My wife and I are planning a vacation to London starting on Friday, 1 June 2012. I have found out that the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth will be celebrated during that time. With us being from the United States and this being our first trip to England, I am not familiar with what impact the two bank holidays on Monday, June 4th and Tuesday, June 5th and celebrations may have on our four day visit in London. Do you know if the usual tourist places like the British Museum, British Library, the National Gallery, etc. will be opened or closed during that long four-day weekend? Will public transportation be effected? We are trying to determine if it will be a good time to visit London or if would it better to rearrange our schedule and avoid that long four-day weekend in London. Your suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Posted by
Land of La
8688 posts
This celebration will be huge. ONCE in a lifetime opportunity. I'd go in a nano second. You won't experience anything grander than this. London is a very proud city and from a practical as well as economical POV cannot fathom that the British Museum, Library and National Gallery being closed to the public all four days. People from all over the UK will be traveling to London to be part of this Jubilee. So London will be crowded. Loads of events happening. Bank holidays are public holidays by royal decree. School's will be out. These links may help you decide if on your first trip you want to see London's exhalation or see it at another time. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/Features/DG_WP200687
http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2011/AnnouncementofplansforthecentralDiamondJubileeweek.aspx This is from a yank who loves London and has visited many times under many circumstances. Their Remembrance day ceremonies and public participation totally outshine our Memorial Day. Great pride in their history, their honor and their Queen. Hopefully, Nigel and other members of the UK will chime in with their thoughts about the Jubilee.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
2365 posts
Not sure about museums, check their website, but I suspect they'll be open usual hours. I agree once in a lifetime experience and would be fun to see the crowds, crowns, and pagentry galore. But book your hotel THIS MINUTE though or the choice will be made for you.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Museums and libraruies are usually open on public holidays. Transport may be very crowded - there will probably be bus diversions and there may be long queues to get into underground stations near events.
Posted by
Huntsville
117 posts
I'm so glad you asked this question! My family will be in London 1-7 June too. We are excited to see all the pageantry and my daughter already has us spending the night along the processional route we'll see about that. ; ) We had the opportunity to be in Paris on the final day on the Tour de France in 2009. We spent several wonderful hours sitting by the Seine chatting with a family from SC who were now living in Europe. It was an unexpected change in our sightseeing plans that day but a great memory for all of us.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32825 posts
I'll watch it all on TV. I would expect that buses and the Underground, to say nothing of trains, will be very, very crowded and disrupted. A Royal Barge is being build (OK, converted) for the Royal Flotilla float down the Thames (actually up, I think) with almost 400 boats following. I saw an article yesterday in the Standard that almost all ferry and boat operators had sold out with charges of gouging as most of the seats on the boats have gone from something like £11 to £300 or £400. If you thought the Royal Weddings packed 'em in, wait until you get a butchers at this'n. And then the Olympicals follow shortly thereafter.