St Patrick’s Day Parade – Central London
A sea of green will sweep from Piccadilly to Trafalgar Square this Sunday, March 17, for St Patrick’s Day, as marching bands, floats and costumed characters get into the spirit of the day and parade through town.
The route takes in Regent Street and Pall Mall before finishing up at the St Patrick’s Day Festival in Trafalgar Square, where Irish culture is celebrated in all its glory, from traditional dancing and live music to DJs keeping the party atmosphere pumping.
There’s even a London Irish Comedy Festival Marquee, and food and drink stalls are set to serve up the taste of the Emerald Isle.
Free, March 17, 12pm-6pm
Starts top of Piccadilly by Green Park, ends Trafalgar Square
london.gov.uk/events
The Water Poet
Treat yourself to a weekend of craic at this Spitalfields boozer, which is going green for the whole two days.
Enjoy a full Irish breakfast on Saturday, and station yourself by the Guinness Island, a bar dedicated to serving the black stuff.
There’s also Six Nations Rugby on all seven big screens, with Ireland v Italy kicking off at 2.30pm.
On Sunday, soak up the previous day’s excesses with Irish stew and Kilravoc spit roast hog, and stick around for live music from Auburn Fox, who’ll be serving up trad tunes at 4.30pm and 7pm.
Free, March 16-17. Sat, 11am-11pm;
Sun, 12pm-10.30pm 9-11 Folgate Street,
Spitalfields, E1 6BX
Tube | Liverpool Street
waterpoet.co.uk
Waxy O’Connors
One of London’s biggest Irish pubs – six levels – will be in one hell of a celebratory mood come Sunday.
They’ve got a ‘weekend’ of festivities starting on Thursday, with action from 11am ‘til 1am on Sunday to make sure the party rocks long and hard.
Free, March 17, 11am-1am 14-16
Rupert Street, W1D 6DD
Tube | Piccadilly Circus
waxyoconnors.co.uk
TNT St Patrick’s Day party with Shamrocker Adventures, Bison & Bird
Party for St Paddy’s with TNT and Shamrocker. Live music, DJs, deals on Guinness and Irish cocktails – what more could you want for a great craic?
Bison and Bird, 182-184 Clapham High St Clapham, London SW4 7UD
Sat, March 17, 12pm til late.
Pre-register online
O’Neill’s, She Bu
O’Neill’s is pumping up the patriotic pride in advance of St Patrick’s Day by staging a world record attempt for the most people Irish jigging from 8pm prompt on March 14.
If getting jiggy with it isn’t your thing, rock up on Sunday for sports, drinks (try Ireland’s oldest ale, Smithwick’s, for something different) and craicing Irish food.
March 17, 12pm-11pm
2 Goldhawk Road, W12 8QD
Tube | Shepherd’s Bush
oneills.co.uk
Roof Gardens
Rise above the St Paddy’s pandemonium at street level and get yourself along to this lush escape 100ft above Kensington High Street.
There’ll be a BBQ, DJ sets, a screening of the Ireland v Italy game, and plenty of drinks specials.
The entry fee includes a burger, a drink and access to the screenings of all three Six Nations matches.
£15, March 16, 12pm-8pm 99
Kensington High Street, W8 5SA
Tube | High Street Kensington
roofgardens.virgin.com
The Corrib Rest
There’ll be live music throughout the day at this little Irish gem in north London.
So make sure you pack your dancing shoes – no doubt the Guinness and whiskey that’ll be flowing will help you learn the moves.
There’s also loads of Irish grub up for grabs, from traditional stew to bacon and cabbage. Sláinte!
March 17, from 12pm 76-80
Salusbury Road, NW6 6PA
Tube | Queens Park
claddagh-ring.co.uk
Photo: Getty, TNT