Calling all Irish and everyone who loves Ireland, partying, drinking and dressing up in green, Lá Fhéile Pádraig, St. Patrick’s Day is nearly upon us! This special day is celebrated across the world, with cities such as Chicago making an extra effort by dying the Chicago river green!

London not looking to be undone will also put on a green glow this Sunday the 16th as we will see a taste of Ireland in central London for the annual St Patrick’s Day celebration.

Thursday gives you the chance to hear the London Irish Symphony Orchestra for free! Friday sees The London Irish Film Festival kicking off at various venues such as the Prince Charles cinema, Barbican, and Tricycle Cinema. Saturday is a good day for Blue Badge walking tours and much more besides.

Sunday is the big day though with the festival and of course the big parade:

“marching bands from Ireland and the UK, community groups, sports cubs, schools and street theatre take to the streets of central London for a fun filled family spectacle.”

Despite Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square and Leicester Square all being filled with Irish culture there are still a few other places to take in a Guinness or two:

The Porterhouse : Great Irish Bar with beautiful interior design and one of the longest Beer menus I have ever seen! by Jimbo

Waxy O’Connor’s: 4 unique bars covering 6 levels which are linked together by a maze of staircases and passages along with the white tree in the centre by Fen

Auld Shillelagh: it’s a proper Irish bar, not one of your Authentic Oirish Theme Pub travesties. by Flashboy

Filthy McNasty’s: Filthy McNasty’s is an Irish boozer with attitude and all the better for it, in my opinion.’ by Hells Bells

Photo credit: Galway St Patrick’s day parade 5 by Nigel Wilson