Get up for the London Christmas Drive 2024 – by Eszter Halasi

Every year in mid-December, the Christmas Drive is held in London. This year, 257 horses and their families gathered for the drive, gliding through central London in their beautifully decorated, festive carriages.

The drive is not only a heart-warming event in the community’s life before Christmas but also serves as one of the last year-end drives for the Traveller and Gypsy community – although there will be a few Boxing Day drives dotted about the country, but not nearly as big and not in London. 

The London drive encourages participants to take part in fundraising and donation efforts. 

This year’s fundraiser aimed to purchase toys for The Salvation Army, helping them provide children’s gifts for Christmas.

Roger O’Connor, from Weston-Super-Mare, joined the Christmas Drive with his grandson and son-in-law. I had the pleasure of first riding alongside them on Roger’s beautiful Gypsy trolley, proudly bearing his name.

The route started in East London, then crossed Tower Bridge, looping back over London Bridge, making its way through Soho, and then continuing to Camden before ending in Borough Market.

The route varies every year.

I got dropped off at Camden, after getting lifts on three different wagons.

I would like to thank everybody who gave me a lift and everyone who made me feel welcome - I hope you like my photographs.

Photos and words by Eszter Halasi for the Travellers Times