The coronation of a new king is a momentous event that marks the beginning of a new era in the country's history. This May, the coronation of King Charles III in London promises to be a grand affair, filled with parades, processions, and festivities.
In this blog post, we will guide you through some of the best activities and things to do during the coronation and bank holiday weekend.
Photo of London by Chris Boland
Saturday 6 May
The Coronation Procession and Ceremony
The procession will start at Buckingham Palace and culminate at Westminster Abbey, where the coronation ceremony will take place. The procession on the way to the Abbey is known as 'The King's Procession' and is a more subdued affair to 'The Coronation Procession' which is the one returning from the Abbey, with other members of the Royal Family members in tow. The new King and Queen will travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on their way to the ceremony and use the 260-year-old Gold State Coach for the 1.3 mile return journey. There will then be the obligatory photo on the balcony of Buckingham Palace - a sight to behold if you can get close enough to the front!
Every part of the day will be televised, with the ceremony starting at 11am.
Watch on a Big Screen More than 57 locations across the UK, will be putting up big screens. London options:
Covent Garden will be showing it live on screen
Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
Hyde Park
Green Park
St James' Park
Kings Road, Chelsea (the whole road will be pedestrianised)
Battersea Power Station Park
Hampton Court
St Cuthbert's in Earl's Court
St Bartholomew The Great in Smithfield, EC1
For a Big Screens list across England, check it out here
Sunday 7 May
Join a Street Party
Street parties have long been a tradition in Britain, and during the coronation, they will be in full swing. Local communities will be hosting street parties all over London, complete with bunting, food, and drink. This is a great opportunity to mingle with your neighbours, soak up the royal atmosphere, and celebrate the coronation in a more informal setting.
The Government has helpfully set up an event map so you can find out what's happening in your vicinity, although it's unlikely a residential street party will show on this, so do keep an eye out for local posters or on Facebook groups.
So get those Union Jack flags, scones and sausage rolls at the ready!
Watch the Coronation Concert - 7th May
The ballot for tickets for the Coronation concert at Windsor Castle closed in February, but if you have not been one of the lucky ones to win one of the golden tickets, then there are still plenty of places to watch the show.
Same list as above.
Monday 8 May
The Big Help Out
In tribute to King Charles III's public service, the Bank Holiday Monday has been earmarked as a day of volunteering in your local community. Hundreds of charities are running events and opportunities for you to get involved, to create pride within each community and hopefully be the start of continued volunteering.
Details can be found on the dedicated website, or let us know what type of activities you would like to get involved in, and where, and we can send you some options to book onto.
*Things To Do -Coronation Themed*
Crown to Couture Open Wednesday 5th April - 29th October Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens Price between £12.70 - £25.40
Kensington Palace is staging an extensive Fashion exhibition between today's red carpet looks to the Georgian Royal Court in the 18th Century.
Yeoman Warden Tour Included as part of the Tower of London ticket. Price between £15 - £30
Yeoman Warders are also known as Beefeaters and they date back to the 14th century. They were originally formed as personal bodyguards for the English monarch and now it's expanded to ceremonial duties and the care and maintenance of the Tower of London. Learn the history from Yeoman Warders.
Mayfair's Garden Party 6th - 7th May Grosvenor Square, London
Grosvenor Square will be transformed into a garden wonderland inspired by Alice in Wonderland. Enjoy the coronation atmosphere here as well as watch the action on their cinema-sized screen.
Food & drink options to be from Connaught Patisserie, burgers from The Barley Mow, cocktails from Mr. Fogg's, and many more
Claridge's Coronation Windows Throughout May Brook Street, W1K 4HR
The ground floor of Claridge's hotel is to see Claridge's Coronation Archive Windows. Items that relate to the previous coronations from the past 200 years. These include pages from Queen Victoria's diary, menus created for King George in 1937 to original programmes.
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy this momentous occasion, and do get in touch if we can help you book anything.
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