A century of light.
Founded in North London in 1910, Lightplan has grown from a two-man gas mantle business into one of the UK’s leading electrical wholesalers & lighting showrooms — backed by over 115 years of expertise, a national network of 55 electrical wholesale branches, and 11 dedicated lighting showrooms. Explore our heritage
Gas lamps & the spirit of the hare.
The Lightplan story begins with founder James Medlock, who traded his pedal-cycle for a motorcycle and sidecar and set out to supply Britain’s growing industries with the gas mantles, oils, mica, and glassware they needed to function. He embodied what he called “fast-moving factors of vision and courage” in a quickly evolving trade.
The business began in a modest two-storey warehouse in North London — a former stable rumoured to have sheltered Dick Turpin’s horse. From day one, success was built on tireless effort, sharp organising ability, and a foundational belief in integrity that remains a core value today.
Here comes Medlocks.
Joined by his engineer son Harold in 1919, the family purchased their first delivery van — emblazoned with the now-iconic slogan: “Here comes Medlocks.” The spirit of constant movement and adaptation kept the firm always one step ahead.
As electricity swept the nation, the Medlocks swiftly pivoted — from gas mantles to securing the agency for the revolutionary Columbia Radio Battery, ensuring they were always keeping pace with the technical shifts transforming British homes and industry.
From technical excellence to inspiring spaces.
In 1958 we opened our first spacious, dedicated showroom. This move transformed Medlock from North London’s “Promptest Factor” — a veritable treasure-house of electrical stock — into a destination where customers could experience shaded lamps and lighting in an inspiring, curated setting.
This pivot from technical electrical expertise to sophisticated visual design is the defining dual identity that characterises Lightplan today. We still hold the deep technical knowledge of the founders, now fused with the aesthetic mastery of modern lighting design.
115 years of expertise, built for today.
Lightplan is now part of the Medlock group — an unmatched operational network built over more than a century. Our 55 electrical wholesale branches provide the technical backbone, and our 11 dedicated lighting showrooms provide the design-led, personal service that defines who we are.
When you partner with Lightplan, you get local expertise backed by national infrastructure — from the initial brief through specification, planning, and installation, every step managed by a team that has been doing this longer than anyone else.
Local knowledge. National reach.
Our structure means you always get the personal service of a local specialist team, backed by an infrastructure built over more than a century.
Lighting Design.
From a single statement fitting to an entire property, we select, specify, and source exactly the right products for your space — drawing on deep knowledge of thousands of products from hundreds of carefully chosen suppliers.
Explore lighting designLighting Plans.
Our detailed annotated schematics give you and your electrician a precise roadmap for the entire installation — circuit layouts, dimmer specifications, fitting positions, and control zones — so nothing is left to interpretation on site.
Explore lighting plansLighting Automation.
Managed by systems like Lutron, smart lighting control transforms how you experience your home — from scene setting and scheduling to seamless integration with broader smart home systems. Intelligent, intuitive, invisible.
Explore automation