Women’s March London: When is it, where does it start and who's taking part?

The annual tradition of the Women’s March has become a significant global event ever since its launch in 2017.

What began as a protest to the newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump has evolved into an event that champions social change.

Thousands of people will be marching in solidarity with one another in this year's Women's Marches in locations including England, New Zealand and Zambia.

For those of you planning on taking part in the capital of the UK, here's everything you need to know:

When is it?

The London Women’s March 2019 is taking place on Saturday 19 January.

The first official Women’s March was held on 21 January 2017, on the day after Trump’s inauguration as US President.

The main march, which occurred in Washington, D.C., was estimated to have been attended by between 500,000 to one million people.

According to political scientists, the day on which protesters across the US participated in Women’s Marches was one of the largest days of protest in American history.

Women's Marches also took place around the world in more than 80 countries, including England, Thailand and Peru.

Close to 100,000 protesters marched along the streets of London in opposition to Trump.

Where does it start?

Starting at noon, those participating in the 2019 London Women’s March are going to be meeting at the BBC headquarters at Portland Place in Marylebone, W1A.

This year’s march has been named the ‘Bread and Roses’ Rally, in commemoration of a speech delivered by American labour union leader Rose Schneiderman in 1911.

“The worker must have bread, but she must have roses too,” Schneiderman said as she addressed a crowd at a women’s suffrage event in Ohio.

Her speech, which implored women to fight for more than simply their survival, became a defining moment in the women's labour movement.

Those joining the march on 19 January are being asked to bring flowers in keeping with the theme.

The exact details of the march’s route haven’t been revealed yet.

However, there's the march will continue until 3pm and is likely to be followed by a rally at a landmark London location.

For more information, you can visit the event's website here.

Why is it taking place?

The aim of this year’s Women’s March is to support “equality, justice and to end austerity,” the organisation states on Twitter.

Those leading the event also want to ensure that it continues to make an impact on the fight for gender equality far into the future.

“Bread and Roses is the people’s protest against the untenable and pervasive effects of austerity in the UK which threatens our sustainable economic freedom, ethical values and justice,” Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, lawyer and co-organiser of Women’s March London, tells The Independent.

“From economic oppression, gender pay gap to domestic violence, women particularly bear the brunt of the terrible effects of austerity in this country.

“With the imminence of Brexit, we demand specific assurances from the government to end austerity.

“By saying Bread and Roses, we are saying it’s time to thrive not just survive. Accordingly, we will be bringing flowers as a symbol for change.”

Who’s taking part?

In addition to the thousands of people expected to join the Women’s March, the event is also likely to draw in several high-profile figures.

This year's speakers include Helen Pankhurst, women's rights activist and great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, Labour MP Dawn Butler and activist Munroe Bergdorf.

Social activist Akeela Ahmed MBE has stated that she’s going to be in attendance, in addition to actor Tim Downie, who starred in Paddington and The King’s Speech.