Parades & Ceremonies
The Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London is our own personal favourite, but Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace is so popular with tourists that we made it number one in our London Bucket List. There are two more daily parades at Horse Guards: the Dismounting Ceremony and another Changing the Guards.
Ceremony of the Keys at the Tower of London A Yeoman Warder has been locking up the Tower of London every night for 700 years6
Dismounting Ceremony (4 OClock Parade) at Horse Guards A daily ceremony of Foot Guards and cavalry that takes place in the courtyard at Horse Guards7
Changing the Guard ceremony at Horse Guards Parade Changing the Guard at Horse Guards is similar to Buckingham Palace but a lot less crowded6
Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace Changing the Guard at the palace is one of Londons must-see sights10
Guided Tour: Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace Watch the soldiers marching after forming up outside St Jamess Palace
Gun salutes in the Royal Parks & Tower of London Listen to a deafening gun salute to mark the monarchs birthday or accession to the throne3
Notting Hill Carnival - Europes biggest street party More than a million people attend Europes biggest street festival over Bank Holiday weekend
Costermongers Harvest Festival in Guildhall Yard A Pearly Kings & Queens Festival with Morris dancers and May Pole dancing
Diwali in Trafalgar Square – The Festival of Lights Trafalgar Square will be putting up a stage and stalls to celebrate the beautiful Festival of Lights
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 dead30
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
Covent Garden May Fayre & Puppet Festival Watch a Punch & Judy show and brass band procession around Covent Garden
Eid in the Square - Muslim Festival in Trafalgar Square Celebrate the end of Ramadan and explore some Islamic culture and traditions