ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Nearly 250,000 activists descended on the streets of central London today to protest Donald Trump's visit to the UK, organisers said.

Protesters marched through the capital carrying placards reading "Dump Trump" and "Star Spangled Gobs***".

Aerial images showed the streets of central London from Portland Place to Trafalgar Square packed with tens of thousands of people taking part.

Stop Trump, the group which organised the biggest march, said that there were 250,000 people taking part.

The day began with the unveiling of the Trump baby blimp in Parliament Square, which was crowdfunded by campaigners furious that Mr Trump was being welcomed to the UK.

The balloon, which depicts Mr Trump wearing a nappy and carrying a mobile phone, was later pictured among the marching crowds.

Later, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn addressed crowds at a rally in Trafalgar Square and was received with enthusiasm.

"We are asserting our right to demonstrate, our right to free speech," he said.

Mr Corbyn said Sadiq Khan deserves support and not condemnation. "Human rights belong to all of us," he added.

Mr Corbyn said the message of the demonstration was "one of solidarity". He added: "When we unite together with common objectives, we can all win."

The crowd applauded him warmly and chanted "Oh, Jeremy Corbyn".

Into the evening several protesters jumped into the fountain in the centre of the square to cool off and kids followed suit - splashing in the shallow water.

Braver members of the crowd climbed up to the top and protested from there.

While activists were making their feelings known in central London, the President was meeting with Theresa May at Chequers for talks on trade, Brexit and Nato. He later took tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle.

2018 Trump Protests in London - In pictures 41 show all 2018 Trump Protests in London - In pictures 1/41 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London during a 'Stop Trump' march as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK. PA 2/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit at Trafalgar Square in London EPA 3/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 4/41 Tens of thousands of people marched today in protest at Donald Trump's UK visit Reuters 5/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 6/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Regent Street in London PA 7/41 The protesters took to the streets in anger at the US president's controversial visit PA 8/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 9/41 Protestors hold banners during the 'Stop Trump' Women's March in London AP 10/41 Donald Trump earlier gave a bombshell interview with the Sun in which he criticised the Prime Minister's approach on Brexit Reuters 11/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Regents Street in London PA 12/41 Demonstrators also inflated a blimp effigy of Donald Trump PA 13/41 An aerial view of the women's march in progress AP 14/41 Donald Trump will meet the Queen later on today Getty Images 15/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March hold banners in London AP 16/41 Thousands more people are expected to march later on Reuters 17/41 As many as 70,000 people took to the streets Getty Images 18/41 People held aloft placards that read: "Trump Not Welcome" Reuters 19/41 Bianca Jagger joins protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March in London PA 20/41 The protesters hold balloons with anti-Trump messages on them Reuters 21/41 Trump's visit was criticised heavily PA 22/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Oxford Circus PA 23/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump protest EPA 24/41 Protesters gather in central London to demonstrate against President Trump's visit to the UK Getty Images 25/41 A drag queen joins protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images 26/41 Huge crowd: a bigger protest is due later today AP 27/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass along Whitehall in London PA 28/41 Protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump hold up placards as they take part in a march and rally in London AFP/Getty Images 29/41 James O'Brien sells Donald Trump toilet paper, as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK PA 30/41 Demonstrators protest against the visit of US. President Donald Trump Reuters 31/41 A man dressed as President Trump poses for a photograph as protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images 32/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass along Whitehall in London PA 33/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass near to Trafalgar Square in London PA 34/41 Protesters join a Women's march in central London to demonstrate against President Trump's visit to the UK Getty Images 35/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donald J. Trump visit in London EPA 36/41 Drag queens take part in the Drag Against Trump protest in Piccadilly Circus EPA 37/41 Drag queens take part in the Drag Against Trump protest in Piccadilly Circus EPA 38/41 The "Trump Baby" balloon joins demonstrators as they march to Parliament Square in London PA 39/41 Demonstrators protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump REUTERS 40/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit in London EPA 41/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit in London EPA 1/41 Demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square, London during a 'Stop Trump' march as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK. PA 2/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit at Trafalgar Square in London EPA 3/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 4/41 Tens of thousands of people marched today in protest at Donald Trump's UK visit Reuters 5/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 6/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Regent Street in London PA 7/41 The protesters took to the streets in anger at the US president's controversial visit PA 8/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators gather in Trafalgar Square after marching through London PA 9/41 Protestors hold banners during the 'Stop Trump' Women's March in London AP 10/41 Donald Trump earlier gave a bombshell interview with the Sun in which he criticised the Prime Minister's approach on Brexit Reuters 11/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Regents Street in London PA 12/41 Demonstrators also inflated a blimp effigy of Donald Trump PA 13/41 An aerial view of the women's march in progress AP 14/41 Donald Trump will meet the Queen later on today Getty Images 15/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March hold banners in London AP 16/41 Thousands more people are expected to march later on Reuters 17/41 As many as 70,000 people took to the streets Getty Images 18/41 People held aloft placards that read: "Trump Not Welcome" Reuters 19/41 Bianca Jagger joins protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March in London PA 20/41 The protesters hold balloons with anti-Trump messages on them Reuters 21/41 Trump's visit was criticised heavily PA 22/41 'Stop Trump' demonstrators march through Oxford Circus PA 23/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump protest EPA 24/41 Protesters gather in central London to demonstrate against President Trump's visit to the UK Getty Images 25/41 A drag queen joins protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images 26/41 Huge crowd: a bigger protest is due later today AP 27/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass along Whitehall in London PA 28/41 Protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump hold up placards as they take part in a march and rally in London AFP/Getty Images 29/41 James O'Brien sells Donald Trump toilet paper, as part of the protests against the visit of US President Donald Trump to the UK PA 30/41 Demonstrators protest against the visit of US. President Donald Trump Reuters 31/41 A man dressed as President Trump poses for a photograph as protesters against the UK visit of US President Donald Trump AFP/Getty Images 32/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass along Whitehall in London PA 33/41 Protesters for the 'Stop Trump' Women's March pass near to Trafalgar Square in London PA 34/41 Protesters join a Women's march in central London to demonstrate against President Trump's visit to the UK Getty Images 35/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donald J. Trump visit in London EPA 36/41 Drag queens take part in the Drag Against Trump protest in Piccadilly Circus EPA 37/41 Drag queens take part in the Drag Against Trump protest in Piccadilly Circus EPA 38/41 The "Trump Baby" balloon joins demonstrators as they march to Parliament Square in London PA 39/41 Demonstrators protest against the visit of US President Donald Trump REUTERS 40/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit in London EPA 41/41 Tens of thousands of people take part in a Stop Trump Coalition - Stop the War Protest against the US President Donal J. Trump visit in London EPA

