The Importance of Borough Logos
A Reflection of Identity
Borough logos are more than just a visual representation of a place. They are a reflection of the identity and values of the people who live there. These logos serve as a way for residents to identify with their borough and feel a sense of pride and belonging.
A Symbol of Unity
Borough logos also serve as a symbol of unity within a community. They bring together the diverse cultures and backgrounds of the people who live in a borough. They represent the shared values and goals of the community.
A Marketing Tool
In addition to representing a borough’s identity, logos also serve as a marketing tool. They serve to promote the borough and attract visitors, businesses, and investors. A well-designed logo can make a borough stand out and create a positive image in the minds of others.
The Creative Logos of the 32 London Boroughs Explained
There are 32 boroughs all with their own cultures and identities. Let’s review all of the 32 logos.
Barking & Dagenham
Barking & Dagenham use a black and dark red colour scheme for their logo. They use a swoosh design surrounding the left hand side of a text heavy logo design. Featuring on the logo is the full borough name and their website, making it easy to search for online. They use a sans-serif font type with the combination of black and dark red throughout.
Barnet
The barnet logo features 6 outlined boxes with white text on a topaz (green-blue) background. Using an uppercase sans-serif font throughout to spell the name ‘Barnet’ within the boxes. Under this design is ‘London Borough’, which is also in the topaz colour and fully uppercase with a bold sans-serif font. Interestingly, it looks very similar to the design of the BBC logo.
View our previous article on hiring a branding agency in London.
Bexley
Bexley uses a more traditional style, with text and an emblem. On the left of the logo design is a coat of arms heralding back to its history and the locations within the borough. The typeface is a somewhat soft sans-serif in a dark blue. The logo is traditional and authoritative and reflects well on the history of the borough.
Brent
The Brent logo is a rainbow design which reminds us of the Coop Logo. Featuring 4 intertwined circles and with a sans-serif typeface below. The logo was part of a 2012 bid to update the identity of the region.
Bromley
The Bromley logo uses a brush stroke effect, with a dark green background, featuring another brush stroke effect of white. It uses an underlined ‘Bromley’ in the same green, in a serif font. The logo uses a lot of green and has a lot happening, which is somewhat distracting.
Camden
Camden uses a simple logo, black and white typeface and icon with capitalised text. To the left of the typeface are 8 hands shaking in a circular pattern. This logo is simple and direct, but does look a little bit like the recycling logo. Particularly, when seen on bins around the area.
Croydon
The Croydon logo is a simple sans-serif typeface. The word ‘Croydon’ in upper case above a fully lowercase url for their borough’s website.
Ealing
The Ealing logo features a green tree with a black background with the words ‘Ealing’ capitalised in a sans-serif font. Under this is the borough’s url in the same colour green as the tree. The tree likely is to reflect the Ealing Common or Walpole Park…or their love of broccoli.
Enfield
The Enfield logo uses a full uppercase ‘Enfield’ in a thick black sans-serif font, with a capitalised ‘Council’ underneath. To the right is a red dragon, which links back to their original crest for the region.
Greenwich
Greenwich is a big logo, with a lot of red and uppercase lettering. Featuring a rose and swoosh at the top, with an uppercase red ‘Royal’ and ‘Greenwich’ in a sans-serif font. With ‘Borough of’ written in lowercase serif font.
There is a lot going on, but it does reflect the naval history with the swoosh wave. The red colouring and Tudor rose represents the borough’s long association with royalty.
Hackney
The Hackney logo features a rounded edge ‘H’ icon in a dark green blue colour. The words ‘Hackney’ capitalised in a thick sans-serif. The logo was actually part of a copyright court case between Hackney and Nike in 2006. Nike used Hackney’s exact logo on a range of Nike clothing. They settled out of court, with Hackney council earning a large sum of money.
Hammersmith & Fulham
The Hammersmith & Fulham logo features the initials in red and faint blue with a flowing ribbon from the ampersand. Under the initials and ribbon is the ‘Hammersmith & Fulham’ in lower case in an even lighter blue sans-serif.
Haringey
Haringey is an interesting logo, with a capitalised ‘Haringey’ in kids marker pen style handwriting. It features London under the name in block caps. It received some backlash over wasting financial resources, especially as the previous design was created only 8 years prior.
Harrow
The Harrow logo consists of a purple rounded radius border split with a capitalised ‘London’. the ‘H’ of the word Harrow and London both split the border. All the text is uppercase apart from ‘Harrow’, which also uses a casual font type.
