We are almost ready! New Years Day in London

"We are flying in from the US so we will be tired, but want to stay awake until evening so acclimate!"

The last 2 trips I used the Timeshifter app to help with jet lag. I live in CdA so fly out of Spokane via either Seattle or SLC. I had terrible jet lag in the spring of 2023 and wanted to not waste any time on it for a short trip in summer 2023. The first round trip with Timeshifter is free. They base their recommendations on NASA science for the astronauts on the space station and tailor the program to your circadian rhythm (lark or night owl?), how many hours you normally sleep and your flight schedule. Then you are given recommendations for seeking or avoiding light and caffeine and also when to use melatonin if that is something that you use. Using the app I've not had jet lag either going to Western Europe or coming back to North Idaho.

You do need to start the program 2-3 days in advance so if it's of interest, I'd go ahead and download the app and input your information.

When you are asking about the "Clam", I suspect you actually mean the Oyster card? It's a transit card for London BUT nowadays you can just tap in and out of the transit system with a credit card. On my last trip I used all the money I'd previously loaded onto the Oyster and switchd to the CC which was much easier! Each person needs a credit card to tap in with.

Take the Piccadilly Line into London. I'd be inclined to stay on that, and get off at Leicester Square. Stasher use the Premier Inn at Leicester Square- so that's the obvious answer for your luggage.

The parade is going down Whitehall to Westminster. It is about 15 to 20 minutes walk from Leicester Square to Parliament Square- but the sidewalks are going to be busy, and there will probably be crush barriers up.

Anywhere down Whitehall you'll see the Parade. If I was trying to get to Westminster on such a day I'd be inclined to go through Admiralty Arch onto The Mall then first left onto Horseguards Road.

It's quite a ceremonial route down there, and you get to peep into the back garden of 10 Downing Street if access to the Earl Mountbatten Memorial is open.

PS- the Rail Strike will only affect those going out of Euston on Avanti- I believe you are either doing Day trips out of London or going on to Bath- either way it will have no affect on you.

Either straight down Horseguards Road to Parliament Square or try and nip back to Whitehall up the Clive Steps (Don't miss the Bali Bombing wall at the base of the steps) by the Cabinet War Rooms along King Charles Street .

It's a case of seeing what it's like on the day, how early or late you are and being adaptive.

I'd either walk the lights or take one of the normal Red London bus routes through. I doubt they'll be switched off until after twelfth night (The Epiphany) the following weekend so don't think there is a rush that night.
Maybe Gerry M or Volva will tell me I'm talking tosh about when the lights are switched off, and that's fine- but that is my assessment.

I think you will be tight on time. You plane nominally gets in at 9:45. How is its record for on-time arrivals? Which terminal (2,3,4 or 5 at Heathrow)?

If you are on time and carrying luggage, figure an hour to get out of the airport and an hour into London by Piccadilly Line or other combination such as Elizabeth and tube or Heathrow Express and tube. That's two hours and the parade starts at Green Park at noon. I don't know how long the parade expects to take to walk but Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square and Whitehall isn't a really long walk, and you want to see it all, so I don't know when it will reach Westminster.

I am not convinced that you have a lot of time to find the stasher (are they open for stashing on 1/1?) and stash and then get to your viewing point.

If the time works out for you I like Stuart's thoughts.

Be aware if you consider the Elizabeth Line that there is planned engineering work on the line that day between the airport and Paddington until a planned 7 am. It is not unheard of for engineering work to run over. Just be prepared.

If you are considering using the Piccadilly Line (would have been my choice too) that the Uxbridge branch (not the Piccadilly line branch which serves the airport but a branch near the airport) will be closed all night and until at least 11:00 am to provide trains for the main line which serves the airport due to equipment shortages and repairs to damage caused by leaf fall and recent storms. There may be missing trains on the airport service causing some delays - or it may be perfectly normal by the time you board.

On a quiet New Years Day have you considered a taxi which should be able to zip you into town quite quickly? May not be the cheapest but perhaps best?

No Clam.

The Avanti West Coast strikes on Sundays will have no effect on GWR services to Bath and Oxford, or CrossCountry services - they are not related and GWR doesn't intersect with Avanti West Coast; CrossCountry crosses it but won't be affected.