What to know: Every November, the City of London puts on one of the oldest, biggest, and most colorful street pageants on planet Earth. It is called the Lord Mayor’s Show, and its roots date all the way back to the year 1215. King John was desperate for support from the wealthy merchants of London, so he granted a royal charter allowing the city to elect its own Mayor. There was just one big condition: every newly elected Mayor had to make the journey down the River Thames to Westminster to swear direct loyalty to the Crown. That historic oath-taking journey slowly evolved over eight centuries into a gigantic, festive three-mile street parade.
Today, the procession features more than 7,000 participants, 200 horses, dozens of marching military bands, giant acrobatic floats, and members of ancient trade guilds dressed in medieval robes. The undeniable star of the day is the Lord Mayor’s State Coach. Built in 1757 and painted with allegorical artwork by Giovanni Cipriani, it is the oldest ceremonial vehicle still in regular use anywhere in the world.
While hundreds of thousands of people stand on the sidewalks for free, the crowds get five or six people deep along Fleet Street and Cheapside. If you are bringing younger children or grandparents who cannot stand on their feet for three hours, booking allocated grandstand seats right outside St Paul’s Cathedral is the ultimate insider move. These raised seats give you a perfect, uninterrupted view of the golden carriage and marching brass bands, but tickets must be secured months ahead of the autumn rush.
Address: St Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD (Grandstand Seating Area)
Contact: +44 20 7332 3000
