The Mall is usually the center of major events in London and this summer there’s two: The Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. This means that because of the size of the two events, The Mall itself will be closed off to traffic and in some cases, people, for most of the summer.
According to the Evening Standard:
The Mall is due to shut for more than three months for the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics, prompting fears of a summer of traffic gridlock.
The road’s unprecedented closure is part of a wider lockdown because of the Games, with half of St James’s Park also within a 32-acre no-go zone in the heart of the capital.
Games chiefs will seal off The Mall and park from June 20 witha 10ft-high security fence. The London 2012 workforce will then move in to erect a 5,000-capacity grandstand finish on The Mall for the marathon, cycling and race-walk finishes.
The team will also be setting up the 16,000-seat beach volleyball court, the third largest Olympic venue, in Horse Guards Parade.
Before that The Mall will be closed from June 3 for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration, followed by Trooping of the Colour at Horse Guards. It is not expected to re-open until up to 10 days after the Paralympics, which finish on September 9.
This is something to keep in mind if you plan to explore the Royal Parks or the streets around them – in some areas you simple won’t be able to get around due to security.