The London New Year’s Parade is a huge event with global appeal, featuring more than 8,500 performers representing more than 20 countries. The parade, launched in 1987, has since raised nearly £ 2 million to help a wide range of London-based charities.
The parade winds through the city along a 2-mile route. You can see marching bands, cheerleaders, dancers, acrobats, and more. Around half a million spectators line the parade route to watch the entertainment (rain or shine), and around 300 million viewers tune in to the London New Year’s Day Parade around the world.
London’s 32 boroughs send a float to the parade and each is judged by a panel of foreign ambassadors and high commissioners to earn money for local charities. The parade starts at 12 noon in Piccadilly (outside the Ritz Hotel) and ends around 3 pm
Tips for enjoying the parade
With so many people gathering in London for the parade, you’ll want to know how to make sure you get the best view possible
- Pick up a copy of the Parade Post on the day to find out who is performing and when (usually available in comment posts or delivered by charity workers). The newspaper is free, but donations are appreciated.
- Try to reach an observation point along the route before 11am to ensure a decent spot.
- LNYDP asked that the bands march in silence as they pass the Cenotaph, the war memorial in Whitehall, so if you want to enjoy the music, choose a location away from this area.
- Celebrity commentators dot the route to introduce parade performers, so keep your eyes peeled for a famous face.
- Watch for free along the parade route, or reserve grandstand tickets.
The parade route
The 2-mile parade route passes the following landmarks:
- Piccadilly
- Piccadilly circus
- Lower Street Regent
- Waterloo place
- Pall Mall
- Cockspur Street
- Trafalgar Square (center of the route)
- Whitehall
- Parliament Street.
See the parade route map for more details.
How to get to the parade route
Public transportation is the best way to get to the parade route, although you can also hire a taxi or drive into town and pay for parking. If you decide to drive, use the Auto Partnership Route Planner or Google Maps to plan your route. You can pre-reserve a parking space in a parking lot near the parade route on the Q-Park website.
The London bus system will take you to various points along the route. The Transport for London central bus map will help you plan your journey.
The metro stops on and near the parade route are:
On the parade route:
- Westminster (Circle and District, Jubilee)
- Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly, Bakerloo)
- Charing Cross (Bakerloo)
Near the parade route:
- Embankment (Circle and District, Bakerloo, North)
- St. James’s Park (Circle and District)
- Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria)
British Charing Cross Train Station is a 5-minute walk from Trafalgar Square, in the middle of the parade route. For train times, fare information and to plan your trip to London, visit the National Rail page.
Coming from outside the city, the National Express bus connects to all UK destinations and London airports. London Embankment Station is 0.2 km from Trafalgar Square. The bus also stops at London Waterloo train station, which is .5 miles from Trafalgar Square. You can book your trip online.
The Transport for London website has the most up-to-date travel information for the day of the event.
