Up and down the country, families will be celebrating His Majesty’s coronation with special events, concerts, picnics and more. Are you wondering what to do during the King's coronation bank holiday? Here, we highlight some of the best things to do with kids that capture the royal spirit, including what's on when.
When is the King's coronation?
The date of the King's coronation is 6 May 2023. The coronation itself is centred around a solemn religious ceremony that has remained largely unchanged for more than 1,000 years and takes place at Westminster Abbey. There's full information about the King's coronation on the official website, coronation.gov.uk .
There will be ceremonial processions in London before and after the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London. The service and processions will be broadcast on national television, radio and online, and shown on large screens across the country. Find your nearest big screen here .
The King's Procession
The King’s Procession will travel along The Mall, through Admiralty Arch, along the south side of King Charles Island in Trafalgar Square, before going down Whitehall through the east and south side of Parliament Square to Westminster Abbey .
The rest of the route for the Procession on Saturday 6 May is non-ticketed and open to the public on a first-come first-served basis. It is expected that tens of thousands of people will come to watch the Coronation processions in London.
How many days off do we get for the King's coronation bank holiday?
There will be an extra bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023 for the King's coronation, so plenty of time to celebrate with your friends and family. Check out this great list of coronation events for families.
1. King Charles III's Coronation, Westminster Abbey
The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort takes place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May in a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. For now, the details of the procession route are still to be officially announced, but Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, and Constitution Hill usually feature in royal processions.
When: 6 May 23
Where:
Westminster Abbey
, 20 Deans Yard, London SW1P 3PA
2. See the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
On 7 May, a special Coronation Concert will be staged and broadcast live at Windsor Castle by the BBC and BBC Studios, with several thousand pairs of tickets to be made available via public ballot.
When: 7 May 23
Where:
Windsor Castle
, Windsor SL4 1NJ
3. Watch the coronation on big screens in London
Big screens will be put in place in Hyde Park , Green Park and St James’s Park offering thousands of members of the public the chance to watch the Coronation on Saturday 6 May. Screens in St James’s Park will also show the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May.
4. Take part in a coronation celebration at The Royal Mews
Explore the Royal Mews and see some of the beautiful carriages used in the coronation procession, including the amazing Gold State Coach, which will be used to transport King Charles III from Westminster Abbey back to
Buckingham Palace
after the coronation ceremony. Then head to the Livery Room to enjoy sparkling arts and crafts inspired by the coronation, in arts and crafts activities suitable for families of all ages.
When: 7-8 May 23
Where:
Royal Mews
, Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0QH
5. Enjoy Glorious Georgians – A Coronation Celebration, The Queen's Gallery
Head to The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace this May and join in with an amazing storyteller to discover all about coronations past and present. The storytelling sessions run at 12:30, 13:30 and 14:30 and last for half an hour.
When: 8 May, 1 Jun, 2 Jun
Where:
The Queen's Gallery
, Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA
6. Enjoy a King Charles III Coronation Bus Tour, London
Enjoy a truly unique afternoon tea on board a repurposed Routemaster bus to celebrate the King's coronation. Feast on royal delicacies including a coronation chicken bun, mushroom quiche, plum Frangipan, a white chocolate Earl Grey macaron and a royal scone with clotted cream and jam. The 90-minute bus tour route includes some of London's top landmarks including; Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament,
Westminster Abbey
, St James’s Park,
Hyde Park
, The Royal Albert Hall, Marble Arch, Nelson’s Column, Downing Street and more.
When: 24 Apr-31 May 23
Where:
Brigit's Bakery Coronation Bus Tours
depart from Victoria Coach Station
7. Party at Mayfair's Coronation Garden Party, Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square in Mayfair will be transformed into a right royal garden wonderland, with floral displays and deckchairs to relax on as you watch either the ceremony or the Windsor Coronation Concert on cinema-sized screens. There'll be food with a coronation twist (including Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cakes), and royal themed games and experiences, including an interactive throne!
When: 6-7 May 23
Where:
Mayfair's Coronation Garden Party
, Grosvenor Square
8. Take the Coronation Bench Trail at the Tower of London
Find all 14 illustrated benches at the Tower of London, specially designed by school children to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. The Tower of London invited schools around the country to take part in a competition to design their own bench, displaying the values they think are most important in this new era. After being displayed in the fortress, the benches will be transported to the winning schools.
