With the coronation of King Charles less than two weeks away on May 6, Britain is preparing for the great celebration.
Here we present the weird, weird, and wonderful ways in which the country’s tourism industry honors the historic event—and treats tourists like royalty.
Royal-inspired undertakings range from Hilton making a 40kg chocolate trolley to Tesco launching its first-ever pub – The King in the Castle – in honor of the event.
Scroll down for the crowning laurels of the UK tourism industry…
A coronation-themed cabaret show
Pictured are the cast of ‘Kings & Queens’, a coronation themed production run by The London Cabaret Club
The London Cabaret Club is celebrating the royal event by running a special production of ‘Kings & Queens’ at the Bloomsbury Ballroom in central London.
The production will feature ‘notable monarchs throughout history including Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, King George V and Queen Elizabeth II’ and will end with a scene showing ‘the next monarch’s enthronement as the United Kingdom welcomes into a new era’.
We promise “dramatic vintage costumes” and “explosive, expertly choreographed dance performances.” The show runs from May 5th to May 7th, with ticket packages ranging from £75 to £270 per person. visiting thelondoncabaretclub.com.
Chocolate trolley 40 kg from Hilton
Hilton London Bankside displays a coronation chocolate cart “decorated with fondant patterns and His Majesty’s coat of arms”
Step into the lobby of the Hilton London Bankside, located south of the River Thames in central London, to enjoy the hotel’s coronation carriage of chocolates.
They consist of more than 40 kilograms (88 lb) of chocolate, decorated with sugarpaste patterns and His Majesty’s coat of arms, finished in sumptuous gold powder. The hotel says: ‘This intricately designed statue took 25 days to build, measures 181 cm (71 in) high and 181 cm (71 in) long, and features a regal design inspired by the King’s official coronation chariot.
Room rates in the hotel start from 377 pounds sterling. visiting hilton.com.
London Eye pod with throne
Passengers can “sit in a re-creation of the 700-year-old Coronation Chair” in the coronation-themed London Eye cabin (shown in the view above)
The lastminute.com London Eye is offering guests the chance to ride a redesigned pod – dubbed the “Coronation Capsule” – that replicates the “Gothic grandeur and design of Westminster Abbey”.
The statement notes, “The majestic capsule rising into the sky will transform, creating the illusion of ribbed vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and carved stone columns.”
Riders can “sit in the 700-year-old coronation chair” and “hold replicas of the crown jewels” to “act out their own coronation and take a lavish selfie.”
The trial runs from April 29 to May 8. Tickets cost £60 per person and include a glass of champagne. visiting londoneye.com.
Get the “royal treatment” with a firing Clay Pigeon and take out Aston Martin
Buyagift is running a competition that includes a two-night stay in The King Charles Room at the five-star Rubens at the Palace Hotel
Gift voucher company Buyagift is running a contest for two to enjoy a royal weekend worth £2,500. The package, called the Royal Treatment, includes a two-night stay in The King Charles Room at the five-star Rubens Hotel at the Palace Hotel near Buckingham Palace.
The lucky winners will get a test drive of an Aston Martin, a private helicopter tour of London and a pigeon shooting experience. Upon returning to the hotel, there is champagne afternoon tea and a ‘fine dining experience’ to be enjoyed.
However, there is one caveat. In order to win the trial, you must share a name with a member of 26 kingdoms across the world – there are 603 names in total, including Alice, Felix, and Carl.
Entries are welcome through May 7. You can participate in the competition by submitting an application form Buyagift website.
Free cocktail if you have a royal name
Couples with the names Charles and Camilla will be served a complimentary cocktail at Jiji Japanese Restaurant in London (above)
Luxury vacation home company Habitat Escapes offers complimentary royal-inspired drinks to guests with royal names
Luxury holiday home company Habitat Escapes offers complimentary drinks to guests of royal names at both the Lower Mill Estate in the Cotswolds and Silverlake Estate in Dorset.
Any guest with the same name as a king from the past 100 years will receive a complimentary cocktail “designed to encapsulate the personalities of past kings”.
