Whitehall opens to the public at 8am on Remembrance Sunday, three hours before the silence. That is the number that decides your morning. The service itself runs from 11am to 11.25am, but space along Whitehall and Parliament Street is limited and entry is closed once the area fills, so arriving at half past ten is arriving too late.
The 2026 National Service of Remembrance is on Sunday 8 November. No ticket or pass is needed. Everything below comes from the Government’s own guidance, read on 12 October 2026.
The timings
From 8am Whitehall opens, with police security checks to clear. From 10.30am the detachments form up at the Cenotaph. From 10.50am participants process out. At 11am the two minute silence is marked by the King’s Troop firing from Horse Guards Parade, and the service begins. At 11.25am the service ends and the Royal British Legion detachments march off past the Cenotaph.
Where to stand, and the screens
You watch from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street. Video screens are placed north of the Cenotaph, and there is a further screen to the south on the corner of King Charles Street. If you cannot get near the Cenotaph itself, those screens are the fallback rather than a lost morning.
Accessible viewing
There is an enclosure for wheelchair users on the west side of Parliament Street, near King Charles Street, with an accessible toilet nearby. Places go on a first come basis and each person may bring one carer or guest. Since it is not bookable, the 8am opening matters even more if you need that space.
Bags and drones
Large bags are discouraged, and the guidance is specific that bags with multiple or complex openings will slow you through the security check. Drones are strictly prohibited at all times across the area and the surrounding roads.
Nearby stations will be busy before and after the service, and the guidance points to Transport for London and National Rail for the day rather than naming a station. Questions about the march past go to the Royal British Legion directly.
The rest of the year
Outside Remembrance Sunday the Cenotaph stands in the middle of Whitehall and is free to see at any hour, with traffic either side of it. It is a short walk from Westminster, Charing Cross and Embankment, and sits between Downing Street and the Churchill War Rooms, so most people pass it without stopping.
The Cenotaph
- Address
- Whitehall, London SW1A 2AX
- Nearest
- Westminster, Charing Cross or Embankment
- Hours
- Visible at any time from the street. For the National Service of Remembrance on Sunday 8 November 2026, Whitehall opens at 8am, the service runs 11am to 11.25am, and detachments form up from 10.30am
- Booking
- None. Public viewing is first come along Whitehall and Parliament Street, and entry may be restricted once the area fills
- Price
- Free. No tickets or passes are needed for the National Service of Remembrance
- Standing
- The national war memorial in the middle of Whitehall, and the site of the National Service of Remembrance each November
How to get in
Police security checks apply on Remembrance Sunday, so allow extra time. Large bags are discouraged, especially those with multiple or complex openings, and drones are strictly prohibited across the area. Wheelchair viewing is on the west side of Parliament Street near King Charles Street, first come, with one carer or guest each
Where to go next
The Churchill War Rooms are a few minutes away, and Changing the Guard is the other free ceremony worth timing a morning around.
Free things to do covers the rest.
Questions we get asked
When is Remembrance Sunday 2026?
Sunday 8 November 2026. The National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph runs from 11am to 11.25am, with the two minute silence at 11am.
What time should you arrive at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday?
Whitehall opens to the public at 8am and space is limited, with entry restricted once the area fills. Detachments form up from 10.30am, so arriving close to 11am is too late.
Do you need tickets for the Cenotaph service?
No. No tickets or passes are needed, and the public watch from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street.
Is there accessible viewing at the Cenotaph?
Yes. An enclosure for wheelchair users is on the west side of Parliament Street near King Charles Street, with an accessible toilet nearby. Places are first come, and each person may bring one carer or guest.
Can you see the Cenotaph service on screens?
Yes. Video screens are placed north of the Cenotaph and one is south of it on the corner of King Charles Street.
What can you not bring to the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday?
Large bags are discouraged, and bags with multiple or complex openings cause delays at the police security checks. Drones are strictly prohibited at all times in the area and surrounding roads.
Where is the Cenotaph?
In the middle of Whitehall, SW1A 2AX, between Westminster and Trafalgar Square. Westminster, Charing Cross and Embankment are the nearest stations.
Written by Robert J Wills, no. 458 in the guide.
Last checked 12 October 2026 against the venues' own published information. Nobody pays to appear here and we take no bookings.
