The Mall – The Ceremonial Route to Buckingham Palace

The Iconic Mall in London Was Created As A Ceremonial Route:

The Mall in London

The Mall in London was designed as a broad triumphal approach leading from Trafalgar Square to the impressive Admiralty Arch and then on to Buckingham Palace. This ceremonial route was created in 1911 by Sir Aston Webb when he redesigned the facade of Buckingham Palace, and at the time when the Victoria Memorial was being erected in front of the Palace.

The creation of the London Mall as a ceremonial route was similar to others in cities like Berlin, Paris, St Petersburg and Vienna. These routes were intended for major national ceremonies and grand parades.

With the application of synthetic iron oxide pigment, the surface of the London Mall is red in colour, giving it the appearance of a giant red carpet leading to Buckingham Palace.  On Sundays, public holidays and on ceremonial occasions, The Mall is closed to traffic.

During state visits, the flagpoles down both sides of the Mall fly the national flag of the visiting head of state. On  special occasions, such as the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, the Mall is usually packed with people watching the ceremony and hoping to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family on the palace balcony.

To this day, The Mall remains a popular backdrop for formal ceremonies and major sporting events, such as the London Marathon. During the London 2012 Olympics, the Marathon and Paralympic Marathon will start and finish in The Mall.

Getting to the Mall:
The London Underground (Tube) is the fastest way to get to the Mall. The recommended stations for The Mall are: Victoria on the Victoria, District and Circle lines; St James’ Park on the District and Circle lines; and Green Park on the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines.

Map of London: