“Wait, That’s Illegal?!” — The Strangest Laws Still Technically Active in London

London, a city of centuries-old traditions and modern chaos, has always been a place where history meets the unexpected. But if you dig deep into the rulebooks—like, really deep—you’ll stumble upon a legal landscape that’s as bizarre as it is baffling.

From salmon suspicions to Parliamentary paradoxes, here are some of the weirdest laws that still technically exist in London (even if no one's enforcing them... yet).

1. It’s Illegal to Die in the Houses of Parliament

Let’s start with the most famous one.

Yes, according to one of the most widely quoted weird laws, dying in the Houses of Parliament is allegedly illegal. Why? Because technically, it’s a royal palace. And dying there would mean you’re entitled to a state funeral.

But before you start holding your breath in Westminster, here’s the catch: there’s no actual written law banning death inside Parliament. It’s more myth than legal fact—but it’s been repeated so often that even the British public believes it’s legit.

Verdict: Likely a myth, but too iconic not to include.

2. Carrying a Salmon Suspiciously is a Crime

Yes, seriously.

According to the Salmon Act of 1986, it is illegal to “handle salmon in suspicious circumstances.” The law was created to stop poaching and black-market fish sales, but the wording? Pure British comedy gold.

You might be totally innocent—but if you're holding a salmon in the middle of Oxford Circus with shifty eyes? Technically illegal.

🧠 Fun Fact: It applies to any fish species taken “illegally,” so it’s not just about salmon. It’s about fishy behaviour in general.

Still in force? Yes. Enforceable, but usually applied in commercial poaching situations.

3. You Can’t Wear Armour in Parliament

Dust off your chainmail, because technically—it’s banned.

Under the Statute Forbidding Bearing of Armour 1313, it's illegal to enter Parliament while wearing armour or armed gear. Edward II passed this law to avoid intimidation in debates (imagine showing up to a vote in full plate mail).

Today, it’s mostly symbolic. But technically, if you turned up to a Lords debate in knight gear, you’d be breaking the law.

Still in force? Yes. One of the oldest laws still in effect.

4. You Can’t Knock and Run (a.k.a. “Knock Down Ginger”)

We’ve all done it as kids—but technically, it’s illegal under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839.

The law states it’s an offence to “willfully and wantonly disturb any inhabitant by pulling or ringing any doorbell or knocking at any door without lawful excuse.”

Translation? Knock and run = legal no-no.

Still in force? Yes, and occasionally used for persistent nuisance cases.

5. It’s Treason to Put a Stamp Upside Down

There’s long been a myth that putting a Queen’s head stamp upside down on a letter is an act of treason.

The logic? Defacing the monarch.

While it’s a stretch to imagine the Crown Prosecution Service chasing stamp abusers, there’s some historical basis in laws on defacing royal imagery—which used to carry harsh penalties. But these days? You’re more likely to just confuse your postman.

Still in force? No clear modern precedent, but once grounded in laws against insulting the monarchy.

6. No Dealing with Corpses in the Street

Section 129 of the Highways Act 1980 states that it’s illegal to “carry a corpse or part of a corpse along a highway, except in a proper container.”

Translation: no dragging skeletons around Soho. Not even for Halloween.

Still in force? Yes. Very real. Very weird to picture in action.

7. You Can't Be Drunk in a Pub

Wait… what?

The Licensing Act 1872 states that it's illegal to be drunk in a licensed premises. So technically, being drunk in a pub is against the law.

Yes, this is real. The law was intended to stop public disorder, but it does raise the question—what are you supposed to do at the pub then?

🧠 Fun Twist: Landlords are legally obligated to refuse service to visibly drunk customers. So the next time you get cut off at the bar, don’t take it personally—they’re just following the law.

8. All Hackney Cabs Must Carry… A Bale of Hay?

Under old regulations, licensed cabs were once required to carry a bale of hay and a bag of oats in case their horse got hungry.

While horses haven’t been pulling taxis for a while now, the requirement technically remained on the books for years. It’s now defunct—but only recently cleared out in licensing reforms.

Still in force? No longer enforced, but was real once.

9. Hanging Washing Across the Street is Illegal

Under old London by-laws, hanging washing across the road (from window to window or over alleys) was considered obstruction of the highway.

It still applies in some boroughs, especially within conservation areas where visual “disruption” is a planning concern.

Still in force? Yes, in some areas. Enforcement is rare.

10. You Can’t Gamble in a Library

According to old by-laws from the Library Offences Act 1898, it's an offence to behave in a disorderly manner—including gambling or betting—inside a public library.

So, no poker night in the British Library’s reading room. Sorry.

Still in force? Technically yes, but rarely cited.

So... Could You Get Arrested for These?

Let’s be honest most of these laws are relics. They're more entertaining than enforceable. But they do show just how quirky and layered London’s legal history really is.

And while you probably won’t get hauled off for upside-down stamps or suspicious salmon, it’s a fun reminder that London’s weirdness isn’t just in its streets and stories—it’s in its laws too.