Celebrating St Patrick's Day 2022 in London
Next week Londoners will be painting the town green, in celebration of St Patrick’s Day - and the 2022 festivities will be jollier than ever owing to the non-events of the past 2 years.
Traditionally St Patrick’s Day is recognised on the 17th of March. It commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Today, the celebrations span several days, with parades, festivals, concerts, comedy and Guinness, lots and lots of Guinness.
The main event in London is of course the Mayor’s St Patrick’s Day Festival which is returning to Trafalgar Square on Sunday 13 March.
There’ll be the best of Irish arts, culture, food, music to enjoy, and more, including the spectacular annual parade. This year’s theme is coming back together, as Londoners and visitors unite in celebrating the great contributions Irish people have made to the city. Key workers from across London will be Grand Marshals at the event, in recognition of their tireless work during the pandemic. This year more than 50,000 people are expected to join the annual procession of Irish marching bands, dance troupes and pageantry.
The parade will start at Hyde Park Corner and travel through Piccadilly, St James’s Street, Pall Mall, Cockspur Street and Whitehall before concluding in Trafalgar Square where the parade’s host Gemma Bradley will introduce the acts and entertainment. Expect family concerts, storytelling, children’s films and youth performances, as well community choirs, schools, dance troupes and a singalong finale plus food and drinks stalls.
In addition to the Parade, there’ll be events happening across London all weekend. Expect everything from busking on the Underground, to a three-day film festival by Irish Film London.
To help you plan your St Paddy’s Day weekend in London, we’ve picked a few of the best Irish activities to take part in.
The Irish Film Festival
Irish Film London was founded to champion Irish film and animation in the UK community. For the first time since 2019, they will be in Trafalgar Square as part of the Mayor of London’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations. With acts on the main stage from 12pm to 6pm and community organisations present at special stalls throughout the day, there’s loads of fun for all the family at the event with some rumoured celebrity appearances.
When: Sunday, March 13, 2022 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Where: Trafalgar Square
Tickets: No tickets necessary.
Damien Dempsey Live On Stage
On Friday 18th, legendary Dublin singer, Damien Dempsey, will be live on stage at Electric Ballroom in Camden. Damien is from Donaghmede on Dublin's Northside. His earliest musical influences were the post-pub singalongs that his parents used to have at their home when he was a toddler. Good, bad or indifferent, everyone had to sing. Today his unique sound reflects the influence of traditional Sean-Nós as well as his musical heroes: Bob Marley and Elvis Presley.
When: Saturday March 19th, 6pm
Where: Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden High St, Camden, United Kingdom
Premium Whiskey Tasting
Did you know that there are over 40 distilleries in Ireland, many producing exciting craft whiskies - as well as more established distilleries giving the big two a run for their money.
This St. Patrick’s Day Ignition Brewery in Sydenham will be taking a look at some of the most interesting bottles of recent years, from Organic, single-estate Waterford, to experimental French Oak finished Method & Madness, and some older, cask finished whiskies from Tryconnell and Dublin’s Liberties distillery. Oh, and a blend inspired by a native toad.
When: Thu, March 17, 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Where: Ignition Brewery, 44A Sydenham Road London SE26 5QX
London St Patrick’s Day Run
Meet fellow runners at the Wellington Arch for the second annual London St Patrick's Day Run. Participants will complete a 5k lap of the perimeter of Hyde Park - following the trails closest to the fence line - before returning to the Wellington Arch. Many then follow on to a social at one of London’s many Irish themed bars. The inaugural 2020 run was distinguished by being one of the few events which was actually allowed to go ahead in London to celebrate St Patrick's Day.
When: Sat, 19 March 2022, 11:00 – 12:30
Where: Wellington Arch, W1
Comedy Carnival's St Patrick's Day Show
Always presenting Ireland's top comedians, this year's show features Live at the Palladium star Jarlath Regan, Irish funny man Conor Drum, Kevin O'Connell, Vittorio Angelone, and talented raconteur Rory O'Hanlon as MC. The St Patrick’s Day line up of comedy starts at 8pm and goes on until 10pm. Tickets start from £18 in advance, with pre-show dinner options available.
When: Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm
Where: Covent Garden Studios, Great Newport St, London, WC2H 7JB
The Pogue Traders + The County Affair
The Half Moon Pub in Putney is putting on a grand shindig with ‘the finest Pogues tribute band in the land’, this St Patrick’s Day 2022!
Formed back in 2007, The Pogue Traders have become established as the UK’s leading Pogues tribute band. With a comprehensive set of Pogues numbers that are very faithful to the studio arrangements, The Pogue Traders play to sell-out major-venue audiences in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Nottingham, and to crowded pubs all over the country, leaving behind thousands of satisfied (and hung-over) gig-goers.
Support is from The County Affair.
When: Thu, Mar 17, 2022, 8:00pm
Where: Half Moon - Putney, London
Irish Cabaret Show & Dinner
For something a little bit different this Paddy’s Day, head to the legendary Soho celeb hangout, The Phoenix Arts Club. They are offering a jam-packed night of cabaret featuring the very best in Irish talent! 🇮🇪 From comedians and burlesque bombshells to musical stars of the west end, Irish dancers, drag kings and more. Tickets include a traditional Irish three course set-menu !
