Where to watch the New Year’s Day Parade in London

Watching London’s world-famous New Year’s Day Parade will be the perfect way to begin 2020. The parade has been steadily gaining in popularity since the first one took place in 1987, growing from 2,000 participants back then to over 10,000 this year!

What to expect

This year’s theme is ‘London Loves Life’. The parade will feature entertainment from around the world, from musicians, dancers, marching bands, brass bands, horses and donkeys, to cheerleaders, samba bands, Latin American dancers, classic American cars, classic British cars, Chinese dragons, stunt motorcycles, skaters, large inflatable balloons – including a 30-foot-tall Mayor of London – and much more!

The Route

The parade will begin in Piccadilly at the junction of Berkeley Street. The route will take it east towards Piccadilly Circus, where it will take in Regent Street St James’s, Pall Mall and Trafalgar Square before travelling down Whitehall to the finish at Parliament Square.

Spectators will be able to stand anywhere along the route to watch the parade from the pavement.

Where to sit

If you don’t fancy standing for the entire parade, which will probably last for three hours or more, treat yourselves and book a grandstand seat which will give you a great view, even if you’re sitting at the back. Seats are £40 each and selling fast. Grandstands will be erected on Piccadilly, Regent Street, Pall Mall and Whitehall.

If you get peckish

There are many bars, cafés and restaurants on the streets that line the route of the parade, but organisers have also set up a Street Food Village on the corner of Regent Street/Waterloo Place and Pall Mall (a short walk from Trafalgar Square). There’ll be food and drink from around the world, and if you’re worried about missing out on the parade, don’t be – there will be big screens to watch it on as you take a break for lunch.

NB Circular Cruise will not be operating a service on 1st January 2020. We will be open for business again on Thursday 2nd January 2020 with a full Winter service.