ShareFrom handcarts and horse-drawn carriages to steam-driven vehicles and vintage London buses; see this parade of vehicles marked in the traditional Cart Marking Ceremony.
For over 500 years, every July, the Worshipful Company of Carmen bring their vintage vehicles (usually including horse-drawn wagons and carriages, steamers, veteran and vintage lorries, buses and coaches, and modern trucks and tractor units) to be branded with a red-hot iron by the Lord Mayor of London. Featured in the brand is the year letter and the car number as a reminder of the Carmen's centuries of service to the City.
The event (which takes place in Guildhall Yard in the City of London) sees each vehicle brought forward for the Master’s inspection, before being branded by the Keeper of Guildhall. The duties of the Keeper are shared with the Lord Mayor, and also the Master Carman.
Afterwards the Lord Mayor, Sheriff, Master Carman and Wardens doff their caps as each vehicle passes the rostrum, and then Carmen, partners and guests join in fellowship for lunch in the Great Hall.
Carmen’s Cart Marking Ceremony 2019 takes place at 10:10am on Wednesday 17 July, and is completely free to attend.
For more local tourist information:
- City of London Tourist Information Centre
- Email Address visit@cityoflondon.gov.uk
- Contact Details 020 7606 3030
- Twitter @visitlondon
Refine your search:
Cart Marking ceremony, London © City of London
Cart Marking ceremony, London © City of London
Cart Marking ceremony, London © Cart Marking ceremonyYou may be interested in...
Warm up your vocal chords for British Summer Time
Thousands of music fans invade London’s largest Royal Park every summer for American Express presents British Summer Time.
Location: Hyde Park, London
Discover all-time greats at the London Classic Car Show
Get up close and personal with hundreds of classic cars at the London Classic Car Show between 14-17 February.
Location: Docklands, London
Soak up the autumn colours in Greenwich Park
There is no better place to take in the change of the seasons than London’s Greenwich Park, home to the Royal Observatory and the Prime Meridian Line.
Location: Greenwich, London
Fly with The Red Arrows aerial team at the RAF Museum
Take a ride on The Red Arrow flight simulators or go on a low-flying mission through valleys in a Tornado Jet at London’s Royal Air Force Museum.
Location: Barnet, Greater London
VisitEngland would like to invite you to take part in a short survey about our website, it should take no more than a couple of minutes.