Trooping the Colour, Saturday 13 June 2026: Free Spots Along The Mall

Trooping the Colour is on Saturday 13 June 2026 and it's the biggest free military spectacle London puts on all year. 1,500 troops, 200 horses, 400 musicians, and the Red Arrows trailing red, white and blue smoke at 1pm. You don't need a ticket if you're happy standing along The Mall or St James's Park.

What's actually happening

The parade kicks off at Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall, SW1A 2AX, around 10am to 10:30am. The Foot Guards and Household Cavalry march the route in full formation. It wraps by 12:25pm with the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the flypast.

The Red Arrows flypast is the bit most people stop work for. They come in low over The Mall, smoke on, and you'll feel it in your chest. The whole RAF formation, dozens of aircraft, takes about six minutes from first to last.

How to claim a free spot

1. Be on The Mall by 9am, SW1Y 5HX end is the busiest, SW1A 1AA by Buckingham Palace fills first. 2. St James's Park edges along the parade route also work, less squashed than The Mall. 3. Westminster tube (Circle, District, Jubilee) or Charing Cross (Bakerloo, Northern) are your closest stops. 4. Bring a portable chair if you've got one, you're standing for two-plus hours. 5. The flypast is best viewed from The Mall directly, looking towards Buckingham Palace.

What's worth knowing

Seated tickets at the parade ground come via ballot through householddivision.org.uk, max four per applicant. Most years they oversubscribe by 10x. Free standing spots beat them for atmosphere, you're packed in with the crowd, soldiers passing two metres from your face.

The horses leave a trail along the route. Wear shoes you don't care about, especially if you're staying for the procession back down The Mall after the main parade.

The massed bands are the underrated bit. Standards, surprise tracks, the lot, all amplified by the buildings either side of The Mall. Better acoustics than any concert venue in central London.

FAQ

What time should I arrive? 8am if you can or 9am at the latest if you want a barrier spot. After 10am you're behind people.

Is it definitely on 13 June 2026? Yes, the second Saturday of June, traditional date.

What if it rains? Goes ahead in all weather. Soldiers don't break formation for drizzle.

Where do I see the flypast best? The Mall directly, looking towards Buckingham Palace. The Red Arrows come in over the palace, smoke trailing.

Quick facts

Address: The Mall and Horse Guards Parade, London SW1A 2AX Date: Saturday 13 June 2026 Time: 10am parade, 1pm flypast Price: Free standing. Seated via ballot only. Closest tube: Westminster or Charing Cross