Could your local Post Office close? 32 London branches at risk.

This shake-up could impact familiar London spots like Baker Street, Brixton, Croydon, and Kennington Park, raising questions for locals about the future of their nearby branches.

The closures are part of a strategic review led by the Post Office’s new chairman, Nigel Railton. The aim? To make the business more financially sustainable. Right now, nearly half of its branches aren’t turning a profit, and the Post Office reported pre-tax losses of £81 million last year. Railton sees this as a moment for a “fresh start” and a “new deal” for the organisation, but that plan could mean cuts and significant changes across its branch network.

The plan suggests that these branches, currently managed directly by the Post Office, could transition to franchise arrangements with operators like WHSmith or other third-party businesses taking over. This restructuring comes as the Post Office faces tough competition from private parcel delivery companies and a dip in traditional mail use, challenges that are affecting its bottom line.

However, the proposed closures and job cuts come at a sensitive time, with the ongoing Horizon IT scandal inquiry still unfolding. Between 1999 and 2015, hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted due to errors in the Horizon computer system, which falsely flagged financial discrepancies. This long-running inquiry is nearing its final stages, and the Communication Workers Union (CWU) has slammed the timing of these closures as “immoral” and “tone deaf.”

The Post Office’s reliance on government subsidies has also increased in recent years, as revenue has been hit hard by modern shifts toward mobile banking and contactless payments. Railton’s vision, however, includes potentially filling gaps left by bank closures on high streets, although there’s debate over whether this strategy would be sustainable.

For now, the Post Office is in discussions with the government about future funding and support. But for those whose local branches are at risk, the proposed changes mean facing an uncertain future. It’s a moment to stay informed and make your voice heard as London faces this latest shake-up.

London branches facing possible closure:

• Aldwych – 95 Aldwych
• Baker Street – 111 Baker Street
• Barnet – 6365 High Street
• Brixton – 242 Ferndale Road
• Broadway – 1 Broadway
• Canning Town – 22 Barking Road
• City of London – 12 Eastcheap
• Cricklewood – 193 Cricklewood Broadway
• Croydon – 10 High Street
• East Dulwich – 7476 Lordship Lane
• Eccleston Street – 6 Eccleston St
• Golders Green – 879 Finchley Road
• Great Portland Street – 173 Great Portland Street
• Hampstead – 7981A Hampstead High Street
• Harlesden – 2 Wendover Road
• Houndsditch – 11 White Kennet Street
• Islington – 160161 Upper Street
• Kennington Park – 410 Kennington Road
• Kensington – 208212 Kensington High Street
• Kilburn – 79A Kilburn High Road
• Kingsbury – 439441 Kingsbury Road
• Kingsland – 118120 Kingsland High Street
• London Bridge – 19A Borough High Street
• Lower Edmonton – 17 South Mall, Edmonton Green
• Lupus Street – 121125 Lupus Street
• Paddington Quay – 4 Praed Street
• Raynes Park – 1a Amity Grove
• Roman Road – 138 Roman Road, Bethnal Green
• South Ockendon – 8 Derwent Parade
• Stamford Hill – (unclear, two possible locations)
• Vauxhall Bridge Road – 167 Vauxhall Bridge Road
• Worlds End – 351-353 Kings Road