How to watch the VE Day procession and flypast (5 May 2025)
Published 25 April 2025
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About the events
The VE Day procession will start from Parliament Square. The procession will travel along Whitehall and The Mall, and finish at the Queen Victoria Memorial. There will be a flypast by the Armed Forces over The Mall and Buckingham Palace (subject to weather and serviceability).
The procession will be an impressive display of pageantry by Regiments of the Household Division and Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, showcasing ceremonial traditions of the British Armed Forces.
Youth groups will also participate, reflecting the importance of intergenerational remembrance and honouring the legacy of those who served
How to watch
- The procession and flypast will be broadcast live on national television.
- You can watch the VE Day procession in person at viewing areas along the procession route in London. Please note that there will not be screens along the route or in any of the nearby parks.
Watch the procession in person
The events will start at 12:00 with a short ceremony in Parliament Square. At 12.10 the procession will depart from Parliament Square. It will travel along Whitehall and The Mall, finishing at the Queen Victoria Memorial. The flypast over The Mall and Buckingham Palace will take place at 13:45.
You can watch the procession at viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall. Please note that there will not be screens along the route or in any of the nearby parks. There is an accessible viewing area which can be used by people with access requirements, and a quiet viewing space. Read the accessibility section for more information.
After the procession has passed down The Mall, stewards and the police may open the route to allow people to move onto the road. People will be able to walk down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace to watch the flypast at 13:45. The stewards will monitor crowd numbers and gradually open the barriers, to ensure that everyone stays safe and secure.
Entry to the viewing areas is free. You should be aware that large crowds are expected and be prepared to queue to enter the viewing areas. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and ensure everyone can enter safely and securely.
If the viewing area you intend to visit is full when you arrive, you will be directed to one of the other viewing areas.
Capacity at the viewing areas will be limited and they will be closed when they are full so do consider arriving early. If you leave a viewing area at any time, re-admission cannot be guaranteed.
Staying safe in crowds
- Follow the directions given by stewards and the police.
- Take care of your belongings. Keep your phone, wallet and purse out of sight, and make sure any valuables are secure.
- If you notice anything suspicious, please inform the stewards or police.
Read more about staying safe in London (Metropolitan Police website).
What to expect if you attend
To keep everyone safe, security measures are in place on the procession route. You or your bag may be searched before you can enter some areas.
At the viewing areas, there will be first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. You can also bring your own food and drinks, but please avoid bringing glass items (such as drinking glasses) into the viewing areas or nearby parks. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove, particularly from parkland areas.
Conduct and behaviour
There will be stewards and police officers at the viewing areas, helping to keep everyone safe and secure. Antisocial or inappropriate behaviour (including excessive consumption of alcohol or drunken behaviour) will not be tolerated, and you may be asked to leave.
You should:
- Follow the instructions of stewards, event staff and police at all times.
- Dispose of litter using the litter and recycling bins provided.
- Respect your surroundings, particularly if you travel through the parks along the procession route. The Royal Parks are historic sites and provide a diverse habitat for wildlife. Please stick to footpaths, do not damage or remove plants, and do not attempt to climb or attach anything to trees.
- Remember not to leave any of your property unattended and report unattended bags or luggage to stewards or police.
What you should and shouldn’t bring
Remember to bring:
- Suitable clothing for the weather conditions. You may want to bring warm, protective clothing or an umbrella in cold or wet weather, or sunscreen and a hat if it is likely to be sunny.
- A water bottle. There will be water refill stations at the viewing areas where you can refill bottles. There will also be concession kiosks available where you can buy food and drinks, but you may want to bring your own refreshments (particularly if you have specific dietary requirements).
- Appropriate footwear. You may be standing outdoors for long periods of time, so you are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
You should not bring:
- Barbecues and equipment for fires.
- Drones. The use of drones is not permitted across any of the ceremonial sites, including the viewing areas. You should not attempt to operate a drone in these areas, for photography or any other reasons. You may be fined, and your drone may be confiscated.
- Glass items. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove. If you bring your own refreshments, please use paper or plastic cups for your drinks.
- Stools or folding chairs.
Plan your journey
Please note that the areas in and around Buckingham Palace, Parliament Square, Whitehall, St James’s Park, Green Park and Trafalgar Square are likely to be very crowded. Rail and London Underground stations in these areas may also be affected.
It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station. Please follow the directions of stewards, station staff and police officers.
What you should do:
- Plan your journey using the Transport for London and National Rail Enquiries websites.
- Check Transport for London status updates and National Rail Enquiries latest travel information before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.
