New Year’s Day Parade

Billed at the greatest show on earth, the New Year parade is certainly set to be a spectacle – with over 10,000 participants from the UK, US, Europe entertaining crowds of over 500,000. The parade started over 30 years ago and has been growing ever since, with floats, bands, giant balloons cheerleaders and entertainers as well as a series of concerts across the city. The route begins at 12pm on Piccadilly and moves through lower Regent Street, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and ending on Parliament street. There are a whole tonne of great vantage spots along the route with a network of closed roads and the option pf seats on a bandstand if you don’t mind shelling out £30. The event has a charitable focus, with each London Borough entering a performance – with everything from floats to dances – designed to display the diversity of the city. The boroughs are competing for a cash prize in the region of £40,000 which they can distribute to chosen charities in their area. In the past the parade as a whole has collected well over a million pounds for charity, so you can enjoy the parade as well as helping others. While tickets are not required for the parade, they are needed if you want to attend any of the concerts in the Festival of Music Concert Series which features some of the world’s best choirs and orchestras. End times for the parade are unavailable, but you’ll want to be there bright and early to get a good view!

(Lily Crossley-Baxter)