Here’s the poetic bit. For the fans actually on the route, the parade finishes the moment the bus vanishes from sight. But for the players, it finishes when the last photo is snapped inside the stadium. For the pubs, it finishes when the last pint is poured. It’s a moving target.
I like to think the parade finishes when you stop smiling. Which is often hours later, when you’re arguing about the season over a kebab. That’s the real end time.
So, What’s Your Best Bet?
If you absolutely need a time for childcare reasons or a train booking: assume the parade finishes between 5:45 PM and 6:30 PM, but for goodness’ sake, give yourself until 7:00 PM. If you’re still waiting at 7:15 PM, you’re probably at the wrong spot or the bus broke down. Yes, that’s happened.
One year, the bus literally stalled on a hill because the driver got too excited and forgot to shift gears. The crowd cheered for ten minutes while they fixed it. That’s Arsenal for you. Chaos, glory, and a stubborn refusal to stick to any schedule.
So, finish time? A memory. A feeling. Also, approximately 5:45 PM if you want to be boring. Just don’t tell Dave.
