For anyone interested in British culture and history, King Charles’ coronation on Saturday the 6th of May in 2023 is a major date in the calendar! As the first time Britain has welcomed a new monarch since 1953, this will be a landmark change and is being marked all over the country.
Many of the celebrations for Coronation Day will take place at some of the UK’s top royal sites so we’ve rounded up the best palaces and best castles to enjoy this historic moment for yourself.
The Royal Family’s historic properties are located across the UK so you can see some of the most fun things to do in the UK along the way on your trip with P&O!
Visiting Buckingham Palace
If you’re spending any time in London on your trip, Buckingham Palace should definitely be part of your itinerary. Its Grand Staircase, Buckingham Palace Gardens and Ballroom are also incredible glimpses of Britain’s royal heritage and in 2023, this attraction will be more alive than ever as King Charles III Coronation will be held nearby at Westminster Abbey.
This working UK royal palace includes spectacular State Rooms that are open to visitors every year for ten weeks. This year this will be from Friday the 14th of July to Sunday the 24th of September.
This attraction is now King Charles the Third’s place of work and is currently undergoing a £370 million repair project – be sure to see its majesty for yourself!
Exploring the Tower of London
Our second stop in the heart of the UK’s capital is the Tower of London, home to the world-famous Crown Jewels and open daily for visits from 9 am to 6 pm.
These jewels will be a central part of Prince Charles’s Coronation – St. Edward’s Crown has already been moved from the Tower in preparation for the big day! So be sure to stop off at this destination – our pick for one of the best things to do in London.
This iconic fortress is patrolled by beefeaters and you can chat with them or pose for pictures along your route on a family trip. It’s also just an 18-minute drive via the A3211 from Buckingham Palace or half an hour on public transport.
Kensington Palace
Located near London’s famous Hyde Park, Kensington Palace is one of London’s greatest royal attractions with exhibits dedicated to historic figures like Queen Victoria and Princess Diana that previously spent time here.
Why not check out The King’s Gallery while you’re here – this historic royal space will reopen in April 2023 and is worth seeing while you’re in London. Driving from the Tower of London takes just 30 minutes or you can get there in 40 minutes on public transport.
Kew Palace
This West London royal palace is the smallest royal residence in the world and includes Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, constructed in 1771 and used in the early 19th century for keeping animals as exotic as tigers and kangaroos. In 1806, the gardener converted the kangaroo enclosure into a flower garden which is what you can see today!
While this site will not be directly involved in the Coronation Day celebrations, it’s well worth a visit. Kew Palace is also home to The Great Pagoda; this 18th century landmark has recently been restored and features 253 steps to climb for panoramic views of the area. Driving from Kensington Palace to Kew Palace takes just 42 minutes via the A4.
The world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew is just a 10-minute walk from Kew Palace so why not combine a visit to both on your trip?
Hampton Court Palace
If you’d like to enjoy open-air concerts this June on the grounds of a stunning Tudor landmark, Hampton Court is the place to be in 2023, as stars including Grace Jones and the Kaiser Chiefs will take the stage. Pre-booking is recommended for visitors to this royal landmark as it can be especially popular during the summer – so if you’re visiting for King Charles’ Coronation keep this in mind!
A visit to Hampton Court takes around an hour and 20 minutes if you’re driving via the A3 and if you’re travelling from mainland Europe, bringing your car on board with P&O Ferries is as easy as booking a space with our online booking system.
It’s simple to fit everything you might need to bring in your vehicle and drive on board when you reach your desired port!
Epsom Downs Derby which is just a 26 minute drive from Hampton Court Palace via the B280 takes place from the 3rd to the 4th of June and will also take part in the Jubilee Celebrations.
With a part of the site renamed to the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Stand’ and a guard of honour formed by retired and current jockeys who have ridden for the Queen, you can soak up the royal atmosphere. Be sure to look out for any jockeys wearing purple and gold silks as this is the traditional sign of riders for the monarch.
Highgrove House
This site was the Prince of Wales’s main family home in Gloucestershire since the 1980s and was featured in series four of Netflix’s hit series, The Crown. If you’re planning to stop off here on your trip to England
you will need to bring e-tickets and identification to gain entry to the estate.
As this house was bought through the Duchy of Cornwall, it will pass into Prince William’s ownership on Charles’ Coronation Day.
You can also purchase a range of themed products from Highgrove House and exploring its gardens is a great way to soak up some of the Royal Family’s heritage in the UK. Driving from Windsor Castle to this attraction will take just an hour and a half via the M4.
Windsor Castle
Located just outside London, Windsor Castle is a 36-minute drive from Hampton Court Palace via the A308. This site is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and since being designed by William the Conqueror has been home to 39 monarchs.
For any fans of King Charles the Third this landmark is worth including on your trip as it was used for Charles’ first Christmas message in 2022!
Powis Castle
For anyone crossing the border to Wales, Powis Castle is a National Trust site with an incredible collection of artefacts to explore. Look out for the marble sculpture of a Roman cat and the horse-drawn State Coach used for balls at Buckingham Palace!
This is one of our top picks of things to do in Wales and while it is not involved in the celebrations on Coronation Day it is important to Charles as he held the position of Prince of Wales for decades.
Travelling onwards from Highgrove House to Powis Castle takes just under three hours via the A49!
Lancaster Castle
Constructed in the 12th century, Lancaster Castle has welcomed royal guests since King John’s visit in 1206! In a more modern context, King Charles visited in 1993 so if you plan on exploring the castle’s remarkable grounds, you’ll be walking on richly historic grounds.
From Powis Castle, you can reach this site in 2 hours and 40 minutes via the A483 and the M6. If you’re travelling from Dublin to Liverpool this ferry route is another easy way to get to Lancaster Castle as you’re just an hour and twenty minutes drive via the M6 away.
Balmoral Castle
The final royal site on our tour is Scotland’s Balmoral Castle and it will re-open to the public on the 1st of April 2023 following the death of Charles’ mother. If you’re interested in the Royal Family’s history visiting for Charles’s Coronation will be particularly significant as Charles spent many trips here with the Queen.
This castle is the private property of the King since its purchase by Victoria and Albert in 1852. For anyone travelling between Northern Ireland and Scotland, our Cairnryan to Larne route is a quick and easy convenient way to get there!
The opening times are from 10 am to 5 pm and exploring the grounds, exhibitions and Ballroom are all worth exploring during your visit.
