May 8 - bank holiday after Coronation

Posted by ds on 11/14/22 06:29 AM

I will be arriving in London, England the first week of May — dates not confirmed yet. I would prefer to arrive the 2nd week of May instead, but not sure the second week will work out for my travel companion.

I would like to be away from London on May 6 (the actual coronation) but I will still be in England on May 6 and on the bank holiday the 8th.

What is closed and what is open on a bank holiday? What can a tourist still do on a bank holiday? Trains? Buses? Tube? Restaurants? Museums?

Also what is open and closed on a Sunday?

Thank you in advance.

Posted by Jennifer

Tunbridge Wells

11/14/22 07:57 AM

6113 posts

Shops, cafes and supermarkets are usually all open on a bank holiday in major cities, although they may reduce their trading hours. In smaller places, local independent traders maybe closed - Monday is the day that most cafes close if they don’t open 7 days a week. Some tourist attractions maybe closed.

Transport usually runs to a Sunday service (reduced timetable).

Most places are open on a Sunday, but trading hours for shops and supermarkets in England and Wales are limited to 6 hours. There is no limit in Scotland.

The 8 May bank holiday is a one-off, so we will have to wait to see if it’s treated as a normal day or whether places will close. It would be different if the coronation was on this day - then everything would be closed.

Posted by Frank II

Freedonia

11/14/22 09:39 AM

14945 posts

On the day of the Queens funeral, everything shut in honor of the event. I would be surprised if this wasn't the case on the actual day of the coronation.

As for the Monday, think of it as a Monday holiday in the states. While offices and banks are closed, most shops and restaurants are open. But sometimes less hours. Tourist attractions are normally open, But, this is a unique bank holiday so we have to wait and see.

Posted by Nigel

Northamptonshire, England

11/14/22 08:52 PM

32709 posts

I don't think that anybody really knows what it will be like in London or in the other part of the country. It has been a very long time since we have had a Coronation, nor have we had a Coronation Bank Holiday. That will be the third Bank Holiday in May 2023. Between the Early May Bank Holiday, the Coronation Day, the Coronation Bank Holiday and the Late May Bank Holiday I wonder if any work will get done. People can't run off on holiday for the whole month - at least I hope...

It is all up in the air.