Havering
The Havering logo is very simple, using its original crest design and simple typeface. Using a sans-serif font all in black including the crest.
Hillingdon
The Hillingdon logo is one of the best in the list at portraying authority and history. It uses their original crest and a thin serif font in all caps for the word ‘Hillingdon’. The word ‘London’ is under this in an uppercase sans-serif font.
Hounslow
The Hounslow logo is very similar to Havering, It uses a similar layout with the crest on the left with text on the right. The font is capitalised and used thick sans-serif for the words ‘London Borough of Hounslow’.
Islington
Islington is also similar in design to both Havering and Hounslow. Using their original crest with the word ‘Islington’ on the right. ‘Islington’ is fully in uppercase and uses a sans-serif font.
Kensington & Chelsea
Kensington & Chelsea look to portray their position as an affluent borough with their royal blue colour scheme. The royal blue gives the impression of wealth and associates with royalty. It features a similar layout to other boroughs, with their crest of the left and a fully uppercase typeface.
Kingston Upon Thames
The Kingston Upon Thames logo features many elements relating to the area. Their crest depicts 3 salmon fish, which represents the 3 fisheries which are mentioned in the Domesday book. The font is a thin sans-serif in uppercase, using a dark blue.
Lambeth
As a design agency in Brixton we see the Lambeth logo a lot. It’s one of the most stylish and modern borough logos. Featuring the words ‘Lambeth’ in a custom sans-serif font. As well as a waving flag above the text, all within a blue and gold colour scheme.
Lewisham
The Lewisham logo features a golden crown with the words Lewisham in a lowercase sans-serif on a dark blue background. Looking closer at the crown, the tips of the crown are actually small figures in a celebratory pose.
Merton
Merton’s brand new logo, replacing the previous waterwheel logo which related to the River Wandle. The new logo features the same colour scheme, the dark purple and green, likely reflecting its relation to nature. However, this logo looks a lot more modern, it doesn’t have as much reference to the borough it represents.
Newham
The Newham logo features the words ‘London Borough of Newham’ within a red ribbon. The ribbon uses a dark red that fades into white as it cuts through the text of the logo.
Redbridge
The Redbridge logo uses a simple capitalised sans-serif font, with the word ‘Redbridge’ in red. It also features a highly detailed Horse Chestnut tree leaf, referencing the many trees in Redbridge and a more modern and ‘fresh’ reflection of the council.
Richmond
The Richmond logo features a very simple uppercase serif typeface. The key feature of this logo is the blue ‘R’ within a green outline. This design is referencing the area of the Thames that runs through the area. The green symbolises Richmond park, which is also a key feature of the borough.
Southwark
The Southwark logo reminds us a little of a 1990’s supermarket logo. Using a dark blue green in a handwriting style, with broken underline. Lastly, it features the word ‘Council’ under this in a sans-serif.
Sutton
The Sutton logo features a red and green tree with a red border with ‘Sutton’ under in a serif font. It reminds us a little bit of a primary school logo, but still relates to the borough nicely. The tree referencing the various parks in the area and its proximity to the South of England.
Tower Hamlets
The Tower Hamlets logo references its area well. It features a green ‘tower’ and the blue wave effect over its name in a sans-serif font. The tower references The Tower of London and the wave because Tower Hamlets sits on the River Thames.
Waltham Forest
Waltham Forest sits on the edge of London and has part of Epping Forest within it. The logo reflects this with a blue-green colour with a tree icon sitting above its name in a serif font. If any borough deserves a tree, it’s Waltham Forest.
Wandsworth
The Wandsworth logo features some of its key landmarks in a skyline design. It uses a lot of dark blue and green writing to outline its slogan and name in a serif font. The design nicely outlines Battersea power station which is one of the most recognisable buildings in South West London.
City of Westminster
The City of Westminster features a golden crest above its borough’s name in dark blue serif font. A very simple logo, with a strangely un-detailed crest.
Learn more on the history of London Boroughs here.
Rounding Up London Borough Logos
As you can see from our list all the boroughs have their own unique identity. Some have portrayed this identity well with great designs and impactful colours. Others have not. For some of the boroughs it may be time to invest in updating their brand identity. First impressions count, and making a logo stand out is important.
If you’re struggling to understand your brand and how you want it to be identified, view our Brand Identity page.
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