London march for Palestine: Route, closures, and travel advice

Published on Oct 10, 2025, 9:27 am CDTUpdated on Oct 10, 2025, 9:40 am CDT

5 min read

A large National March for Palestine is scheduled in central London on Saturday, October 11. Organizers say the route will assemble at Victoria Embankment from 12:00, proceed across Westminster Bridge, loop back through central streets, and end by Downing Street. Significant crowding and rolling closures are expected in Westminster, Whitehall, and the Trafalgar Square area from late morning through late afternoon.

Key points

Why it matters: Central London roads and bridges will see rolling closures and heavy crowds.
Travel impact: Westminster, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and bridge approaches will be congested.
What's next: Police may impose short-notice conditions; check advisories before you travel.
Expect restricted pedestrian access near St Thomas' Hospital during the bridge crossing.
Allow extra time for Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton transfers.

Snapshot

The march is set to start at 1200 on Victoria Embankment, then cross Westminster Bridge before continuing through central London and finishing by Downing Street. The event window most likely to affect travel is roughly 1100 to 1700, with organizers and local outlets indicating a mid-afternoon finish around 1630. Rolling road closures are expected on and around Westminster Bridge, Whitehall, the Strand, and Trafalgar Square, with crowding at Westminster, Embankment, and Waterloo areas. Transport for London flags major-event impacts; plan alternative stations away from the route and check live status on the day.

Background

Metropolitan Police have issued recent protest-related updates and may apply Public Order Act conditions to prevent disorder or conflict between groups. That can include dispersal directions, prohibited locations, or time limits announced at short notice. The march route and assembly time were publicized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and partner groups earlier this week. Previous weekends saw sizable demonstrations and arrests in central London, emphasizing the likelihood of visible policing and intermittent restrictions around bridges and government districts.

Latest developments

Route and closures for October 11

Organizers list the route as assembling at Victoria Embankment at 12:00, crossing Westminster Bridge, then continuing through central streets toward Downing Street. Local reporting indicates a loop that includes Waterloo and Waterloo Bridge before returning north via the Strand and Trafalgar Square to Whitehall. Expect rolling closures on Westminster Bridge and adjacent approaches, heavier-than-usual pedestrian controls on the South Bank near the London Eye, and stewards or police holding junctions as the march passes. St Thomas' Hospital advises that Westminster Bridge Road pedestrian access will be restricted while the crowd crosses.

Analysis

Travelers should avoid driving anywhere near Westminster, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and the bridge approaches from late morning through late afternoon. For the Tube, avoid Westminster (Jubilee, Circle, District), Embankment (Circle, District, Northern, Bakerloo), Waterloo (Jubilee, Northern, Bakerloo), and Charing Cross/Leicester Square area stations during peak march times, as they border the route. Instead, use padding stations outside the footprint: Paddington for the Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express, King's Cross St Pancras or Euston for national rail and Thameslink connections, and Southwark or Blackfriars for the south and east side approaches. Plan to walk an extra 10 to 20 minutes from whichever station you choose and expect occasional station control measures. For buses, anticipate diversions around Parliament Street, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and the South Bank.

Airport transfers.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR): Prefer Heathrow Express or the Elizabeth line to Paddington, then continue by Elizabeth line or taxi outside the protest zone. Avoid routings that require interchanging at Westminster or Waterloo during 1100-1700.
London Gatwick Airport (LGW): Use Thameslink services to London Bridge or Blackfriars, remaining east of the protest zone rather than transferring at Victoria.
London Stansted Airport (STN): Take the Stansted Express to Liverpool Street, then continue on the Elizabeth line or taxi.
London Luton Airport (LTN): Take Luton Airport Express/Thameslink to St Pancras International; avoid southbound interchanges into Westminster. For all airports, add 45-90 minutes of buffer if traveling anywhere near central London during the march window. Check live status on the day before you set out.

Final thoughts

If your plans take you into central London on October 11, build in extra time, choose stations outside Westminster and Whitehall, and be ready to walk. Airport-bound travelers should prioritize Elizabeth line, Heathrow Express, Thameslink, and other routes that bypass the protest core. With rolling closures on bridges and around Downing Street, the smartest path is to steer clear of the footprint and use alternatives planned around the National March for Palestine London route.