Where To Celebrate King Charles III's Coronation In London

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Last Updated 07 May 2023

Where To Celebrate King Charles III's Coronation In London
Coronation events in London: Union Jack bunting strung in the trees above Sloane Square during the Platinum Jubilee last year.
Expect to see plenty of Union Jack flags over coronation weekend. Photo: Doyle of London via creative commons

For details of the coronation ceremony itself, logistics around it and the like, take a look at our guide to King Charles III's coronation.

Coronation bank holiday

Monday 8 May is an official bank holiday, to mark the coronation which takes place on Saturday 6 May. That's in addition to the usual May Day bank holiday on Monday 1 May, and the late May bank holiday on 29 May. Best have a read of our bank holiday weekend guide then, eh?

Official coronation events

There are several Palace-sanctioned events taking place over the course of the coronation bank holiday weekend.

Obviously, there's the coronation ceremony itself on Saturday 6 May, but unless you're Someone, you're not getting in. Naturally, details are being kept pretty quiet for security reasons.

The Coronation Big Lunch takes place on Sunday 7 May — an initiative encouraging people to get together within their community and share a meal.

Also on Sunday 7 May, there's a special coronation concert at Windsor Castle. The ticket ballot has closed, but it will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Ed Sheeran and Lionel Richie are expected to be among the performers, though several other big names have reportedly turned it down.

Monday 8 May is when The Big Help Out takes place, encouraging people to get involved in volunteering projects within their local community — hopefully for the long term, rather than just one day.

Where to watch coronation screenings in London on 6 May

Coronation events in London: a view over the formal gardens of Hampton Court Palace, taken from the palace building. It includes symmetrical lawns and pathways, and a fountain.
Watch the coronation from the grounds of Hampton Court Palace. Photo: Matt Brown

We fully expect large screens to broadcast the coronation ceremony live, at locations such as The Mall and some of the Royal Parks. Details aren't yet confirmed — we'll update you when we know more.

HAMPTON COURT: Where better to watch the coronation that in the grounds of a royal palace? Hampton Court Palace invites the public to bring a picnic along to watch a live screening of all the happenings in Westminster Abbey. The palace itself isn't open, but selected gardens, the maze, cafe, shop and toilets are. FREE.

HOLLAND PARK: Take your own chair or picnic rug along to the free coronation screening in Holland Park — it'a a family-friendly gathering, with jugglers, face painters and the like n hand to keep little ones amused. FREE.

LYRIC SQUARE, HAMMERSMITH: Lyric Square and King Street in Hammersmith host a huge free coronation party with 100+ stalls, live music and entertainment as the area goes traffic-free — all centering around a screening of the coronation. FREE.

GROSVENOR SQUARE: Mayfair goes big for the coronation, with a two-day garden party in Grosvenor Square, including screenings of both the coronation ceremony on Saturday, and the concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday. Kick back in a deckchair and watch the action on a cinema-sized screen, with several food and drink stalls nearby. FREE, 6-7 May

King's Coronation at Battersea Power Station. Photo: Charlie Round-Turner

BATTERSEA POWER STATION: Large screens will be erected in Power Station Park showing the coronation service, but that's just part of the King's Coronation Party Weekend at Battersea Power Station, which also has live music and roaming performances, face painting, balloon artists and more. FREE, 6-7 May

ST BARTHOLOMEW THE GREAT: The church of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield screens the coronation ceremony live from the nave of the church, with attendees participating in the ceremony as if present in person. FREE.

EARL'S COURT: Similarly, St Cuthbert's in Earl's Court is screening the coronation on a big screen within the church, with coffee and cake available to toast the new monarch. FREE.

AFTERNOON TEA: London's not short of coronation afternoon teas, but at the Sun Street Hotel, you can tuck into the British Afternoon Tea while watching a live screening of the coronation.

Coronation-themed events in London

Coronation events in London: a coronation themed afternoon tea, including a pastry shaped like a crown, served on a tiered stand
Grosvenor House is one of the venues serving a special coronation afternoon tea

AFTERNOON TEA: Don't know about you, but sitting down somewhere a bit posh and have a nice cup of tea and some fancy sarnies and cakes is one of our favourite ways to celebrate... well, pretty much anything. With that in mind, here's a guide to the royal-themed afternoon teas available in London to celebrate the coronation. Get booking — they're not around for long.

CORONATION HISTORY: The National Archives team up with Westminster Abbey for a look at the history of the pageantry connected with royal coronations. It's an online talk, using records dating back as far as the 12th century, looking at how the celebrations have changed through time. 28 April

FLEET STREET PICNIC: An 80ft-long picnic table on Carter Lane is the centrepiece of the coronation celebrations in the 'Fleet Street Quarter', for locals and employees of local businesses to enjoy their lunch in the run-up to the big day. Giant tulip installations, seed giveaways and free floral art workshops are all part of the the flower-themed fun. 3-4 May

CORONATION PUB QUIZ: Enjoy tankards of ale and glasses of wine in a 16th century gatehouse, as you test out your little grey cells. The Museum of the Order of St John holds a coronation special pub quiz, to warm you up for the big weekend. Max. six people per team. 4 May

TEA DANCE: Anyone aged 50+ is invited to join in a special Coronation Tea Dance at Poplar Union ahead of the big day. Sing and dance along to live music from local folk musicians, along with footage of past coronations, a royal quiz and a raffle. 5 May

The King's Road in Chelsea holds a coronation street party.

