Fears 400 years of Covent Garden street theatre at risk from council clampdown

Covent Garden street performers have been drawing crowds in the centre of London for hundreds of years. Photograph: Covent Garden Street Performers Association

From the fire-eaters to high-wire walkers and knife-jugglers, the street performers of Covent Garden in central London have been drawing rapt crowds for centuries. The magicians, daredevils and illusionists are now attempting their most challenging trick yet: avoiding police enforcement of council regulations that they say could bring an end to the traditional fun at the historic market square by Christmas.

In April 2021, Westminster council introduced a fee-based licensing system for buskers and street performers. The council said it was reacting to complaints of noise pollution from businesses and residents, particularly around Leicester Square.