A tourist's guide to King Charles III’s Coronation in London

We know where the procession is heading - but where can I get a bottle of water during the event? (Credit: Getty Images)

The date has been firmly marked on our calendars since the save the date announcement was made; May 6 2023 will be when the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth crown a brand new King of England, with King Charles III and Queen Camilla set to be crowned within the walls of Westminster Abbey next month.

While preparations are being undertake in the city of London for the big royal engagement, including the location of the big screen in the capital to watch the coronation (our money is on Hyde Park, for good reasons), around 30 big screens will be erected across major cities and towns across the country so revellers that don’t fancy a trip to London can still celebrate with others in what King Charles III hopes to be a very community-minded event.

But for those who are looking to make the pilgrimage to London for the event, many might be curious about the official procession route that will be followed, a much shorter procession for King Charles III as opposed to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Though the length of the procession might have been spared, there is no sparing the carriage that will be carrying the newly crowned King and Queen.

But as much as we are looking forward to the coronation, perhaps some of us might have overlooked a couple of important items. Like, for example, how to get to one of the featured locations where the procession route takes place by London Transport? Or what about if someone needed to nip to a shop in the event they’ve run out of food or drink, or even worse - lost their novelty sized Union Jack?

They’re questions that sometimes get overlooked until the 11th hour, much like packing for a holiday. Rest assured though that Peopleworld are a pragmatic bunch and instead have looked at some options ahead of the day. Just don’t ask about hotels - you’ve got more of a chance being invited to the coronation itself as it stands!

Procession Route

The Gold State Coach which carried HM Queen Elizabeth II at her Coronation is seen here featuring digitally displayed illuminated curtains during a rehearsal for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee pageant, on May 31, 2022 in London, England.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have decided to make the 1.3 mile outward journey from Buckingham Palace – known as the King’s Procession – in the more modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which has shock absorbers, heating and air conditioning. They will be accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

The procession will start from Buckingham Palace and go down The Mall, passing through Admiralty Arch, and along the south side of Trafalgar Square. From there, they will continue along Whitehall and Parliament Street, around the east and south sides of Parliament Square, and finally arrive at the Abbey via Broad Sanctuary.

The coronation service on May 6 will begin at 11am. After the ceremony, Charles and Camilla will make their way back from Westminster Abbey via the tried and tested route of Parliament Square, along Whitehall, around Trafalgar Square, through Admiralty Arch, and down The Mall back to Buckingham Palace.

Where will the big screen be in London to watch the King’s Coronation?

Though its location has yet to be confirmed, generally speaking Hyde Park has been the site where big screens are erected to watch royal engagements. It was the site for large screens celebrating the wedding of Prince William and Princess Catherine of Wales and the state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II.

With Hyde Park a Royal park which has hosted many large scale events, including the British Summer Time concert series set to kick off later this year once again, the good money is that this gets confirmed closer to the date of the coronation.

Getting to the best vantage point for the procession route

Transport for London have confirmed that there are no planned closures set to take place on May 6, but there will be some diversions for bus services due to the coronation route King Charles III is set to embark on. For those looking to get to one of the best vantage points for the procession, the following London Underground routes would provide the easiest route to get to the following locations (it is worth checking the Transport for London journey planner closer to the event for any unexpected changes to the network)

All locations are representative of a starting location of London King’s Cross St Pancras Underground station.

Hyde Park

Victoria line to Oxford Circus
Oxford Circus Central line to Marble Arch
Marble Arch Station - walk to 60 Malden Road, Camden (19 minutes)

Westminster Abbey

Victoria line to Victoria Station
District line to St. James's Park
St. James’s Park Station - Walk to Westminster Abbey (9 minutes)

The Mall

Victoria line to Green Park
Green Park station - walk to The Mall (19 minutes)

Buckingham Palace

Victoria line to Green Park
Green Park station - walk to Victoria (15 minutes)

Grosvenor Square

Victoria line to Oxford Circus
Central line to Bond Street
Bond Street station - walk to Walk to 60 Malden Road, Camden (12 minutes)

Nearest amenities during the procession route

For those who are caught short during the coronation of King Charles III, rest assured that much like the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee there will be a number of portable toilets close to where bystanders can watch the procession. But what if you were to get peckish, or need to nip to get some supplies before waiting among the crowds to see the newly crowned King and Queen pass by? We’ve used Tesco Express’ location finder to determine where the nearest shops are close to the processions areas.