Security insiders are warning that Chinese spies may be eavesdropping in some of London’s most casual spots—like park benches and pub tables.

According to reports shared with The Mail on Sunday, public areas across Westminster, including central London parks and iconic pubs, have been flagged as potential surveillance hotspots targeted by Beijing. Parliamentary staff and politicians have been advised to watch what they say, even in places that seem completely harmless.

“We’ve been told the Chinese have literally planted listening devices in the bushes and under park benches,” one source said, specifically mentioning St James’s Park as a suspected surveillance zone. These locations are popular meeting points for civil servants and researchers on their lunch breaks, making them ideal for gathering valuable information.

It’s not just the parks under suspicion. A number of pubs and luxury hotels in Westminster are also believed to be high-risk zones. The Red Lion pub—just steps from Parliament and frequented by MPs—is reportedly unsafe for discussing confidential matters. The Corinthia Hotel near Trafalgar Square and the newly opened Raffles on Whitehall have also been named as possible espionage sites.

Younger parliamentary staffers are considered “soft targets” by foreign intelligence agencies, including China, Russia, and Iran, according to the sources.

Though the idea of microphones hidden in bushes may sound far-fetched, the threat is being taken seriously. One insider noted that while most recordings may catch more pigeon squabbles than political secrets, the risk is real enough to warrant caution.

This news comes as scrutiny over UK-China relations intensifies. Just last week, controversy emerged over plans for a massive new Chinese embassy complex at the old Royal Mint site in Tower Hamlets. Documents from the planning application included details of unnamed, unlabelled basement rooms and a mysterious tunnel—details that have sparked concerns over their true purpose, with uses ranging from surveillance to more serious possibilities.

Tensions have also spilled into the business world. Talks recently broke down between the UK government and Jingye, the Chinese owner of British Steel, over the future of blast furnaces in Scunthorpe. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds accused the company of not negotiating in “good faith,” after they stopped purchasing sufficient raw materials to keep operations going.

With espionage fears and diplomatic tensions on the rise, it seems even a casual chat over a pint—or a sandwich in the park—might not be as private as it seems. Photo by GraceKelly, Wikimedia commons.