When: May-Sep 23
Where:
Tower of London
, Tower Hill, London EC3N 4SG
9. Take your Little Prince and Princess to Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at The Palace, London
Enjoy a Royal Afternoon Tea sitting in The Rubens at The Palace's lounge, overlooking the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace. This Royal Afternoon Tea takes inspiration from the Royal family and the Commonwealth, and incorporates seasonal ingredients such as pears and peaches, inspired by the Royal Orchard. The Prince and Princess Afternoon Tea features peanut butter and jam sandwiches as well as plain scones and a hazelnut crunch doughnut, washed down with hot chocolate, or a milkshake. Yum.
When: Throughout May
Where:
The Rubens at the Palace
, 39 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0PS
10. Hear the unique Coronation Prom at the Royal Albert Hall
The All Souls Orchestra brings a Coronation Prom to the Royal Albert Hall in May. It'll be a once-in-a-lifetime national celebration with joyful music and worship. Following on from the Coronation Service earlier in the day, this majestic prom is the perfect way to round off a day to remember in central London.
When: 6 May 23
Where:
Royal Albert Hall
, Kensington Gore
London, SW7 2AP
11. Take part in the Syon Coronation Celebration, London
To celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, Syon House and Gardens are throwing open their gates so you can visit the beautiful gardens and the Great Conservatory for free on Monday 8 May. There'll be crafts, facepainting and storytelling for the kids, alongside the chance to explore around the lake and the natural play areas. You can also pop into the house (£5 for adults; free for kids) and try enjoy a 'Royal Trail' around Syon House.
When: 8 May 23
Where: Syon House and Gardens,
Syon Park
, Brentford, London TW8 8JF
**FREE**
12. Join in the Eltham Palace and Kids Rule! Coronation celebration
Get ready for a right royal knees-up at Eltham Palace's Kids Rule events this May half-term. Head to the grounds of Eltham Palace and Gardens to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation with hands-on activities and fresh-air family fun.
When: 27 May-4 Jun 23
Where:
Eltham Palace and Gardens
, Court Yard, Eltham, Greenwich, SE9 5NP
13. Celebrate Charles III's coronation at Tower Bridge, London
Get in the Coronation spirit by joining in a crown-making activity at Tower Bridge in the centre of London. Celebrate the new King and Queen Consort, use all your craft skills and enjoy exploring the attraction with your new regal, colourful accessory. You can even use Tower Bridge’s golden crests as a source of inspiration! Visitors to Tower Bridge on 6 May itself will receive a commemorative ticket to mark their visit to Tower Bridge.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Tower Bridge
, Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP
14. Join in the Drayton Manor Coronation Street party
Join in a celebration of the King's coronation and all things British at a huge street party at Drayton Manor this May. There'll be a chance to try the rides later into the evening, live music, Rory's Coronation Show, street party entertainment throughout the day and a fireworks finale.
When: 5-8 May 23
Where:
Drayton Manor
, Drayton Manor Drive, Fazeley, Mile Oak, Tamworth B78 3TW
15. Enjoy King Charles III coronation craft activities at Melford Hall
Make some royal crowns for your teddy or other soft toys at Melford Hall this May. As part of the coronation celebrations, you can also create your own "stained glass" roundels, construct your own mini King Charles figure, and have fun on Melford Hall's special Coronation trail.
