The world’s second-longest reigning monarch, the vast majority of individuals in Britain have identified no different head of state than Queen Elizabeth II. After celebrating her Platinum Jubilee earlier this 12 months, her demise in 2022 alerts the top of an period.
And also you don’t must be a fervent monarchist to really feel a deep sense of loss, with tributes across the nation marking a interval of nationwide mourning and the solemn procession because the coffin travels from Balmoral to London, through the Palace of Holyroodhouse and St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Whether or not you’re planning to hitch the crowds anticipated for the funeral and because the Queen lies in state or trying to keep in mind her lengthy life and reign, listed here are among the finest locations to pay tribute to the Queen if you happen to’re visiting London with youngsters.
Must know if you happen to’re visiting London with youngsters in September
Many websites across the capital are closing as a mark of respect on September 9, others will probably be closing on the day of the funeral, whereas these with royal hyperlinks could also be closed for longer.
At all times examine earlier than you go to for the newest info.
The State rooms at Buckingham Palace (usually open till October) will shut till their scheduled reopening subsequent 12 months.
The Royal Mews and Queen’s Gallery in London, in addition to Windsor Fort, are additionally at present closed.
Westminster Abbey is open for prayer and reflection however will probably be closed to vacationers from September 11 till September 28. Guests are requested to not depart flowers or tributes.
All Historic Royal Palaces websites, together with the Tower of London, Hampton Court docket Palace and Kensington Palace will probably be closed on September 9 and the day of the funeral.
The Imperial Struggle Museum will shut on the day of the funeral.
London Zoo is closed on September 9 however its automotive park will probably be unavailable for guests after reopening in the intervening time.
Websites closing on September 9 and that are prone to shut once more on the day of the funeral embody:
- St Paul’s Cathedral (closed Sep 9 to organize for a memorial service)
- The Nationwide Gallery (closed to Sep 10)
- Kew Gardens (closed Sep 9)
- Sir John Soane’s Museum (closed Sep 9)
- Chelsea Physic Backyard (closed till Sep 11)
- Legoland Windsor (closed on Sep 9)
Occasions can even be cancelled, whereas outlets alongside the funeral procession route are prone to shut on the day of the funeral itself.
The place to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II in London with youngsters
Ceremonial gun salutes are deliberate at 11 saluting stations throughout the nation, with 96 rounds anticipated to be fired at Hyde Park and at Tower Hill on September 9, and a nationwide minute’s silence held.
A memorial service will probably be held at St Paul’s cathedral, with restricted areas out there for the general public to attend. The service can even be broadcast on the BBC.
There are additionally anticipated to be tributes at London’s railway stations for these arriving into the capital, whereas flowers are being left outdoors palaces and church buildings.
There will probably be books of condolence at websites round London: varied household sights such because the Museum of the House and the Imperial Struggle Museum have already introduced they’ll have them.
On the ninth day after Her Majesty’s demise, the Nice Bell of Large Ben is because of chime at 9am, with a layer of leather-based overlaying the hammer to muffle the sound.
The Queen’s coffin will lie in state for at the least three three days at Westminster Corridor after returning to London from Edinburgh, with a ceremonial procession from Buckingham Palace down the Mall, by way of Horse Guards Parade and previous the Cenotaph, anticipated to be early within the week of September 12.
Westminster Corridor will probably be open to the general public for 23 hours a day to ensure that the general public to pay their respects. Enormous crowds are anticipated for this, with queues stretching for miles.
On the mendacity in state of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mom, 200,000 individuals waited to pay tribute with queues of as much as six hours, whereas 300,000 individuals attended the mendacity in state of King George VI.
When you’re planning to take youngsters to the mendacity in state, be ready for very lengthy waits to take action and anticipate a a lot increased safety presence round central London, in addition to Westminster itself.
There may be extra element on the exact occasions main as much as the funeral on the BBC information web site.
The place to observe the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
The state funeral will probably be held at Westminster Abbey – the primary of a British monarch since 1760. The date is to be confirmed, however is prone to be round September 18-19.
There will probably be a procession from Westminster Corridor to the abbey for the one-hour service, earlier than a ceremonial procession to accompany to coffin to Hyde Park.
From this level, it’s going to journey to Windsor for an extra procession by way of the city and a committal service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Fort.
Full particulars of the route are nonetheless to be introduced, however enormous crowds are anticipated within the capital and in Windsor the road the streets – bollards will probably be faraway from The Mall to make additional area.
The funeral can even be televised with plans to point out this on huge screens across the capital, and the day is anticipated to be a nationwide vacation.
Rail strikes deliberate for September 15-17 have been known as off however trains and public transport are anticipated to be extraordinarily busy and there could also be extra restricted timetables on the day of the funeral
Key websites from the Queen’s life
When you’re visiting London with youngsters and trying to have fun the Queen’s lengthy life and reign as a tribute to Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, these are among the key websites related to Elizabeth II. Many will probably be closed within the days main as much as the funeral, some will shut for half or all the remainder of 2022.
145 Piccadilly
Born on the Mayfair townhouse belonging to her maternal grandparents in 29126, Princess Elizabeth of York – as she was then – moved from 17 Bruton Road to 145 Piccadilly a 12 months later.
