Royal places in London
Published: 26th April 2023
With King Charles III’s Coronation approaching, a royal day out is in order and with so many iconic attractions to visit in the city, London is the ideal place for some royal sightseeing.
We’ve started by detailing the main events on Coronation weekend, followed by the top royal places to visit in London and how your group or school can get there. You’ll be pleased to know that you can also travel like a King, with The Kings Ferry.
The royal events on Coronation Weekend
- Saturday 6th May: Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey - King Charles’ Coronation will take place on 6th May. It will begin with ‘The King’s Procession’ from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, for the religious service at 11am. After the Coronation service, The King and Queen Consort will return to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession being joined by other Members of the Royal Family.
- Sunday 7th May: The Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle - To celebrate this historic occasion, a special Coronation Concert will be held at Windsor Castle featuring global music icons and contemporary stars.
- Sunday 7th May: Coronation Big Lunch - If you haven’t been able to get tickets for the Coronation Concert in the ballot, be sure to join the ‘Coronation Big Lunch’, where communities nationwide are invited to come together to celebrate, whether that be a Coronation Street Party or a Coronation BBQ with friends and family.
- Monday 8th May: The Big Help Out - The Monday after the Coronation will be a bank holiday and a chance to get involved with some volunteering within your community at The Big Help Out.
London’s most royal attractions
Westminster Abbey
Since 1066, Westminster Abbey has been the location for every British Coronation, with King Charles III’s being the 40th Coronation to take place here.
Verger guided tours are available to book at this spectacular Gothic building, giving you the chance to see special parts of the Abbey, with an expert commentary throughout.
Due to the Coronation service being held at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May, it will be closed to visitors and worshippers from 25th April until 8th May.
Buckingham Palace
On your group trip to London, you certainly won’t want to miss a visit to the largest residence in London, if it isn’t already on your list!
Buckingham Palace is the King’s official London residence, with 775 rooms in total, including 19 state rooms, 52 bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.
On Coronation Day, The Mall and roads around Buckingham Palace will be filled with people from all over to see the procession of King Charles III and The Queen Consort on their journey to and from the Abbey.
The Royal Family will conclude the day’s ceremonial events by appearing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. This balcony is one of the most famous in the world, with the first royal balcony appearance taking place back in 1851, when Queen Victoria stepped out onto it for the opening of the Great Exhibition.
A must-see at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard, which occurs most days throughout the year. It starts at around 11:30am and lasts for 45 minutes (July-July: daily, August-May: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays).
Kensington Palace
This working Royal residence was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria and is now the office and London residence of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Visitors can explore parts of this historic palace and also see the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, with items on display dating from the 18th century to the present day.
Outside are the beautiful Kensington Palace Gardens, which are free to walk around. A statue of Diana, Princess of Wales sits within these gardens.
Tower of London
There’s history in every tower at London’s iconic castle. The Tower of London is a wonderful attraction for a school trip, giving you the chance to get up close to the crown jewels, meet the famous ravens that live at the castle and experience a guided tour by the Yeoman Warder Tours, or ‘Beefeaters’ as they’re also known.
Known as a fortress, a palace, as well as an infamous prison, the Tower has provided security for monarchs over the years, including guarding Royal possessions and even the Royal Family in times of war and rebellion. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the world’s leading tourist attractions.
Madame Tussauds
This may not be a royal venue, but it is home to waxworks of the Royal Family, where you can capture a selfie with King Charles III, The Queen Consort, The Prince and Princess of Wales, and Queen Elizabeth II. This figure of The Queen is the 23rd to be created at Madame Tussauds in London!
After visiting the ‘Royal Palace’, you’ll also have a chance to walk the red carpet and strike a pose with other famous musicians, film stars and sports personalities.
Did you know? If you book as a group, you can save on entry tickets to Madame Tussauds when booking coach hire as part of the package. Contact us for full details or find out more about our Merlin Attraction offers here.
Windsor Castle
Although this castle is located just outside of London, we couldn’t not include it within our royal blog, especially as the Coronation Concert is being held here on Sunday 7th May.
Windsor Castle has been home to royalty for over 900 years and still remains a working palace. Founded by William the Conqueror in 1070 and home to 40 monarchs over the years, this magnificent building is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.
Throughout the year, Windsor Castle is open to the public, giving visitors the chance to explore this historic castle, step inside St. George’s Chapel where Queen Elizabeth II is buried, as well as witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony (held on Thursdays and Saturdays just before 11am).
How to get your group to London
Travel like a King, with The Kings Ferry
The Kings Ferry, along with our other coach hire companies around the UK can help get you to the capital. Our travel consultants are available to help plan your day out, whether that be a London school trip or group trip with friends and family, we’ll transport you directly to the London attractions you wish to visit. Get a coach hire quote here or speak to one of our team on 03301 358 469.
Coach travel with National Express
If you're travelling as a smaller group and looking for affordable travel, you can book seats on a National Express coach. Take a look at the 13 must-see spots near their London stops.
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