The Mall, looking towards Buckingham Palace

The Mall in London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. It is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays, and on ceremonial occasions.

The Queen Victoria memorial is immediately before the gates of the Palace, whilst Admiralty Arch at the far end leads into the square. St James's Park is on the south side of The Mall, opposite Green Park and St James's Palace, on the north. Running off The Mall at the eastern end is Horse Guards Parade, where the ceremony of the Trooping of the Colour occurs.

Union Jacks frequently decorate The Mall

The Mall was created as a ceremonial route in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, matching the creation of similar ceremonial routes in other cities, such as Washington DC, St.Petersburg, Paris, Berlin and Vienna. These routes were intended to be used for major national ceremonies in the era of the nation state. As part of the development (designed by Sir Aston Webb), a new façade was constructed for Buckingham Palace, and the Victoria Monument was erected.

During state visits to the United Kingdom, the monarch and the visiting head of state are escorted in a state carriage up the Mall, which is decorated in Union Jacks and the flags of the visiting head of state's country. During the Golden Jubilee ceremonies of Queen Elizabeth II, over one million people packed the Mall to watch the public displays and the appearance of the British Royal Family on the Palace balcony.

The Mall takes its name from its former use, as an alley in which the mallet and ball game pall mall was once played.