As a glorious sporting summer comes to an end, up to 830 Team GB and ParalympicsGB athletes who competed at the Olympic and Paralympic Games will parade through central London to celebrate their achievements with the public. Our Greatest Team are due to set out from Mansion House in the City at 1:30pm, with up to 830 athletes travelling on 21 floats, organised by sport and with medal winners across the length of the parade. They will travel along Queen Victoria Street and Cannon Street, passing by St Paul's Cathedral, continuing along Fleet Street, past Aldwych and into The Strand. It is expected to take about 50 mins from Mansion House to Trafalgar Square The final stretch of the parade in the Mall is a ticketed area and is a big thank you to volunteers and others who have made a contribution to the Games and supported the athletes.
The parade will consist of up to 21 floats, each able to carry around 40 athletes. At the head of the parade will be a specially commissioned carnival group fronted by 2 giant lion heads, each representing the motifs of Team GB and Paralympics GB. The parade is expected to travel at approx 2 mph and take up to 15 mins to pass any given point.
The Parade is the perfect opportunity for us all to celebrate the achievements of fabulous British athletes following their participation in the Games, and for the athletes to say thank you to the United Kingdom for supporting them through these memorable Games. With an unparalleled medal haul, we as a nation are understandably immensely proud of the achievements of Our Greatest Team.
Why is the Parade taking place on Monday 10 September?
By staging the parade the day after the Paralympic Games, the participation of the maximum number of athletes is assured, in particular the Paralympic athletes who will be coming directly from the Olympic Park to the Parade start. If the date is delayed further many athletes may not be able to take part because of other commitments.
Who is expected to watch the parade?
The parade is the finale after the Games and an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of all the British Athletes. Many thousands of people may come out for this unique occasion. including people working in the City and West End, as well as visitors to the capital.
Pat yourself on the back London!
Inside the Games venues and at hundreds of cultural events across the capital, London has put on an amazing show - this is the final free event organised by the Mayor of London as part of citywide celebrations organised for the London 2012 Games.
Travel information for 10 September
Roads:
Roads in the City (in area surrounding Guildhall / Gresham Street) will be closed from 6am with further road closures in central London from 11.00am onwards, with a number of bus services diverted or not running their full routes. Please use public transport if possible, but allow more time for your journey if essential to drive.
Buses:
Because of road closures in the City from 6am and further closures around central London from 11.00am, a number of bus services will be diverted or not run their full routes.
Tube:
Tube services will operate a normal weekday service with no planned engineering work across the whole network. However, lines and stations close to the parade will be busier so you should allow more time for your journey.
Docklands Light Railway:
A normal weekday service will operate on the DLR but Bank station will be busier than normal so allow more time for your journey.
London Overground:
All services will operate normal weekday service.
National Rail:
Due to the close proximity of the Parade route to Charing Cross and City Thameslink Stations, it is likely that these areas will become busy at the time of the Parade passing by. Some journey times may be impacted, so allow more time for your journey or consider using alternative stations.
Barclays Cycle Hire:
Barclays Cycle Hire Docking stations will remain available, but it is likely that due to crowds and road closures some central London stations will not be replenished.
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