Can I drink the tap water?

How good is the tap water in London, United Kingdom ?


849 people said I love the tap water here, 245 people said I drink filtered tap water, 233 people said The tap water is not safe to drink.

All in all, 64% of folks here drink from the tap.



How good is the tap water in all of United Kingdom?


711 people said I drink filtered tap water, 2985 people said I love the tap water here, 606 people said The tap water is not safe to drink.

All in all, 69% of folks here drink from the tap.


Can you drink the tap water in London then?


What residents and travelers say

London's tap water generally receives favorable comments from both locals and visitors, though opinions vary noticeably depending on the area within the city. Many residents appreciate the water's mineral content, noting a distinct taste that some describe as slightly chalky or hard due to London’s use of chalk aquifers as a water source. This mineral presence contributes to the water's hardness, which can influence taste and build-up in kettles and pipes.

Travelers often find the water safe and palatable but report slight differences depending on the building or neighborhood. In newer developments, water filtration systems or softened water may be common, improving taste but sometimes leading to a perception of 'flatness' compared to traditional tap water. Conversely, some older buildings with aged plumbing might experience occasional metallic or earthy tastes, prompting residents to sometimes rely on tap filters or bottled water out of convenience or preference rather than safety concerns.

Though locals overwhelmingly drink directly from the tap, it's not uncommon to see filters installed in households with plumbing older than 20 years or in areas closer to the Thames where water treatment variations might occur. Many travelers and long-term residents also find carrying refillable bottles practical, utilizing London's many water fountains and refill stations, a habit encouraged for environmental reasons.

For the most reliable and up-to-date information on water quality and safety in London, including any localized advisories, it's best to consult Thames Water, the UK Environment Agency, or the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Following these official sources helps ensure awareness of both general quality reports and any specific issues that might affect certain neighborhoods or buildings. Additionally, Thames Water's Twitter feed is useful for updates on emergency advisories or maintenance notices affecting water supply.





Further reading on tap water in London


To verify the quality of tap water in London and stay updated on any advisories, first visit Thames Water's official website, the primary water supplier for London. Additionally, the local health department and the UK Environment Agency provide important information and updates. For broader guidelines, check the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the World Health Organization websites. Londoners can also follow Thames Water's official social media accounts for real-time notifications on water quality and service disruptions.



Answers in London vs. United Kingdom

London is in the bottom 6% of United Kingdom, in the bottom 33% of Europe, and in the top 25% globally.

Top 10 cities in United Kingdom

Best (by % who love it)

  1. Glasgow (85%)
  2. Edinburgh (84%)
  3. Plymouth (83%)
  4. Liverpool (83%)
  5. Hove (80%)
  6. Brighton (77%)
  7. Leeds (76%)
  8. Bristol (76%)
  9. Nottingham (75%)
  10. Cardiff (73%)

Worst (by % who love it)

  1. Birmingham (60%)
  2. London (64%)
  3. Oxford (65%)
  4. Exeter (65%)
  5. Sheffield (66%)
  6. Cambridge (68%)
  7. Manchester (70%)
  8. Newcastle upon Tyne (70%)
  9. Southampton (71%)
  10. Cardiff (73%)

Tap water by country



How big is our data?


6295

CITIES

178

Countries

46.1K

USERS

16.7K

LOVE TAP WATER

Tap water by city

Looking for other cities in United Kingdom?

Leeds   -  Birmingham   -  Brighton   -  Glasgow   -  Bristol   -  Edinburgh   -  Cardiff   -  Manchester   -  Plymouth   -  Cambridge   -  Oxford   -  Sheffield   -  Liverpool   -  Newcastle upon Tyne   -  Nottingham   -  Southampton   -  Exeter   -  Hove   -  Aberdeen   -  Portsmouth   -  Norwich   -  York   -  Croydon   -  Coventry   -  Reading   -  

Other resources



Is TAP water safe to drink here in london?? - London Forum ...   - Mar 3, 2012 ... I dont know what londoners do , bottled or tap water ? ... Is TAP water safe to drink here in london?? ... England forums · London forum. London ...

Tap water in London: OK to drink? - TAPP Water   - Feb 24, 2018 ... Is the tap water safe to drink in london? Living in or traveling to the UK? We got you covered. Find out about the tap water in the British capital ...

Drinking water in London? - London Forum - TripAdvisor   - Mar 22, 2009 ... The water in the UK and most of Western Europe is perfectly safe to drink. .... Since all the posts firmly averred that tap water in London is safe, ...

drinking water - London Message Board - TripAdvisor   - Is there any advise to safe budget on drinking water and where can I buy them? ... cold water in England,at a kitchen sink comes from the mains and is perfectly ...

Can I Drink London Tap Water? - Is it Safe?   - Mar 8, 2017 ... Question: Is London Tap Water Safe to Drink? Have you ... The DWI (Drinking Water Inspectorate) says yes, all UK tap water is safe to drink.

Is it safe to drink tap water in London after boiling it? - London ...   - I've heard that tap water from kitchen taps are safe while tap water from the ... England isn't quite like places like India, where it is recommended to drink bottled  ...

