How To Celebrate The King’s Coronation weekend In London

May 2023 is an especially busy time this year with three bank holidays, including a special extra day for the King’s Coronation from 6- 8 May. All this makes it an especially exciting time to be in London, where the heart of the action will be. Here’s just a few of the events taking place.

The Coronation Procession, Saturday 6 May

Charles III will be officially crowned King at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. This will be a very formal occasion with a select guest list of 2,000 people, including of course members of the Royal family as well as royals and dignitaries from other countries. King Charles and the Queen Consort will travel to the Abbey in the Gold State Coach.

The Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey will be rigorously planned with much pomp and ceremony on display. The public will be able to line the route along the Mall, and big screens will be installed in the Royal Parks. The Royal Family will put in an appearance on the Balcony at Buckingham Palace once the procession is complete. 

In the afternoon, a special coronation tea or picnic will be available at the Sandringham Estate, and there will be the opportunity to view some of the King’s Watercolour paintings at an exhibition at Sandringham House. In the evening, pubs and bars in England and Wales will be open for an extra two hours. 

Coronation Concert, Sunday 7 May

Hundreds of informal street parties are set to take place up and down the country on Sunday 7 May as part of the Big Lunch, which similarly took place on previous Jubilee occasions. In the evening, there will be a Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle which will be broadcast live on the BBC. 

A public ballot has been held for the 10,000 tickets up for grabs. The line-up is so far a closely guarded secret, but it is rumoured that Take That and Lionel Richie are among the performers. The concert will also feature a huge light display and performances by dance and spoken word artists.

Other ways to celebrate the Coronation

In London, you will be able to take a special Coronation Cruise along the River Thames with a glass of bubbly, or take a Coronation Afternoon Tea Bus Tour and take in the royal landmarks along the way. 

At the Old Royal Navy College in Greenwich, a range of events for all the family will be taking place across the long Bank Holiday weekend. The riverside grounds will host musical performances, face painting, lawn games, tea tasting, and a street food market serving Pimms and Prosecco.

There will also be a specially curated royal tour of the grounds and a Sea Cadets Coronation Parade on Monday 8 May, which will also feature the RAF Cadets, the Volunteer Police Cadets, St John’s Ambulance, and the Scouts. 

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