- Find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on X (formerly known as Twitter) or downloading the TfL Go app.
- After the events, remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey. Service information may have changed.
- If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services may be busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and into the evening.
Procession route map and facilities
The image below shows a map of the VE Day procession and flypast. The procession route is marked in red.
There are viewing areas along the procession route, on both sides of The Mall and Whitehall. The public viewing areas are marked on the map in brown. Suggested walking routes from nearby stations are marked on the map in orange, but please note that there may be changes on the day. Please follow the directions of stewards, station staff and police officers.
The image also shows the facilities at the viewing areas and along the route. There are water refill points, toilets and accessible toilets, an accessible viewing area and medical points for first aid. There are concession kiosks along the route where you can buy food and drinks.
View or download a larger version of the map, (JPG, 6.13MB).
Recommended transport stations
The table below tells you the recommended stations (London Underground or National Rail) to use for the viewing areas along the procession route. This may not be the station you would usually use, because of diversions and road closures.
There will be signs marking the walking routes, and stewards will direct you to the viewing areas.
Check before you travel
It may be necessary for short-term safety measures to be put in place at transport stations, such as queuing, closures, trains not stopping at certain stations, or changes to the way customers enter or exit a station. Please check before you travel using Transport for London’s Journey Planner.
You should be aware that large crowds are expected, and the viewing areas will close when they are full. The viewing areas have limited capacity and may close before the events begin. Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help people to stay safe.
| Viewing area | Recommended stations |
|---|---|
|
The Mall Accessible viewing area |
Charing Cross (London Underground, National Rail) Green Park (London Underground) This station has step-free access. Victoria (London Underground, National Rail) This station has step-free access. Bond Street (London Underground) This station has step-free access. |
| Whitehall |
Embankment (London Underground, National Rail) Westminster (London Underground) This station has step-free access. Charing Cross (London Underground, National Rail) |
After the events, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed. You can find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on X (formerly known as Twitter) or downloading the TfL Go app.
If possible, please avoid travelling immediately after the events, as services will be very busy. There will be plenty of trains running during the day and late into the evening.
Accessible viewing area
A dedicated viewing area is available for people with access requirements. The accessible viewing area is located on the north side of The Mall, near Trafalgar Square. It is marked in blue on the procession route map.
This area has limited capacity, and people will be admitted in order of arrival time. People using the accessible viewing area can be accompanied by carers or companions. Please note that space will be limited.
The accessible viewing area will have:
- stewards managing the area
- accessible viewing spaces raised and at ground level, providing dedicated locations for wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments and other access requirements
- a hearing loop for people using hearing aids
- assistance dog facilities
The accessible viewing area will have hard floors, and you will be able to bring your own picnic chairs for use in this area.
Accessible transport information
The closest transport station to the accessible viewing area is Charing Cross (London Underground, National Rail). The route from Charing Cross to the accessible viewing area is marked in blue on the procession route map. However, Charing Cross does not have step-free access to all platforms.
The other recommended stations for The Mall viewing area are Green Park (London Underground), Victoria (London Underground, National Rail) and Bond Street (London Underground), all of which have step-free access.
There will be signs marking the routes from the stations, and stewards providing directions. If you need help, ask a steward to direct you to the accessible viewing area.
Step-free stations
There are more than 200 step-free stations across the TfL network. Visit Transport for London’s accessibility page for more information on accessible public transport information in London. You can find out how accessible each station is, and there is also a step-free journey planner.
The following stations in the area have step-free access, however, please check before you travel as there may be short-notice changes. You can find up-to-date travel information by following TfL Access on X (formerly known as Twitter).
- Green Park (London Underground)
- Victoria (London Underground, National Rail)
- Bond Street (London Underground, Elizabeth Line)
- Westminster (London Underground)
- Waterloo (London Underground, National Rail)
- Tottenham Court Road (London Underground, Elizabeth Line)
Transport for London offers a ‘turn up and go’ service to help passengers who require additional assistance, such as people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, and large groups travelling together. This could include providing boarding ramps, help to move you through the station or interchange between trains and suggesting alternative or step-free routes.
The turn up and go service is provided on the London Underground and London Overground, and most stations on the Elizabeth Line. You do not need to pre-book this service, just ask staff for assistance at the station.
Transport for London also provides:
- Accessible maps of London transport facilities. You can download or order tube, bus and other transport maps in alternative formats (such as audio maps, large print, black and white) and maps of toilet and baby-changing facilities.
- Maps of London transport facilities in other languages. You can download the London Underground map in languages other than English.