Lord Mayor’s Show 2025: When, Where & What’s Happening, the friendly guide
This AI-generated image is used purely to artistically represent the event’s essence.
There are few London moments as proudly old-school and gloriously civic as the Lord Mayor’s Show. Imagine military bands, livery companies in their finery, illuminated floats, marching contingents, hundreds of horses, a glittering gold coach and the sort of pageantry that feels like history and carnival had a very British baby.
2025 is extra special. For the first time in the event’s 800-plus year history, the City will crown a Lady Mayor Dame Susan Langley DBE and the day will be billed as the Lady Mayor’s Show. The procession and civic ceremonies happen in the City of London on Saturday 8 November 2025, and the public parade runs roughly from 11:00am to mid-afternoon.
Below is everything you need: where to watch, how to get there, the route and timings, what to expect (and what to skip), plus top tips to make the experience feel special rather than squeezed.
Quick facts you’ll want to pin now
When: Saturday 8 November 2025, public procession from about 11:00am to early afternoon.
Where: Starts in the City Mansion House / Guildhall area proceeds past St Paul’s, down Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice, then returns along the Embankment and Victoria Street.
Who: The 697th Lord Mayor (this year styled Lady Mayor), Dame Susan Langley DBE.
Cost: Free to watch it’s a public civic parade.
The route why location matters (and where to stand)
The procession’s route is one of this show’s charms because it threads through the City’s most atmospheric streets and past famous landmarks. Traditionally the outward procession travels from Mansion House via Cheapside and St Paul’s, down Fleet Street to the Royal Courts of Justice (Strand). The return leg is along the Embankment and up Victoria Street, finishing back in the City. Because the procession itself can be three miles long and takes time to pass a single viewing point, pick your spot wisely: near St Paul’s or along the Embankment gives you a long, varied show with good photo angles.
Best viewing spots for different vibes:
Family-friendly & close to action: Cheapside and the area around St Paul’s you’ll see ceremonial halts and the Dean’s blessing on St Paul’s steps.
Iconic photos & slightly less crush: Millennium Bridge / Waterloo Bridge glimpses give dramatic skyline backdrops.
Less crowded, more processional length: Embankment or parts of Fleet Street toward the Royal Courts of Justice.
Always arrive early to claim a good place think at least 60–90 minutes before the Lord Mayor’s carriage is due at your spot.
How to get there (stations to use and what to avoid)
The City is well-served by public transport, but on Lord Mayor’s Show day several roads are closed and buses rerouted. Plan to use the Tube or walk rather than drive. Here are the most useful stations and walking times:
Bank / Mansion House / St Paul’s (Central / Circle / District / Northern / Waterloo & City lines): best for central City viewing (Mansion House and Cheapside).
Blackfriars / Temple / Chancery Lane: handy for the Fleet Street / Royal Courts sections.
Waterloo / Embankment / Temple: useful if you want to watch the return leg on the Embankment.
Avoid driving near the Square Mile road closures are extensive and parking is suspended; check the official closures map before you travel.
TfL and the City of London post timed road closure and bus diversion info in the run-up check those pages the day before travel so you’re not rerouted unexpectedly.
What actually happens (the bits everyone talks about)
The Lord Mayor’s Show is a woven programme of civic formalities and spectacle:
Silent Ceremony (the night before): the Lord Mayor takes office in a private statutory ceremony (the “Silent Ceremony”) at the Guildhall on the Friday, then is presented to the city and the crown the next day.
The Procession: livery companies, charities, military bands, community groups and floats pass in sequence. Because the show is long, the visual sequence keeps changing horses, flags, historic uniforms, modern community floats. Expect up to thousands of participants.
St Paul’s blessing: a short ceremonial stop at St Paul’s where the Dean gives a civic blessing an especially photogenic moment.
Presentation to the Royal Courts: the Lord Mayor is presented to the judges (a historic legal tradition) at the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand.
This day mixes ancient ritual with joyful pageantry and it’s very London: equal parts solemn and celebratory.
Tips to make the day brilliant (not just tolerable)
Arrive early. Streets fill fast. For good family spots you want to be there 60–90 minutes beforehand.
Dress for the weather. November can be crisp; layers, waterproofs and comfy shoes will be your friends.
Bring snacks & a small foldable stool if you need to sit some viewing points have limited seating and most food stalls are clustered near hubs.
Plan your meeting point. If you split up, use a named pub, a landmark statue, or the entrance to a Tube station as a meetup mobile signals can be patchy.
Toilets: public loos exist but queues form; use nearby cafés or stations early. The official show map marks public conveniences.
Accessibility & safety what to know
The City publishes access guidance: there are designated access viewing areas for wheelchair users and people with mobility needs, but these can be limited contact the Lord Mayor’s Show organisers in advance if you need reserved space or particular help. The show is stewarded with first-aid points and a visible security presence; still, keep possessions close in dense crowds and agree a rendezvous point if you’re attending with family.
Note: Road closures are extensive if you have mobility issues, plan travel with extra time and use nearby accessible stations rather than attempting to drive.
For first-timers: a gentle half-day plan
If you only have a morning or an afternoon, here’s a simple plan:
09:30–10:00: arrive near Bank / Cheapside, grab coffee and claim a viewing spot.
11:00–12:30: watch the outward procession pass (you’ll see floats, bands and the civic pageant).
12:30–13:30: wander toward St Paul’s for the blessing; explore the cathedral’s forecourt (it’s an outstanding photo moment).
14:00: move toward Embankment or take the Tube home the return procession offers a different spectacle as it heads back.
This gives you the feel of the day without standing all afternoon.
Why 2025 feels different and why you should care
This year’s show has fresh historical weight: Dame Susan Langley’s appointment and her styling as Lady Mayor marks a symbolic moment for an institution that’s centuries old. People are turning out in larger numbers to mark a modern milestone in a very ancient parade and that sense of “history noticing itself” gives the route extra warmth and local emotion. It’s a city showing its civic heart.
Final thoughts be part of something Londoners love
The Lord Mayor’s Show is one of those days where London feels generational: old pages of guild history, modern charities, school bands, and a whole lot of people cheering in the cold. If you’re in London on 8 November 2025, go see it. Stand in a hopeful patch of pavement, clap for the floats, savour the moment when the sun hits a bugle, and remember you watched a tradition older than most nations.
If you want maps, a suggested viewing point near your Tube stop, or a short social-friendly caption pack for your own feed I’ll make one. And if you like guides written like a friend telling you the best place to stand, follow @london.yaar for more local tips, hidden corners and seasonal events that actually make visiting this city feel easy and warm.
See you on the route bring a scarf.