It’s the first time a British monarch has been crowned for 70 years and with an added bank holiday for a three-day weekend, you’ll find plenty of ways to celebrate with some fun Coronation days out in London with kids.
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As well as the usual royal sites in London and exhibitions running throughout 2023, London’s family attractions are marking the coronation on May 6 with a series of child-friendly activities and special events.
So as well as a quick overview of what to expect during the Coronation weekend of May 6-8, if you’re visiting the capital, I’ve rounded up the best Coronation days out in London with kids to help you celebrate in style.
The official Coronation events in London
Whether you’re hoping to join the crowds lining the Mall or to find a quieter spot to enjoy the Coronation festivities, here’s the official programme of events taking place.
Saturday May 6
The Coronation of King Charles III begins with the King’s Procession, with the monarch travelling in the gold state coach from Buckingham Palace to the ceremony in Westminster Abbey.
For now, the details of the procession route are still to be officially announced, but Broad Sanctuary, Parliament Square, Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade, Horse Guards Road, The Mall, and Constitution Hill usually feature in royal processions.
Needless to say, you can’t show up to the Abbey to watch but the televised screening will be shown on big screens around the city (and across the country). Scroll down for some ideas of where to watch
For more detail on what actually happens during the coronation ceremony, check out this post from the BBC on everything from the oath and anointing to investiture, as well as the crowns used
Afterwards the newly crowned King, and the Queen Consort, will join other senior royals in the Coronation Procession after the service, returning to Buckingham Palace, with the obligatory appearance on the balcony.
The day is also likely to include a fly past and ceremonial gun salute in Hyde Park.
If you are considering visiting another royal site on the day, these will all be closed for the coronation, including Kensington Palace, the Tower of London, the Queen’s Gallery and the Household Cavalry Museum, along with Hampton Court Palace (although the gardens there will be open)
Sunday May 7
The Coronation Big Lunch will be taking place across the city and nationwide, with street parties and celebrations designed to bring local communities together – you can find the nearest event on the Big Lunch Map (including the option to filter out private events so you’re not accidentally gatecrashing!)
The Coronation Concert will take place at Windsor Castle in the evening – the public ballot has now closed, but those chosen will be among 10,000 guests listening to the musical entertainment.
Landmarks around the country will also be illuminated today for ‘Light up the Nation’, part of the Coronation Concert. Scroll down for more details of the Coronation illuminations
Monday May 8
The bank holiday’s events are focusing on ‘The Big Help Out’, encouraging everyone to get involved in local and national charity projects.
If you want to join in, you can find details of the various initiatives taking place in London on the Big Help Out website.
Watch the ceremony on the big screen
There are big screens planned in locations across the UK to allow pople to watch the coronation – for now, the location of London’s main screens hasn’t been announced but previous similar events have been screened in the royal parks.
You can also head to various pop-up screenings across the city, such as in Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. The family-friendly Coronation Garden Party will run all weekend long, and is free to enter.
The square will be transformed into a garden wonderland, with deckchairs to relax on as you watch the ceremony and Windsor concert on cinema-sized screens, with food with a coronation twist planned (including Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cakes), and royal themed experiences on the cards – not least an interactive throne.
See London Light Up At Night
Rather than the beacons that were lit across the UK during the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations last June, The King’s Coronation will feature its own special event called ‘Lighting Up The Nation’.
On the evening of Sunday May 7, multiple landmarks across the UK will be lit up using illuminations, drone displays, lasers, and projections.
While you can catch the entire light show on the BBC, it will be a pretty spectacular event to witness in real life too. It’s free to watch the displays at the landmarks themselves.
The list of London landmarks that will be included in the event hasn’t yet been released. However, we’d predict that Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Battersea Power Station and the London Eye are all strong contenders.
Spot the light installation near Regent Street
You can expect the whole of London to be draped in bunting and decorated with flags, not to mention some impressive window displays in the major department stores – but there’s something more to spot near Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus.
Head to St James’s market, just south of Piccadilly Circus, and there’s set to be a light installation inspired by the official emblem of the Coronation on display.
The Coronation Bench Trail at the Tower of London
To celebrate the Coronation, the Tower of London will be displaying 14 uniquely illustrated Coronation benches across its vast grounds.
Each of the benches was designed by school children from all over the UK and Commonwealth as part of the Schools Coronation Competition.
In early 2023, schools and youth groups had the opportunity to design their own bench to celebrate the King’s Coronation, with artists from Wild in Art working with the winning schools to bring their designs to life.
And from May until September, you can explore these beautiful benches on a trail around the historic royal fortress.
Don’t try to visit on Coronation Day itself though as the Tower of London is closed to visitors on May 6 – however it will have longer bank holiday opening hours on May 8
If you’re visiting London in the weeks after the Coronation, the Tower is planning a new display sharing more stories about the history and significance of the Crown Jewels in its Jewel House.
A Coronation Celebration at the Royal Mews
On Sunday May 7, Buckingham Palace’s Royal Mews is hosting a day of special Coronation celebrations for the entire family.
On a visit to the Royal Mews, you can get up close to some of the amazing royal carriages used in the coronation procession. The collection includes the 260-year-old Gold State Coach, which will be used to transport King Charles III from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony.
The special event will also include fun coronation inspired arts and crafts activities suitable for kids of all ages.
Glorious Georgian Coronations at The Queens Gallery
Another area of Buckingham Palace open to the public during the Coronation weekend in London (other than the day of the coronation itself) will be The Queen’s Gallery.
