The Ancient System That Continues to Choose the City's Leader
Every September, a remarkable ceremony takes place at Guildhall that has continued almost without interruption for more than eight centuries. The election of the Lord Mayor of London remains one of the world's oldest continuously practised examples of civic democracy, with the power to choose the City's leader still residing with medieval trade guilds known as livery companies.
What Are the Great Twelve?
The "Great Twelve" are the twelve highest-ranked livery companies in the City of London, established in their current order of precedence by the Court of Aldermen in 1515. Their ranking was determined by a combination of economic and political influence at that time.
The twelve companies, in order of precedence, are:
- The Worshipful Company of Mercers (general merchants) β chartered in 1394
- The Worshipful Company of Grocers (spice merchants) β chartered in 1428
- The Worshipful Company of Drapers (wool and cloth merchants) β chartered in 1364
- The Worshipful Company of Fishmongers β chartered in 1272
- The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths β chartered in 1327
- The Worshipful Company of Skinners (fur traders) β chartered in 1327
- The Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors β chartered in 1327
- The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers (silk merchants) β chartered in 1448
- The Worshipful Company of Salters β chartered in 1394
- The Worshipful Company of Ironmongers β chartered in 1463
- The Worshipful Company of Vintners (wine merchants) β chartered in 1363
- The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers β chartered in 1528
Notably, the Skinners and Merchant Taylors have disputed their precedence for centuries. They swap between sixth and seventh place annually at Easter, a rivalry that is said to be the origin of the phrase "at sixes and sevens."
How the Election Works
The Lord Mayor is elected at Common Hall, a gathering of liverymen from all City livery companies, summoned by the sitting Lord Mayor. The meeting takes place at Guildhall on Michaelmas Day, 29 September, or the nearest weekday.
Voting is by a show of hands, although any liveryman may demand a ballot, which would be held a fortnight later. Only liverymen are eligible to vote in this election.
To stand for election as Lord Mayor, a candidate must meet strict qualifications. They must have served as a City Sheriff, a requirement in place since 1385, and must be a current alderman, a condition established by ordinance in 1435. The Lord Mayor must be chosen from amongst the aldermen of the City of London.
From Medieval Mayor to Modern Ambassador
The office of Mayor was instituted in 1189, with Henry Fitz-Ailwin de Londonestone as the first holder. In 1215, King John's royal charter allowed the City to choose its own Mayor annually, rather than having a sheriff appointed by the Crown. That same year, Magna Carta guaranteed that "the city of London shall enjoy all its ancient liberties and free customs."
The title "Lord Mayor" was granted in 1354, when King Edward III bestowed it upon Thomas Legge. Originally, the Mayor was required to travel to Westminster to swear loyalty to the King, a journey that gave rise to what is now the Lord Mayor's Show. The journey was made by barge on the River Thames until 1856.
Today, the role has evolved from local administrator to international ambassador. The Lord Mayor makes hundreds of speeches annually and conducts overseas visits as an ambassador for United Kingdom financial services.
The Ceremonies of Office
The Silent Ceremony takes place on the Friday before the second Saturday in November at Guildhall. It is called "silent" because, aside from a short declaration by the incoming Lord Mayor, no speeches are made. The outgoing Lord Mayor transfers the mayoral insignia, including the seal, the purse, the sword, and the mace, to the incoming Lord Mayor.
The following day, the Lord Mayor's Show proceeds from Guildhall via Mansion House and St Paul's Cathedral to the Royal Courts of Justice on the Strand. The Lord Mayor travels in the State Coach, built in 1757 at a cost of Β£1,065. The coach, which has painted side panels by Giovanni Battista Cipriani, is pulled by six horses and has an estimated replacement value of Β£2 million.
The Great Twelve Livery Companies participate in the Show as of right, alongside other livery companies by invitation, the Honourable Artillery Company, pikemen and musketeers, bands, military units, charities, and schools. The Show has only been cancelled twice: in 1852 for the Duke of Wellington's funeral, and in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The BBC has televised the Show live since 1937, making it the second longest-running television broadcast worldwide.
The Current Lord Mayor
Dame Susan Langley serves as the 697th Lord Mayor for 2025-2026. She is the third woman to hold the post, but the first to take the title of "Lady Mayor," following the precedent of Lady Justices. The first woman elected Lord Mayor was Dame Mary Donaldson in 1983, followed by Dame Fiona Woolf in 2013.
The Livery Today
There are 114 livery companies as of February 2026, with the Worshipful Company of Human Resource Professionals being the most recent to be granted livery status. Thirty-nine of these companies own premises in London.
The livery companies elect a majority of members to the Livery Committee, which is administered at Guildhall. The committee oversees the elections of Sheriffs and the Lord Mayor, educates liverymen regarding the City Corporation's activities, and represents the livery companies in communications with the City.
The Great Twelve, despite their medieval origins as trade guilds, continue to play a central role in one of the most distinctive democratic traditions in the City of London. Their participation in the election of the Lord Mayor represents a living connection to centuries of civic history, maintained in the heart of a modern global financial centre.
