Who is the current Lord Mayor of London in 2025-2026?
Dame Susan Langley serves as the 697th Lord Mayor of London for the 2025-2026 term. She is also known as the Lady Mayor, having chosen to adopt that style upon taking office in November 2025.
Questions about Lord Mayor of London
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How is the Lord Mayor of London elected?
The Lord Mayor is elected at Common Hall, a gathering of liverymen from the City's livery companies, held at Guildhall on Michaelmas Day (the 29th of September). Voting is by show of hands, with a full ballot available if demanded. Candidates must be current aldermen who have previously served as a City of London sheriff, a requirement in force since 1385.
When was the office of Lord Mayor of London created?
The office of Mayor of London was instituted in 1189, with Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone as its first holder. The specific title Lord Mayor came into use after 1354, when King Edward III granted it to Thomas Legge. The right of the City to elect its own mayor, rather than have one appointed by the Crown, was secured by royal charter from King John in 1215.
What is the difference between the Lord Mayor of London and the Mayor of London?
The Lord Mayor of London is the mayor of the historic City of London, a small area of roughly one square mile, and leads the City of London Corporation. The Mayor of London is a directly elected political office covering the much larger area of Greater London and controls a substantial public budget. The two offices are entirely separate.
What happens at the Lord Mayor's Show?
The Lord Mayor's Show takes place on the second Saturday in November, the day after the Lord Mayor is sworn in. The Lord Mayor travels in the City's state coach, built in 1757 at a cost of 1,065 pounds, to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand to swear allegiance to the Crown. The procession includes livery companies, military bands, charities, and schools, and concludes with a fireworks display in the evening.
What is the Silent Ceremony for the Lord Mayor of London?
The Silent Ceremony is the swearing-in of the new Lord Mayor, held at Guildhall on the Friday before the second Saturday in November. It takes its name from the near-total absence of speeches: the outgoing Lord Mayor transfers the mayoral insignia (the seal, the purse, the sword, and the mace) to the incoming Lord Mayor, and the only words spoken are a short declaration by the new holder.