Traditions old and new blend together on the streets of London this weekend, culminating in a fabulous free firework display, as the famous Lord Mayor's Show takes place.
The annual event, involving an extravagant procession through the streets of London, occurs this year on Saturday 14th November. Although it's always televised and you can watch bits of it on TV at home, nothing beats attending in person and experiencing the atmosphere for yourself.
The
Lord Mayor's Show is a tradition that dates back to 1215, and the charter of King John, when the Lord Mayor was required to swear a pledge of allegiance to the Sovereign in the presence of the Judges of the Queen's Bench Division and the Lord Chief Justice.
The tradition has carried on through the centuries and the three mile route wends its way through many of London's historic areas. It begins at Mansion House, at 11.05am, heading for the Royal Courts of Justice via landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral, Ludgate Circus and Temple Bar.
The newly elected Lord Mayor for 2009-2010, Alderman Nick Anstee, will be the key player in the procession and travels in the traditional State Coach. But there are over 6,000 other groups and individuals taking part too, including charities, military bands, musicians, the RAF, dancers, individual Londoners and livery companies, making it a lively and entertaining celebration of London old and new. You can get an idea of what's in store, by having a look at the
processional order list.
The Lord Mayor will spend about an hour and a quarter at the Royal Courts, but the rest of the procession will continue and is expected to go on until about 2.30pm. To get an idea of where to go and what to see at various times during the processing, there's a list of expected timings
here.
It's not all over when the procession finishes, though. If you want to find out more about the history of the streets and buildings nearby, then there are some
guided tours available. Starting from No 1 Poultry House, the free walking tours begin about 3pm, are gently paced and involve a one mile walk, making them suitable for all ages.
At five o'clock the day comes to an end with an impressive firework display above the river Thames. The display includes over half a tonne of massive fireworks, which takes two days to be set up. For the best view, head to the Victoria Embankment area.
