STORY
An investigation by London Centric has detailed how unlicensed ice cream vans continue to trade openly on Westminster Bridge despite repeated enforcement action. Journalists tested the operation by parking their own heavily branded van between two existing traders and offering free ice cream to tourists. The publication said its team was filmed by men in expensive cars, followed by another ice cream van and warned that unidentified people were attempting to locate its vehicle.
The vans regularly occupy part of the bridge despite it being a Transport for London red route where stopping is restricted. London Centric previously reported that some traders displayed no prices or clear ownership details, while tourists could be charged substantially inflated amounts. The publication said many of the vans appeared to be connected to one family and argued that the money available from a busy tourist location could outweigh the financial penalties imposed through the courts.
Responsibility for enforcement is divided between Transport for London, the Metropolitan Police, Lambeth Council and Westminster City Council. Joint operations have produced prosecutions, fines and the seizure of trading equipment, but traders have repeatedly returned after being moved on or penalised. The Government said in March 2026 that vehicles operating within the Government Secure Zone were a matter for the police, which continued to monitor the situation and work with relevant partners.