The Lord Mayors Show takes place on the second Saturday in November.
The River Pageant
An early morning hour long journey starting at 8:30 am from Vauxhall to the City (HMS President) in a flotilla of traditional Thames barges and small boats from Livery Companies takes place. The Mayor travels on QRB Gloriana, and Tower Bridge opens in salute. The Lord Mayor then goes to Mansion House ready to join the procession to the Royal Courts at 11:00 am
The Lord Mayors Show Procession
The Mayor travels in a gilded State Coach, the oldest ceremonial vehicle in regular use in the world.
The coach which is pulled by six brewery shire horses travels at the rear of the procession. .
The State Coach, built in 1757 at a cost of about £1,000
The Mayors procession originally travelled to Westminster on the Thames by boat. This is where the word carnival float comes from. This was replaced by the Mayor and Aldermen travelling on horseback, until in 1711 a Mayor fell off and broke his leg. Ever since the State Coach has been used.
A new dampening system was installed to counteract the problems of motion sickness reported by previous Mayors due to a swinging movement from the straps which held the coach to the undercarriage. The speed of the coach is 237 steps per minute.
In 2012 the coach broke down during the procession due to sand residue on the road causing a fault with the wheel mechanism. It is the only time a Lord Mayor returned to the Mansion House in an open top Land Tover.
The procession is presided over by a Pageantmaster, and close to the front are the 14 feet high figures of Gog and Magog, the traditional guardians of the City of London.
The Lord Mayor is accompanied by three Esquires; the City Marshall who clears the way, the Common Cryer and Sergeant-at-Arms who carries the Mace and the Swordbearer
The procession is preceded by Pikemen and Musketeers of the Honourable Artillery Company and by Doggetts Coach and Badge men with their oars.
The Great Twelve Livery Companies take part as of right; the remaining companies participate by invitation. There is usually a flypast by the Royal Air Force whilst The Lord Mayor waits at the Mansion House before joining the rear of the procession.
The Lord Mayor briefly stops at St Paul's to receive a blessing from the Dean. At the Royal Courts of Justice The Lord Mayor takes an oath of allegiance to the sovereign before returning to the Mansion House (see route) to review the Pikemen and Musketeers of the Honorable Artillery Company.
The Lord Mayor passing St Mary le Bow in Cheapside
The Lord Mayors Show procession begins about 11 am and finishes around 3:30 pm. The procession is over three miles and the route has been fixed since 1952. In the evening a firework display is held.
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