Oct 22, 2025
Options for internet in central London are often surprisingly poor. Despite it being a major world capital and one of the most expensive cities to live in, many homes lack access to modern, ultrafast internet.
There are several reasons for this, from London’s historic infrastructure to the difficulty of making upgrades in such a heavily populated area. Luckily, there are also a number of emerging solutions to help those living in the UK capital get online, fast.
London has England’s slowest broadband on average
London has the lowest average download speed of any region in England, and the second lowest in the UK after Wales. The average download speed of 82 Mbps reflects the fact that while many households can access ultrafast broadband (100 Mbps+) many others are limited to standard speed broadband (1-15 Mbps).
The fastest broadband in the UK is actually in Southampton, with an average download speed of 167 Mbps.
Why is the internet in Central London so bad?
Many areas of central London are so-called ‘not-spots’ - places where modern, ultrafast internet is not available. Despite being a centre for politics and business, in St James’ ward in Westminster - home to the Houses of Parliament - 33.1 per cent of properties can’t access the internet faster than 30 Mbps.
The City of London (a borough within Greater London) is a major hub of international finance, but 32.1% of properties there can’t reach speeds above 30 Mbps.
Using this interactive map from the Mayor of London’s office, you can see that many areas marked in red as having poor internet provision are right in the centre of the city. Poor access to internet networks is a problem usually associated with rural properties, but these homes are in the middle of a major world capital and still struggle to find reasonable connection speeds.
Why is the internet in central London so poor? A large part of the reason is London’s hundreds of years of history. Many homes in the city were built prior to widespread phone networks, let alone fibre internet.
Connecting a Tudor or Victorian home to fibre optic internet is a long and involved process. If the building is listed - protected because of its historical significance - it may not be possible at all.
What are your options for ultrafast internet in Central London?
Fortunately, if your home can’t connect to one of the UK’s major broadband networks or is only able to access low-speed ADSL broadband, you have options for getting online.
A number of smaller, independent fibre networks have begun rolling out their service across London. These suppliers offer FTTP broadband, using the most advanced infrastructure technology to deliver some of the fastest speeds available anywhere in the UK. The rollout is largely focused on new-build properties, where suppliers are able to install their cabling as the property is being constructed.
For older homes or those on historic streets with limited access for those looking to install new cabling, mobile broadband offers a powerful solution. With speeds comparable to ultrafast fibre broadband, mobile broadband requires no physical installation. That makes it perfect for listed buildings or homes where drilling through external walls would be impossible.
Living with slow internet in central London? Find out if you could get a speed boost with an unlimited mobile broadband package from Connectivity.