Bombed within the Second World Struggle, the constructing has been changed immediately by the InterContinental London Park Lane Resort.
Clarence Home
Clarence Home was the Queen’s London house when she was first married, till her accession – it’s right here that Princess Anne was born.
Later house to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mom, it additionally grew to become the official residence of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
Constructed by John Nash for the Duke of Clarence, later William IV, it’s usually open to the general public throughout August when you possibly can take a 45-minute guided tour of 5 rooms on the bottom flooring.
The Imperial Struggle Museums London
The Imperial Struggle Museum has additionally been internet hosting an exhibition to honour the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this 12 months, exploring the function of the Royal Household in battle.
As a consequence of run till January 2023, the exhibition seems at The Queen’s private expertise of battle and her function as Head of the Armed Forces, together with shows of images and objects from the museum’s collections.
The museum has introduced that it will likely be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral
Buckingham Palace
The monarch’s personal official residence has been house to Queen Elizabeth II for over 70 years and it’s one of many key websites in all royal ceremonies.
When you’re visiting London with youngsters, you will get a glimpse of the outside of Buckingham Palace year-round, however there’s solely the possibility to go indoors for a number of months of the 12 months.
The State Rooms are usually open from July to October (plus occasional unique excursions in the course of the winter and spring), with a timed admission system once you ebook with slots each quarter-hour.
The State Rooms have now closed for the rest of 2022.
Royal Mews
House to historic royal carriages, the Royal Mews can also be a working stables the place you’ll discover horses named by the Queen.
You’ll be able to spot the brown Cleveland Bays and white Windsor Gray horses throughout your go to, in addition to miniature carriages designed to be pulled by smaller animals together with canines, plus a sleigh.
Youngsters may comply with a 45-minute multimedia tour, with a household model aimed toward youngsters aged 7-11, telling them all the pieces from what it’s like to coach the horses to the way it feels to trip in a type of fairytale carriages or drive a Rolls Royce. The Little Trekkers exercise path is designed for beneath fives.
The Royal Mews has now closed for the rest of 2022
Westminster Abbey
Each king or queen of England has been topped right here, besides two – Edward V, who was deposed and presumed murdered earlier than his coronation, and Edward VIII who abdicated earlier than his may happen.
The coronation was televised for the primary time in 1953 when the Queen was topped right here, and it’s additionally the place the then Princess Elizabeth was married – the tenth member of the royal household to be married right here.
It’s additionally the ultimate resting place of 16 English and British monarchs in addition to lots of their consorts: after George II, British monarchs have been buried at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
For the reason that reign of Queen Victoria, state funerals have normally seen the coffin conveyed to Westminster Corridor in a gun carriage, the place it lies in state for a number of days, earlier than a procession to Windsor for the funeral service.
Westminster Abbey is closed to vacationers from September 11 till September 28
Tower of London
For an opportunity to see the Queen’s crown in all its glittering glory, it’s one of many unmissable components of a go to to the Tower of London. Gun salutes are additionally fired from Tower Hill.
Each royal residence and royal jail since William the Conqueror first had the White Tower constructed within the 11th century, the crown – together with different royal regalia and objects from the royal treasury – are on show right here.
House to the Superbloom flower set up celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this summer time, Queen Elizabeth has additionally visited lately, together with to see the ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Pink’ poppy set up in 2014, paying tribute to these killed in the course of the First World Struggle.
The Tower of London will probably be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral
Kensington Palace
Though the Queen by no means lived at Kensington Palace, it was house to her sister, Princess Margaret, in addition to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
It’s additionally been internet hosting a particular exhibition this 12 months, set to run to October 30, known as Life By means of a Royal Lens exhibition, iconic pictures of the Royal Household from Queen Victoria to the current day.
Kensington Palace will probably be closed on the day of the Queen’s funeral
St Paul’s Cathedral
The particular Jubilee exhibition working at St Paul’s Cathedral till December is the proper place to relive the celebrations from throughout Queen Elizabeth’s reign.
The exhibition, Jubilee: St Paul’s, the Monarch and the Altering World seems at Jubilee celebrations from throughout the centuries, together with for her Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees, in addition to these of George III, George V and Queen Victoria.
A service of prayer and reflection is deliberate at St Paul’s cathedral
Windsor Fort
When you’re visiting London with youngsters, it’s solely a brief journey to Windsor – one other of the Queen’s childhood properties, when the Duke of York and his household would spend weekends at York Lodge on the property, it was famously one in all her favorite residences.
The working fortress, the oldest and largest occupied fortress on the planet, was based by William the Conqueror within the 11th century and has been house to 39 monarchs, together with a weekend retreat for Queen Elizabeth II.
The fortress additionally homes St George’s chapel, relationship again to 1475, which has been the location of various royal weddings, in addition to housing the tombs of 10 monarchs together with Edward IV, Henry VI and VIII, Charles I, Edward VII and George V.
Windsor Fort is closed to vacationers in the intervening time
St Paul’s Cathedral copyright MummyTravels, all different photographs courtesy of Depositphotos
