London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Travelling may drain your phone’s battery life, and you want to be able to capture all of those London moments while navigating the city. The last issue you want on your trip is to be unable to photograph anything! So, where in London can you charge your phone? There are several phone charging stations in London, and some newer London buses have USB outlets! When you are out and about, you never have trouble finding a location to charge your phone. There will be alternatives in all cafés, restaurants, and tourist sites. You usually travel with a power bank in case of an emergency for any reason.
London phone charging
In 2025, there will be numerous public and commercial venues in London where you can charge your phone in both emergency and regular situations:
The famous red phone boxes in London are a phone charging facility. A lot of the more recent free places to charge a phone in London are National Rail trains, notably the Elizabeth Line, and London buses (such as those on routes 25, 94, 100, and others) have USB charging points for passengers. Large museums with cafes and public libraries like the British Library offer easily available power outlets for charging. Many ChargeUp and Joos stations, located in high-traffic areas such as malls, transit hubs, and pubs, offer portable power banks for rent.
Where can I charge my phone for free in London?
Where to charge a phone in London? Is a big question. Thus, the following free phone charging places are available in London, especially at library buildings, museums, transport centres, and chain coffee shops. Each of the Elizabeth Line trains and most modern London buses (including those that run on high-density routes) have free passenger USB charging options installed. In case you make a purchase, big chains such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, Costa Coffee, and Pret A Manger allow you to charge your phone using power points and wireless charging spots. For compatible phones, certain branches provide Aircharge or Powermat systems.
7 best places to charge a phone in London
There are quite a number of reliable fast charge points around London that are accessible and cost minimal to charge your phone in case of emergency; most of them do not need to be planned. Nearly every mobile phone in the UK is set to receive an emergency alert message next month in what is being described as “one of the biggest public safety exercises” in UK history. The message will come as part of a national test of the UK Emergency Alerts system by the government and mobile network operators. Emergency alerts are a UK government service that warns people when there’s a danger to life nearby.
And these are seven current ones, based on availability as of 2025:
1. London buses & national rail stations
Modern buses and National Rail trains offer USB charging ports. Some specific bus routes (including 25, 94, and others) and the Elizabeth Line trains are equipped.
2. Libraries and museums
The British Library (King’s Cross), other public libraries, and major free museums (especially their cafes) provide outlets for charging.
3. Public charging stations
Services like ChargedUp and Joos offer portable battery rentals throughout London. ChargedUp is widely available at tourist spots, bars, stations like King’s Cross, and large shopping centers. Joos is also prominent in central areas such as London Bridge.
4. Wireless charging networks
Aircharge and Powermat systems can be found in large chains (McDonald’s, Shake Shack, Starbucks, and Costa Coffee). Aircharge has many locations, and Powermat is common at Starbucks, although availability varies by branch.
5. ChargeBox lockers
ChargeBox secure charging lockers are found at John Lewis (Oxford Street), Harrods, Knightsbridge, and selected other locations. The first 30 minutes are often free, then a small fee applies. In London, it is getting easier to obtain charging equipment. ChargedUp is a company that deploys machines in locations such as restaurants, stores, bars, resorts, and much more. The sole downside of ChargedUp is that it only has an iOS app for finding charging stations. ChargeUp partners with brands like DoubleTree by Hilton, WeWork, Stonegate Pub Company, Selfridges & Co., Pergola, M&S, Laine’s, BrewDog, and Boxpark, so you may discover them at one of their venues.
6. Convenience retailers
Stores like Argos and off-licenses occasionally sell disposable emergency chargers; while not reusable, these are a quick solution if you’re nearby and desperate for a charge.
7. BT InLink (Street Hub) slabs
Digital kiosks with USB charge points are dotted around busy areas like Leicester Square and other parts of Central London. These are publicly accessible and convenient phone charging points in London for emergencies.
The simplest method is to charge your phone at your lodging. If you’re anything like me, charging your phone while you’re sleeping is just a habit. If I find myself addicted to my screen before leaving, I will quickly recharge my phone before stepping out the door. That extra 15 minutes may make a difference!
