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The Lord Mayor's Show is one of the longest running pageants in the world with military bands, acrobats, decorated floats and a spectacular gold coach.
It dates back over 800 years to the time of the Magna Carta when the City successfully pressured King John into allowing them to appoint their own Mayor. The King insisted that they travel up to Westminster to swear an oath of loyalty to the Crown, and the Lord Mayors have been making that same journey ever since.
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowToday's procession is a direct descendant of that original journey, and whilst the route might have changed over the years, the colourful pageantry would still be recognisable to the likes of Shakespeare, Pepys and Canaletto.
696th Lord Mayor of London
This year will see another Alderman sworn in as the 696th Lord Mayor of London.
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowMansion House to St. Paul's Cathedral
The two-mile parade begins at 11 AM outside the Lord Mayor's official residence at Mansion House. A military band will lead it down Poultry and Cheapside (11.07 AM), before turning left at One New Change and down the side of St. Paul's Cathedral (11.13 AM).
It will then continue down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street towards the Royal Courts of Justice (11.28 AM).
Lord Mayor's gold coach leaves Guildhall
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowThe gold coach sets off from Guildhall a little while later and doesn't arrive at Mansion House until just after 12 noon, where it will pick up the new Lord Mayor. The fabulously ornate coach is now over 250 years old and will be accompanied by pikemen in traditional dress.
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowWhen the coach reaches St. Paul's the new Lord Mayor will stop to receive a blessing (12.08 PM). The wide streets around St. Paul's makes this one of the best places to stand if you want to get a good view of the parade.
Oath of allegiance at the Royal Courts of Justice
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowThe coach then follows the parade down Ludgate Hill and Fleet Street towards the Royal Courts of Justice, where the Lord Mayor will stop to take the historic oath of allegiance to the Crown (12.28 PM).
Return journey along Victoria Embankment
Photo: facebook.com/TheLordMayorsShowThe parade will then form up again along the river (just past Temple station), and set off for the return journey at around 1.15 PM.
This time it will head along the Embankment and Victoria Street towards Mansion House, arriving at 1.32 PM. The gold coach carrying the Mayor will arrive at 2.32 PM, where the presenting of arms and saluting of the guards will signal the end of the show.
We also recommend… If you enjoy Mansion House then you might like to visit Guildhall (you can walk it in 4 mins) and Royal Courts of Justice (walk it in 22 mins)
How to get to Mansion House
| Fare zone | Cash | Oyster & Contactless | Travelcard | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single fare | Single fare | Daily cap | One day | ||||
| Peak | Off-peak | Peak | Off-peak | Anytime | Off-peak | ||
| Bus (all zones) | n/a | £1.75 | £5.25 | £6 | |||
| Train (zone 1) | £7 | £2.90 | £2.80 | £8.90 | £8.90 | £16.60(zone 1-4) | £16.60(zone 1-6) |
| Train (zone 1-2) | £7 | £3.50 | £2.90 | £8.90 | £8.90 | ||
| Train (zone 1-3) | £7 | £3.80 | £3.10 | £10.50 | £10.50 | ||
| Train (zone 1-4) | £7 | £4.60 | £3.40 | £12.80 | £12.80 | ||
| Train (zone 1-5) | £7 | £5.20 | £3.60 | £15.30 | £15.30 | £23.60(zone 1-6) | |
| Train (zone 1-6) | £7 | £5.80* | £3.80* | £16.30 | £16.30 | ||
| * Journeys between zone 1 and Heathrow are always charged at the peak rate. Prices are correct as of | |||||||