Saturday 18 July 2026
Cart Marking showcases a truly unique collection of transport dating from the horse and cart to the latest, cleanest, greenest, and safest in use today.
The regulation of carts dates back over 750 years to the early days of the City, with the ceremony of Cart Marking evolving over time.
A ‘Cart’, in today’s terms, is a vehicle used to transport freight or passengers, for hire or reward.
Marking is done by branding (or burning) a letter for the forthcoming year on to a wooden block which is attached to the ‘Cart’.
To enter a vehicle into Cart Marking – click here
To advertise in our programme – click here
Nowadays, we bring history back to life with a modern twist at our annual event, held each July.
Vehicles are no longer limited to wooden carts of course; expect to see horse-drawn carriages, steam engines, fire engines, vans, ambulances, bicycles, removal vans, electric trucks. It is essentially a timeline on wheels — a ‘wheelie’ eclectic mix.
The vehicles make their way to Guildhall Yard where they are greeted by the Lord Mayor of London, the masters of two City Livery companies and the Keeper of the Guildhall, all wearing their official robes and insignia.
As each vehicle is presented for marking, a commentator tells us about its history and relevance today.
You can view the Cart Marking ceremony on our YouTube channel using this link
But why was it done?
Well, it is quite simple! This was the earliest form of vehicle licensing.
Having paid for a licence, a mark would be burnt onto your wooden cart to allow that cart to ply for trade ‘for hire or reward’ for the forthcoming year. To allow that cart to continue in use, a new mark would be branded each year on payment of the licence fee.
Back then the licence fee would have been five shillings (5/- or 25p today). What is five shillings compared to today’s £850 road tax for a heavy articulated lorry?
Five shillings is still paid to the City of London today for each vehicle that passes through Guildhall Arch!