This is London November 2026 - Flipbook - Page 4
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ARMISTICE DAY AND
REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY
Each November, for one hundred
years, the nation has stopped to
commemorate and reflect on the service
and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. In
London, this takes place on
Remembrance Sunday and Armistice
Day – the eleventh hour of the eleventh
day of the eleventh month, when peace
fell in 1918 at the conclusion of the First
World War.
The Cenotaph Parade and Act of
Remembrance is attended annually by
senior members of the Royal Family,
including His Majesty The King,
HM Government and features a March
Past involving 10,000 veterans and
members of the military.
Remembrance Sunday always falls on
the second weekend of November, which
means this year’s memorial takes place
on Sunday 8 November.
The first official celebrations on the
date were held by King George V at
Buckingham Palace in 1919, when he
hosted Raymond Poincaré, who was
President of France at the time.
The Armistice (latin for ‘to stand (still)
arms’), was signed by representatives of
the Allies and officials from Germany,
declaring an end to the First World War
with the cessation of hostilities on land,
sea and air. Although it marked the end
of hostilities, the nations were officially
involved in a state of war for seven more
months, until the signing of the Treaty of
Versailles on 28 June, 1919.
The poppy has been a prominent
symbol of remembrance for almost a
century, with millions produced every
year to pay tribute to the war dead. Its
origins lie in the opening lines of war
poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by Canadian
officer John McCrae, first published in
December 1915:
The Lord Mayor of the City of London will travel in the magnificent State Coach for
the Procession through the City on Saturday 14 November.
‘In Flanders fields the poppies blow,
between the crosses, row on row ... if ye
break faith with us who die, We shall not
sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders
fields.’
LONDON BRIDGE CITY’S RIVERSIDE
WINTER FESTIVAL
London Bridge City’s riverside winter
festival will be returning to the capital
this month, offering independent
Christmas markets, a range of seasonal
entertainment, Swift Stone Curling
and festive food stalls. Opening on
10 November, London Bridge City's
riverside winter festival Winter by the
River will run until 3 January.
Set against some of London’s most
iconic buildings and landmarks, the
Thames, London Bridge and Tower
Bridge, the enchanting winter festival is
one of London’s most popular seasonal
destinations, thanks to its blend of
independent traders, Christmassy
pop-ups and unbeatable views across the
river – providing the ultimate
entertainment for locals and visitors alike.
The festival will see the riverside
glow, offering something for everyone,
from global street food and festive
drinks to Swift Stone Curling, live music
and of course, the bustling markets.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
