Hello Everyone, I'm very excited to be returning to London and have a question regarding the big parade. As a best guess, if the parade begins at Piccadilly & Berkeley around noon what time does that area begin to clear out? I'm looking at some plans that would put me at the Green Park tube station 1:15-1:30 and am wondering if I should delay or look at getting creative with my transportation - understanding it's a holiday of course! Any insights would be appreciated.
Posted by
London, England.
662 posts
NYD parade isn't huge as London events go because most people, especially locals, can't be bothered to drag themselves out of bed at 12 on new years day. It is fun though, but quiet by London event standards. I wouldn't make any special avoiding plans. Have fun.
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
Oddly it is possibly higher profile on television in the USA than the UK. The route was specifically changed in 2010 to be reversed to provide the best camera angles for the international television coverage. It is also for some reason usually has a lot of marching bands from the USA in it. Can't deny that there is a crowd on the street for it though and its charitable purpose.
It isn't that historic, dating only back to 1987.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5554 posts
I never even realised there was one.
Posted by
OP
USA
163 posts
A little perspective goes a long way! Thanks to each of you for the replies, I will forge ahead as planned and embrace whatever remnants of the festivities I may find.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33997 posts
It isn't that big, it is virtually all American, it does have bands.
I came across it a few years ago as I was walking in the Westminster Abbey area where they were breaking up.
Lots of Americans. Pretty much all from the parade, few if any onlookers.
Posted by
OP
USA
163 posts
All of your references to the American attendees make me smile. I'm not a parade person myself but my mom/travel buddy LOVES a parade and if she were traveling with me this time, we'd be lining up along Piccadilly to ensure a good vantage point. I had to explain to her on our last visit that the changing of the guards was less parade and more gated spectacle without good visibility. We skipped the crowds and I think she has decided to keep her more romantic, if not accurate, idea of what it entails.
Thank you again for the replies!
Posted by
Oxford, United Kingdom
5466 posts
It started off life as the Lord Mayor of Westminster's Big Parade, which suggests it might have been a rival to the "Lord Mayor's Show " put on by the Lord Mayor of London in November.
Posted by
Hampshire, England.
1075 posts
There's a few videos on Youtube of the N.Y. parade:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BAUECmBYzw