King Charles III Coronation & RS Southern England tour!

I’m confused, why would massive crowds in London and London hotel prices going up for the May 6 Coronation affect you prior to your southern England tour starting on April 24th?

I imagine there will be people arriving in London days and weeks before the Coronation which is May 6. I will be flying home on May 9. There were massive crowds for the Queen’s Jubilee in June and for her funeral in September.

Does that help clarify my question?

I was in London for the Queen's Jubilee in June and her funeral in September. I also toured Southern England on my own in June. The crowds in London will have no impact on your tour. There is no need to cancel. In fact, I think London prior to the Coronation will look lovely. The flags will be out and London will be looking its best. You could certainly head to Bath upon arrival. I like to take the National Express buses. Very nice and safe (not at all like a greyhound bus) and you can rest on the journey. I also think May is a little too early for the My Way Alpine tour.

Added since your second post: The crowds are only large in central London around Westminster and Buckingham Palace. London manages crowds well - Brits will only arrive a day before the event to camp out. Overseas visitors will arrive sooner, but I think you will be fine if you decide to do London when you arrive or after the event.
Margaret

We arrived in London on Sept 19th, the day of the funeral, and took a train to southern England that same day. We were not affected by crowds at all. In fact, you wouldn’t have even known the funeral was happening that day. I agree with Margaret, i wouldn’t change plans.

Since this tour ends in Bath I wouldn’t go there when you land. I’d just add your days at the end on in Bath then perhaps take a National Express coach back to Heathrow at the end. Your departure time will make the difference as to whether you go the night before or the morning of.

Pre-tour I’d go to Canterbury the day before the tour start as there is a bit to see that is not on the tour.

For the days before, I'd stay in London and book now.

I’ve got a booking in London leaving May 2 for a tour with a former RS guide. I haven’t looked to see if the hotel has changed rates or not. I’m traveling right now (lying in bed in Siena, lol…waiting for breakfast to start!) so I’ll do some looking next week when I’m at a keyboard.

I’d go ahead and book hotels being mindful of their cancellation policy then that will give yourself some time to think about what you want to do.

You'll be fine. Visit London before your tour begins and spend the night before your flight at Heathrow.

The weekend of May 6 will be very busy in Lobdon but that's about it. I'd expect Westiminster Abbey to be closed during your entire time in the UK. +

I'd recommend avoiding the area around the coronation.

Judy B, I like Pam's suggestion of arriving early in Canterbury. When we took this tour in 2016, we spent a couple of days in London, then spent a full day in Canterbury before the tour began. As usual, we wished we had had more time there.

Margaret and Susan have recent, relevant experience about London crowds; I'd be guided by them.

This is a great tour; have a wonderful time.

I would look upon this as a wonderful opportunity rather than a problem.

London and all of England will be in a festive mood before the coronation, and you will have a chance to experience some of that before the crowds become a problem, and before London hotel prices skyrocket. Follow the suggestion above to spend time in and around London upon arrival, then travel to Canterbury on April 23 to meet the tour. Spend the May 6-8 days in Bath or elsewhere to the west of London, maybe with the night before your flight at a Heathrow hotel, or in nearby Windsor.

Id say May is too early for the My Way Alpine tour anyway.

As usual, great advice and ideas from the forum, thank you! I am encouraged by the idea of being there at a time of history and feeling the jubilant mood. Y'all talked me into it.

I have decided to stay with my current plans and will spend 4 nights in London upon arrival on April 18 - 21. Then take a train to Canterbury for 2 nights, April 22-23, before the tour begins on April 24. I've done some preliminary research on things to do, theatre, etc. in Canterbury. I have ordered Rick's updated London guidebook which should be arriving any day now.

Questions: What hotel in London do you recommend for my first four nights? I've stayed at the Lime Tree before and loved it. But would want to have a room on the ground floor as the stairs to the upper floors are treacherous and there is no elevator. I have heard good things about the Luna Simone Hotel. Hotel 63 has been recommended by Claudia of LA.

I believe I will stay at the Bath tour hotel, May 6-7. Take the train or Heathrow Express as Pam suggests to a Premier Inn for the night of May 8 at London Heathrow as my flight leaves May 9 at 11 am.

Any other suggestions or ideas I haven't mentioned, please feel free to send them my way.

I stayed at the Luna Simone Hotel and it was delightful. However, our room was on the second floor with a steep and narrow staircase. I don't recall if they had any rooms at ground level. We happened to be in town the week of the royal wedding and London was beautiful and the atmosphere festive. And yes, we did go to the wedding--what a party!
Cynthia

After my RS Southern England tour ended, I stayed on in Bath for 2 more nights. I spent a full day in Bristol and really enjoyed it. And then a full day in Bath. I then took the train to Oxford for 2 nights, and enjoyed a day in Oxford and a day on a Cotswolds tour. Lovely! Easy to get the bus from Oxford straight to Heathrow, and bypass London.

We stayed at the Washington Mayfair hotel when we were in London. It's a Rick Steves hotel for the RS tour of London. It has AC and an elevator. Lots of lovely little eateries scattered in the streets around it. Near to Green Park tube station and walking distance to Westminster.

@Judy B. We missed being on the same tour by just a few days! Mine starts on the 17th! I am a big fan of Premier Inns in London and particularly like the Waterloo hotel since it's location is quite convenient for multiple modes of transport. I checked prices for your approximate dates and discovered this hotel was full. It did give some rates for others nearby, but I noticed that these prices were somewhat more inflated than ususal. You may well be correct that prices will be increased in the lead up to the coronation.

My sister has a tea tin collection. It includes one from the Queen's coronation, multiple weddings, and the platinum jubilee. I have strict instructions that I should not plan on returning to the US unless I have picked up a King Charles Coronation Tea Tin for her :)

I have strict instructions that I should not plan on returning to the US unless I have picked up a King Charles Coronation Tea Tin for her :)

Carol, ha ha!! Aren't sisters wonderful?

We’ve stayed in several London neighborhoods and liked them all but I always like the Bloomsbury neighborhood near the British Museum. This past summer we tried a new hotel for us in a familiar neighborhood and liked it a lot with its secluded rear garden, older rooms and comfortable lobby. It has a full restaurant on site which we were looking for with Covid options on our mind. It had no AC in the rooms but did have fans which you probably wouldn’t need in April. https://www.imperialhotels.co.uk/hotels/bedford-hotel?utm_source=mybusiness&utm_medium=organic