The Lord Mayor's Show is naturally accessible and enjoyable by everyone, and you will see many disabled people both taking part in it and joining the crowds to watch. The only problems you might encounter are to do with getting into the City and negotiating the crowds.
Grandstands
For wheelchair users and anyone who is concerned about standing up in a crowd for the hour and a half that the Show takes to pass, the grandstands are by far the best bet. As well as the banked seating there are places reserved for wheelchairs, each with space for an accompanying carer if required. You can buy grandstand tickets online or by calling the Lord Mayors Show Office on 01908 300106. Don't delay: the number of wheelchair spaces is limited and the whole grandstand usually sells out long before the day of the Show.
Crowds
The busiest parts of the route are around St Paul's and Mansion House. If you're at all concerned about the crowds, or might be a bit unsteady on your feet, please avoid those areas. In quieter places like Fleet Street the crowd should be much more manageable and you should be able to use folding chairs. There is also less of a crush during the return leg of the procession, so for wheelchair users the best option is to head for Victoria Embankment at about 1pm.
If you decide to go for the first leg of the procession - which is usually a bit more lively - and you want to be at the front of the crowd, make sure you get there by about 10. People can be quite protective of their front row positions.
Driving and Parking
Due to the strict security (and safety) regime, only vehicles with approved passes are allowed within the Show area. Most visitors have to travel to the Show by tube - there are no buses in the area either - but special arrangements can be made for those unable to use public transport.
For blue badge holders there are two main options for viewing the show. The first option is to watch the return leg from your vehicle along Queen Victoria Street. The second option is to park in Farringdon Street and then watch the show from Ludgate Circus. Both of these options require blue badge holders to obtain a security pass from Richard Pain and all applications should be made at least a week before the show. Richard will need details of the car (including make, model, registration number and car colour), along with the name of the driver and your blue badge number. Richard can be contacted by phone or email at 020 7332 1588 or richard.pain@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
Public Toilets
Accessible WC's are provided at various locations around the parade route including Blackfriars Bridge, Farringdon St (junction with Ludgate Circus), New Change and on Queen Victoria Street (junction with Cannon Street). All of them are marked on our one page map. Not all these WC's are Part M standard accessible WC's: for full details please check with Richard Pain (020 7332 1588). There are also a number of wheelchair accessible WC's within train stations around the City. Many of these are opened using a RADAR key which can be obtained from the charity RADAR.
Access in the City
The City of London Access team produce a booklet entitled Access for disabled people in the City of London. This can be downloaded from the web or ordered from the Access team: call us on on 020 7332 1995 or email access@cityoflondon.gov.uk.