When: 6-14 May 23
Where:
Melford Hall
, Long Melford, Sudbury CO10 9AA
16. Join the coronation celebrations at Hever Castle, Kent
Celebrate the King’s coronation at Hever Castle, home of two former queens of England. Take along a picnic and revel in the royal atmosphere of the historic Castle and stunning gardens. Little ones can get creative and decorate their own crown or shield in a free coronation crafts workshop, plus they'll have the chance to get their faces painted. Then head inside the Castle and learn more about former queens, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn in an exciting new exhibition, Catherine & Anne: Queens, Rivals, Mothers.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Hever Castle
, Hever Road, Hever, Edenbridge TN8 7NG
18. Create a crown for the Coronation at Tyntesfield, North Somerset
Head to Tyntesfield to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. From 6 to 8 May, there'll be free family drop in crafting sessions, where you can create your own coronation crown using natural resources found throughout Tyntesfield Estate. Once you've made your crown, kids will love exploting the woodland adventure play area, the home farm play area, the pavilion play area and the sculpture trail.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Tyntesfield
, Wraxall, Bristol BS48 1NX
19. Take part in a regal Riverhill treasure hunt in Kent
Celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III with a royal-themed treasure hunt for all ages at Riverhill Himalayan Gardens in Kent. Collect a sheet from the ticket office and set off around the gardens, finding all the different crowns hidden in this glorious landscape. Each crown will be hidden somewhere with a Royal connection. Find them all, and claim your special Regal Riverhill sticker! It'll be a wonderful way to learn more about the plants and the history of Riverhill.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens
, Riverhill, Sevenoaks TN15 0RR
20. Coronation picnic and flag making at Trengwainton, Cornwall
Head to Trengwainton Garden in Cornwall for a right royal celebration to mark the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen by picnicking on the Royal Meadow and designing your own flag to wave. In the Edwardian summer house you’ll find material and crayons to design your own red, white and blue-themed flags, then you can either take them home or pop them into the ground to make a colourful display. Bring a rug and a picnic and join others for ‘The Coronation Big Lunch’, an invitation to share food and fun together in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship. There's no need to book – just turn up any time between 10am and last entry at 4.30pm.
When: 7-8 May 23
Where:
Trengwainton Garden
, near Penzance, Cornwall
21. Watch the coronation at the Kenilworth Castle
Watch the live screening of King Charles III's coronation at Kenilworth Castle on 6 May 2023. With millions of people expected to tune in from around the world, why not celebrate with with other members of the public at the historic Kenilworth Castle where royals once walked and history was made? Entry is free, and doors open from 10am. Ice cream will also be available to purchase, and you can pick up picnic food from the café. Pack your picnic blanket, bring your friends and family and witness this right, royal occasion.
When: 6 May 23
Where:
Kenilworth Castle
, Castle Green, Off Castle Road, Kenilworth, CV8 1NG
**FREE**
There are free screenings at other English Heritage properties too: Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster and Osbourne on the Isle of Wight.
22. Coronation Events at Biscuiteers Icing Cafés
Head to the Biscuiteers Icing Cafes this April and May for some really fun coronation events. At the School of Icing, you can ice your very own Coronation collection, good enough for the King. You’ll master all the skills including colouring, piping, feathering, line and flood icing – and at the end have your very own tin of biscuits to take home! Or try the DIY Icing event, the perfect way for you – or your little Biscuiteer – to get creative and try your hand at icing in the comfort of our café. Finally, you can also enjoy a Coronation Afternoon Tea featuring the perfect mix of sweet and savoury, classic finger sandwiches and patisserie favourites with delicious British tea (or Prosecco!), not forgetting those Coronation biscuits.
When: From 22 Apr 23 onwards
Where:
Biscuiteers Notting Hill
and
Biscuiteers Belgravia
23. Celebrate the coronation at Polesden Lacey, Surrey
Head to Polesden Lacey with a deckchair and picnic and celebrate the King's coronation. There'll be live music from The Polka Dots and The Candy Girls as they perform on the South Terrace. Inside the mansion, there will be several rarely seen collection items displayed for this special occasion, including a gorgeous ivory chess set gifted from Queen Mary. Each item showcases Mrs Greville’s fascinating close connections to the royal family, including her time at three royal coronations: King George V, King Edward VII and King George VI. 100 years ago, in 1923 Bertie and Elizabeth (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) began their honeymoon at Polesden Lacey and enjoyed a game of golf in the gardens. Over the weekend, you can retrace their steps at a pop-up 9-hole mini golf course. £3 per player, book online.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Polesden Lacey
, Dorking, Surrey KT23 4PZ
24. Gain free entry to Bletchley Park if you're called Charles or Camilla
There'll be royal treats on offer at Bletchley Park for the coronation weekend. Anyone called Charles or Camilla (or derivations, such as Charlie or Cammie) will receive free entry for the day. Puzzle lovers of all ages will be able to try out some Royal Riddles; indulge in a special Coronation Afternoon Tea; and enjoy a flypast of a WW2 plane on the Saturday and Sunday, as long as the weather stays fine. There'll also be special treats on offer in the cafe.
When: 6-8 May 23
Where:
Bletchley Park
, Sherwood Drive, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK3 6EB