London is a city of complex structures, partly dating back to medieval times, with few long vistas but a multitude of destinations and attractive areas. With more than 27 million visitors a year, walkability is important. It’s well known that in the tube map, London has one of the best wayfinding diagrams in the world, but walking has been less well served. More than 45% of people have been using that diagram for walking too!

The idea of Legible London is to provide better support for the millions who walk every day – that’s more than half of all journeys in the capital. AIG’s 2005 study identified no fewer than 32 separate pedestrian sign systems in the central area, resulting in visual noise rather than reliable, coordinated information. Legible London aims to provide that coordination: across neighbourhoods and borough boundaries, connecting up with the other transport modes, and delivering information not just in the street, but in all the ways people find their way around.

The proposals in the Transport for London (TfL)-funded study – to develop a coordinated system across the capital in time for the 2012 Olympic Games – received in principle support from London boroughs and following a public exhibition, AIG and Lacock Gullam developed a prototype sign system which was installed in the West End in November 2007. TfL have confirmed AIG as system designer to oversee the implementation of three large pilot schemes by late 2009.