THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BOSSING JUBILEE WEEKEND LIKE A QUEEN
We’ve got you covered with the crown jewels of events, from corgi cafes to RAF flypasts
If the Queen’s record-breaking, 70-year reign isn’t enough cause for a right, royal knees up, the four-day Bank Holiday weekend we’ll be getting is.
From 2-5 June, the UK will be strangled by webs of Victoria sponge-splattered bunting, And with so many Platinum Jubilee events firing out of every postcode, you’re spoilt with jubilant options.
But fear not, we’ve got you covered with the crown jewels of events, from corgi cafes to RAF flypasts featuring balcony waves from Queenie herself.
THE CROWN JEWELS
Our pick of the best (and weirdest) Jubilee events:
The Corgi Café
The Queen’s favourite dog-flavour is celebrated in this this pop-up event on 29 May, with free puppuccinos plus iced, Jubilee pupcakes and playtime.
Pop and Bark, the organisers of the Refinery at Bankside event welcome all Corgis. And a designated chill zone is available for older or more anxious pooches. Two-legged guests can enjoy brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and spring cocktails. And four-legged patrons can get involved with free professional photos, The Doggy Bakery treats and The Crafty Dog Co accessories. There will also be an 80-minute playtime. Poochless corgi-fans are very welcome, but you’ll need a ticket before they get woofed up.
**This one is not on Jubilee weekend itself, but it's an excellent warm-up.
The Corgi Cafe 29 May at The Refinery at Bankside, SE1 0TF
Kynren – An Epic Tale of England
Kynren returns to its Bishop Auckland, 8,000-seater stage on 3 June to mark the Platinum Jubilee with a show covering Boudicca’s battles with the Romans to two world wars, via Vikings, Tudors and Queen Victoria.
Guests can enjoy casual or lakeside fine dining with live jazz, before taking in the show, overlooking the panoramic backdrop across its enormous, seven-and-a-half acre stage,
On 4 June, the venue also hosts one of the country’s biggest street parties, kicking off with its new Fina and The Golden Cape; show, featuring jousting, trick-riding, vaulting and chariot-racing. With 50 cast members and over 15 horses, it’s the biggest equine show in the UK.
This is followed by lakeside live music and a giant street party, with seating for 2500, light and water show and fireworks display.
Kynren 3 June and Platinum Street Party, 4 June Flatts Farm, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7SF
Superbloom at Tower of London
If floral moats are your thing, you’re in luck, because London’s iconic Tower of London will transform its moat into a flower festooned wonderland from 1 June until 18 September. This immersive, floral spectacular will see visitors enter the medieval moat and be transported through a field of blooms around the famous fortress in celebration of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne. You can get Superbloom plus Tower of London tickets for an up-close gander at the Crown Jewels and the Queen’s fanciest wardrobe pieces from the past seven decades, including thousands of priceless gemstones, crowns and ceremonial regalia
Superbloom 1 June - 18 September, Tower of London, London EC3N 4AB
The Platinum Pageant
The Queen will be celebrated by 5000 people from across the UK and commonwealth in this huge, 5 June event - and you could be one of them. The carnival-esque spectacular will combine street arts, theatre, music, circus, carnival and costume.
And the pageant is inviting children from across the UK to play a part in the ‘River of Hope’ procession, emulating a moving river by carrying 200 silk flags down The Mall. Primary and secondary school children are invited to create a picture of their hopes and aspirations for the planet over the next 70 years. A selection of these will be transferred onto silk flags and shown on screens nationwide as part of the Jubilee celebrations.
Platinum Jubilee Pageant 5 June
Dogstival
What would the Queen be without her corgis? The kings and queens of Britain have four legs, wet noses, aggressive flatulence and are being honoured in doggy-style over the Pawtinum Jubilee weekend (4 and 5 June) at Dogstival.
Expect a giant Barkingham Palace, a Jubilee Tea Pawty courtesy of The Four Legged Foodies, huge canine thrones, Barkour, Stand-Up Canine Comedy from Barking Mad Comedy Club, plus Poocharoni Doggy Pizza, pawsecco and Pop+Bark Pupuccino Bar.
Thousands of dogs will head to Hampshire's stunning, Broadlands Park country estate for the nation’s only dog festival celebrating HRH.
