What to do in London during the jubilee weekend

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend less than a month away, London is abuzz with the final preparations of its celebratory events. From parades and marches to specially curated exhibitions, our guests at our London hotels are excellently situated to immerse themselves fully within these festivities.

Tower of London's Superbloom and a Royal Afternoon Tea

For those arriving ahead of the jubilee weekend, the 1^st June sees the arrival of the Tower of London’s long anticipated Superbloom, created in honour of Her Majesty’s 70 year reign. With over 20 million seeds sewn in spring earlier this year, the Superbloom promises an exceptional floral display of fantastic colours and natural beauty spread across the Tower’s moat. Following the splendour of the event, guests can also enjoy a Royal London and Windsor Tour with Evan & Evan, finished off with a limited-edition Jubilee Afternoon Tea at The Rubens at the Palace that overlooks the Royal Mews, offering an entirely regal affair.

Trooping of the Colour and the Royal Family’s balcony appearance

Official celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee begin on the 2^nd June with the annual Trooping of the Colour – a parade that has marked the reigning sovereign’s birthday for the last 260 years. To commemorate the grandeur of this year’s anniversary, the colour will be trooped by the 1^st Battalion, Irish Guards, and over 1200 officers and soldiers from the Household Division. The spectacle of British pageantry is held on Horse Guards Parade, just moments from our guests at The Rubens at the Palace, Hotel 41, and The Chesterfield Mayfair. Attendees can expect an all-consuming sensory experience of music, marching, and magnificence set against a backdrop of the iconic Buckingham Palace. Following the parade’s end will be the traditional Royal Family’s balcony appearance and a coinciding flypast that has been extended to six minutes to mark the significance of the event.

Whilst seated tickets for the Trooping of the Colour have now sold out, the parade’s journey from Buckingham Palace to the parade ground can still be attended without charge. There is also the opportunity to watch the event live via large screens in St James’s Park. 

The lighting of the jubilee beacons

For visitors wishing to extend their celebrations into the evening hours of the 2^nd June, the lighting of the jubilee beacons should not be missed. The tradition began in 1897 to mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and will continue into this year as 1500 beacons are lit across the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories. The lighting of the principal beacon at Buckingham Palace will occur at 9pm where guests can also bear witness to the impressive Tree of Trees – a 21-metre high tree built of 350 smaller trees. Guests at The Rubens at the Palace and Hotel 41 are in a particularly privileged position to access this historic event.

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant will be held on 5^th June at The Mall, and is sure to be an exceptional event for those seeking to reignite the marvel and spectacle of the Trooping of the Colour on the final day of their jubilee weekend. The procession is a conglomerate of theatre, music, carnival and costume as key workers, artists, communities, and members of the military from across the UK combine to create a scene of celebration for the long reign of Elizabeth II thus far. Children from schools across the UK have also been invited to contribute to the parade and build the ‘River of Hope’ from an exceptional assortment of two hundred silk flags. Through doing so, they will “celebrate Her Majesty’s unwavering duty, love of the natural world and dedication to the Commonwealth”. Leading the pageant is the Gold State Carriage that recalls Her Majesty’s journey to her coronation 70 years ago. This extravagant affair is sure to be the highlight of any jubilee weekend.

Events for after the jubilee weekend

If you are extending their jubilee celebrations beyond the official weekend alone, the Household Division will be Sounding Retreat on Horse Guards Parade on 8^th and 9^th June. Tickets for this event of military music and display are available here, and offer the perfect end to the festivities and celebrations of the weekend. Guests staying at The Montague are also in a privileged position to attend the Mary Gillick Jubilee exhibition at The British Museum. The limited-edition exhibition, running from 2^nd June to 31^st July, is non-ticketed and held in the Asahi Shimbun Displays, Room 3. It offers rare and unmissable insight into the life and work of the sculptor Mary Gillick, who modelled the Queen’s head for the 1953 UK coinage. By doing so, the British Museum will celebrate not only the Platinum Jubilee but also offer “focus on an important but little known female artist." The British Museum are also holding a Platinum Jubilee Party on 11^th June that is perfect for families with children: you can expect a range of activities that owe commemoration to Her Majesty’s reign from collage and crafting crowns to a special photo booth where you can document your festivities. Tickets are free of charge and can be purchased here.

Whatever your plans this jubilee weekend, guests at our London hotels are guaranteed a weekend of comfort, excitement, and luxury, and we are excited to welcome you and participate in your enjoyment of this celebration.