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.

The iconic Windmill Brixton live music venue will again turn into Paddy's Pub from the hit TV show “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” for one night. The annual “It's Always Sunny On St Paddy's Day” party promises a bunch of live acts, continuing the venues tradition of championing new and rising talent, and plenty of shenanigans.

The George in Fitzrovia is hosting a four-day St Patrick's Day celebration featuring live Irish music, traditional food, and festive drinks. Highlights include live performances from bands like Quartz Live Music and Billy Roll, fresh oyster shucking, Guinness-infused Irish Coffee, and screenings of the Six Nations final and Cheltenham Gold Cup. The festivities conclude on 17 March with a special Irish Coffee giveaway and a Paddy's Day Quiz Night hosted by comedian Peter Flanagan, with proceeds supporting charity.

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 to help make O'Neill's pubs the ultimate destination for an authentic Irish celebration.

The Sun Tavern, home to London's largest Irish whiskey collection, is hosting a St Patrick's Day party in collaboration with Teeling Irish Whiskey, featuring a special cocktail menu, complimentary oysters from Oyster Boy, and live music. The celebration kicks off in the afternoon with a traditional Cèilidh band, followed by a DJ set from Dublin post-punk band The Murder Capital, keeping the energy high until the early hours.

The Pig's Ear in Chelsea is hosting a lively St Patrick's Day celebration on Monday evening. The bar will be filled with Irish folk music and dancing, and their famous basin of Achill oysters will be topped up to the brim with oysters from Ireland, each shell served with a Guinness shot. Fresh Guinness cakes with sour cream frosting will also be available throughout the day.

Hard Rock Cafes in Piccadilly Circus and Old Park Lane are celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a special menu featuring bold Irish flavours. The highlight is the Irish Smash Burger, made with crispy beef patties, pub cheese, smoked bacon, and cabbage bacon jam, served with seasoned fries. Guests can also enjoy festive drinks, including Guinness, Irish coffee with Jameson, and the refreshing Irish Apple Crush, making it the perfect spot for a rock 'n' roll-inspired St Paddy's celebration.

In response to research showing many cocktail drinkers feel pressured to order a stout on St. Patrick's Day, Kahlúa's Schneaky campaign features a hand-blown pint-style glass that cleverly disguises a cocktail as a stout. Lucky punters can get a free Schneaky espresso martini at the Howl at the Moon pub in Hoxton by ordering it at the bar.