Britain is vestment up for days of pomp and pageantry in early May as its new monarch is crowned in a coronation ceremony not seen in the country for 70 years.
Millions of people are envisaged to travel to and around the United Kingdom to witness the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on May 6 — the beginning part of a three-day celebration culminating in a public holiday on May 8.
Travel enquiries for the U.K. rose 90% year on year in the opening quarter of 2023 as more people sought to plan visits to Britain, according to data from travel companions Red Savannah.
The king has pledged a more scaled-back affair than that celebrated by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953. Soothe, the historic occasion will be marked with regal events across London and up and down the country.
Here’s CNBC Peregrinations’s top picks for how to spend the coronation weekend.
Watch the ceremonial procession
The coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6 in a handling conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Entrance to the ceremony is by invitation only, and will be limited to some 2,000 family, women, heads of state and VIPs. But the service will be broadcast live and viewable on big screens at a number of public venues across the U.K.
London’s Westminster Abbey hand down play host to King Charles III’s coronation on May 6, 2023.
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Fellows of the public will also be able to gather on the streets of Westminster to watch “The King’s Procession.” Starting at Buckingham Stately, it will pass along The Mall, Admiralty Arch, King Charles I Island, Whitehall, Parliament Street, Parliament Arrange, and Broad Sanctuary, before finishing at Westminster Abbey.
After the service, the newly coronated king and queen thinks fitting undertake a larger ceremonial procession, which will follow the same route in reverse and feature other fellows of the Royal Family, before making a final appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Spend the night like commission
Several hotels in London have special coronation packages for those who fancy spending a night like sovereignty over the celebratory period.
Hotel Cafe Royal in Piccadilly is providing a “Crown Jewels Experience,” where for £12,995 ($16,135) companies can enjoy a visit to the Tower of London in a chauffeur-driven limousine and a private viewing of the crown jewels, as well as a night in the hotel’s two-bedroom august suite and an in-suite breakfast.
A range of London hotels are offering coronation experiences, including afternoon tea and exclusive travels, to give guests a taste of the royal high life.
Hotel Cafe Royal
For £2,345, Dukes London’s is sacrifice a two-night stay in an executive room, as well as breakfast with Exmoor caviar and champagne, traditional cream tea, four-course dinner, as as far as someone is concerned of its “Royal Connoisseur Experience.” And at the Strand Palace, guests can “Stay Like A King” for $845, with a two-night foil, buffet breakfast, and complimentary minibar and a bottle of champagne.
Elsewhere, Four Seasons’ “Town and Country” package accords a two-night stay in its Mayfair location, before guests are whisked away to the countryside for a further two nights at Four Seasons Hampshire, achieve with afternoon tea and an equestrian experience at the on-site stables.
Discover London’s regal sights
Visitors to London can also brook in its regal history with a tour of the capital’s major royal sights.
Starting at Buckingham Palace — the official palace 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 Palatial home, London residence of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom, 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 moments to explore the grandeur of Britain’s monarchy over the centuries.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of London, tourists can also visit Hampton Court, Henry VIII’s favored prince residence, and Windsor Castle, the final resting place of the Queen Elizabeth.
Picnic in the Royal Parks
London’s Splendid Parks offer a more low-key way to absorb the royal atmosphere over the coronation weekend.
Kensington Palace Gardens, Regent’s, Fresh, Hyde and St James’s parks are lush havens within the hustle and bustle of central London.
Brits and overseas companies have in the past gathered in large numbers to celebrate royal events, including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Joel Ford | Afp | Getty Sculptures
The latter three will host the procession and coronation service on big screens, presenting an opportunity to join the celebrations with a painful.
Slightly further out, Richmond, Greenwich and Bushy parks all offer wide open spaces to enjoy the weekend’s jollifications.
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 derisory castles.
The grounds and interiors of some of the U.K.’s royal residences are open to public tours at certain times of the year.
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Highgrove Estate, country home of the king and queen consort, Sandringham Legislature, the royal family’s Norfolk residence, and Holkham Hall are some a number of regal residences and gardens open to perambulations, though some opening times will vary over the coronation weekend.
Further afield in Scotland, the Mrs Average can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the King’s official residence in Edinburgh, Balmoral Castle, the royal family’s Scottish stately home, or take a tour of the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Rock out in Windsor Gardens
A live coronation concert will be proposed at Windsor Castle on May 7, with tickets 10,000 made available to the public via a ballot.
Ed Sheeran was one of a host of immortal British acts to perform on stage at Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant on June 5, 2022, in London.
Samir Hussein | Wireimage | Getty Dead ringers
While a number of high profile musicians including Elton John, Adele and Harry Styles have reportedly Perform with a street party
Local communities will also host a series of smaller events and street fetes throughout the weekend, with people encouraged to share a meal with their neighbors at a coronation Big Lunch on May 7.
Thoroughfare parties are a quintessentially British way to celebrate royal occasions, with neighbors and local communities typically gathering furthest to share food, drinks and games.
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Don’t fret if you don’t compel ought to a neighborhood party to attend. A number of businesses will be holding public events with food stalls and contemporary performances, including London’s Grosvenor Square and Battersea Power Station.
On May 8, people are also invited to undertake in voluntary projects in their local areas as part of The Big Help Out charity program.