Best places to celebrate St Patrick’s in London
Whether you know him by St. Patrick or St. Paddy, Ireland’s world-famous Patron Saint brings his ever-popular day of celebrations on Friday the 17th of March, with the parade and festival taking place the weekend before on Sunday the 12th.
This annual occasion of merry dancing, lively singing and Guinness drinking is something we’re all familiar with. However there might be a few things going on you haven’t heard about too, so check out our list of favourite pubs and places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your pals. You’ll also save yourself 1/3 on c2c train fares if you travel in a group – giving you that little extra to make a proper day of it!
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Take to the streets and celebrate in style at an event that attracts around 50,000 people all in high spirits (and mostly green-painted faces) at London’s St. Paddy’s Parade. You’ll be astounded at the pageantry, floats, marching bands and all the bells and whistles that come with this event. Not to mention the highly revered Irish Dancing Schools showing off their skills throughout. It’s an electric atmosphere you wouldn’t want to miss out on!
When: Sunday 12 March at 12pm,
Where: Starting at Hyde Park Corner and on towards Trafalgar Square.
Price: FREE
St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Immerse yourself in the St. Patrick’s Day buzz by watching performances by well-known Irish acts and artists, up-and-coming Irish stars and one or two special guests. The festival itself is surrounded by stalls selling crafted gifts and both traditional and modern Irish food. If it’s more of a family-friendly feel you’re after there are typically free children’s workshops and entertainment on Pall Mall East.
When: Sunday 12 March between 12pm and 6pm.
Where: Trafalgar Square
Price: FREE
The Toucan
This quirky, Guinness-crazed drinking destination is an ideal place for somewhere with plenty of character. The bar stools are big pints of the black stuff, the walls are covered in Irish paraphernalia, not to mention the cool neon lighting and larger-than-life-sized models of the pub’s namesake animal. It’s also Jason Momoa’s favourite place to drink in London; so if it’s good enough for Aquaman, it’s good enough for us!
Where: Carlisle Street, just off Soho Square.
The Porterhouse
The first thing you’ll notice is the sheer size of the place; this multi-storey Irish pub is cleverly decorated in a way that sells itself as a quaint and traditional drinking destination. However, the floor-to-ceiling, wall-length cabinets showcasing bottled beers and ales from around the world is something to be admired. There’s also regular live music so be sure to check their website for all the dates.
Where: Maiden Lane, Covent Garden.
O’Neill’s
A list of the best Irish places to drink wouldn’t be complete without an honourable mention of the people’s favourite; O’Neill’s. With an array of tasty and affordable drinks (not just Guinness and whiskies!) the popular pub and bar chain always host a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day. They always put on something special such as live bands, and this year they have other treats on offer. If your name is Patrick or Patricia you can get a pint of Guinness for free and with their app, you can get vouchers for a £2 pint of the black stuff or a 2for1 Baby Guinness.
Where: Soho, Carnaby Street and King’s Cross.
Waxy O’Connor’s
This enormous bar has not 1, but 4 bars across 6 levels! Waxy O’Connor’s is an award-winning Irish pub renowned for its fantastic atmosphere and unique Waxy’s tree (yes, it’s real) located in the middle of the venue. They have live music every Wednesday – Sunday, great food, live sports and plenty of Guinness. There is something for everyone at this pub making it an ideal spot to celebrate St. Patrick’s day in style.
Where: Rupert Street, Soho
