Remembrance in London costs nothing to take part in. You can stand on Whitehall for the National Service of Remembrance, walk through thousands of small crosses in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, or join the two-minute silence at the Imperial War Museum. Remembrance Sunday is on 8 November 2026, and Armistice Day falls on Wednesday 11 November. Here are the times, where to stand and everything free that week.
Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph
The National Service of Remembrance is held at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on the second Sunday of November. It remembers British and Commonwealth servicemen and women, military and civilian, from the two world wars and later conflicts. Members of the Royal Family lay wreaths, and afterwards Royal British Legion veterans march past the Cenotaph.
These are the official timings for Sunday 8 November 2026:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 8am | Whitehall opens to the public |
| From 10.30am | Detachments form up on Whitehall |
| From 10.50am | Participants process out to the Cenotaph |
| 11am | Two-minute silence, marked by guns fired by the King’s Troop on Horse Guards Parade. The service begins |
| 11.25am | The service ends and the Royal British Legion detachments march past the Cenotaph |
The march past takes a long time to go by, so if you can’t get close for the silence, stay on for the veterans afterwards.
Where to stand
You watch from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street. There are no tickets, but entry can be closed if the area gets full, so get there for 8am if you want a spot near the front.
- Near the Cenotaph: the best view, and the first to fill. Westminster, Charing Cross and Embankment stations are all a short walk away.
- North of the Cenotaph: big screens stand on the green in front of the statue of Field Marshal Montgomery, in the lay-by outside Dover House (between Horse Guards and Downing Street), and close to the junction with Whitehall Place. Handy if you arrive later.
- South of the Cenotaph: another screen stands on the corner of King Charles Street.
Expect police security checks on the way in. Don’t bring a large bag: bags with lots of compartments slow everyone down. Tripods can be removed if they block the view, drones are banned, and you’re asked not to take photos during the silence, when shutter noise carries.
Temporary toilets are in Whitehall Place, and St John Ambulance has first aid points along Whitehall. Great George Street is closed on the day: to get between Victoria Street and St James’s Park, use Storey’s Gate.
Map view
Remembrance in London 2026: free events and memorials
Free Remembrance events and viewing spots around Whitehall, Westminster Abbey and the Imperial War Museum, plus war memorials you can visit for free on a walk to Park Lane.
- Free events
- Viewing spots
- Free memorials
11 locations available on the map.
The Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey
Every November, tens of thousands of small wooden crosses and tributes with poppies are planted on the lawn beside Westminster Abbey, in plots for regiments, associations and other groups. 2026 is the 98th Field of Remembrance: it started in 1928 with a single cross and a tray of poppies.
- Dates: 6 to 15 November 2026.
- Times: 8.30am to 6pm, according to the Abbey’s listing. One of the groups taking part lists shorter hours, so check before a late visit.
- Price: free. You walk the paths outside; you don’t need an Abbey ticket.
- Where: the North Green, between the Abbey and Parliament Square.
The Poppy Factory, which organises the Field, says anyone can pick up a tribute and plant it in memory of someone. Inside the Abbey, the Remembrance Sunday service starts at 10.50am on 8 November and is streamed live on the Abbey’s website. Field of Remembrance 2026
Armistice Day, Wednesday 11 November
Armistice Day marks 11am on 11 November 1918, when the First World War ended. A two-minute silence is held at 11am at war memorials and in public places around the country, so you can stop wherever you are.
In central London, the Western Front Association holds its Armistice Day ceremony at the Cenotaph, with its parade moving onto Whitehall at about 10.50am. The parade is for its members, but the association expects a large crowd of the public on Whitehall. Afterwards, at noon, there’s a service at the Guards’ Chapel on Birdcage Walk, which is open to everyone. Western Front Association
11 November is also Singles’ Day, and the evening has free Christmas light switch-ons in Marylebone and Spitalfields. See what’s on in London on 11 November.
AJEX parade, Sunday 15 November
The week after, on Sunday 15 November, AJEX, the Jewish Military Association, holds its Remembrance parade and ceremony at the Cenotaph. This year it also marks 90 years since the Battle of Cable Street. AJEX invites everyone to join; if you want to march, book on its website by Friday 6 November. AJEX
Imperial War Museum
IWM London in Lambeth is free to visit. On Remembrance Sunday, gather in the Atrium from 10.55am for the two-minute silence at 11am, followed by the Last Post and a short viola recital by young musicians from London’s Centre for Young Musicians. If the crowds on Whitehall put you off, this is a calmer, indoor way to mark the silence. Remembrance at IWM London
While you’re there, Childhood in War is a free, hands-on exhibition about children’s lives in wartime from 1914 to today, with a recreated evacuee train carriage. It’s recommended for ages 8 and up and runs until 28 February 2027. Childhood in War
The nearest stations are Lambeth North, Elephant and Castle and Waterloo.
A free memorials walk
You can visit London’s best-known war memorials for free at any time, and many are laid with wreaths in November. This walk from the Cenotaph to Park Lane is about 3km:
- The Cenotaph, Whitehall. The national memorial, unveiled in its permanent form in 1920.
- Women of World War II, a few steps north on Whitehall.
- The Guards Memorial, on Horse Guards Road facing Horse Guards Parade.
- Walk through St James’s Park and up to Green Park for the Bomber Command Memorial on Piccadilly.
- The Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.
- Animals in War, on Park Lane by Brook Gate, for the animals that served and died alongside the armed forces.
For more walking routes, see our free self-guided London walks.
Access
On Remembrance Sunday there’s a dedicated viewing area for wheelchair users and anyone who would struggle in the main public areas. It’s on the west side of Parliament Street, close to the junction with King Charles Street. Places are first come, first served, one carer or guest per person can come in too, and there’s an accessible toilet nearby.
Common questions
Do I need a ticket to watch Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph?
No. No tickets or passes are needed. You watch from the pavements of Whitehall and Parliament Street, but entry can stop if the area fills up, so arrive early.
What time should I arrive for Remembrance Sunday?
Whitehall opens at 8am. For a spot near the Cenotaph, be there when it opens. If you arrive later, watch on the big screens north and south of the Cenotaph.
What date is Remembrance Sunday in 2026?
Sunday 8 November 2026. Armistice Day is always 11 November, which is a Wednesday in 2026.
Is the Field of Remembrance free?
Yes. The Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey is free to visit from 6 to 15 November 2026, and you don’t need an Abbey ticket to walk through it.
Can I watch it on TV?
Yes. The Remembrance Sunday service is shown live on the BBC, ITV and Sky.
The weekend after Remembrance Sunday, the free Lord Mayor’s Show fills the City of London on Saturday 14 November.
Details are from the government’s National Service of Remembrance page, Westminster Abbey, IWM, the Western Front Association and AJEX, checked on 29 October 2026. Check the organisers before you travel, as arrangements can change.