Parades & Ceremonies
Highlights include the Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London, Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards, and the daily Dismounting Ceremony
Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London A Yeoman Warder has been locking up the Tower of London every night for 700 years
Dismounting Ceremony (4 OClock Parade) at Horse Guards A daily ceremony of Foot Guards and cavalry that takes place in the courtyard at Horse Guards
Changing the Guard ceremony at Horse Guards Parade Changing the Guard at Horse Guards is similar to Buckingham Palace but a lot less crowded
Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace Changing the Guard at the palace is one of Londons must-see sights
Guided Tour: Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace Watch the soldiers marching after forming up outside St Jamess Palace
New Years Day Parade 2025 Celebrate the start of 2025 with a parade of acrobats cheerleaders and marching bands
Chinese New Year celebration in Trafalgar Square Celebrate the Chinese Year of the Snake with a parade through Chinatown to Trafalgar Square
Kings Army Parade to Banqueting House for Charles I The English Civil War Society will march from St Jamess Palace to Banqueting House in full dress
St Patricks Day Parade & Festival in Trafalgar Square Watch the lively parade and enjoy all the Irish food and music in Trafalgar Square
The Passion of Jesus – Easter Story in Trafalgar Square Celebrate Easter by re-enacting the Biblical story and Jesuss final days in Trafalgar Square
Vaisakhi – Sikh and Hindu Festival in Trafalgar Square Celebrate the start of the Sikh New Year and explore some of their culture and traditions
Celebrate St Georges Day in Trafalgar Square Celebrate our nations patron saint with live entertainment and food and drink stalls
Gun salutes in Green Park Hyde Park & Tower of London Listen to a deafening gun salute to mark the monarchs birthday or accession to the throne
Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival Watch a Punch & Judy show and brass band procession around Covent Garden
Major Generals Review (Trooping the Colour rehearsal) Two weeks before Trooping the Colour takes place they hold a full rehearsal called the Major Generals Review
The Colonels Review (Trooping the Colour rehearsal) One week before Trooping the Colour they hold a full rehearsal called the Colonels Review
Eid in the Square - Muslim Festival in Trafalgar Square Celebrate the end of Ramadan and explore some Islamic culture and traditions
Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards & RAF flypast Parade between Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards followed by an RAF flypast
Beating Retreat - Musical military pageant at Horse Guards A floodlit pageant of military music on Horse Guards Parade with fireworks
Historic cart marking ceremony in Guildhall Yard See the Sheriffs dressed in traditional robes marking vehicles with a red-hot iron
Sheep Drive on Southwark Bridge & Livery Fair Watch Freemen re-enact their ancient right to drive sheep across Southwark Bridge
Lord Mayors Show - Gold coach parade through London Two-mile procession through the City of London to mark the election of the Lord Mayor
Remembrance Sunday Parade at the Cenotaph Whitehall Thousands of war veterans parade past the Cenotaph to remember the nations war dead