St Patrick’s Day 2024 in London: When is parade, what time does it start and finish, route - do you need tickets?

St Patrick’s Day celebrations will return to London on tomorrow (Sunday 17 March) with Trafalgar Square once again hosting the official festival. Tens of thousands of people are expected to turn out for the extravaganza.

There will be floats, music and pageantry during the parade. The annual shindig in London has become a firm fixture of the annual cultural calendar.  Here is all you need to know.

Where is the parade taking place?

London’s St Patrick’s Day parade will form up on Piccadilly and set off at midday from Hyde Park Corner. Irish drag star Panti Bliss will be this year’s parade grand master, leading the procession way towards Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, St James's, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and finally onto Whitehall. 

It then concludes in Trafalgar Square for the main festivities. Watching the procession from Piccadilly before heading directly to Trafalgar Square will probably ensure the best view of the passing of the parade. The festivities are due to end at around 6pm.

What else is taking place?

The best of Irish arts, music, food and drink will follow the capital’s annual parade. There will be a line-up curated in partnership with the London Irish centre, including the Irish Celtic Youth Orchestra, the Maguire O’Shea School of Dance, and the Irish Pensioners Choir.

This year’s host will be writer and producer Xnthony, while the chef Anna Haugh — best-known for her appearances on TV’s MasterChef and her Chelsea restaurant Myrtle — returns to orchestrate food demos alongside children’s workshops and games.

Listed is the Trafalgar square line-up:

• MC/Host: Xnthony
• Eamonn Galldubh
• Irish Pensioners Choir
• Maguire O'Shea Dance Academy
• The Trad Gathering
• The Irish Celtic Youth Orchestra
• Kestine
• Ruairi Glasheen and his bodhran players
• Junk Kouture fashion show compered by Sinead Burke
• Lisa Canny ensemble Biird
• Jiggy
• Belters Only
• Irish Film London Screen Programme

Camden Market this weekend is offering bottomless Guinness for £25. Across this weekend, March 16 and 17, the Stables in Camden Market is hosting a festival, which will run from 2pm to 9pm on both days. Tickets start at £10, but for £25, plus a booking fee, an hour of bottomless Guinness is offered.

Do you have to buy tickets?

The day is free for all however there are some strict conditions on entry requirements. All bags larger than an A4 size piece of paper will be refused entry as well as a list of prohibited items that can be found via the website here.