Centre for London

We are London’s think tank. A voice for all London is, and could be. Celebrating the city’s successes and calling out where we’re falling short. A champion for London and left-behind Londoners.

Our research and events explore ways to make London even better. Our unique London-first point of view allows us to find fresh connections between issues and understand how they shape Londoners’ lives.

We’re thinking about:

  • Places: Creating neighbourhoods that work.
  • People: Making life better for all Londoners.
  • Prosperity: Sustaining London’s economic success.
  • Power: Championing the needs of Londoners.
  • Planet: Leading the way to a sustainable future.

In all these areas, we’re fiercely independent and consistently influential.

We’re a registered charity, independent of government and funded entirely by donations and partnerships from organisations, foundations and philanthropists. We’re always transparent about all of funders.

We’re connected with London’s leaders and a voice for the city in the local and national media.

Our vision is a London that’s successful and sustainable. A global city that works for all Londoners.

To help make that vision a reality, we’re running programmes on London’s housing crisis and future transport needs.


Latest reports

Homes fit for Londoners: London’s homes today

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at the current state of London’s housing market. This report examines the current state of London’s housing market and reviews the policy solutions proposed to improve it. 50% more people are sleeping rough in London compared to a decade ago, and more than 300,000...

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Moving with the times: Financial incentives for sustainable travel

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at financial incentives for sustainable travel in London. This report explores policy ideas to change the cost of transport and encourage more Londoners to walk, cycle, use public transport or use shared modes of transport. Part 1 looks at current financial incentives and how...

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Moving with the times: Supporting sustainable travel in outer London

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at supporting sustainable travel in outer London. This report explores how to improve transport options for the millions of people living in outer London. Helping people get around their local areas and reducing reliance on car ownership. People in outer London own and use...

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Licence to let

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at how property licensing could better protect private renters. This report explores the potential of selective property licensing to improve conditions in London’s private rented sector. More than one million London households rent privately in order to live in the capital. With such high...

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The active last mile

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at how can we boost out-of-home deliveries. The ‘last mile’ of a delivery is the journey from the depot to your front door. Most last mile journeys are currently taken by vans, meaning each delivery is contributing to air pollution and road congestion. The...

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Levelling Up in London – Phase 2 Report

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at London's contribution to the UK. This report outlines the many ways in which London is essential to the success of the UK. The second and final phase of our research programme on the levelling up agenda looks outwards, highlighting why the capital is...

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In London and for London

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at impact investing for the capital. This report looks at ways to maximise the local benefits of impact investment capital – with five key recommendations on how to support and boost the sector. Impact Investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive,...

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Temporary accommodation: London’s hidden homelessness crisis

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at solutions to improve the experience of homeless households living in temporary accommodation. This report recommends solutions to improve the experience of homeless households living in temporary accommodation in London. London is England’s centre of temporary accommodation, with 59% of all households who rely...

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Making the most of local authority assets

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at how local authorities could use their money and property to deliver social value to their residents. Local authorities in London are responsible for managing valuable resources. This report shows how they could use their money and property to deliver social value to their...

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Levelling Up in London – Phase 1 Report

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at challenges for London and Londoners in levelling up. This report sets out what London's levelling up needs are, how Londoners are affected by the levelling up agenda, and the challenge of getting a hearing for these issues. With its focus on addressing geographic...

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Street shift

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at the future of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. This report explores the impact and effectiveness of low-traffic neighbourhoods in their overall aim of reducing private car usage in London. In 2020, in response to the pandemic and through the Emergency Active Travel Fund, local authorities...

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East x South East

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London provides local research in Poplar, Stratford and Thamesmead. This report, produced as a partnership between Queen Mary University of London and Centre for London, analyses how Poplar, Thamesmead and Stratford have each changed since 2000 and will continue to change, in order to outline the...

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Remixing Central London

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at ensuring a successful and harmonious mix of housing and economic activity in central London. Remixing Central London examines what is needed to ensure a successful and harmonious mix of housing and economic activity are supported in central London – against the backdrop of...

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Making space

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at how to accommodate London’s industrial future. Industrial land is crucial to London’s economy but over the last two decades too much of this land has been lost. This report explores the future of London's industrial land. In twenty years, almost a quarter of...

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Greater London: A new vision for a better city

This report from UK think tank the Centre for London looks at a new vision for London as a fairer, safer, greener, and more prosperous city. This is the final report from Centre for London’s London Futures review, setting out a new vision for London as a fairer, safer, greener, and more prosperous city. Our...

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