Four-legged activities include Barkour, Dogstival’s twist on parkour, where pups can navigate their way through an adventure playground of agility ramps, tunnels, ball pits, see-saws and more, as well as agility, hoopers and flyball. Dogs who get their kicks in water, will be able to launch themselves into the giant 10m dog diving splash pool and enjoy water-based retrieves in Dogstival’s Gundog Village area, which is crammed with ‘scurries’ to tear around.
DOGSTIVAL, 4 & 5 June, Broadlands Park, Romsey, SO51 9ZD
Platinum Jubilee Champagne Afternoon Tea Cruise.
Experience a two-hour afternoon tea fit for a queen, while taking in historic sights with royal commentary from 2-5 June on City Experiences’ Thames trip, complete with Moet champers, posh sarnies and cakes, unlimited tea and an expert guide chatting through the historic riverside sights you drift past
City Experiences 2-5 June, Tower Pier, EC3N 4DT
Windsor's Big Lunch
Go big or go home, with your Jubilee lunch plans. This particular lunch on 5 June is expected to bag a Guinness Book of Records entry as the biggest lunch ever. It will involve a 500m-long table, available for reservation. Or you can bring your own picnic rugs and soak up the atmosphere while the Platinum Pageant is shown on giant outdoor screens. People across the UK "are invited to share friendship, food and fun with neighbours" during the Big Jubilee Lunch on Sunday, June 5 and with this event, you get all the table and none of the washing up.
Windsor Platinum Jubilee 5 June, Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 1BP
Portsmouth’s Platinum Jubilee 70K Ultra Run
Fancy winning a Jubilee medal? This 5 June event will see participants run a kilometre for each year since the Queen's ascension – and bag a Jubilee medal at the finish line.
Platinum Jubilee 70K Ultra 5 June, Ferry Road, Southsea PO4 9LY
Hetty and Betty Ballroom’s Platinum Jubilee Afternoon Tea Party
Guests at the Whitby event will be transported from 3 June 2022, back to the Doo Wap-fuelled jollities that marked the Queen’s coronation, with live singers performing classics from the period, dancing and prosecco afternoon tea.
Hetty & Betty 3 June, 7 Baxtergate, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1BW
The National Lottery’s Big Jubilee Street Party
Kaiser Chiefs will headline the Jason Manford-hosted concert at Manchester’s AO Arena, which is completely FREE. The line-up also includes Becky Hill, Steps, Tom Grennan, House Gospel Choir, Calum Scott, Nathan Dawe and Ella Henderson with more to be announced over the coming weeks.
National Lottery Street Party 12 May, AO Arena, Victoria Station Approach, Hunts Bank, Manchester M3 1AR
Trooping the Colour Parade
Kick off the long weekend by visiting Buckingham Palace to watch the Queen’s official birthday parade on Thursday 2 June. More than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians will come together at the palace and make their way down The Mall to Horse Gun’s Parade, joined by members of the family on horseback and in carriages. The Parade closes with the traditional RAF fly-past, watched by the Queen and family from the palace balcony. For the first time in history, more than 1,500 beacons will also be lit this day across the UK and in every Commonwealth city across the worls to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2 June, Buckingham Palace, London, London, SW1A 1AA
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at The Stafford London
Splash the cash on a five-star celebration worthy of Her Majesty, with a soiree at The Stafford London hotel, which is so close to Buckingham Palace you could hear the champagne corks popping on The Queen's balcony.
To kick things off, they're offering up private hire of their Park Suite on Thursday 2 June, where 30 people can enjoy a drinks reception or 10 can sit on the balcony for lunch. The real deal-sealer here is the unmatched view of the RAF fly-past that'll whizz overhead.
On Sunday 5 June, The Stafford will throw a 'street party' on their secluded, cobbled courtyard, where guests will receive a glass of Nyetimber English sparkling wine and "quintessentially British party food" - though we're not talking egg mayo sandwiches and pineapple and cheese on a stick. No sir, this is 5 star British party food. We're talking Coronation chicken tarts; Chargrilled lamb cutlets and Salmon with pickled kohlrabi and citrus crème fraîche...
And if you fancy popping out to wish The Queen well or deliver a greetings card to Buckingham Palace, you can be there and back in time to gobble up some Eton mess. Not too shabby for £80pp.
The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Celebrations at The Stafford London, 5 June, 16-18 St James’s Place, London, SW1A 1NJ
AND you can properly toast the Queen’s excellent throne-time from 2-4 June, because all pubs across England and Wales will open until 1am. God save her! Check out our pick of the best boozers near Buckingham Palace here.
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