"London's urban foxes flock towards the aroma of McDonald's Happy Meals, attracting a crowd"
In the heart of the bustling city of London, a unique and fascinating community of urban foxes has established itself, thriving and adapting to the city's rhythm.
Historically, London's fox population has witnessed a significant increase over the past few decades. This surge is attributed to the foxes' ability to adapt well to urban environments, where abundant food sources, fewer natural predators, and the capacity to navigate built environments have made cities an attractive habitat.
Urban foxes in London and other UK cities exhibit altered behaviours compared to their rural counterparts. They live in higher densities, occupy smaller territories, and sometimes forage in groups. This shift in behaviour allows them to thrive in the urban jungle[3].
While the exact number of foxes currently living in London is not precisely known, experts generally estimate that tens of thousands of foxes inhabit the city. This estimation is supported by many urban wildlife observations and reports of their increasing presence over recent years[2].
London's urban layout, with long terraces and communal gardens, is beneficial for foxes, providing them with ample spaces to explore and forage[6]. The city's fox population has become so well-established that they are frequently seen in various neighbourhoods[1][5].
One of the key researchers studying human-fox interactions is Tom Fry, a research associate at the University of Cambridge. Dr Fry conducts participatory research, asking people about their experiences and opinions regarding foxes, and is currently tracking a group of urban foxes on a Hackney allotment[7].
The urban foxes' resilience is evident, as they could potentially outlast humans if there were no bins to raid, dogs, cars, or poisonings[4]. However, their life expectancy is short, with most not making it past three years old, due to factors like traffic accidents and illegal poisonings[5].
Despite these challenges, many urban residents take a real interest in foxes and recognize them as individuals. Some even feed them, providing enjoyment for the people and potentially short-term benefits for the foxes[8]. In urban areas, fox family groups can have as many as eight or ten members, with specific roles[9].
The rise of urban foxes in London mirrors broader trends in urban UK, where foxes have become an iconic part of city wildlife, prompting diverse public reactions and interest in conservation and coexistence strategies. A mural of a fox was painted in Camberwell, London, in early December last year, reflecting the public's growing appreciation for these urban dwellers[10].
However, the extent of surveying fox numbers in London is limited due to much of the land being privately owned[11]. Dawn Scott, a professor at Nottingham Trent University, found fox densities had doubled since the 1980s in British cities[12]. The first sightings of foxes in London after the Second World War marked the beginning of this urban expansion[13].
Urban sprawl is suggested to have encroached on the fox's territory, rather than the fox moving into town[14]. As cities continue to grow, it will be interesting to observe how the urban fox population adapts and evolves, with urban foxes even starting to exhibit physical changes to adapt to their environment, such as larger facial muscles for breaking bones and a more concave skull[15].
In conclusion, London has a thriving urban fox population, widely observed in 2025[1][5]. Their population has grown over recent decades, adapting well to urban life with changes in behaviour and higher densities compared to rural areas[3]. No exact population figure is currently available from the search results, but estimates suggest tens of thousands in London.
Foxes have adapted their lifestyles significantly in urban environments, transforming their home-and-garden habits to thrive in city landscapes filled with long terraces and communal gardens. London's urban fox population exhibits these altered behaviours, allowing them to survive and prosper within the city.
