Urbis zx3s are one of favourite street lights. They were very popular in the uk and there are quite a few of them on the M25. They can come with white or black canopies.

M25

These urbis ZX3s are on the M25. They were installed in 1996 on the M25 widening scheme in 1996. Three of the ZX3s on this stretch of the M25 have actually combusted, but I don’t have many good photos of them. The fire in some of the ZX3s is most likely caused by the igniter continuing to try and ignite a failed lamp, and then it overheats and the igniter goes up in flames. It’s mostly a problem in lanterns with parmar gear.

The first column in this picture has been cut down, probably because it failed a structural test, and the second column in this picture is a short abacus hinged column.

This is the last column on the stretch of urbis ZX3s. The column on the left hand side has had a replacement black urbis zx3 on it.

In this picture, the urbis zx3 on the left has a black back canopy, and I think this is because both urbis ZX3s lost their back canopy, and the one on the right has been replaced with a Philips iridium, and the urbis zx3 on the left has been repaired.

A30

These urbis ZX3s are on the A30. They are mounted post-top onto a stainton column, and they are group-switched.

This urbis zx3 is misaligned with the road.

Another urbis zx3 on the A30.

A3

These urbis zx3s are on the A3, on very short stud brackets. I think they run 400w or 250w SON-T bulbs. About 1 or 2 have got no back canopy.

Here is a stretch of zx3s on the A3.

Here is one with no back canopy.

Elmsleigh car park, staines

This urbis ZX3 is in the Elmsleigh car park, Staines. It is the rarer zebra version, and has a off-centered lamp holder. It runs on a CDO-TT lamp, and it was Dayburning for a while, but it stopped Dayburning. I am trying to save this lantern.

This lantern was found Dayburning again in January 2025.

Oxford street, London

This black-canopied urbis zx3 is on Oxford street, London. It is the last remaining SON lantern on Oxford street. It is on a CU column, and it was installed between 2008 and 2012.

Grosvenor gardens, London

There are 3 ZX3s in grosvenor gardens, London. The first one has a damaged bowl, and it’s slightly twisted. The reason it survived is likely because the base of the column is stuck behind part of the scaffolding, so it’s hard to access the column door.

The second ZX3 is under a tree, and it’s in better condition than the other one.

The third ZX3 is also in good condition, and its actually the rare shallow bowl version!

Mytchett, Surrey

These urbis ZX3 zebras are in mytchett, surrey. They are on a British steel column and they run on a SON lamp. There’s one on the other side, but i didn’t photograph it.

Toddington services, Luton

This is probably the worst condition I’ve ever seen a ZX3 in, I’m not sure how it happened, as there doesn’t appear to be any damage to the column! The frame has snapped in half, so the optic snapped off, the frame also has another crack near the spigot, and the canopy is missing! It’s also twisted on the column!

Bath Road, Harmondsworth

These urbis ZX3s are on bath Road, Harmondsworth, on a bridge over the M25. There are two ZX3s, but I believe there used to be three, as the lantern on the middle column is a black canopied ZX2. The two ZX3s have a white canopy, and a flat glass bowl.