Lord Mayor Show

The Lord Mayor’s Show is the oldest, longest, best loved and least-rehearsed civic procession in the world. It dates back to the early 13th century when King John granted that the City of London could appoint its own Mayor, but required that each newly-elected Mayor should travel upriver to distant Westminster and pledge his loyalty to the King.

The Mayors have made that journey for over 800 years and around them has grown a noisy, colourful, joyous procession that over the centuries became known as the Lord Mayor’s Show.