Is it safe to drink tap water in London after boiling it? - London Forum ...   - I've heard that tap water from kitchen taps are safe while tap water from the ... England isn't quite like places like India, where it is recommended to drink bottled  ...

Is it safe to drink tap water in London after boiling it? - London ...   - I've heard that tap water from kitchen taps are safe while tap water from the ... You can ask for tap water in restaurants or pubs in the UK and they must provide it.

uk - Is tap water in Ireland and England drinkable? - Travel Stack ...   - When I moved to London for a few years, almost all my friends had filters. The trace calcium / limescale in the water will result in some people telling you it's ...

Is London tap water OK to drink? - London Message Board ...   - Answer 1 of 30: I usually drink bottled water (buy the 2 litre bottles off the shelf) but surprise surprise, when I went to my local supermarket ... London, England.

Is TAP water safe to drink here in london?? - London Message Board   - Answer 1 of 53: Helloo, i have just came to london . I dont know what londoners do , bottled or tap water ?? Thx inadvance. ... Vancouver, Canada. What's this?

Comparison of heavy water to standard tap water. - Picture of ...   - Canada House, London Picture: Comparison of heavy water to standard tap water. - Check out TripAdvisor members' 50776 candid photos and videos.

Tap water in London: OK to drink? - TAPP Water   - Feb 24, 2018 ... Is the tap water safe to drink in london? Living in or traveling to the UK? We got you covered. Find out about the tap water in the British capital ...

Hard water - Wikipedia   - Hard water is water that has high mineral content Hard water is formed when water percolates through deposits of limestone and chalk which are largely made up of calcium and magnesium carbonates. Hard drinking water may have moderate health benefits, but can pose critical ..... Water in London, for example, is mostly obtained from the River Thames and ...

Where in the world is it safe to drink tap water? - Quora   - You have asked if the tap water is safe to drink in the following locations (each time in ... London and Paris; UK (continuously - which would lead to certain death )) ... and Canada and nearly all of western and northern Europe, tap water is fine.

Is it safe to drink tap water in Canada? - Quora   - If you are visiting rural Canada and staying somewhere, It's as simple as asking. Rural Canada covers a lot of real estate. As Thomas William ...

Drinking water in London? - London Forum - TripAdvisor   - Mar 22, 2009 ... Vancouver, Canada .... Since all the posts firmly averred that tap water in London is safe, I felt bad about reporting my experience, until I came ...

History of water supply and sanitation - Wikipedia   - The history of water supply and sanitation is one of a logistical challenge to provide clean water ... Furthermore, treatment processes to purify drinking water and to treat wastewater have been .... In London, the contents of the city's outhouses were collected every night by ..... Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists.

Fluoridation by country - Wikipedia   - Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth ... Typically a fluoridated compound is added to drinking water, a process that in the U.S. costs an average of about ... water in about 24 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Ireland, Malaysia, the U.S., and Vietnam.

Dasani - Wikipedia   - Dasani is a brand of bottled water from the Coca-Cola company, launched in 1999, after the ... The first source of Dasani water in Canada was Calgary, Alberta . ... was treated tap water from Sidcup, a suburban area on the outskirts of London.

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Is it safe to drink tap water in London? : r/AskLondon   - May 14, 2023 ... I always thought that London had one of the best water purifying systems in the world?

Tap Water- UK Visitor : r/newhaven   - Jul 28, 2024 ... I've drunk tap water in London, Belfast, Edinburgh and Dublin with no problems. ... All municipal water in the United States is potable. Upvote 3

Safe drinking water as a foreigner? : r/uktravel   - Jun 9, 2022 ... More than 99.9% of the public water supply in the UK meets regulatory standards (in the US, it's 91%). You might find it has a stronger taste ...

Reasons for not drinking tap water in London? : r/london   - Jan 4, 2024 ... I have a Brita at home that we use (bought as a gift for us) but definitely if I'm too lazy to get it from the fridge I'll use the tap. Wondered ...

Is tap water safe to drink in European cities?   - Apr 3, 2025 ... We visited London, Paris, Rome, and many other cities. Our paranoid parents wouldn't let us drink tap water and insisted that we drink mineral ...

Question for native speakers: how do you call "carbonated water ...   - Dec 11, 2023 ... "In the United States, plain carbonated water was generally known ... UK (London): sparkling water in a restaurant, fizzy water at home.

Visualization of Tap water usage across Canada using the dataset ...   - Apr 11, 2018 ... Take for example Northwest Territories: 50% say it's not safe to drink tapwater but looking into the data there are a total of only two votes: ...

Is tap water actually unsafe to drink, or are Redditors just uninformed ...   - Oct 18, 2024 ... 214 votes, 98 comments. Apologies if this post is not appropriate for this subreddit, but is tap water in the United States really as bad as ...

Can I drink tap water in Athens? : r/GreeceTravel   - Sep 6, 2023 ... Food and water standards in Greece are similar to those in the United States. Most travelers do not need to take special food or water ...

Are we not supposed to be drinking our tap water? : r/southafrica   - Dec 24, 2021 ... Drinking water quality in the United States is generally safe. In ... East London water out of the tap is definitely not suitable for ...

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Why drink tap water?



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