The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of London’s best free days out: a procession of more than 7,000 people, marching bands, floats, horses and a gilded State Coach built in 1757, stretching over three miles through the City. It costs nothing to watch and you don’t need a ticket. The 2026 Show is on Saturday 14 November, setting off from Mansion House at 11am. Here’s where to stand, when the procession reaches each spot, and what else you can do for free that day.
What is the Lord Mayor’s Show?
Every year a new Lord Mayor of the City of London takes office, and the day after the private Silent Ceremony they travel to the Royal Courts of Justice to swear loyalty to the Crown. That journey has been made for more than 800 years, and the parade around it became the Lord Mayor’s Show. It’s always on the second Saturday in November.
In 2026 the 698th Lord Mayor will be Alderman Bronek Masojada, who takes office on Friday 13 November. The procession mixes ancient pageantry, such as the Pikemen of the Honourable Artillery Company, with military bands and floats from City firms, charities and schools. There’s no evening fireworks display any more, so plan to watch in daylight.
Route and timings
The procession goes out from Mansion House past St Paul’s, down Ludgate Hill and along Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. It comes back along Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria Street to Mansion House. Because it’s so long, it takes over an hour to pass any one spot, so wherever you stand there’s always something going by.
These timings are from the organisers’ own timetable, so treat them as a guide:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 11am | The head of the procession leaves Mansion House |
| About 11.13am | The procession reaches St Paul’s |
| About 11.26am | The procession reaches the Royal Courts of Justice at Aldwych |
| About 12.11pm | The State Coach with the new Lord Mayor reaches St Paul’s for a blessing |
| About 12.31pm | The State Coach arrives at the Royal Courts, where the oath is taken |
| About 1.10pm | The return leg sets off from Temple Place |
| About 1.18pm | The procession passes the top of Blackfriars Bridge |
| About 1.33pm | The head of the procession is back at Mansion House |
| About 2.30pm | The Lord Mayor returns to Mansion House, and the Show ends |
On Show day a live map shows where the procession is, and you can browse the 2026 procession order in advance on the official website. The printed programme costs £5, cash only, from Scout and Guide volunteers along the route, and £1 of each sale goes to the seller.
Map view
Lord Mayor's Show 2026: where to watch
The outward route runs from Mansion House (start) past St Paul's and along Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice (end). The return leg comes back along Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria Street. The other pins are free things to do nearby.
- Start: Mansion House
- Royal Courts of Justice
- Places to watch
- Free things nearby
9 locations available on the map.
Where to watch
The best spot depends on how much you like crowds. The organisers suggest three ways to do it:
For the full experience: Bank to St Paul’s, 11am to noon
The outward procession squeezes through narrow City streets past the liveliest crowds, and the BBC broadcasts from around Mansion House. This is the most atmospheric stretch and the most crowded. Arrive at Bank by 10 to 10.30am, or at St Paul’s by about 10.45am. Bank and St Paul’s stations are very busy all morning, so get off at Mansion House, Cannon Street or Blackfriars and walk.
For space and calm: Victoria Embankment, 1.15pm to 2.30pm
Watch the return leg between Temple and Blackfriars, where the roads and pavements are wider. There’s room for wheelchairs, buggies, folding chairs and families, and you don’t need to arrive early: about 1.15pm is enough. Temple and Blackfriars stations are close, or walk over Millennium Bridge or Blackfriars Bridge.
To make a day of it: watch both legs
Watch the outward procession in the morning, have lunch, then see the Lord Mayor return to Mansion House at about 2.30pm, when the pageantry peaks with saluting guards and the Pikemen. Fleet Street is a good compromise for the outward leg: less packed than Bank, but you need to be there by 11am. If you’re watching near Aldwych, about 11.15am is fine.
Getting there and road closures
Almost the whole City of London is closed to traffic for most of Show day, so don’t drive or take the bus. Every bus route that normally crosses the City is diverted or turned back, and parking bays near the route are suspended from the Friday afternoon. Roads usually reopen before 4pm. TfL publishes full bus diversions in the week before the Show.
The Tube, trains, river buses and bikes all work well. The organisers recommend:
- Mansion House, Cannon Street or Blackfriars for the outward leg, instead of the crowded Bank and St Paul’s stations.
- Temple or Blackfriars for the return leg on the Embankment. The Blackfriars river bus stop is right by the route.
- Farringdon (Elizabeth line) and City Thameslink, which are both step-free and quieter than Bank or St Paul’s.
Pay as you go with contactless or Oyster as usual. There are no special fares on Show day.
Free things to do nearby
With the traffic gone, the City is a pleasant place to wander once the procession has passed.
- St Paul’s Cathedral, free entry all day. On Show day the cathedral floor and the crypt are free and unticketed from 8.30am, with last admission at 4pm. There’s an organ showcase from 1.15pm to 2pm and Evensong at 3pm. Normally you need a paid sightseeing ticket, so this is the big saving of the day. The Dome Galleries still cost extra: £13.50 for adults, £12 for seniors and students, £5.25 for children. Lord Mayor’s Show Day at St Paul’s
- Guildhall Art Gallery and London’s Roman Amphitheatre. Free, and open from 11am to 5pm on Show day (an hour later than usual). The remains of the Roman amphitheatre are in the basement. Guildhall Art Gallery
- London Mithraeum. A free Roman temple beneath the Bloomberg building, open on Saturdays from 10am to 6pm. Booking isn’t required but guarantees entry. London Mithraeum
- A free City walk. The organisers say City of London Guides lead free guided walks from No 1 Poultry, opposite Mansion House, at around 3pm. Or follow one of our free self-guided London walks.
- A free view. The Sky Garden is free but needs booking well ahead. See when Sky Garden tickets are released, or our free views of London guide for spots with no booking.
Access
The busiest areas are around Mansion House and St Paul’s. If crowds are a concern, Fleet Street, Victoria Embankment and Queen Victoria Street are more spread out, and you can use a folding chair there. The organisers suggest Victoria Embankment at about 1pm for wheelchair users.
- Blue Badge holders can watch the outward leg from a reserved area at the junction of Ludgate Street and Old Bailey, with a B pass. Space on Queen Victoria Street is set aside for coaches bringing elderly or disabled people to watch the return leg, with a C pass. Details are on the access page.
- Accessible toilets are at Blackfriars Bridge, Old Bailey, New Change, and on Queen Victoria Street at the junction with Cannon Street.
- Step-free stations: Farringdon and City Thameslink.
Common questions
Is the Lord Mayor's Show free?
Yes. Watching the procession is completely free and there are no tickets. The only optional cost is the £5 printed programme.
What date is the Lord Mayor's Show in 2026?
Saturday 14 November 2026. The procession leaves Mansion House at 11am and the Show ends at about 2.30pm, when the Lord Mayor returns to Mansion House.
Are there fireworks at the Lord Mayor's Show?
No. The evening fireworks were dropped years ago, so the Show is a daytime event. For fireworks the weekend before, see our Bonfire Night fireworks guide.
Is it cancelled if it rains?
Almost never. The organisers say the Show has only been cancelled twice in 200 years, most recently in 1852. Bring a waterproof: umbrellas block the view for people behind you.
Can I watch it on TV?
Yes. The BBC usually broadcasts the Show live from around Mansion House.
The Sunday before, 8 November, is Remembrance Sunday. See our Remembrance Sunday guide for free events at the Cenotaph and the Field of Remembrance.
Details are from the official Lord Mayor’s Show website, St Paul’s Cathedral and the City of London, checked on 29 October 2026. Timings follow the organisers’ standard timetable and can shift on the day, so check the live map before you go.