On the day History of the Show

There has been a Lord Mayor of London ever since 1189, when Henry Fitzailwyn first held office.

It wasn't until 1215, when King John granted a Charter allowing the City's citizens to elect their own mayor, that the Lord Mayor's Show actually came into being. The Charter stipulated that the new Mayor must be presented to the Sovereign for approval and to swear fealty to the Crown, so each year the newly elected Mayor had to travel from the City to Westminster to pledge allegiance.

The Lord Mayor has been making that yearly journey for 784 years, surviving plague and fire and countless wars and insurrections. The modern Lord Mayor's procession is a direct descendant of that first journey to Westminster and the pageantry of Pepys and Canaletto is recognisable today.

Over the years the Mayor's Journey became so splendid that it became known as the Lord Mayor's Show. Today's Shows are a wonderful mixture of past, present and future with today's businesses, Livery Companies, charities, Her Majesty's Forces, the City Police and Londoners from all walks of life coming together to enjoy a splendid celebration of the City's tradition and future.

briefly take part credits contacts charity

Briefly:

The 2010 Lord Mayor's Show will be on Saturday 13 November. The procession lasts from 11am to about 2.30pm and fills the whole area between Bank and Aldwych. There are guided walks at 3 and the day ends with fireworks at 5 over the Thames.

Take part!

If you'd like to take part in next year's Show, please get in touch with the Pageantmaster's office to register your interest. It's a fantastic way to boost your profile, raise morale and do something for charity all at once.

Credits:

The Lord Mayor's Show is organised and directed by the Pageantmaster, Dominic Reid OBE. This site has been built and managed by spanner since its launch in 1996, and currently runs on a modified version of radiant and rails. It is entirely paid for by the generous sponsorship of the London Stock Exchange.

Contacts:

For press enquiries: Lesley Mair at the City of London press office. For general enquiries: Helen Field in the Pageantmaster's office. For problems with the website: William Ross at spanner. For more details and phone numbers please see the contacts page.

Pitch Perfect,

the charitable appeal chosen by Lord Mayor Elect Nick Anstee for his year in office, will benefit the London Symphony Orchestra and the Cricket Foundation and bring musical and sporting opportunities to young people in East London.

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