Traditional date
Festive swim · England
Peter Pan Cup Christmas Day Swim
Hyde Park, London
Serpentine Swimming Club members race 100 yards in the cold lake on Christmas morning.
25 December 2026
ROUND-UP GUIDE · 8 EVENTS
Odd London.
London hides some wonderfully odd traditions behind its famous sights. The Tower is locked every night by lantern light, clowns gather in full make-up for a church service, Pearly Kings and Queens parade in suits covered in buttons and the oldest rowing race in the world is still raced on the Thames.
Most are free; the Ceremony of the Keys needs tickets booked well ahead.
At a glance
- Peter Pan Cup Christmas Day Swim 25 December 2026 · Hyde Park, London Stay nearby ↗
- Grimaldi Clowns’ Service 7 February 2027 · Haggerston, London Stay nearby ↗
- Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival 9 May 2027 · Covent Garden, London Stay nearby ↗
- Ceremony of the Keys Every night of the year at 9.30pm (free tickets, released in batches and snapped up fast) · Tower of London, London Stay nearby ↗
- Oranges and Lemons Service Around the third Thursday in March · St Clement Danes, Strand, London Stay nearby ↗
- Swan Upping Five days, Monday to Friday, in mid-July (2026: 13-17 July) · River Thames, Sunbury to Abingdon Stay nearby ↗
- Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race Once a year in late summer, timed to the tide; recently early September (2026: Wednesday 2 September) · River Thames, London Stay nearby ↗
- Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival A Sunday in late September (2026: Sunday 20 September) · City of London, London Stay nearby ↗
STAY OVER
Base yourself in London
Rooms near the big nights go early. Compare places to stay and check cancellation terms.
Find a place to stay on Booking.com ↗
Traditional date
Ceremony & pageantry · England
Grimaldi Clowns’ Service
Haggerston, London
Clowns in full costume attend a church service in Hackney honouring Joseph Grimaldi.
7 February 2027
Traditional date
Folk tradition · England
Covent Garden May Fayre and Puppet Festival
Covent Garden, London
Punch and Judy puppeteers parade, attend church and perform for Mr Punch's birthday.
9 May 2027
Usually TBC
Ceremony & pageantry · England
Ceremony of the Keys
Tower of London, London
The Tower of London is locked up for the night in a short ceremony held every evening.
Every night of the year at 9.30pm (free tickets, released in batches and snapped up fast)
Usually March
Ceremony & pageantry · England
Oranges and Lemons Service
St Clement Danes, Strand, London
Schoolchildren receive an orange and a lemon as the church bells ring out the nursery rhyme.
Around the third Thursday in March
Usually July
Ceremony & pageantry · England
Swan Upping
River Thames, Sunbury to Abingdon
The King's Swan Uppers row up the Thames for five days counting and checking cygnets.
Five days, Monday to Friday, in mid-July (2026: 13-17 July)
Usually September
Unusual race · England
Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race
River Thames, London
Apprentice watermen scull from London Bridge to Chelsea in the world's oldest rowing race.
Once a year in late summer, timed to the tide; recently early September (2026: Wednesday 2 September)
Usually September
Folk tradition · England
Pearly Kings and Queens Harvest Festival
City of London, London
London's button-covered Pearlies parade from Guildhall Yard to St Mary-le-Bow for harvest.
A Sunday in late September (2026: Sunday 20 September)
“Stay nearby” links go to Booking.com, and each event guide also has train links. These are affiliate links — what that means.