The Lord Mayor's Show 2026 - Guide for City Hospitality Venues
- The Lord Mayor's Show 2026 is on Saturday 14 November
- This guide is for City bars, cafes and restaurants
- You will find practical guidance and sample posts to make the most of the increased footfall
How to use this guide
Jump straight to the section you need:
- Why get involved - the opportunity Show day delivers
- When to expect customers - the three waves of trade on Show day
- Ten ideas for venues - simple ways to turn crowds into customers
- Spread the word - sample posts, images, tags and hashtags
- Operational/ before the day - deliveries, travel, staffing and licences
- Contacts - who to talk to
Note: we add details as they are confirmed. Bookmark this page and check back before Show day.
Why get involved
- Show day puts welcome customers on your doorstep in the quieter period between Halloween and Christmas, and it is getting bigger every year.
- Spectators often arrange to meet in venues, making it a great way to introduce yourself to new customers and generate repeat business.
- Last year, footfall in the City hit a four-year high of over a quarter of a million spectators.
- Transactions reached almost 172,000, rising every year since 2022. With new highlights in 2026, this year's Show is likely to be busier still.
When to expect customers
Trade comes in three waves. Daytime is the busiest part of Show day, and it is growing fastest.
- Morning, from 7am: participants arrive to get ready and line up, with the area buzzing by 9am; spectators follow from 10am. Offer breakfast, hot drinks to go and group orders.
- Midday, from about 12pm: once the procession has passed, outbound spectators look for lunch and something to do next.
- Afternoon, from 2:30pm: return-route spectators move on as the Lord Mayor arrives back at Mansion House. Offer late lunch, afternoon tea, family deals and a reason to stay into the evening.
The procession leaves Mansion House at 11am and sets off on its return at 1:10pm. Full times are in the official Lord Mayor's Show timetable.
Ten ideas for venues
- Tell people you’re open. Update your hours on Google and your booking platforms, and share the ready-made “Open on the day” posts , below and via the Social Media Toolkit.
- Open early and serve the kerb. Offer breakfast, hot drinks and takeaway for participants, early spectators and the new grandstand crowds.
- Dress for the occasion. Use red and gold, bunting and window displays, and create a photo spot people will want to share. Tag the Show so we can share the best ones.
- Create a Show special. Make a dish, cake, cocktail or mocktail, perhaps inspired by the Golden State Coach, Gog and Magog, or the Jubilant barge.
- Catch the crowd as the procession passes. Many spectators head off once the procession has gone by, so have a quick set lunch or grab-and-go offer ready at the door.
- Screen the BBC coverage. This year the BBC marks 100 years of broadcasting the Show on radio and nearly as long on the box. Put it on so your guests don’t miss a moment.
- Welcome everyone. Offer kids’ menus, buggy space and clearly signed step-free access, and let people know where your toilets and baby changing are.
- Give people a reason to stay. An afternoon family deal or an early happy hour turns a morning visit into a longer one.
- Team up with your neighbours. A trail or joint offer keeps visitors exploring the City beyond the route.
- Bring them back in December. A voucher or QR code for Christmas bookings turns Show day visitors into return customers.
Spread the word
Copy these posts, swap in your details where shown in [brackets] and pair each one with a photo or video. They are written for Instagram and Facebook, and are a starting point, so adapt them to sound like you. Post from mid-October through to a thank-you the day after.
Before Show day
We're open
Heads up - we'll be open and ready on Show Day. 🐴
Saturday 14 November. Hundreds of thousands of visitors. Spectacular parade. And we'll have our doors wide open.
Come in before, grab a seat for the spectacle, pop back after. Or just come to celebrate the #LordMayorsShow with the best of London.
📅 Saturday 14 November | 11am onwards
📍 City of London@lordmayorsshow #LordMayorsShow #SoulOfLondon
Your Show day offer
Come celebrate with a special Show Day offer. 🎉
The Lord Mayor's Show is Saturday 14 November - and we're marking the moment with [INSERT: a discount / a special menu / a limited-edition offering / extended hours / live music].
Come early, stay late, bring friends. Make it a full day out in the City.
📍 [Your location on the Show route]
📅 Saturday 14 November | [Your opening hours]@lordmayorsshow #LordMayorsShow #SoulOfLondon
On the day
Welcome (for Stories)
Welcome! 👋🐴
We're open, we're ready, we're excited. The #LordMayorsShow is happening right now on our doorstep. Pop in out of the crowd, grab a [drink/bite/moment], soak up the atmosphere.
We saved you a seat.
@lordmayorsshow #SoulOfLondon #LordMayorsShow
After the Show
Thank you
What a day. Thank you. 🐴✨
Hundreds of thousands of visitors. Countless conversations. Non-stop action. The #LordMayorsShow at our door was unforgettable.
Thank you to everyone who came in, celebrated with us, and made it special. See you next year.
@lordmayorsshow #LordMayorsShow #SoulOfLondon #CityOfLondon
See you next year
Same time next year? 🐴📅
If you haven't already, mark Saturday 13 November 2027 in your calendar. The #LordMayorsShow is coming back. And we can't wait to welcome you again.
In the meantime - thank you for being part of this year's magic.
@lordmayorsshow #LordMayorsShow #SoulOfLondon #CityOfLondon
Versions for X and LinkedIn, plus more posts, are in the Open on the day sample post pack (Word document). You can also see all the sample posts in the toolkit.
- Tag and hashtag: @lordmayorsshow and #LordMayorsShow on every post. All our channels and hashtags are in the toolkit.
- Directions: roads are closed, so share how to reach you on foot.
- Giveaways or filming: tell us first at socialmedia@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Before the day
- Deliveries: book for Friday or before the roads close on Saturday.
- Travel: parking is suspended from Friday afternoon and buses are diverted on the day, so staff should plan for Tube, rail, river bus or walking.
- Staffing: rota for three busy waves, starting early.
- Licences: check you are covered for outside trading, extra seating or screening live TV.
- Safety: read the Show's safety and security advice with your team.
Contacts
- Licensing - https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/licensing
- Venue plans, social media and partner enquiries: socialmedia@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- Advertising and sponsorship: lms@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- Event information: lordmayorsshow.london