Why are London’s streets especially gross right now?

Residents are complaining that the ongoing heatwaves is causing the city to become unbearable – in more ways than one (Picture: Getty) Unlike residents in Copenhagen or Geneva, where the streets are spotless and the air smells fresh, Londoners aren’t afraid of a little grime. A discarded vape pod here, a chicken nugget from Morleys there – the big smoke is no Scandinavian oasis. However, while seeing dirt on the streets of London isn’t a rarity, a number of people online have noted that our city appears to be especially grotesque at the moment. ‘What’s going on with the pavements in the City and London Bridge’, one user wrote on Reddit just two weeks ago. Another added: ‘I’ve been noticing it too. And the abominable stench that comes with it.’ Who’s the culprit you ask? Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. None other than the four-month-long heatwave we’re still trapped in. Yes, this perpetual sauna isn’t just ruining our sleep – it’s mucking up our streets. A lot of people on social media have deduced that the heatwave is to blame (Picture: Getty) While there may have been a few scattered drizzles at the beginning of August, plenty of people online reckon the lack of a proper downpour is to blame for the way the city looks, and smells, right now. In one viral thread in r/London, @SmartHari shared: ‘We’ve not had rain for months, I walked through London today with a relative and the smell of piss on street corners that would have normally been washed away was off the charts’. Another user, @elegantcockroach, added: ‘I honestly underestimated how much London actually relies on rain to keep clean’. London typically receives an average of 600 to 690 millimetres of rainfall per year. Latest London news But while the beginning of 2026 was unbelievably wet, the current dry spell seems to be never-ending. And while ordinarily we’d complain about being caught in a mid-morning shower while trying to heave the weekly shop home, I think we’d all be thrilled to see it now. Especially if it meant that the bin juice lingering on every street corner was washed away. Dr Anna Scott, director of services at environmental charity, Keep Britain Tidy, tells Metro that the extremely dry weather this summer will have definitely made everyday street grime ‘far more visible’. ‘The lack of rain prevents everyday grime and stains from being washed away naturally, and water restrictions like hosepipe bans can limit local authorities’ ability to wash down pavements,’ she explains. Far from the gardens at Kew, the unpleasant smell on the streets can also likely be attributed to excessive littering. Dr Scott explains: ‘While litter fluctuates with the seasons, extreme weather events like heatwaves can exacerbate the issue. ‘Hotter conditions potentially lead to higher outdoor footfall – alongside major summer events like the World Cup – which can increase packaging waste from on-the-go food and drinks for example.’ One Redditor did point out that during the summer there tends to be more ice creams, ice lollies, and fizzy drinks waste spotted on the floor. Unsurprisingly, this isn’t a problem exclusively plaguing tourists in Trafalgar Square, locals in boroughs across the entire city have also been complaining about the state of their streets. In Richmond, images of ‘filthy’ and ‘disgusting’ pavements have been posted on social media — prompting residents to call on the council to ‘take action to clean things up’. Wimbledon residents are equally peeved. Speaking with the Standard, local Tom Kelleher stated that the town’s pavements are a ‘disgrace’. ‘Any visitors to the area must think the council and residents of Wimbledon are happy to live in these conditions, which will leave a lasting negative impression’. Dedicated to boots on the ground journalism, lifestyle reporter Maicey Navarro Griffiths, 23, confirmed that Crouch End is also going through it right now: ‘The streets have been looking particularly grubby, with dark black marks and staining all over the pavements and road surfaces. ‘It’s very noticeable when walking around the shops, they almost look like soot and make the area feel quite dirty and neglected. It’s a shame as Crouch End normally feels much cleaner and well-kept’. A hot summer mixed with the stench of bin juice… Ew (Picture: Getty Images) Metro News reporter Sarah Hooper lives in Camden and revealed that she has been being struggling with a particularly gross issue, sharing: ‘I keep my windows open most days and have had to wipe them down, as the dust from the parks nearby keep on leaving black soot on my windowsill.’ And Metro’s lifestyle editor, Kristina Beanland, who lives in Lambeth, has noticed a rather vile obstacle while running. ‘I keep having to dodge piles of sick,’ she says. ‘I’ve been running around this area for years, and I’ve never known anything like it before. It’s so gross.’ A few splattered pavements is par for the course when you sign up to city life, but according to residents, the situation in London is officially on a whole different level. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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