Britain is gearing up for days of pomp and pageantry in early May as its recent monarch is crowned in a coronation ceremony not seen within the country for 70 years.
Thousands and thousands of persons are expected to travel to and around the UK to witness the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6 — the primary a part of a three-day celebration culminating in a public holiday on May 8.
Travel enquiries for the U.K. rose 90% yr on yr in the primary quarter of 2023 as more people sought to plan visits to Britain, in line with data from travel company Red Savannah.
The king has pledged a more scaled-back affair than that celebrated by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. Still, the historic occasion will likely be marked with regal events across London and up and down the country.
Here’s CNBC Travel’s top picks for the way to spend the coronation weekend.
Watch the ceremonial procession
The coronation will happen at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Entrance to the ceremony is by invitation only, and will likely be limited to some 2,000 family, friends, heads of state and VIPs. However the service will likely be broadcast live and viewable on big screens at plenty of public venues across the U.K.
London’s Westminster Abbey will play host to King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, 2023.
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Members of the general public can even have the ability to collect on the streets of Westminster to look at “The King’s Procession.” Starting at Buckingham Palace, it can pass along The Mall, Admiralty Arch, King Charles I Island, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Square, and Broad Sanctuary, before ending at Westminster Abbey.
After the service, the newly coronated king and queen will undertake a bigger ceremonial procession, which can follow the identical route in reverse and have other members of the Royal Family, before making a final appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Spend the night like royalty
Several hotels in London have special coronation packages for individuals who fancy spending an evening like royalty over the celebratory period.
Hotel Cafe Royal in Piccadilly is providing a “Crown Jewels Experience,” where for £12,995 ($16,135) guests can enjoy a visit to the Tower of London in a chauffeur-driven limousine and a personal viewing of the crown jewels, in addition to an evening within the hotel’s two-bedroom royal suite and an in-suite breakfast.
A spread of London hotels are offering coronation experiences, including afternoon tea and exclusive tours, to provide guests a taste of the royal high life.
Hotel Cafe Royal
For £2,345, Dukes London’s is offering a two-night stay in an executive room, in addition to breakfast with Exmoor caviar and champagne, traditional cream tea, four-course dinner, as a part of its “Royal Connoisseur Experience.” And on the Strand Palace, guests can “Stay Like A King” for $845, with a two-night stay, buffet breakfast, and complimentary minibar and a bottle of champagne.
Elsewhere, 4 Seasons’ “Town and Country” package provides a two-night stay in its Mayfair location, before guests are whisked away to the countryside for an additional two nights at 4 Seasons Hampshire, complete with afternoon tea and an equestrian experience on the on-site stables.
Discover London’s regal sights
Visitors to London may also soak up its regal history with a tour of the capital’s major royal sights.
Starting at Buckingham Palace — the official residence of the U.K.’s sovereign since 1837 — tourists can watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony, before exploring the Queen’s Gallery and the Household Cavalry Museum.
Buckingham Palace, London residence of the reigning monarch of the UK, is open for tours outside of the coronation weekend.
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Nearby, Westminster Abbey, Kensington Palace — once home to Princess Diana — and the Tower of London all offer opportunities to explore the grandeur of Britain’s monarchy over the centuries.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of London, tourists may also visit Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s favored royal residence, and Windsor Castle, the ultimate resting place of the Queen Elizabeth.
Picnic within the Royal Parks
London’s Royal Parks offer a more low-key solution to absorb the royal atmosphere over the coronation weekend.
Kensington Palace Gardens, Regent’s, Green, Hyde and St James’s parks are lush havens inside the hustle and bustle of central London.
Brits and overseas visitors have up to now gathered in large numbers to have fun royal events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
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The latter three will host the procession and coronation service on big screens, presenting a chance to affix the celebrations with a picnic.
Barely further out, Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy parks all offer wide open spaces to benefit from the weekend’s festivities.
Explore Britain’s famous castles
For a more extensive overview of Britain’s royal landmarks, holidaymakers can set out on a tour of England’s regal castles.
The grounds and interiors of a few of the U.K.’s royal residences are open to public tours at certain times of the yr.
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Highgrove Estate, country home of the king and queen consort, Sandringham House, the royal family’s Norfolk residence, and Holkham Hall are some plenty of regal residences and gardens open to tours, though some opening times will vary over the coronation weekend.
Further afield in Scotland, the general public can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Edinburgh, Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s Scottish residence, or take a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Rock out in Windsor Gardens
A live coronation concert will likely be held at Windsor Castle on May 7, with tickets 10,000 made available to the general public via a ballot.
Ed Sheeran was considered one of a number of legendary British acts to perform on stage at Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 5, 2022, in London.
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While plenty of high profile musicians including Elton John, Adele and Harry Styles have reportedly turned down invitations to perform, the concert is anticipated to feature appearances from Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Andrea Bocelli, in addition to a series of dance, art and orchestral performances.
Hosted by Britain’s public broadcaster the BBC, the concert can even be broadcast live to viewers across the country.
Rejoice with a street party
Local communities can even host a series of smaller events and street parties throughout the weekend, with people encouraged to share a meal with their neighbors at a coronation Big Lunch on May 7.
Street parties are a quintessentially British solution to have fun royal occasions, with neighbors and native communities typically gathering outside to share food, drinks and games.
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Don’t fret in the event you haven’t got a neighborhood party to attend. Various businesses will likely be holding public events with food stalls and live performances, including London’s Grosvenor Square and Battersea Power Station.
On May 8, persons are also invited to interact in voluntary projects of their local areas as a part of The Big Help Out charity program.
