26
April
2023
|
15:35
Europe/London

Celebrating the Coronation in the City of London

The City of London is gearing up to celebrate the crowning of His Majesty King Charles III – with events across the Square Mile in the run-up to and during Coronation weekend.

Leading the way are the City’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), with ‘green’ celebrations to reflect the King’s passion for the environment, highlights of which include Fleet Street Quarter’s ‘BIG Picnic’.

Inspired by the gardens of Highgrove and the new monarch’s admiration of wildflowers, it will take place at Carter Lane, Bream’s Buildings and Gough Square on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 May.

Leadenhall Market will celebrate the Coronation with an old-fashioned knees-up featuring a Pearly King and Pearly Prince on Friday, 5 May, with free tea and cake on offer.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, 7 May – the day after the Coronation – Aldgate Square will host the Big Coronation Lunch, featuring food and drink, music, dancing and a children’s fancy dress competition.

City of London Corporation Policy Chairman Chris Hayward said:

“Since time immemorial, the City has been a loyal supporter of the Monarchy, so it’s quite right that residents, workers and visitors should come together to celebrate the crowning of our new King in style.

“During Coronation week, a wide variety of events and activities are on offer, all of which support our Destination City vision of the Square Mile as a seven-day-a-week visitor destination.”

Events in City streets are being organised by the Aldgate Connect, Cheapside Business Alliance, EC and Fleet Street Quarter BIDs.

Commenting on behalf of the City Business Improvement Districts, Ruth Duston OBE, OC, MD of Primera said:

“The BIDs are proud to be supporting this important moment for the nation and we look forward to welcoming workers, visitors, and residents to join the celebrations. The new King’s passion for the environment is being brought to life in different ways.

“These events also provide a great opportunity to showcase the commitment that each of the BIDs have made to the vital ‘green’ agenda, through greening and biodiversity projects and the important role our precious green spaces can play in improving mental health and wellbeing.”

The City Information Centre, opposite St Paul’s Cathedral, will be open from Tuesday 2 to Monday, 8 May for information about things to do in the City and to buy Coronation souvenirs.

More information on Coronation events in the City is at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/coronation

What’s on in the City for the Coronation

Thu 27 Apr – Fri 6 Oct – 10.30am to 4pm

City of London Heritage Gallery (in Guildhall Art Gallery) – for the first time, three of the City’s oldest charters will be on display together. In the Coronation year of Charles III, this display reflects on the historic links between the monarchy and the City of London – cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhallartgallery

Sat 29 April to Fri 14 July – 8am to 9pm

The Crescent, Blue Orchid Hotel, 100 Minories – Padel Tennis Festival. Grab a friend or work colleague and take part in this growing sport. Book online – londonloveaffair.com

Tue 2 to Sun 7 May – various times

Seething Lane – Pop-up wellbeing garden. Pose for pictures with floral crown installation. Forest bathing to audio soundscapes – ecbid.co.uk

Tue 2 – Mon 8 May – various times (see website)

The City Information Centre (opposite St Paul’s Cathedral) – Get advice about things to do in the City, and buy Coronation souvenirs including a Coronation King rubber duck – cityoflondon.gov.uk/cic

Tue 2 May to Friday 30 June

20 Fenchurch Street (home of the Sky Garden) – urban allotments with herbs and wildflowers for the community to enjoy – ecbid.co.uk

Tue 2 May – 10.30 to 11.30 am

Seething Lane garden – Beginner-friendly yoga workshops – ecbid.co.uk

Tue 2 May – 12.30 to 1.15pm

Starts Guildhall Yard by Art Gallery – 1000 Years of Royalty – ‘the Best, the Worst and the Very Horribilus’ – A Guided Walking Tour of Culture Mile BID area by London Spy David Harry culturemilebid.co.uk

Wed 3 May – 5.30 to 6.15pm

Starts Guildhall Yard by Art Gallery – 1000 Years of Royalty – ‘the Best, the Worst and the Very Horribilus’ – A Guided Walking Tour of Culture Mile BID area by London Spy David Harry culturemilebid.co.uk

Wed 3 and Thu 4 May – noon to 2pm

Seething Lane Garden – Coronation picnics with free hampers in partnership with Four Seasons Hotel (limited availability) – ecbid.co.uk

Wed 3 and Thu 4 May – noon to 4pm

Carter Lane, Gough Square and Bream’s Buildings – BIG Picnic featuring community art classes, giant flower decor, entertaining hedge and flower performers and more – fleetstreetquarter.co.uk

Wed 3 and Thu 4 May – 12.30 to 1.30pm

St Botolph’s without Bishopsgate Church – Summer floral centrepiece workshops to support mental health and wellbeing. Create floral creations in the shape of a crown – ecbid.co.uk

Fri 5 May – 10 to 11.30am

Golden Lane Community Centre – Coronation tea party for City residents – healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk

Fri 5 May – 10.30 to 11.30am

Seething Lane garden – Beginner-friendly yoga workshops –  ecbid.co.uk

Fri 5 May – 11am to 4pm

Leadenhall Market – Cockney knees-up with Pearly King and Pearly Prince, free tea, coffee and cakes – leadenhallmarket.co.uk

Fri 5 May – 3 to 4.30pm

Portsoken Community Centre – Coronation tea party for City Residents –

healthwatchcityoflondon.org.uk

Sat May 6 to Mon May 8 – 9.30am to 5pm

Tower Bridge – Make your own crowns and sashes from art materials. Visitors also get a special commemorative ticket. City, Tower Hamlets and Southwark residents enter for £1 – tower bridge.org.uk

Sun 7 May – after 11am eucharist

St Bartholomew the Great – Coronation Party – pre-book tickets at greatstbarts.com

Sun 7 May – 1 to 7pm

Aldgate Square – Big Coronation Lunch featuring food, English, Latino and Bangladeshi music and dancing, family games including letter writing to the King, kids' fancy dress contest – aldgateconnect.london

Sun 7 May – 3 to 4pm

St Paul’s Cathedral – Choral Evensong to celebrate the Coronation – stpauls.co.uk

Saturdays 13, 20, 27 May – 2 to 4pm

Starts at Mansion House – ‘Monarchy in the City’ guided walking tour led by official City of London Guides. Discover the City’s connections with royalty, including Royal weddings, Jubilee celebrations and more – cityoflondonguides.com

Now to Sunday 30 July – 10.30am to 4pm

Guildhall Art Gallery – The Big City, collection of supersize London paintings including those depicting Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation luncheon - cityoflondon.gov.uk/guildhallartgallery

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally successful UK – www.cityoflondon.gov.uk