Sites open if Queen dies?

I would imagine that most commercial enterprises will remain open, but Buckingham Palace would probably close. What happened the last time our monarch died is well before my time and I assume that then, everything closed for days. Museums may close. No one knows.

I'm in the same boat, except I'm leaving for London in 8 hours. I don't think anyone really knows what it's going to look like in practice, given it's been 70 years since anyone has had to deal with the death of the British Monarch. However, here is a comprehensive article from a few years ago that gives some picture of what we can expect:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/16/what-happens-when-queen-elizabeth-dies-london-bridge

Jennifer’s comment reminded me of two times I was deployed to Sicily in 1978. Both occasions were right after a Pope had died. We were lodged in Catania and the College of Cardinals was selecting the new Popes (John Paul I, then John Paul II). No stores and only a few cafes were open. Not much to do back then when everything was closed for a number of days.

Sure to be an experience to remember.

Interesting article. There is even specific instructions if she were to pass at Balmoral;

"The most elaborate plans are for what happens if she passes away at Balmoral, where she spends three months of the year. This will trigger an initial wave of Scottish ritual. First, the Queen’s body will lie at rest in her smallest palace, at Holyroodhouse, in Edinburgh, where she is traditionally guarded by the Royal Company of Archers, who wear eagle feathers in their bonnets. Then the coffin will be carried up the Royal Mile to St Giles’s cathedral, for a service of reception, before being put on board the Royal Train at Waverley station for a sad progress down the east coast mainline. Crowds are expected at level crossings and on station platforms the length of the country – from Musselburgh and Thirsk in the north, to Peterborough and Hatfield in the south – to throw flowers on the passing train. (Another locomotive will follow behind, to clear debris from the tracks.) “It’s actually very complicated,” one transport official told me."

I would probably think that Buck House and perhaps Westminster Abbey would give you a refund if they closed and you had bought tickets. My parents were in London when Princess Diana died and it's a pretty good bet that the palace might be closed.

You can look at it another way. It's a once in a lifetime experience to be there at this time.

I'm currently about 60 miles from Balmoral and watching the BBC like many others.

The best advice I can give is to be patient. Should something happen, there will be official announcements about what the schedule will be.

I would think that on the day of the state funeral, most of London will be shut down and security will be intense as world leaders will attend.

I've been reading that the day of her funeral will be a national day of mourning but businesses won't be obligated to shut down. Of concern for me is if it happens on the day I have to get to Gatwick for my flight home. Hopefully there will be train service from Lewes to Gatwick. I should be able to work around any other inconveniences.

She has died.

Tip for any tourists who are headed to the UK soon: Bring some black or dark gray clothes.

I happened to be in Thailand in 2017 when Thailand's king died. He had reigned for over 70 years (like Elizabeth II), was beloved by the people, and at his death was one of the longest-serving monarchs in world history, and the only king pretty much everyone in Thailand had ever known. As an American, it was hard for me to relate to any of this, but I was surprised by many things: how deeply moved so many people were at his passing; how the entire nation immediately flipped to "all black, all mourning, all the time" -- the official mourning period was a full year; once his death was announced, all "entertainment" was suspended (I think for a week), no movies, no live music, no sports, all TV and radio broadcasts went to coverage of the king's life and legacy, with lots of very old B-roll footage of the young king (from the 1940s and 1950s), footage of army soldiers marching around, footage of the nation's flag waving slowly in the breeze. Buildings were wrapped in black cloth.

I was on a small resort island in the far south when he passed. We flew back to Bangkok the next day. The city had been transformed. Literally every person I saw was wearing black -- except me, I was still wearing the bright, garish Hawaiian shirt I had brought with me to the island in my small bag. Oops. I quickly found a gray t-shirt to switch to. The mourning was intense (beyond what I could have imagined) and went on.

My advice for visitors to the UK: Bring something black or gray so you don't stand out too much and show respect.

News just now reported - it's official. The Queen has passed. My condolences to the family and the people of the UK.

There’s no need to wear dark clothes - Brits aren’t. Thailand is very different.

Kew Gardens def closed---se my link in other 'top 10 gardens ' post.
I am done, the end.

The National Gallery in London (per its website) will be closed Friday, Sep 9. It will be open on Saturday. No word about what's happening after that.

The British Museum and all the Tate Galleries will be open until the day of the funeral (also per their websites).

No info on the London Walks website at this point.

The Historic Royal Palaces website (which covers the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Hampton Court and other sites) says all six of its sites will be closed on Friday and "ticket sales are currently suspended."

I guess travelers will need to check websites of any places they plan to visit between now and the day of the funeral.

Buckingham Palace is definitely closed. On the website it says you’ll be contacted to arrange a refund of your tickets.

https://www.rct.uk/important-information

Cerastez Show respect.

The Queen’s reign was probably longer than you’ve been alive.

I was thinking the same thing, Claudia. She is Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, and the only one of those during my 67 years on this earth. I'm grateful that her passing was, by what few accounts we've been given, a gentle one.

Long lived the Queen!

I didn’t see those remarks as necessarily disrespectful. The poster realized that her trip might be changed by the queen’s death but such losses probably would not be covered by her travel insurance.

I find the idea of “assume good intent” goes a long way on this forum.

Interesting to note the PGA golf tournament being played on Surrey will suspend play on Friday and perhaps longer.

I think it was the winky face that Cerastez used that caused the comments.

My suggestion is you monitor the BBC news site....https://www.bbc.co.uk/news....as they will have news about schedules, openings/closings, etc.

I've been watching BBC news and they are reporting any news on upcoming events.

I've received an email from Salisbury Cathedral that it will be closed to tourists until the day after the funeral. We had tickets for an architectural tour for Saturday the 17th. On the 18th we were heading to the Portsmouth Dockyards, and it's website says it is closed today and then reopening, but will be closed the day of the funeral. Still no confirmed date for the funeral yet, but looks like I've got some rearranging of my itinerary to do.

Allen, I'll be interested in from-the-ground reports from our RS forum friends, like you, who are currently traveling or will be traveling in England (and other areas of the UK) in the very near future. I see there is a "Best of London" tour departing this coming Sunday, and would guess that there may be one exploring the city even as I speak? Rearrangement of itineraries may be necessary for many but what a sad-but-historic time to be there.

You'll provide some of those reports, yes?

Kathy, my original plan was to do my usual Trip Report when I got back, but yes, I'll try and provide some info while I'm there. We're already going over plans B, C and D depending on which day the funeral is. We are extremely disappointed about Salisbury Cathedral being closed. It's been a wish-list item for both of us for a long time as we are fans of the Ken Follett Kingsbridge book series.

So sorry about Salisbury Cathedral, Allen. I'm a fan of the Follett books as well so completely understand your disappointment. :O(

Most things are open, but some events such as the remaining three stages of the cycling Tour of Britain have been cancelled. Other than a couple of flags flying at half mast, I have seen no noticeable signs of anything different today.

We will be arriving in London on Friday 16th. So will be there during the funeral. A sad and momentous occasion.

Best information on some closures are here at the Royal Family's website:
https://www.royal.uk/mourning-and-condolence-arrangements-royal-residences

Closure of the Royal Residences:
Royal Residences will close until after The Queen’s Funeral. This includes The Queen's Gallery and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace, and The Queen's Gallery in Edinburgh. Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House, The Queen's private estates, will also close for this period. In addition, Hillsborough Castle, The Sovereign’s official residence in Northern Ireland, will be closed.