Where to charge your phone when you are homeless
The electrical outlets used by homeless persons to stay warm at night along the lengthy hallway by the chemist have been turned off by UCLH and replaced with anti-homeless outlets that require a key that is only accessible by cleaners. However, for the time being, you can still use the plugs elsewhere in UCLH. In addition to sending an elderly man who had just suffered a heart attack back to the streets with a catheter strapped to his leg rather than submitting a homeless application to the council, this is just one of many anti-homeless initiatives implemented by University College Hospital. I’m sure that UCLH has sent many more extremely sick homeless people back to the streets in unsafe ways. There are many easily accessible and cost-free places to charge your phone when you’re homeless, including:
1. Shelters and homeless centers
These locations frequently have chargers or special charging stations for their patrons, though you might need to ask the staff first.
2. Public libraries
Generally speaking, libraries have spaces that are open to the public. Additionally, a lot of PCs feature USB ports that allow you to charge items directly or by borrowing a cable.
3. UCLH
In the charging lockers is a free ChargePoint phone. After 30 minutes, your phone will drop off and you will have to reconnect it in case you want to keep charging it:
- London NW1 2BU; UCLH Outpatients, The Podium, 235 Euston Road, Euston Square, Gower St, Euston Square, London, NW1 2BU, UCLH A&E
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, UCLH, Euston Square, London, WC1E 6DB, 25 Grafton Way
- 47-49 Huntley St., Euston Square, London WC1E 6DG, UCLH Eastman Dental Hospital
- UCLH Royal National Nose Throat and Ear Hospital, London, WC1E 6DG, 47-49 Huntley St, Goodge St
- Queen Square, Russell Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UCLH Queen Square Institute of Neurology
London has several phone charging stations, and some of the city’s more recent buses feature USB ports! I never have any issue locating a place to charge my phone when I’m out and about. Every café, restaurant, and tourist destination will have options. I always bring a power bank with me when I travel in case of an emergency.
What are the best apps or maps to locate charging stations in London?
The following are the top applications and maps for finding phone charging outlets in London:
ChargedUp allows you to find and rent portable power banks across many places in London using the ChargedUp app. You can go to a coffee shop or a bar and take a charger there, use it on the street, and then leave it at any station nearby.
1. ChargeSpot UK interactive map
To assist you in locating safe charging locations in your area, ChargeSpot UK provides an online interactive map that displays its phone charging stations and lockers in London.
2. Chargebox locator
ChargeBox offers safe phone charging lockers in a number of locations throughout central London. You can lock these lockers and leave your phone charging by using the map on their website.
3. Aircharge app
In collaboration with well-known restaurants like McDonald’s and Costa Coffee, Aircharge directs you to wireless Qi charging outlets in your area. To utilize this service, your phone must be able to charge wirelessly via Qi.
4. Joos app
Joos provides rental battery packs at strategic places throughout London, along with an app that makes it simple to locate and rent portable chargers. Juice stations are frequently found within eateries, transit hubs, and pubs.
5. Google Maps
Google Maps lists a lot of charging stations, including those in department stores, cafes, and transportation hubs. Such listings often contain images and descriptions as well as customer reviews. With the assistance of such apps and maps, it is easy to charge your phone in the city of London, as there are a plethora of options to choose from, including renting out portable power banks in portable ones, using portable lockers, and charging posts.
To best enjoy the service, it is recommended to download the right app according to the type of service the user wants to get and carry a charging wire, should there be a need. The Aircharge app is the greatest option for finding Qi wireless locations if wireless charging is preferred, and ChargedUp and Joos are the finest options for renting portable power banks. No matter whether you need a portable charger to use on the road or charge safely during a visit to a location, this arsenal of devices will allow you to find the charging locations that best suit you.
Is there any free phone charging place in central London attractions?
Free phone charging points are available in some of the more popular London tourist attractions and high footfall public spaces; however, availability and exact locations vary:
Charging stations are available at BT InLink Street Hubs, which are kiosks with digital advertising boards located in major areas like Leicester Square. These hubs are scattered in crowded parts of London.
Free ChargeBox charging lockers are available at John Lewis Oxford Street, a popular retail area close to famous sites, where you can safely keep your phone and charge it. Free or wireless charging stations are frequently available at large retail chains and cafes close to famous locations, like McDonald’s, Starbucks, and the Apple Store in Covent Garden, provided you make a purchase. Plug sockets are particularly frequently available at McDonald’s.
Should we charge phones at night?
Alerts will only be issued by government departments, agencies, and bodies, as well as emergency services. They normally alert individuals to extreme weather, fires, or floods. In 2025, the most recent test of services was conducted. Recently, the government has also actually deployed the system, such as when it warned of severe weather in Scotland and Northern Ireland during Storm Eowyn in January.