A Royally Good Time: Booking.com Shares the Ultimate British Getaway to Celebrate the King's Coronation
The coronation of King Charles III on Saturday May 6 in Westminster Abbey will be a huge celebration in the United Kingdom that will echo across the world. With 40% of American travelers wanting to take a weekend trip away in 2023,* this once-in-a-lifetime event will be bursting with celebratory spirit. Whether travelers wish to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned King and opulent processions firsthand or absorb the atmosphere around the jubilant Coronation Concert on Sunday May 7, a trip to London or Windsor is the perfect way to join the royal celebrations.
England’s capital city will be bursting with excitement on the first weekend of May this year. Britain’s new monarch will arrive at the service in the King’s Procession from Buckingham Palace and return via the more spectacular Coronation Procession with other key members of the royal family. Visitors can join the euphoric crowds on the Mall to get a glimpse of the parade and then move up to Buckingham Palace to witness the iconic balcony wave in real life. With 65% of American travelers saying that iconic landmarks are an important factor when choosing a destination, London is the perfect place to experience cherished landmarks during this historical weekend. Travelers can toast the new King and see the sights on a Gin-themed Afternoon Tea Bus Tour from Trafalgar Square, and enjoy everything the city has to offer from Sunday roasts to walks in Hyde Park to admire the swans on the Serpentine. For those wanting to immerse themselves in English royal history, a Tower of London and Crown Jewels Tour is led by the Yeoman Warders, widely known and recognized as beefeaters in their scarlet and golden military uniforms. This fascinating tour will give visitors the opportunity to see the King of England’s armor over history. However, the Crown Jewels which are normally on display will be booked out for a particular occasion…
Where to stay: Glamorous and elegant, Claridge's is a luxurious hotel fit for a King or Queen. Located in the heart of Mayfair, it features a beautiful bar in the Reading Room which serves exquisite 1930s-inspired cocktails for guests to toast the King. The hotel also dishes up afternoon tea daily with over 50 varieties of tea and freshly baked scones and sandwiches for a proper English experience. Just a short tube and a picturesque walk to Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace, the hotel is a Booking.com Travel Sustainable stay and offers tours and activities organized by local guides for a quintessentially British experience.
The beautiful town of Windsor is steeped in British history, culture and heritage and famously home to Windsor Castle – the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world which has been the official residence of 40 British monarchs. This grand castle will host a Coronation Concert on Sunday May 7 with performances from global music icons, a world-class orchestra, famous entertainers and dancers. Several thousand pairs of tickets have been made available to the public via a ballot and the concert will be broadcast live and easily viewable on TVs and big screens around town. A Coronation Big Lunch will also take place across the country with locals holding street parties where community spirit will be in full swing as people gather together to celebrate over food – and travelers can try a special coronation brew at a royal-themed Windsor and Eton brewery. Nestled in the idyllic Berkshire countryside, this charming town is as regal as it gets and is just a 40 minute drive outside of London so visitors could hire a car to travel down from the capital. Travelers can enjoy picturesque walks in Windsor Great Park, spot deer in the pretty meadows and woodlands and wander down the Long Walk, a historic three-mile avenue from Windsor Castle to the beautiful Copper Horse statue. With 62% of American travelers reporting that visiting historical places is a key motivation to travel*, a House of Windsor Self-Guided Audio Tour will help visitors explore off-the-beaten-track sites and monuments that make up the rich tapestry of Britain’s intriguing royal history.
Where to stay: For those seeking a comfy apartment with spectacular views of Windsor Castle, look no further than Urban Living's - Windsor Castle Apartments. The property is just a stone's throw away from where the Coronation Concert will be hosted, and guests will be able to hear the tunes from the east lawn of the castle. The apartments have three spacious rooms plus sofa beds ideal for a big family or group of friends, and features cozy, modern interiors where guests can snuggle down with a cup of tea after a day of celebrations. Located in the center of town, it’s within walking distance of cute boutique shops, welcoming cafes and atmospheric pubs. The Travel Sustainable stay also invests a percentage of revenue back into community or sustainability projects which helps support the local town.
For travelers inspired to witness the royal celebrations themselves, Booking.com is sharing Getaway Deals. Discounts start at 15 percent at participating properties indicated by the “Getaway Deal” badge, and are valid for stays with check-out on or before September 28, 2023. In addition, Booking.com is giving travelers around the world the keys to unlock a new level of additional perks with the introduction of a third tier to its Genius loyalty program. Designed to make every trip a better experience, Booking.com’s loyalty program is completely free, easily accessible and membership lasts a lifetime – travelers simply need to create an account to achieve Genius status for life. As Genius members unlock new levels, they get access to larger discounts and more travel rewards that never expire. All travelers have to do is sign into their Booking.com account and look for the Genius logo to identify benefits, discounts and perks.
*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 42,513 respondents across 33 markets (2,000 from USA, 1,008 from Canada, 2,000 from Mexico, 1,000 from Colombia, 2,000 from Brazil, 1,000 from Argentina, 2,000 from Australia, 1,000 from New Zealand, 2,000 from Spain, 2,000 from Italy, 2,000 from France, 2,000 from UK, 2,000 from Germany, 1,000 from Netherlands, 1,000 from Denmark, 1,000 from Sweden, 1,000 from Croatia, 1,000 from Switzerland, 1,000 from Belgium, 1,000 from Ireland, 1,000 from Portugal, 1,000 from Israel, 2,000 from India, 1,000 from China, 1,005 from Hong Kong, 1,000 from Thailand, 1,000 from Singapore, 1,000 from Taiwan, 1,000 from Vietnam, 1,000 from South Korea, 1,000 from Japan, 500 from UAE). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once in the past 12 months, and planning to travel in 2023 and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in January and February 2023.