London’s New Year’s Day Parade first took place in 1987.
The event was originally called the Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Big Parade. It was created as a major public procession for January 1 and later developed into London’s New Year’s Day Parade, distinct from the midnight fireworks traditionally held along the River Thames.
The parade route runs through central London and has included marching bands, performers, dancers, floats, classic vehicles, and community groups. Participants have come from the United Kingdom and many other countries, giving the event an international character.
The parade is held on New Year’s Day rather than New Year’s Eve. That distinction matters because London presents separate celebrations: a midnight countdown and fireworks, followed by the daytime procession on January 1.