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11 Best things to do over Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Weekend in London

How to make the most of those extra days off this summer

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  • 25 March 2022
  • • 8 min read

On the lookout for things to do over Platinum Jubilee weekend in London? Bank holidays like this don’t come around often, so you’ll want to make the most of it by booking the best events to celebrate in advance. This late May Bank Holiday will be moved to June for the occasion, with Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June both marked in UK calendars as an extra long weekend to raise a glass to our good old Queen’s Jubilee 2022! 

As far as royal celebrations go, this one is pretty huge for Queen Elizabeth II, as she will be the first monarch in British history to reach a Platinum Jubilee which marks 70 years on the throne. Find out what’s on in London for the long bank holiday weekend and get your group together to make sure it’s a weekend packed full of events you’ll talk about for years to come. 

Fingers crossed for good weather - nothing beats a , especially when you have the day off!

Here’s a quick round-up of the Queen’s Jubilee events in London if you don’t have time to read the full article:

  • Watch the Trooping of the Colour Parade

  • ‘Superbloom’ at the Tower of London

  • GALA Festival

  • Belushi’s Big Bank Holiday Weekend party

  • Silent Sounds Boat Party

  • Indulge in an afternoon tea

  • Relax in a riverside bars

  • Drink at the best British pubs

  • Head to one of the top museums

  • Book a bottomless brunch

  • Go for a picnic in a London park

Looking for accommodation in London for the Jubilee weekend?


1. Watch the Trooping the Colour Parade

Join the crowds on the first day of everyone’s extra-long weekend and head towards Buckingham Palace to watch the Queen’s birthday parade and spot the star herself, along with her family, watching from Buckingham Palace balcony. On Thursday 2nd June 1,400 soldiers with 500 horses plus 1,000 musicians and dancers will make their way down the Mall to the Horse Guards Parade along with some of the members of the Royal family. 

There will be an ever-impressive RAF flypast as well as the traditional lighting of the beacons which will also be lit in every Commonwealth capital city across the world, for the first time in history. 


2. ‘Superbloom’ at the Tower of London

To commemorate 70 years on the throne, the moat surrounding London’s iconic Tower of London will transform into a floral wonderland from 1st June through to 18th September 2022. Superbloom will create a field of vibrant natural beauty from over 20 million seedlings that have been planted ready to explode into colour in time for the grand opening and Jubilee celebrations in summer. Book your ticket in advance to make sure you get a slot to wander through the gardens and make the most of the pop-ups there for the summer.

Check out our guide on


3. GALA Festival

Returning for its 6th year is south London’s dance music weekend, GALA Festival. Expect independent music, food and drink and incredible performances by live musicians and DJs for two days over the bank holiday weekend. As usual, GALA will be taking over Peckham Rye Park, welcoming thousands of dance music lovers to watch acts like Goldie, Jeremy Underground and Charlie Bones. Head to their website to grab your tickets before this summer bank holiday event is a sell-out. 


4. Belushi’s Big Bank Holiday Weekend

Bottomless gin, live entertainment, food, dancing, Happy Hours… Belushi’s Big Bank Holiday Weekend will be hosting one of the biggest Jubilee events in London this summer. Book in advance for their Bottomless Afternoon Tea, featuring 90 minutes of all-you-can-drink G&Ts (it’s your choice of flavour) plus a delicious stonebaked pizza for just £35 per person. The bars across London will also be hosting some incredible live music and entertainment over the weekend starting late from Wednesday 1st until Saturday 4th, well into the night. You’ll find Belushi’s in London Bridge, Greenwich, Hammersmith, Shepherd’s Bush and Camden but book quick, as tables will fill up fast.

Find out more


5. Silent Sounds Boat Party

If you want to book something a bit different for this summer’s long weekend, why not mix music and dancing with a river cruise and London views? The Silent Sounds Boat Party is back for a handful of weekends this year, with one falling on Friday 3rd June in perfect time for Jubilee celebrations. Grab your friends and party on the Thames with a playlist suited to your taste coming through your headphones and, with a bar on each deck, the drinks will be flowing all evening. We bet you’ve never had a night out with views as good as this, as you drift past London icons like Tower Bridge and the London Eye in all their illuminated glory. 


6. Indulge in an afternoon tea

What’s the most quintessentially British activity you can book for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in London? Use the most patriotic weekend of 2022 wisely and book one of the best affordable afternoon teas in London. In our guide, we fill you in on the traditional teas as well as the quirkier spreads, but you can guarantee that they’re all indulgent and delicious. From finger sandwiches and scones in The Wolseley to three tiers of high tea classics, alfresco style, these spots are the perfect way to spend a long weekend in the English capital. 

Check out the


7. Head to the riverside pubs and bars

Nowhere has a better atmosphere in the summer than the outdoor terraces of London’s pubs and bars by the river. The Jubilee weekend is guaranteed to be no different, with locals across the city filling the banks of the Thames, popping bottles of wine and cheersing cocktails in the sun with a view over the water. Check out our and book in advance for the busiest weekend of the year - just keep your fingers crossed for a sunny summer.


8. Book a proper British pub

There’s nothing like a proper British pub for events like this to get you feeling patriotic. Whether you fancy rounding off the weekend with a , or chatting to the locals at the bar over a cold pint, London’s pubs will no doubt have people spilling out onto the streets over the long bank holiday. 

Did you know we have a pub on Borough High Street, just a 2-minute walk from London Bridge station? Book a table inside or in our outdoor area for G&Ts, pints, Prosecco, live entertainment and more all weekend. Check out St Christopher’s Pub.


9. London’s top museums

Take advantage of your extra free day by spending an afternoon at one of the best museums in London. The Tate Modern, the Museum of Natural History, the V&A, the Science Museum, the RAF Museum… There really are countless fascinating, world-class museums and galleries across the city that are absolutely worth the queue. Discover the history of London and explore famous art collections from some of the most renowned artists through time - our guide to the will take you through all you need to know about the city’s must-visit attractions this year. 


10. Bottomless brunch

With a whole extra day to get over the hangover, Jubilee weekend is the perfect opportunity to book a bottomless brunch with your friends to celebrate. Boozy brunches are now a staple London activity with hundreds across the city to pick from, but not all of them are too affordable. Check out our guide to the that will keep your glass topped up and your stomach satisfied without denting the wallet. These spots serve all sorts from your usual brunch classics like eggs Benedict to dishes that are a little different like bao buns. A boozy bank holiday day session is calling your name… 


12. Picnics in the parks

Pack a picnic, a bottle of Pimms and soak up the summer sunshine from one of London’s beautiful parks. Did you know that the city is 40% green space? Despite all the huge, towering skyscrapers, there’s actually a huge 35,000 acres of greenland across the city. Join the crowds in Hyde Park or Regents Park in central, venture over to Greenwich Park for incredible views and nearby food markets, or head to west London’s stunning Richmond Park where you could bump into herds of deer. There are so many great places to set up camp for an afternoon with a bag of tasty snacks, surrounded by other London locals to create a fun, buzzing atmosphere. It’s the best cheap day out in London and one of the most relaxing ways to spend your bank holiday weekend.


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