Happy March! Today I want to bring you my guide to St Patrick’s Day in London. Whether you’re looking for the perfect Guinness, the best festivities, or a huge parade, there’s something in the UK capital for you. The city comes alive on and around March 17th, and it’s home to some of the biggest celebrations outside Ireland. Read on for my top picks for ways to get in on the fun. I’ve included a map, too.
St Patrick’s Day in London
One of the things I love about London is the abundance of things to do here. From landmarks and attractions to live music and shows, there’s something for everyone at any time of year. St Patrick’s Day is no exception.
Whether you like a good Irish pub, a bar crawl, or a big outdoor festival, there’s a way for you to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in London that fits your personal style (you’ll know that if you saw my free monthly newsletter the other day).
I hope my ideas for how to mark the occasion help you come up with the perfect way to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint on March 17th.
1. Parade
Since it’s one of the most popular things to do in London on St Patrick’s Day, I’ll start my list with the annual parade. This free procession celebrates all things Irish culture.
Starting at noon on Hyde Park Corner, the parade travels down Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street, and Whitehall before ending in Trafalgar Square.
The London St Patrick’s Day parade features marching bands, dancers, and performances, all led by a different grand marshal each year.
Over 50,000 people take part in it, with floats and performances from Irish community groups, marching bands, sports clubs, performing artists, dancers, and schools.
The parade is a great way to get into the spirit of the day, not to mention kick off a big afternoon and evening of celebrations. Make sure to check the date in advance, as it’s often on the weekend before or after March 17th.
2. Festival
As if the parade isn’t enough fun, the excitement continues with a big festival in Trafalgar Square. Featuring a main stage and a host for the afternoon, it offers entertainment, live music, and dance performances.
Away from the stage, you can enjoy short films, exhibitions, Irish language lessons, arts and crafts, food, drinks, and cultural demonstrations.
The festival ends around 6pm with a grand singalong finale in the square. It’s a fun way to cap off a day of celebrations (and get ready for a night of more fun!).
3. Pubs
Speaking of a night of fun, next on my list of things to do on St Patrick’s Day in London is go to the pubs. There’s no shortage of them in London, from classic Irish ones to British and international watering holes.
Perhaps the most famous Irish pub in London is Waxy O’Connor’s. This pub is in Chinatown, but once you’re through the doors it’s all Ireland all the time. Conveniently located near Trafalgar Square, it’s a great place to go after the festival.
I spent St Patrick’s Day at this six-story behemoth once, and all four of its bars were packed the entire evening. I recommend arriving early if you don’t want to wait in line outside.
4. Parties & Events
An alternative to pubs is events. There are plenty of them going on in London for St Patrick’s Day, from boat parties to cultural shows and big bar crawls.
From shindigs at The Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith to bars throwing parties in Soho and live performances by ceilidh bands in Mayfair, there’s something for everyone.
Add to that Irish-owned hotels like The Marylebone, which offers a brunch set to live music, and you’re sorted. Which is to say nothing of the festivities and events at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Covent Garden.
If you’re after something a bit healthier, don’t miss the London St Patrick’s Day 5k Run. It covers a route around Hyde Park and ends with a social at a group of pubs nearby.
If you’re more into cycling, there’s a London St Patrick’s Day Cycle Sportive, which does a lap around Richmond Park before heading to a local pub.
5. Guinness
For many people, having a Guinness is a tradition on March 17th. If you’re looking for the best pour in London, there are a few places that stand out.
One is The Devonshire. With a Dublin-born co-founder, this famous pub in Soho is known for pouring a perfect pint of the black stuff. It’s said to sell the most Guinness in London, with 20,000 pints a week being pulled.
Other notable names include The Coach & Horses pub in Covent Garden, The Auld Shillelagh in Stoke Newington, The Toucan in Soho, and The Guinea Grill in Mayfair.
Map
If you want to get your bearings, you can find an interactive map of my top picks for places you can spend St Patrick’s Day in London here. It features all the spots I mentioned in this blog post. It can help you get a feel for where things are so you can plan your day.
St Patrick’s Day Ideas in London
I hope you’ve enjoyed this guide to the best things to do for St Patrick’s Day in London and that it’s helped you decide on the perfect way to celebrate.
Whatever you come up with, make sure to reserve things as far in advance as possible (or show up early if a place doesn’t take reservations). This is a popular time to be in the city, and things book up early.
If you want more inspiration, take a look at my blog posts about things to do in London at night and the best pubs in London.
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