St Patrick's Day isn't a bank holiday in London but you'd think it was, given the amount of partying that goes on. 17 March is the day thousands of Londoners remember they've got a tiny bit of Irish blood flowing through their veins, don fluffy green top hats and declare their undying love for a certain brand of stout. Here's where to go and what to do for St Patrick's Day 2024 in London — it's a Sunday this year.
London's St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival 2024
The free St Patrick's Day Parade and Festival are back for 2024. The parade winds its way through London's streets from Green Park to Trafalgar Square, with Irish bands, dancers and pageantry making up the procession. In Trafalgar Square itself, the festival consists of live music, dancing, and other family-friendly entertainment with an Irish theme.
St Patrick's Day Festival and Parade, 17 March 2024, 12pm-6pm.
St Patrick's Day 2024 events in London
B*WITCHED: Peddlers of a few of the late 90s' catchiest ditties, B*Witched come to Boxpark Wembley to belt out numbers like C'est la Vie and Rollercoaster. Sister Boxparks in Shoreditch and Croydon don't get the gals, but there is Hip Hop Paddy'oke and Irish-themed Bingo Lingo. 15 March
FESTIVAL PARTY: The London Irish Centre in Camden is the obvious place to go year-round for Irish culture in the capital, with a regular programme of live music and comedy. It kicks off its St Patrick's events with a Big St Patrick's Festival Party, headlined by trad fusion band Jiggy. The Centre is also responsible for the entertainment shenanigans in Trafalgar Square on St Patrick's Day itself (details above). 16 March
ST PATRICK'S DAY RUN: If your idea of celebrating is going for a run, you're in luck — the London St Patrick's Day run is back, following a 5k route around Hyde Park, before going on to a social at the Horse and Groom pub where Guinness will be drunk (a pint is included in your ticket) and Six Nations will be watched. 16 March
£2.50 PINTS: Nancy Spains is a new Irish pub, opening in Shoreditch just in time for St Patrick's Day. It's celebrating by offering £2.50 pints of Murphy's Irish Stout on Saturday 16 March. You'll need to sign up to get your cheap pint, and there are only 2,500 available, so get down there early (from 12pm). 16 March
CLUB DE FROMAGE: Regular cheesy disco night Club de Fromage gets an Irish makeover for its event on St Patrick's weekend. Alongside the usual pop, rock and disco tunes, you can sing and dance the night away to songs by Irish artists including Westlife, Boyzone, B*Witched (see above), The Corrs, U2, and... Jedward. 16 March
MIDNIGHT APOTHECARY: Rotherhithe's rooftop cocktail bar The Midnight Apothecary once again holds a special St Patrick's Day session. Sup on Irish whiskey hot toddies as you gather around a fire pit on the candlelit roof garden. Your ticket includes a guided tour of Brunel's underground Grand Entrance Hall, directly beneath the garden. 16 March
St PATRICK'S DAY FEST - CAMDEN: From the people who brought you CamdenOktoberfest comes... St Patrick's Day Fest. It's totally different to the Bavarian-themed blowout, of course — the beer's a different colour for starters. There's also live Irish music and dancing at this two-day beano. One for people not planning on doing things by half measures. 16-17 March
ST PATRICK'S PARTIES: Big Penny Social in Walthamstow has a weekend of St Patrick's parties. Saturday evening is for adults only, with live covers of Irish music, Irish dancing lessons and performances, a dedicated stout bar, and Taytos to soak it all up. Sunday is the St Patrick's Day Family Party, where dressing up is encouraged — plus there's live music and a family ceilidh. 16-17 March
GUINNESS MENU: If you really can't get enough of the black stuff, you should probably know that Mercer Roof Terrace, which sits atop Vintry & Mercer in the City, is doing a special Guinness menu on St Paddy's Day only. It features Guinness bread with smoked salmon, slow braised beef shin and Guinness pie, and Guinness chocolate cake. Wash it down with a nice pint of Murphy's. Only joking. 17 March
ST PADDY'S CABARET: The Phoenix Arts Club hosts a St Patrick's Day cabaret show and dinner, putting the spotlight on Irish talent for the evening. Comedians, burlesque performers, West End stars, dancers and drag kings are all on the line-up, exact names TBC. The meal is a three-course Irish set menu. 17 March
IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY: For the sixth time, the Windmill Brixton transforms into Paddy's Pub from sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. To go with your pints of Guinness, six bands are playing — some of them Irish/with Irish members. Yes, you can wear one of those silly green hats, but strictly speaking, the dress code tonight is 'Danny DeVito mask'. 17 March
IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY (AGAIN): This year, excellent American-style dive bar Passyunk Avenue (Fitzrovia) is also getting in on the Always Sunny action — converting itself into Paddy's Pub, while inviting you to dress up as your fave character from the American sitcom, and join in with hijinks like 'Find the Leprechaun'. 17 March
FUN IN THE SUN: The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green is, so we're told, home to London's most comprehensive Irish whiskey collection, and St Paddy's Day is a great excuse to sample one or two — especially given that the bar is also dishing out free bivalves from Oyster Boy, and choons from Carlos O'Connell from Fontaines DC on the decks. 17 March
Irish pubs and bars in London for St Patrick's Day
If you're just looking for somewhere to kick back with a pint of Guinness, hit up one of London's best Irish pubs. Don't go in expecting a quiet pint this weekend though — all of London's pubs, bars and venues with links to the Emerald Isle will be rammed over St Paddy's Day. Makes for good craic though.