Unite the Kingdom and Nakba 78 London marches: Tube, rail and bus services affected and road closures

The Tube, rail stations, bus routes and roads in central London are set to be impacted by two marches on Saturday.

Around 50,000 people are expected by the Metropolitan Police to attend a Unite the Kingdom protest, and 30,000 a pro-Palestinian Nakba 78 demonstration.

Underground stations could also be closed at short notice if police warn of a danger of overcrowding or other threats such as violence erupting inside the travel hubs.

The force is also braced for football hooligans to join the Unite the Kingdom rally.

Extensive road closures are expected in the immediate vicinity of both march routes, with hundreds of police deployed with riot gear.

But which streets are shut may well change during the day as police respond to the “large crowds” attending the protests and seek to ensure public order is maintained.

Bus services with stops in the immediate vicinity of the marches are also expected to be affected and these could also change during the day.

The precise starting times of the protests is not yet clear.

The Unite the Kingdom protest, which is expected to be led by Tommy Robinson whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will officially start in Kingsway.

Its designated route, shown on the map above, leads it to Aldwych, The Strand, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Square where a rally will be held.

Organisers of the Unite the Kingdom event are advising people who are heading into London to join the protest to use Kings Cross, St Pancras and Euston Tube and train stations.

They are expected to be particularly busy on Saturday morning ahead of the march.

Westminster Tube station is likely to be very busy towards late afternoon with the rally in Parliament Square having to finish at 6pm under the strict restrictions imposed by Scotland Yard.

In its travel advice, Transport for London states: “From 09:00 until 19:00, a march will take place across central London, starting at Russell Square and finishing at Parliament Square via Southampton Row, Kingsway, Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall.

“Extensive road closures and bus diversions will be in place along the march route, with large crowds expected.”

People taking part in the pro-Palestinian march must remain in Exhibition Road, west London, until it begins.

Tube stations near Exhibition Road include South Kensington, Gloucester Road and Knightsbridge and they could be busy.

Anyone participating in the march must not deviate from the route, shown on the map below, which is Exhibition Road, Cromwell Gardens, Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, Pall Mall.

According to one of the organisers, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the protest will begin at 12pm.

TfL’s travel advice states: “From 11:00 until 19:00, a march will take place across central London, starting at Exhibition Road and finishing at Pall Mall via Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly and St James Street.

“Extensive road closures and bus diversions will be in place along the march route, with large crowds expected.”

The rally in Pall Mall must finish by 5.30pm and nearby Tube stations include Piccadilly Circus, Green Park and Charing Cross.

Nakba Day commemorates events which caused Palestinians to lose their homes and become refugees during the establishment of Israel 78 years ago.

For the first time ever organisers, as well as speakers, at both assemblies must ensure all content displayed and broadcast (including speeches, pre-recorded videos and imagery) does not include content likely to stir up racial or religious hatred.

If they fail to do so they risk being arrested and prosecuted.