London has been one of the world’s leading smart cities for years. What is striking is not so much the sheer volume of new technologies in the city as the strategic approach behind them: the British capital makes targeted use of data, digital infrastructure and smart mobility to tackle the specific challenges faced by a metropolis of over a million people.

With a population of around nine million, neighbourhoods that have evolved over time, a complex administrative structure and 32 boroughs (comparable to German city districts or municipalities), London is arguably the prototypical metropolis. It is precisely for this reason that it is regarded internationally as a model for how digital innovation can work within existing urban structures.

Open data as a driver of innovation

One of the key factors behind London’s success is its consistent open data strategy. Transport for London (TfL) makes real-time data on the Underground, buses, road traffic and cycle stations publicly available via application programming interfaces (APIs).

The result: hundreds of apps and digital services access the same data and help millions of people get around every day. Journey times can be planned more accurately, disruptions are communicated more quickly and alternative routes are calculated automatically.

London is digitising everyday life, not just the technology

Hardly any other sector illustrates the smart city concept as clearly as London’s transport system.

With contactless payment, the Oyster Card, the TfL Go app and continuously updated real-time information, public transport operates with virtually no disruption. Data from a wide variety of sources is consolidated, enabling dynamic traffic management and significantly improved journey planning.

At the same time, London is aiming to ensure that by 2041, around 80 per cent of all journeys are made on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. Digitalisation is not an end in itself here, but rather supports sustainable mobility.

Smart mobility does not begin with autonomous vehicles. Digitalisation often has its greatest impact when it makes existing transport systems simpler, more transparent and more convenient.

Data as the basis for better decisions

London views data not merely as a source of information, but as a strategic resource for urban development.

Through programmes such as Data for London, the city is working to better integrate data from various authorities, infrastructure providers and organisations. The aim is to make fact-based decisions – for example, in transport planning, climate adaptation and urban development.

This approach is supported by a Chief Digital Officer and an independent advisory board, which promotes the responsible use of data. London demonstrates that it is not individual pilot projects that make a smart city successful, but rather a comprehensive data strategy with clear responsibilities and shared standards.

Digitalisation requires trust

Through the London Privacy Register, the city ensures transparency regarding which digital technologies and sensors are being used in public spaces. This provides citizens with clear information about the use of smart technologies.

When it comes to the use of AI, for example, Transport for London also prioritises both openness and data protection: when analysing citizen feedback, personal data is anonymised before being processed by AI, and the use of such systems is publicly documented.

Particularly in light of the debate on data protection and AI, it is clear that digital innovation requires transparency and acceptance just as much as technical capability.

Next step: digital twins

London is currently working on concepts that will enable real-time data from sensors, infrastructure and traffic to be incorporated more effectively into so-called digital twins in future. These digital representations of the city make it possible to simulate various scenarios – such as traffic flows, roadworks or environmental impacts – before measures are implemented. This allows planning to be carried out in a more informed and efficient manner. Digital twins are no longer a novelty in Germany either – for example, there is a digital twin of Germany developed by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy. Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich are also working together on urban digital twins as part of the ‘Connected Urban Twins’ collaborative project.

Lessons from a metropolis

London is synonymous with practical, everyday digital solutions – a smart city is not created by installing as many sensors as possible or by spectacular technologies; rather, it is about using technological solutions to improve the lives of the city’s residents.

Three key success factors stand out in particular:

• Open data as a platform for innovation: data is shared rather than viewed in isolation, enabling new digital services.

• Digital governance: clear responsibilities, shared data strategies and transparency build trust and accelerate innovation.

• People-centred digitalisation: Whether in mobility, public administration or urban planning – technology is deployed where it makes everyday life easier, more sustainable and more efficient.

The path to a smart city rarely begins with the latest technology, but rather with a clear strategy, high-quality data and a consistent focus on the benefits for citizens. London demonstrates that even cities with a long history can successfully follow this path.