The gallery is the main public art gallery of the Palace, exhibiting many artworks from the royal collection, and the current exhibition, Style and Society: Dressing the Georgians, explores fashion in Britain during the Georgian era.
On Monday May 8, the Queen’s Gallery will also host a special family event, Glorious Georgians – A Coronation Celebration, with a character storyteller sharing some fascinating real tales of coronations past and present.
It’s a fun and interactive way for kids to learn about the history of the British monarchy, with the half-hour family storytelling sessions running at 12:30, 13:30, and 14:30.
Visit Westminster Abbey
Every British monarch, and every king or queen of England has been crowned here since 1066, except two – Edward V, who was deposed and presumed murdered before his coronation, and Edward VIII who abdicated before his could take place
So Charles III will be following in a long tradition when the crown is placed upon his head in a ceremony which has changed little in centuries.
While Westminster Abbey is closing on April 25 to prepare, it is due to reopen to visitors again on May 8.
As you explore inside, you can see the tombs of Henry V and all the Tudors except Henry VIII, alongside early kings such as Edward the Confessor, who died a week after the abbey was consecrated.
Plantagenet kings including Henry III, who had the current abbey built in the 13th century, and Edward I also lie here, while Mary I and Elizabeth I share a tomb. The last King of England to be buried here is George II.
In total over 3,300 people have been buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey, including 16 separate British monarchs (or 17, if you believe the bones thought to be the Princes in the Tower include those of Edward V) plus many of their consorts.
Prebooking tickets is recommended – you can also buy tickets with free cancellation here.
Enjoy a Coronation Afternoon Tea
For one of the most indulgent Coronation days out in London with kids, treat the family to the ultimate British experience, a luxury afternoon tea with a royal theme.
You’ll find countless options designed specially to celebrate the Coronation, including several taking place in hotels with their own royal links (often with a princely price tag!)
The Rubens at The Palace, which overlooks the Royal Mews of Buckingham Palace, is putting on a special six-course “King’s Coronation Afternoon Tea” throughout May, with a menu that celebrates traditional British flavours. There’s even a “Little Prince and Princess Tea” for under 12s to enjoy. Plus you’ll receive a commemorative tea tin gift to take home with you too.
Other hotels in London offering a Coronation-themed Afternoon Tea include The Goring Hotel, with a menu that features many of King Charles III’s favourites, and The Milestone Hotel near Kensington Palace.
Or for a slightly more affordable and kid-friendly option, Bridget’s Bakery is putting on a Coronation Afternoon Tea Bus Tour, which takes place onboard a classic Routemaster bus embellished with flags, crowns, and plenty of coronation decorations.
Decorate your own royal biscuits in Belgravia
Just around the corner from Buckingham Palace in Belgravia, you could learn how to make biscuits fit for a King at the School of Icing.
The special Coronation Celebration Workshop will be running throughout April and May (including Coronation day itself) teaching visitors how to decorate their own specially-themed royal biscuits.
It’s definitely one for older kids and teens with a serious interest in baking, as it needs a precise touch and isn’t a bargain experience – but it’s certainly a memorable way to celebrate, and a souvenir you can enjoy for years!
Visit Madame Tussauds
If you want to guarantee seeing the royal family, there’s only one way to do it – and that’s heading to Madame Tussauds to see the waxworks on display inside.
You’ll spot a string of senior royals during your visit, including the younger members of the royal family and a recreation of the famous balcony scene.
Tickets cost from £33.50 for adults, including free option to reschedule, plus you can also buy online from Get Your Guide with free cancellation.
If you are hoping to pose with the new King, you probably won’t be the only person with that idea… but the attraction is open all weekend to snap a regal selfie.
Spy royal memorabilia at the Museum of Brands
If there’s one thing guaranteed from a royal event, it’s that there’ll be souvenirs galore created to mark the occasion – and a coronation is no different.
And if you head to Notting Hill between May 6-8, you can see 200 years of royal memorabilia at the Museum of Brands.
From commemorative mugs and tins, to flags, magazines and bunting, to more unique creations like a souvenir lighter, the exhibits also show the way brands have evolved over the decades.
For the 1937 coronation of King George VI in 1937, there were even commemorative cans of beer, as well as celebratory chocolate bars from Frys, KitKat, Aero, Nestle and Bournville for both his coronation and that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The museum has ‘Please Touch’ handling sessions as well as a royal scrapbooking activity over Coronation weekend. Buy discounted tickets on the tiqets website using my code MUMMYTRAVELS6.
Visit a royal exhibition
There are a string of exhibitions inspired by the royal family throughout this spring as well.
Head to Kensington Palace to discover the power of fashion through the ages (and what the 17th century court of King Charles II had in common with Lady GaGa) in the Crown to Couture exhibition, running from April 5-October 29.
The palace is closed on May 6 for the coronation itself and on Mondays. Prebooking tickets is advised – get discounted tickets via Tiqets using my code MUMMYTRAVELS6.
Or head to The Wallace Collection to see The Queen and Her Corgis, running until July 25. There’s no charge for entry to the exhibition, as well as the main collection, if you’re looking for free Coronation days out in London with kids.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission
Regent Street courtesy Crown Estate, St James’s Park courtesy Royal Parks, Gold state coach courtesy The Royal Collection, chocolate courtesy the Museum of Brands, all other images courtesy of Depositphotos
