It’s consistently referred to as one of the greatest cities to visit on the face of the earth – being that it’s absolutely brimming with globally-renowned attractions and venues, marvellous Michelin-starred restaurants and brilliant bars, pubs and nightclubs – but London also have a unique appeal when it comes to finding yourself somewhere that’s capable of properly celebrating major occasions.
For instance, should you be planning to spend the New Year in the UK capital (indeed, wherever you may be staying; especially if it’s centrally-located like, say, The Montcalm at The Brewery London City), after reading this article you may well ask yourself how you could possibly miss out on giving London’s New Year’s Day Parade (or LNYDP) a go?
A prestigious occasion in the city’s events calendar, the parade’s been going for roughly 30 years and, nowadays, gathers together a colourful, noisy, frolicsome and fun-filled cornucopia of dancers, acrobats, cheerleaders, marching bands, historic vehicles and much more.
In fact, these total 8,000 performers are carefully chosen so they specifically represent every one of the city’s boroughs – as well as several different nations around the world (London’s nothing if not a thorough global city, after all) – while they’re watched by as many as 60,000 spectators on the day and millions more on TV across the entire planet.
And, with all the performers assembling in the very centre of the city, they combine together to deliver a touch of traditional pomp and ceremony and a large, irresistible dash of modern-day performances, with an enormous number of balloons, confetti and, of course, music all thrown in for good.
Moreover, it should be pointed out that LNYDP also plays an important role in the city’s fundraising efforts for its own charities. A significant dimension of the event since its very beginnings, LNYDP has, by now, managed to raise and/ or donate more than £1.5m.
The parade route
So, if you like the sound of the above and fancy popping along to see the festivities for yourself on 1st January 2018, then be aware it all kicks-off at 12 noon on the day on the world-famous Piccadilly thoroughfare. From here, the parade’ll wind along Piccadilly, then through Piccadilly Circus, Lower Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and then finally conclude in Parliament Street at around 3.30pm.
All of which means that, should you choose to stay at one of the luxury hotels London in the centre of the city, you’ll be perfectly placed for rolling up at one of the grandstands along the West End-based route and take your seat, ready to witness and revel in all the festivities.
LNYDP Concert Series
However, all that said, LNYDP isn’t just about the parade because running alongside the long-standing, highly communal event that displays so much positive urban and global pride is a series of concerts that demonstrates the very best aural entertainment (delighting the ears of London’s visitors) that the city can put on at its very best venues.
This year’s concert series then is set to feature five shows over the New Year period at a pair of London’s most iconic concert venues, Cadogan Hall and St John’s Smith Square, on 29th and 30th December 2018 and 2nd January 2019, culminating in the grand finale of the London International Choral Festival. Now, surely that’s what you call giving the old year a good send-off… and the new one a good seeing-in!
+44(0) 7525 594 562