The leaders gave a joint press conference in which they stood side-by-side to shore up the relationship between the UK and the US. It came after Mr Trump, in an interview with The Sun newspaper, launched into an extraordinary criticism of the Prime Minister which overshadowed the second day of his UK visit.

The president savaged Mr May's Brexit proposals and warned they would likely kill off any chance of a future trade deal with the US in a bombshell interview. At the press conference, Mr Trump described the interview as "fake news".

Between 3,000 and 8,000 people took part in the initial Women's March which travelled from Portland Place to Parliament Square, arriving there for a rally at 2pm.

Many were seen carrying signs that read "I really care. Do you?" and "Dump Trump."

People were seen banging pots and pans together as they made their way along the protest route.

Stormy Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti attended the London march and told the BBC: “I think it’s important to send a message to our brothers and sisters here in the UK and around the world that not all Americans support this president, there’s millions of Americans that are outraged by his conduct and by his behaviour.”

James O’Brien from County Mayo was spotted selling Trump toilet paper at Oxford Circus station and said a percentage of money raised from the toilet rolls and would go towards mental health awareness.

Later at 2pm, people began lining up in Portland Place for the Stop Trump protest, the largest march.

Vivian Fowle, who has spent decades protesting a number of issues around the world, told the Standard she came today because she “deplores everything Trump stands for.”

Listing them, she said: “misogyny, racism, separating parents from their children; interfering in domestic politics, being rude to our own elected politicians. The man is appalling.”

Ms Fowle said she is not surprised the president stayed away from London.

The Best Donald Trump Protest Signs - In Pictures 19 show all The Best Donald Trump Protest Signs - In Pictures 1/19 Getty Images 2/19 PA 3/19 PA 4/19 Reuters 5/19 PA 6/19 Getty Images 7/19 PA 8/19 PA 9/19 PA 10/19 AFP/Getty Images 11/19 AFP/Getty Images 12/19 Reuters 13/19 PA 14/19 PA 15/19 AFP/Getty Images 16/19 AFP/Getty Images 17/19 AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Reuters 19/19 Chloe Chaplain 1/19 Getty Images 2/19 PA 3/19 PA 4/19 Reuters 5/19 PA 6/19 Getty Images 7/19 PA 8/19 PA 9/19 PA 10/19 AFP/Getty Images 11/19 AFP/Getty Images 12/19 Reuters 13/19 PA 14/19 PA 15/19 AFP/Getty Images 16/19 AFP/Getty Images 17/19 AFP/Getty Images 18/19 Reuters 19/19 Chloe Chaplain

“I think he wouldn’t come because he would be fearful. He wouldn’t want to acknowledge that here are thousands and a thousands of people who object to him. He will want to go back and say ‘I was in the UK for four days and didn’t see a single protester they all love me’.”

Sharon Lake, and her one-and-a-half year old son Felix, garnered a lot of attention due to the fake cage that has been erected around his buggy.

The cage is in reference to Trump’s recently retracted immigration policies that saw children separated from their parents at the US border and taken to special detention centres.

“Separating children from their parents is about the most offensive thing you can do ... along with many of the other offensive things he has done.”

“We are here because I think you need to say something. It’s a friendly protest: we are just saying we don’t agree with this man and his politics.”

Felix, who looked very relaxed in his buggy-cage, has never been to a protest before.

“I think he is mainly enjoying the helicopters,” his mum said. “I hope this is his first of many. He needs to be educated as he grows up that he can stand up against things that affect him.”