The legal minimum wage London employers must pay is exactly the same as in the rest of the UK: £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over. There is no higher legal rate for the capital. What London does have is a higher voluntary rate, the London Living Wage, which many employers choose to pay.
At a glance
- Legal minimum in London: the same as the rest of the UK, £12.71 an hour for 21 and over.
- London Living Wage: £15.45 an hour, voluntary, paid by accredited employers.
- There is no separate legal London minimum wage.
Minimum wage London rates
| Age group | Legal minimum per hour | Full-time year (37.5 hours) |
|---|---|---|
| 21 and over | £12.71 | £24,784.50 |
| 18 to 20 | £10.85 | £21,157.50 |
| Under 18 | £8.00 | £15,600.00 |
| Apprentice | £8.00 | £15,600.00 |
These are the lowest rates any employer in London can legally pay. To see your weekly or monthly pay at these rates, use the minimum wage salary calculator.
London Living Wage: £15.45 an hour
The London Living Wage is set by the Living Wage Foundation each autumn, based on the cost of living in the capital. The rate announced in October 2026 is £15.45 an hour, and accredited employers must pay it by 1 May 2027, according to the CIPP. It applies to all workers aged 18 and over.
| Rate | Per hour | Per week (37.5 hours) | Per year (37.5 hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal minimum (21 and over) | £12.71 | £476.63 | £24,784.50 |
| UK real Living Wage | £14.10 | £528.75 | £27,495.00 |
| London Living Wage | £15.45 | £579.38 | £30,127.50 |
A full-time worker on the London Living Wage earns £5,343 a year more than someone on the legal minimum.
Is the London Living Wage the law?
No. Only the national rate is the London minimum wage in law. The London Living Wage is voluntary. Employers sign up to it, and accredited employers commit to paying it to staff and regular contractors. If your employer is not accredited, they only have to pay the legal minimum wage for your age.
Many large London employers, councils and NHS trusts pay it. Check your contract, ask HR, or look up your employer on the Living Wage Foundation website.
What is the minimum wage London workers get under 21?
The legal rates for younger workers in London are the same as everywhere else: £10.85 for 18 to 20 year olds and £8.00 for under-18s and first-year apprentices. The London Living Wage, where an employer pays it, applies to everyone aged 18 and over at the same rate. See minimum wage by age for the full rules.
Does the London minimum wage go far?
London rents and travel cost much more than the UK average, which is why the London Living Wage is higher. On the legal minimum, a full-time worker earns about £2,065 a month before tax. After tax and National Insurance, that drops to about £1,780. Use the monthly take-home pay calculator for your exact figure.
What to do if you are paid less than the minimum wage London rate
If you are paid less than the legal minimum for your age, speak to your employer first, then contact Acas for free advice or complain to HMRC. Our UK minimum wage guide explains each step. The London Living Wage cannot be enforced through HMRC because it is voluntary.
How the London Living Wage is worked out
The Living Wage Foundation calculates the rate from the real cost of a basic but decent standard of living, including rent, council tax, travel, childcare and food. London’s higher housing and transport costs are the main reason the London rate is above the UK rate.
The new rates are announced each autumn. Employers that are accredited then have about six months to start paying them, which is why the rate announced in October 2026 must be paid by 1 May 2027.
Take-home pay on the minimum wage in London
| Rate | Gross a year | Take-home a month | With 5% pension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal minimum (21+) | £24,785 | £1,780.37 | £1,697.76 |
| London Living Wage | £30,128 | £2,100.95 | £2,000.53 |
The minimum wage London rate is a floor, not a typical wage. Many London jobs pay more, so always compare an offer with what similar roles pay locally.
London weighting and allowances
Some employers, especially in the public sector, pay an extra London allowance on top of normal pay to reflect higher living costs. This is separate from both the legal minimum and the London Living Wage, and the amount depends on the employer and the area of London you work in.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum wage in London?
The legal minimum is £12.71 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, the same as the rest of the UK.
What is the London Living Wage?
A voluntary rate of £15.45 an hour, set by the Living Wage Foundation for workers aged 18 and over in London.
Will the London minimum wage go up?
The legal minimum rises across the UK on 1 April 2027, to £13.21 an hour for workers aged 21 and over.
Figures checked on 5 November 2026.