Where to celebrate the Queen鈥檚 Platinum Jubilee across the UK
Discover where to celebrate the Queen reaching 70 years on the throne, across the UK.
While on the big day (2 June) the UK will be awash with local street parties celebrating Her Majesty The Queen鈥檚 70 years of service 鈥� making her the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee 鈥� there are also plenty of events across the weekend to get involved in.
Watch the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, London, 5 June
Open to all, with no booking required, the will include street arts, theatre, music, circus and carnival in a riot of sounds, sights and colourful costumes, with a highlight being the 鈥楻iver of Hope鈥� procession formed by children from different communities around the UK who were invited to play their part. The day will be divided into four Acts, beginning with a military spectacle celebrating the UK Armed Forces from all three Services, plus military personnel from across the Commonwealth, followed by the 鈥楾he Time of Our Lives鈥�, a display of British life and popular culture since 1952. The third act will be the carnivalesque celebration of the Queen鈥檚 life by performer groups from across the UK, and then there鈥檒l be a grand finale in front of Buckingham Palace, with a gospel choir and a mass singing of the National Anthem.
Attend the Cazoo Derby, Epsom Downs, 3-4 June
Part of the official weekend of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on 3 and 4 June, this flat-horse race will be attended on Saturday 4 June 鈥� 鈥� by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family. Among special events marking the occasion will be a display by the Red Devils and a performance of the National Anthem by a military band. You can choose between ticketed enclosures or free enclosures on 鈥楾he Hill鈥�, and there are an array of packages to choose from, such as Mo毛t & Chandon dining, and picnic hampers for two.
Head to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London, 24-28 May
A few days ahead of the official celebrations, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) will honour its royal patron with several displays at the reflecting the Queen鈥檚 long-standing support for the charity (she has attended more than 50 times during her reign), as well as her love of gardens. They will include a sculptural portrait of the Queen in the Jubilee shade of purple by famed florist Simon Lycett, featuring lily of the valley, one of the Queen鈥檚 favourite plants, which was also prominent in her Coronation bouquet. There鈥檒l also be a photography exhibition with images of the Queen visiting the show throughout her reign, with a walkway through a woodland-inspired planting scheme.
See beacons and fireworks light up the sky, Fleet, 2 June
You can鈥檛 really say you鈥檝e done the Platinum Jubilee celebrations right unless you鈥檝e bathed in the light of sparkling beacons. The lighting of beacons traditionally commemorates the Queen鈥檚 Jubilees (having been used to celebrate the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees in the past) and this is yet another milestone deserving of some light. On Thursday 2 June, Fleet, Hampshire, will be lighting one of more than 1,500 beacons, which will be lit throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and UK Overseas Territories, in tandem with one in each of the capital cities of Commonwealth countries. Fireworks are also set to paint the sky in bright splashes of colour. This will all be happening in Calthorpe Park.
Join in the 1950s-themed Jubilee Celebration at Polesden Lacey, North Downs, 2-5 June
This deep in the Surrey Hills is turning back the clocks to the era of the Queen鈥檚 coronation, with a 1950s-themed celebration throughout the bank-holiday weekend, from 2-5 June. Think swing, jazz and 1950s rock 鈥檔鈥� roll, and join in on Family Friday, with mini steam-train rides and other kids鈥� activities, and Jubilee floral crown workshops (which need to be booked in advance).
Read more at
is a new digital lifestyle destination keeping you up to date with health and fitness, food and drink, homes and gardens, beauty, travel, finance and lifestyle trends. This week on Living 360 discover where to celebrate the Queen reaching 70 years on the throne, across the UK.