Please note that this event has already occured.
Key information
Date: Sunday 15 October 2017
Time: 1:00pm to 7:00pm
Venue: Trafalgar Square, Westminster, London, WC2N 5DN, GB
Cost: No tickets required
Celebrating its 16th anniversary Diwali Festival, which celebrates the Hindu, Sikh and Jain festival of lights, attracts over 35,000 with its lively music and dance stage line up alongside an authentic street food market, craft and community stalls plus dance, yoga, comedy, henna art and much more.
For more information on what you'll find at Diwali Festival 2017 visit the Diwali in London website.
Find the best way to plan your journey with TfL.
Watch highlights from last year's celebration
Diwali Festival is organised by the Mayor of London with support from the Diwali in London Committee.
Diwali Festival is an official UK/India 2017 event.
Diwali Festival Main Stage Programme
Accessible facilities at Trafalgar Square
- There is a wheelchair accessible lift. It is on the north-west of Trafalgar Square. Event stewards will be available to help wheelchair users travelling between upper (north terrace) and lower terrace levels of Trafalgar Square
- Wheelchair accessible public toilets are available on the lower terrace of Trafalgar Square. This is on the west side of the square to the left of the central staircase. These are open daily from 8am to 8pm. You’ll also find an additional Mobiloo unit on the north west corner.
- Trafalgar Square’s cafe is wheelchair accessible, and has a low-level counter and induction loop
Additional accessible facilities for Diwali Festival
- There will be a BSL interpreter on the music stage
- All staff and stewards will also be briefed on disability awareness
- The wheelchair accessible viewing area will be at the top of the central staircase
- Some seating will be available for companions in the wheelchair viewing area, and for less abled people who are not necessarily wheelchair users
- Guidance dog welfare area will be available next to the lift on the north-west terrace
Do I need a ticket?
No. Trafalgar Square is a public space, but all events have limited capacity so at times you may need to queue to get in.
Is there a minimum age?
No, but we ask that under 16s are accompanied by an adult.
Can I buy food and drink?
Yes, there will be 9 food stalls and 4 (non-alcoholic) drinks stalls.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
No, Diwali Festival is a no alcohol event.
Can I bring pets?
Trafalgar Square gets extremely busy on event days and pets will find it stressful, so we do not recommend you bring them. Our stewards also reserve the right to refuse pets entry on this basis.
Guidance dog welfare area will be available next to the lift on the north-west terrace.
Can I bring large bags?
Please avoid it if you can. Bags may be searched by our security staff.
Can I smoke on Trafalgar Square?
Yes, as this is a public open space, but please be mindful of others around you.
Is there a covered area if it rains?
There are no covered areas. Remember weather is changeable, so wrap up warm & be prepared for rain. Trafalgar Square is also a sun trap at times, so bring sun screen on hotter days.
Is there first aid?
Yes, at all events there will be first aid on site clearly signposted. Ask a steward for your nearest one. Only dial 999 if it's life threatening
Will there be security?
Yes, we always use professional stewards.
Can I get in the fountains?
No. They're historic monuments and this isn't safe. Anyone who gets into the fountains will be removed by our security team and won't be readmitted.
Is there a café?
The café on the square is open from 10am-6pm daily. There is seating inside, plus outside seats and wooden tables. The café is on the lower terrace of Trafalgar Square, on the square’s east side, right of the central staircase. It is wheelchair accessible, and has a low-level counter and induction loop.
Are there toilets on Trafalgar Square?
Yes, public toilets are available on the lower terrace of Trafalgar Square. This is on the west side of the square to the left of the central staircase (if looking at the National Gallery). These are open daily from 8am to 8pm.
Men:
Eight urinals
Three cubicles
One disabled toilet
One baby changing facility
Women:
Nine cubicles
Are there baby changing facilities on Trafalgar Square?
Yes, there are 2, one in the men’s and one in the women’s toilet.
Are there Wheelchair accessible public toilets?
There is one accessible public toilet in the main toilet block described above. You’ll also find a temporary wheelchair accessible portable toilet near the accessible viewing area for the majority of our events.
I have access needs, what is Trafalgar Square like?
Trafalgar Square is an open public space with two fountains in the shape of octagons situated on the lower terrace. It has a square stone slab surface. There is also a large central staircase, with a separate set of stairs at either end, leading from the upper (north terrace) to the lower terrace of the square.
Is there a lift?
There is a wheelchair accessible lift. It is on the north-west of Trafalgar Square. Event stewards will be available to help wheelchair users travelling between upper (north terrace) and lower terrace levels of Trafalgar Square.
Is there an accessible viewing area?
Yes this event will have an accessible viewing area located at the top of the central staircase on the North Terrace.
What other accessible services are you providing?
There's a viewing platform and wheelchair recharging point and there will also be BSL interpretation, captioning and live subtitling.
How do I get to Trafalgar Square?
The Tube
Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern lines) is the closest Tube station, with an entrance/exit on Trafalgar Square.
The following stations are within a few minutes' walk:
Leicester Square (Northern and Piccadilly lines)
Piccadilly Circus (Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines)
Embankment (Bakerloo, Northern, District and Circle lines)
Mainline train
Charing Cross mainline rail station is about a three minute walk from the Square.
Buses
Routes 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 23, 24, 53, 77A, 88, 91, 139, 159, 176, 453 go past Trafalgar Square. Also routes 22 and 94 terminate nearby at Piccadilly Circus. Many of London's night buses serve Trafalgar Square. The following routes start/end near the square: 53, N2, N5, N18, N20, N21, N26, N29, N41, N47, N50, N89, N91, N97, N279, and N381, and these routes go past the square: 6, 12, 23, 24, 88, 139, 176, 453, N3, N9, N11, N13, N15, N36, N44, N52, N77, N155, N159, N343.
Visit the Transport for London bus maps page to access information on bus routes from Trafalgar Square, for both day-time and night buses.
Accessible parking
The nearest Blue Badge parking spaces to Trafalgar Square are:
• St Martin’s Street – five spaces - 321 metres from Trafalgar Square.
• Outside Canada House – one space - 33 metres from Trafalgar Square
• Suffolk Street – one space - 644 metres from Trafalgar Square
• Spring Gardens – one space - 321 metres from Trafalgar Square
Bikes
The nearest bike stands are on Orange Street, St Martin’s Street, St Martin’s Place, and Duncannon Street. Please check Urban Cycle Parking for further information. Please note bikes will not be allowed onto Trafalgar Square.