Your guide to a four day fiesta of royally good fun
London is culturally overwhelming any weekend of the year. For the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, however, the city has truly pulled out the stops. It’s a four day bonanza that combines state pomp with cultural entertainment and lots of partying – in the way that only the British can pull off. Whether you fancy joining in a street party, getting in pole position for the Queen’s Thames pageant or seeing an exhibition, there’s something here for you. Lots of things, in fact.
1 Hampstead Heath Jubilee Party,
4 June, 3pm-10pm
This big party in Golders Hill Park will involve lots of children’s entertainment, live music acts, art, craft and food stalls, community stalls, sports food and drink. The day culminates with the lighting of the Diamond Jubilee Beacon and fireworks. www.barnet.gov.uk
2 Jubilee, Jubilee, Museum of Brands, Packaging & Advertising, Westbourne Grove, until 31 August
Mark the Jubilee with a trip to this celebration of kitsch. The museum is showing off Jubilee merchandise past and present. The exhibition takes in memorabilia from past monarchs including Queen Victoria and George V, as well as Elizabeth II’s silver Jubilee.
3 BBC concert at Buckingham Palace, Woolwich Big Screen; Waltham Forest Big Screen; Water Poet Diamond Jubilee Street Party, 4 June, 7.30pm
A star-studded concert featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, JLS, Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams and Alfie Boe.
4 Diamond Jubilee Pageant Flotilla,
Putney Bridge, 3 June, 2pm
The 1,000 strong flotilla will be mustering between Hammersmith and Putney Bridges and will go on until around 4pm, when the boats will disperse from Tower Bridge. The boats too big to travel with the rest of the flotilla will form an “Avenue of Sail” up until Wapping. If you see one thing this weekend, make it this.
5 Royal footmen high tea service, Duke of York Square, 3 June, 11.30am-6pm
Join in the royal celebrations with a luxury tea party near Sloan Square tube. High tea and classic British biscuits, cakes and sandwiches will be on offer, as well as champagne for those wanting to get stuck into the booze nice and early. Set to be one of the weekend’s best teas.
6 Family festival in Hyde Park,
2-3 June, 10.30-7.30pm
This family-oriented party is hosted by the lovely Myleen Klass. Each day will end with a 70-minute Disney concert, featuring a host of instantly recognisable songs and characters. With 50,000 people expected every day, you can look forward to a lively celebration.
7 Piccadilly Big Jubilee Lunch,
3 June, Piccadilly Circus
A celebration of the best of British, Piccadilly will be closed to traffic on Sunday as fairground rides and entertainment put on by local icons such as the Ritz and Fortnum’s will fill the streets. The lunch is booked up but the fabulous street party is open to all. piccadillybigjubileelunch.org
8 Trafalgar Square Celebration, 5 June, 12pm-2am
The Royal Procession will be streamed live onto a big screen under Nelson’s Column, followed by a fashion show looking at six decades of fashion and listen to live music performing six decades of musical genres.
9 The Queen: Art and Image at the National Portrait Gallery, until 21 October
See some iconic portraits of the Queen from the last 60 years, including photographs and paintings by artists including Lucian Freud and Andy Warhol.
10 Jubilee Jam Festival at Proud Camden, 2-5 June, 12pm until late
A massive four-day festival featuring the best of British live music and vintage swap shops, all presented with a street party feel. It’s the perfect one-stop-shop to enjoy the time off. Rent individual stables in the venue for £49.
11 Balham Street Party, 3 June, 12pm-6pm
Vintage fashion, accessories, craft and homeware will accompany fine foods and entertainment balham.com/blog
12 Brixton’s Jubilee Picnic: The Brix, 4 June, 12pm-5pm
The picnic in Peace Garden at The Brix at St Matthews (the huge building on Brixton Roundabout) will sponsored by Sainsbury’s and local restaurant Bamboula will be in situ with delicious Caribbean food, bbq and ice cream. There will also be tours of the Brix building throughout the day.
13 Service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s, 5 June, 10.30am, BBC 1
For a more contemplative Jubilee experience, tune into the morning service at St Paul’s, attended by the Queen. The service will include a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury and a reading by Prime Minster David Cameron. The perfect way to get you in a patriotic mood in the lead up to the more raucous celebrations later in the afternoon.
14 The Jubilee Gardens
on the South Bank
Swing by the just-reopened, much-lauded Jubilee Gardens. The garden redevelopment project has the gardens into a green and sustainable park with new flower beds, 69 trees and a brand new contemporary playground. jubileegardens.org.uk
15 Water Poet Jubilee Street Party, Spitalfieds,
4 June, 12pm-6pm
The cobbled street outside the pub will transformed into a fun street party, with vintage wares, music and delicious food. 9-11 Folgate Street, waterpoet.co.uk
16 God Save the Clam, Émigré Studios Rooftop, London Fields, 12pm for lunch, 6.30pm for dinner, until 3 June
The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations wouldn’t be complete without some punk parody, kindly provided by God Save the Clam (tagline: Never Mind the Scallops). This seafood/cocktail based event will let you enjoy views of London while gorging on delicious seafood – just what Her Maj would probably rather be doing herself.
17 Jubilee gun salute at London Bridge, 3 June
Whether or not you’ve been following the whole flotilla, you won’t want to miss this paen to military formality. The salute will take place downriver from London Bridge just as the flotilla passes the avenue of sail (a passage made by boats too tall to pass under the bridges of the pageant route). The Queen’s vessel and her flotilla will then proceed past Tower Bridge.
18 The Jubilee party in Mile End Park, 4 June, from 1pm
Tower Hamlets council is planning a party in the green oasis of Mile End Park, with a plethora of Jubilee-themed festivities planned. Mile End Park is also one of the few places in London where you will be able to see one of the Jubilee beacons being lit at 10.30pm.
19 Royal River Exhibition at National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, until 9 September
This is a Jubilee exhibit celebrating the history of the Thames and its royal connections, as well as its impact on the capital itself, guest curated by historian David Starkey. rmg.co.uk
20 Street Party at Westfield Stratford City, 2-5 June
Head to the Four Dials and Chestnut Plaza for a bbq, performances from local musicians, jugglers and street artists; or just watch the Jubilee pageant on the giant screen. Giant versions of Jenga, Connect 4 and Kerplunk will be perfect for kids. uk.westfield.com/stratfordcity