Well, I've never done it myself and I suspect no one else here has or they would have replied the first time, but this official link from last year might be useful info for you if you haven't already seen it: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get...mbrance-sunday

I have once but it was many years ago -- late 90's I think. So I wouldn't have any useful advice. Then it was quite easy.

This is the offical advice:

No passes or tickets are required by members of the public, who can watch the ceremony from the pavements along Whitehall and Parliament Street. On the day, orders of Service are distributed on Whitehall by the Scouts to members of the public.

Whitehall is opened to the public at 8:00am. We advise members of the public to arrive early if they wish to secure a good viewing place. Those attending are advised not to bring suitcases or large bags as space is limited. Security in the area remains tight, so please ensure that you allow time to clear the police security procedures.

Temporary public toilets will be located in Whitehall Place. First aid facilities, provided by St John’s Ambulance, will be available at various locations along Whitehall, whilst their personnel will also be patrolling the area.

A space will be available for wheelchair users and other spectators who might find it difficult to view from the general public areas. This area is located on the west side of Parliament Street, close to the junction with King Charles Street. Space in this enclosure will be offered on a first come, first served, basis only. One carer or guest per person will also be admitted and a toilet for the use of disabled people will be available nearby. DCMS volunteers will be present to assist.

There will be video screens north of the Cenotaph, near the green outside the main Ministry of Defence building, mounted outside the Scotland Office and another on the roadway.

Photography is permitted, but the Metropolitan Police have powers to remove obstacles (such as camera tripods) where they obstruct public access or views. We ask spectators not to take photographs during the 2 minute silence when shutter noises can offend.

Thank you both for your time and input - I am a little surprised that this ceremony seems to be of little interest, given the crowds regularly at BP’s Changing of the Guard. (Which I would consider far more ordinary.)

The info you provided is helpful, thanks!

>>I am a little surprised that this ceremony seems to be of little interest,<<

I don't think it is of 'little interest'. Remembrance Sunday and 11/11 quite important in the UK -- They even have a stand down/moment of silence at 1100 in places you wouldn't think - like at LHR where everything stops.

But the Changing of the Guard is 'more famous' to overseas visitors. And while the CotG is year round and daily all summer so millions of visitors have a chance to view it, the Cenotaph Parade is one morning of the year.

It's not of little interest to a great many people, but it is a very solemn occasion, and not just for display. Many or most people may well be at a local church remembrance service or other event rather than in Whitehall. But to get a good view and sense of the event overall, it probably is best seen on TV, either live or through the edited programme in the evening.

I would suggest it more usual as PatrickLondon has said that residents attend their local service at their local War memorial or church, or watch the service from the Cenotaph at home, where, to be honest, they can see the whole service and not just the back of a head, and see the veterans march past after the service.

Not to prolong this unduly, but the form of Remembrance services reflects the huge impact of the long grind of World War I, and the conflicted responses to it.

Poppies will be on sale at every street corner and shop from the end of October. It can be interesting to buy one from one of the many ex-service personnel who stand for hours selling poppies. If not from them many of the uniformed youth organisations get their members to sell poppies in the shopping centres at weeekends.
If you want a more permanent souvenir the Royal British Legion have a range of poppies for sale some are metal and have the year stamped on them.

I would love to attend there or at the Menin gate. How was it? I bought an enamel poppy last year and wore it on Monday. Veterans day here. I do wish we were on schedule with others. People confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day here in the US.

Last year was especially important (75 years on) and in our small Yorkshire town the main Church of England church had the quasi-Norman tower covered in a waterfall of poppies, various wooden street seats were replaced by black steel seats with added enamel red poppies and black-outline-only soldiers were placed in various park areas around the memorial garden where around 200 people gathered to hear a short prayer and a bugle.

This occurs everywhere across the country. This year an idiot let off one firework at the same time at one park in one town and the police had to protect him from the crowd. He got 12 or 16 weeks in jail for his moment of fun.

When I was young the buses stopped running and the police used to wave cars to a stop. Now they keep going, disappointing!

Really bilbo? When I was young we marked Rembrance Sunday only, not the 11th as well. And there wasn't the poppy maffia there is nowadays. I can remember freezing to death in the parade the only year I was a Brownie. We had to walk three miles to the memorial, then parade and stand for ages before walking the three miles back again. Not sure I understood any of it at the age of 7, but the cold and drizzle left a lasting impression.

Here we celebrate Sint Maarten on the 11th, and the carnaval groups celebrate the start of the carnaval season. Because the Netherlands was neutral in WW1 11/11 has no other significance. Our remembrance day is May 4th, when all who died in WW2, are remembered, and most people stop for two minutes at 8pm.

I loved the picture of the black cabs in line for the veterans. They take them there and back for no charge. The Queen standing tall and proud. trump did not lay a wreath or move beyond his bulletproof cage in NYC. Seeing Prince Charles, William, and Harry salute and place the wreath together was moving. Last year was huge. We were there shortly after and the wreaths of poppies were everywhere.

I think you are right about Sunday in the past and even now Sunday is the big day with the 11th just being an excuse for county/city councillors (and see below) to pop out for a late coffee and a short ceremony at a church. But yes I do remember policemen pulling vehicles over in the early 70s if they passed close to a ceremony.

When I used to work my factories would stop at 11 on the 11th and I have flipped off people's phones if a conversation was slipping into the silence period.

While we celebrate (if that is the word) WW1 it is for all the fallen.

Getting cold, well at 7 it is no fun, but given the Dutch starvation followed by the murderous flooding soon after WW2 I can understand adults attention to the detail even if it must have been miserable at the time.

Our local MP turned up last year to the ceremony in a Donkey Jacket which will probably ensure a major loss of his voting numbers come December, certainly you could hear the "tuts" at the back of the church and "Michael Foot".

I was in the UK when I was 7.
Only moved here when I was 28. A long time ago now.

Well as you know British history as taught in "al god skols" is only about the Tudors and WW2, so getting wet as a Brownie would have satisfied us Brits back in the ??s.