Habitat survives He reveals that among the offerings are “Elizabeth II-inspired raspberries and a refreshing, English rose – the perfect drink for those who, like the late Queen, epitomize the classic beauty and elegance of the English rose”, and “for those with green fingers, there is a rosemary gin called The Gardener, which “honours the environmental aspect of King Charles III”.
It’s not the only funny drink offering – couples named Charles and Camilla will be served a complimentary cocktail and a meal of salmon and tuna tartare at the restaurant. Jiji Japanese Restaurant In the London borough of Islington on the occasion of the coronation.
Diners must show ID to prove their royal name and to claim the reward.
List of Heston Blumenthal properties
Heston Blumenthal designed a four-course menu inspired by dishes served at previous British coronation banquets. Above is a reinterpretation of fflampayne, a dish served at King Henry V’s coronation in 1413
Renowned innovative chef Heston Blumenthal has created the culmination menu at his restaurant, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
The four-course menu features reinterpretations of dishes served at previous British coronation banquets.
Highlights include a take on the coronation chicken tart served for the coronation of King James II in 1685, a twist on veal bread served for the coronation of King George IV in 1821, and Blumenthal’s version of fflampayne, a dish served at the coronation of King George IV. King Henry V in 1413.
Available from 1 May until June, the menu price is £155 per person. visiting Mandarinoriental.com.
Stay in the stunning Royal Suite and see the crown jewels with Hotel Café Royal
Stay in the “luxury” two-bedroom Royal Suite at Hotel Café Royal as part of the hotel’s “Crown Jewels Experience”
The Hotel Café Royal by London’s Piccadilly Circus is offering the ‘crown jewels experience’ for those with cash to splash – priced at £12,995.
Described as “the ultimate experience of luxury and exclusivity,” it begins when guests check into the “luxury” two-bedroom Royal Suite.
When night falls, a chauffeur-driven limousine will “carry guests away for an exclusive after-hours visit” to the Tower of London driven by one of the King’s Beefeaters. Followed by a champagne reception and a private viewing of the Crown Jewels and Royal Collection at the Jewel House, guided by a royal expert.
The next morning, a breakfast “fit for a king” would be brought to the royal suite by a personal butler. The package is available until October 1. visit hotelcaferoyal.com.
Watch archive film footage of the royal family
Watch archive footage of the royal family at London’s Victory House Hotel this coronation weekend
Throughout coronation weekend, every floor of London’s Victorian House Hotel will have archive footage of the royals playing out on giant screens.
These film reels will include unseen footage of the late Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family.
After you check out the movies, the wine bar downstairs offers views of Leicester Square, so you can watch the festivities surrounding the coronation procession, which will pass through the nearby streets.
Room rates at the Victory House Hotel start at £359. visiting Victoryhouselondon.com.
Coronation Gold Leaf Cocktail
Royal Lancaster London The Monarch cocktail garnished in gold leaf, “adds a touch of glamor and elegance to every sip”
The Royal Lancaster London, a five-star hotel next to London’s Hyde Park, is launching a cocktail made especially for the coronation called The Monarch.
To make the drink “truly royal”, it is decorated with gold leaf, “adding a touch of shine and elegance to every sip”.
At £18, the ‘fantastic’ cocktail features King Charles’ favourite, the classic martini, with a royal twist, says the hotel.
“Our expert blenders have infused the vermouth with the finest Darjeeling tea, known for its delicate, floral aroma and for being His Majesty’s favorite tea,” he adds. visiting royallancaster.com.
TESCO’s first pub was launched in honor of the coronation
British supermarket Tesco has opened its first ever pub to help Britons celebrate the coronation of King Charles
Supermarket chain Tesco is opening its first-ever pub to celebrate the landmark event — though it’s worth noting that it’s a temporary pop-up.
Located near Farringdon tube station in central London, The King in the Castle will open a pub on May 4th and May 5th.
Diners can tuck into a coronation-themed menu, enjoying dishes such as ‘Camilla’s King Prawn Curry’ served with basmati rice (£6).
Proceeds will go to The Prince’s Trust, the supermarket’s charitable partner, which was set up by the King to support young people across the UK.
Hotel room rates are correct at the time of writing.