KING'S ROAD CORONATION PARTY: Aptly, Chelsea's King's Road is throwing a coronation street party, with the thoroughfare pedestrianised between Sloane Square and Cheltenham Terrace. Entertainment includes a parade of over 100 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, musical renditions by Hill House School (where King Charles was a student), a hat parade, various activities in local shops, restaurants and bars, and more.  6 May

CORONATION STREET PARTY: That's a street party to celebrate the coronation, not a party to celebrate TV soap Coronation Street. Either way, it's the Abingdon Road area of Kensington you need to head to, for live music, fairground stalls, face painting, food and drink stalls and the like. Consider your outfit carefully — there's a red, white and blue theme, but also a Royal fancy dress competition. 6 May

CORONATION PROM: The Royal Albert Hall hosts the Coronation Prom, with the 100-strong All Souls Orchestra and The Coronation Prom Massed Choir performing royal anthems and overtures by Elgar, Holst, Handel and John Williams. 6 May

SING FOR THE KING: Boxpark celebrates the coronation in classic Boxpark style, with huge Sing For The King mass singalong events at both its Croydon and Wembley venues. Sing along to British pop, indie and rock tunes. Best of all, the Wembley event is led by none other than.. Barry from Eastenders. So they've dubbed it Barrioke, naturally. 6 May

Coronation events in London: the interior of the Royal Albert Hall, which hosts two concerts on coronation weekend.
The Royal Albert Hall hosts two special coronation concerts. © Christie Goodwin © Firewheel LLP

CORONATION CONCERT: The Royal Albert Hall continues celebrations the following day, with the Royal Choral Society presenting a coronation concert which doubles up as the Society's own 150th anniversary concert. Accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, they perform works by Handel, Mozart, Dvorak, Verdi, Elgar and others, with any singers in the audience invited to join in with Parry's I Was Glad as the finale — you can download the sheet music in advance. 7 May

THE BIG LUNCH: One of those Big Lunch events mentioned above takes place on the Broadwalk in Regent's Park, organised by the Friends of Regent's Park and Primrose Hill. Bring your own picnic or pick something up at the park cafe, and enjoy a family-friendly afternoon of music and face painting. 7 May

Coronation events in London: a commemorative tin and bar of chocolate marking the coronation of King George VI in 1937.
Royal souvenirs get dusted off at the Museum of Brands

CORONATION PARTY: Following its Sunday Eucharist service, St Bartholomew the Great invites the congregation to stay on for a coronation party and barbecue, part of the national Big Lunch event. Food is barbecued in the courtyard and bars are set up around the church and garden. 7 May

ROYAL SOUVENIRS: Notting Hill's Museum of Brands holds a special weekend of celebratory activities, focusing on royal souvenirs from past events including commemorative mugs, tins, magazines, flags, and bunting, along with special celebratory chocolate bars from Frys, KitKat, Aero, Nestle and Bournville which were created for the last two coronations. There's a chance to handle some of these objects, and take part in a scrapbooking activity. 6-8 May

CHARITY CONCERT: Philbeach Gardens in Earls Court is the venue for an outdoor coronation concert, raising money for the Earl's Court Community Trust. Finish the bank holiday weekend with an evening of games, refreshments and live singers. 8 May

Free coronation events in London

coronation events in London: a collage of archive documents linking Claridges to previous coronations
Claridge's has delved into its archives ahead of the coronation.

CORONATION PRE-PARTY: Head to Paddington Basin for a free outdoor party ahead of the coronation weekend. Dancers, acrobats, comedians and musicians give free live performances, with deckchairs available around the area. A pop-up bar and street food stalls are available to keep everyone fed and watered. FREE, 4 May

DUNKIRK SHIPS: Things are getting patriotic at St Katharine Docks next to the Tower of London, which hosts 'the largest UK gathering of Dunkirk Little Ships in years'. They start arriving on Thursday 4 May, giving the public a chance to view them beneath Union Jack bunting and signal flags. A tea dance is among the other events taking place over the weekend. FREE, 4-8 May

EVENSONG: Southwark Cathedral holds a special Evensong service the day after the coronation ceremony, with prayers and Bible readings specifically selected for the occasion, and music by the Choir of Southwark Cathedral. FREE, 7 May

GOLDERS HILL PARK: The City of London Corporation and Barnet Council host a free celebration at Golders Hill Park on Hampstead Heath, with music and entertainment on the bandstand, a fun fair, circus workshops, food stands, and Coronation-themed arts and crafts stalls. People are also encouraged to bring their own picnic. Runs 1pm-9pm. FREE, 8 May

CLARIDGE'S CORONATION WINDOWS: Head to the ground floor of Claridge's to see the Claridge's Coronation Archive Windows, featuring items from the hotel's archives relating to previous coronations from the past 200 years. Claridge’s Archivist Kate Hudson has found pages from Queen Victoria’s diary, celebratory fans created by the hotel in 1911 for the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, and Claridge’s menus and cocktail cards created for the crowning of King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Original coronation photographs, programmes and official souvenirs are also on show. FREE, throughout May

Family-friendly coronation events in London

MAKE YOUR OWN CROWN: Throughout the coronation weekend, Tower Bridge hosts a special craft activity (included in admission), where children can create their own crown using the architecture of Tower Bridge as inspiration. Aimed at ages 6-10. 6-8 May

NATURAL CROWNS: Similarly, on bank holiday Monday, Clerkenwell's Museum of the Order of St John hosts a free family craft activity, using natural materials from the grounds to create crowns. Aimed at ages 3-10. FREE, 8 May