subsequently closed between Abercorn Road and Crescent Road. Emergency services attended the scene.
Barnet2 min readTrust 74 · Craft 52 · Hype 15