Car Free Day 2024

World Car Free Day is Sunday 22 September 2024 and it will be marked in London over the weekend of Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September.

It’s a great opportunity to see what happens on your very own street when the traffic stops for a few hours. In many boroughs, councils are encouraging residents to get involved and apply to try out a play street or have a street party.

Swap your car for a spacehopper – have a proper knees up – or simply share a cuppa with your neighbours on your doorstep while the kids chalk on the road. Whatever you choose to do, witness the change when you open your street for play and community fun! In most boroughs it is easy and free – we can help (!).

London Play is offering free spacehoppers or other play equipment to participating streets. And if you are in one of the nine boroughs that the newly renamed London Overground Windrush line runs through, we will be adding a carnival twist! Click here to see the announcement from the Mayor of London and Transport for London, who are supporting more playful London streets.

One lucky street twill win an on-street Karnival Kart making workshop and parade on the day.  So what are you waiting for?! Apply to your council today – drop us a line if you want a quick steer. 

The process varies from borough to borough (check our map for how it works where you are);  but will usually involve consulting your neighbours and applying to the council well in advance of the day (at least four to six weeks ahead in most cases). SEE LATEST DEADLINES FOR BOROUGHS, RIGHT

Our resources zone has step by step instructions, information, downloadable resources, advice and inspiration about how to make the magic happen on your street! Click below to sign up for free.

Get in touch with us for advice, information and to be in to win. What are you waiting for? Hop to it!

Apply for your FREE play equipment by emailing us with the following details: name of road, postcode, borough, date of event and status of your application (ie yet to apply/applied and waiting/approved) and we will be in touch with further details.

Click through to sign up to our FREE Resources Zone
Click through to our Play Map to find out how it works in your borough
CONTACT London Play
APPLY for your free equipment: email us with road name/postcode, date of event and status of application

Car Free Day application deadlines

The boroughs listed below are still inviting applications and many have extended their deadlines (and in some cases not gotten around to updating their websites!)  This information is correct as of Friday 09 August 2024. Click through to the  relevant council web page and make sure you sign up to our resources zone to download template letters etc. Happy hopping!

Ealing – 30 August

Hackney – 30 August

Hammersmith & Fulham – 7 September

Islington – 6 September

Lewisham – 8 September

Richmond – 30 August

Southwark – 04 September

Waltham Forest – 30 August

Wandsworth – 16 August

London Play Press Releases
More than four square kilometres of temporary play space was created in an instant last month as Londoners came out to play on their car free streets.
London Play Press Releases
Londoners are being invited to ‘swap their cars for spacehoppers’ this September, when at least 200 streets across the capital are hoped to transform into temporary play spaces in celebration of Car Free Day.

Want to try out a play street on Car Free Day?

Visit our members zone for all the tips, tools and templates you need.
RESOURCES FOR ORGANISERS