Where to celebrate St Patrick's Day in London

Celebrating the bonds between the British and Irish, the 21st annual St Patrick's Day Festival will take place on Sunday before St Patrick's Day and include a procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry. The parade will start at midday at Hyde Park Corner and travel through Piccadilly, St James's Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall, before ending up at Trafalgar Square. Various family concerts, children's films, youth performances, community choirs, workshops and other events will take place there throughout the day. Things will wrap up around 6pm.

It might not be everyone's cup of Guinness, but if you're feeling fit on Saturday afternoon, get yourself down to Hyde Park for the fourth annual London St Patrick's Day Run. Participants will complete a 5k lap of the perimeter of the park, starting and finishing at the Lodge Café by Hyde Park Corner. Afterwards, head to the nearby Horse and Groom pub for Six Nations rugby and socialising.

Walthamstow's social club and beer hall will start off its St Patrick's Day festivities early with a themed party on Saturday, complete with traditional live music, Maggie O'Shea Dance Academy dancers, coddle on the menu, and more. The next day, it's the families' turn, with an all-ages family-friendly party with live music and ceilidh dancing.

The Bloomsbury hotel is hosting a special Irish-themed double bar takeover in honour of St Patrick's Day, featuring expert mixologists, live traditional music, and classic Irish cuisine. The Coral Room will welcome award-winning bartenders from The Sidecar at The Westbury in Dublin, followed by The Bloomsbury Club hosting mixologists from Paladar in Cork, Ireland's Best Overall Bar in 2024. As part of The Coral Room's international takeover series, the event celebrates Irish heritage with creative cocktails inspired by aeronaut Richard Crosbie, offering a unique cultural experience in the heart of London.

As you can imagine, March is the busiest month for the London Irish Centre, the city's epicentre for Irish arts and culture. More or less all of their events will let you tick “do something for St Paddy's” off your bucket list, with options including Irish language courses, Irish book club, and live music. Some specific St Patrick's Day highlights include a bodhrán workshop for complete beginners on and a concert by Kíla, both on 15 March. Check their website for the full programme.

Two of the Little Door flat-share bars will be shamrocking the house in the lead-up to St Paddy's Day, with the homely spaces hosting an Irish-themed house party featuring a live Irish band and a DJ for afters. The events are fuelled by Jameson, so expect plenty of cocktails and great craic as you dance your way into St Patrick's Day.

Soho's legendary Phoenix Arts Club entertainment venue is hosting a St Patrick's Day-themed cabaret show and dinner on the big day. Featuring the best in Irish talent, the show will include comedians, burlesque bombshells, West End stars, Irish dancers, drag kings, and more. The ticket to the show also includes a three-course Irish dinner. After the show wraps up, you can keep on partying til late.

The famed Camden Market is holding a family-friendly festival on the Saturday before St Patrick's Day, with a varied programme of events and workshops throughout the day. You can learn how to make soda bread, play traditional Irish instruments, join in painting a big mural, see performances by acrobats, and more. Best of all, most of the events are free.

Celebrate the occasion with an elegant set lunch at Anglo-French brasserie Langan's. In sophisticated surroundings with art on the walls, diners can sample dishes that celebrate Irish culinary traditions. You'll get three courses plus canapés and a complimentary glass of whiskey on arrival. Added to that, there's Irish entertainment to keep the party going.

On-trend Islington bar The 411 is hosting a St Patrick's Day takeover in the lead-up to the holiday. Visit this spacious and fun venue for DJ sets on until late, lots of Guinness, and fantastic deals on drinks so your glass will never be empty. There's pizza if you need to line your stomach, fun activities like pool and beer pong, and a warm and welcoming vibe.

The Yard Sale pizzeria group is teaming up with Jameson and What Willy Cook to offer a pizza inspired by and iconic Irish takeaway dish – the Spice Bag Special. The pizza comes topped with Chinese salt and chili pepper seasoning, chicken tenders, white onion, peppers, and chips, with a vegetarian/vegan version available as well. For the full spice bag experience, you can add a chip shop curry mayo dip.

The O'Neill's pubs are kicking off a week-long celebration packed with Irish festivities, live sports, and unbeatable drinks offers in the lead-up to St. Patrick's Day. The party starts with screenings of the Cheltenham Festival and continues with Six Nations rugby action, accompanied by exclusive deals like £2 pints of Guinness, 2-for-1 Baby Guinness shots, and a complimentary Dublin Mule on the big day itself, making O'Neill's pubs the ultimate destination for an authentic Irish celebration.