As people across the country organise parties in celebration of Charles III being crowned king, some will want to escape the fanfare around this historic event, or do anything they can to avoid it.
For those who don’t want to wave the union flag in front of the television, or swear their allegiance to the monarch, here are a few alternative activities for the coronation and long weekend.
Throw a BBQ
The Met Office might have forecast showers over the weekend, but it’s not really a British barbecue if there isn’t a chance of rain. Invite your friends over and have a potluck in celebration of not being at work. If you are buying supplies, make sure to plan ahead because many supermarkets will be closed.
Avoid the TV
If you still want to curl upon the sofa in front of the TV but can’t bear the thought of watching any royalist fanfare, stick to streaming. Dive into that series all of your friends have been raving about, or have a movie marathon with a bowl (or two) of popcorn. If you want to avoid screens, listen to a podcast. Delve into the headlines with Today in Focus, the Guardian’s daily news podcast, or read about the Guardian’s links to slavery in the new Cotton Capital series.
Get outside
Being stuck indoors during the Covid lockdowns reminded us just how important it is to be in nature, and this time it isn’t limited to an hour. Take advantage of the UK’s extensive rail networks and visit the expanses of moorland in the Peak District nestled between Manchester and Sheffield, or trek along one of the many public footpaths across the UK. Here are 20 brilliant walks you can choose from, with guidance about where you’ll start and end up and even places you can stop off for some light refreshments along the way.
Have a lie in
Even if you’re not a parent or work in a job that has you up at the crack of dawn, take this time to have a lie in. If your body cruelly doesn’t let you sleep in, especially on your days off, lounge around, have your coffee in bed and pick up your favourite book or magazine. Scrolling on social media is unlikely to be conducive to avoiding royal celebrations, so try limiting your screen time or going without your phone for the day.
Go to the gym
It may not be your ideal day-off activity, but a workout might be the perfect way to swerve the coronation coverage. Even though most supermarkets, galleries and high street shops will be closed, some gyms will stay open over the bank holiday weekend. Make sure to check your gym’s opening times and hours just in case. King Charles III will probably be the last thing on your mind during a squat.
Go to an exhibition
If you are feeling a bit more cultural, head to one of the country’s many museums and galleries to see some art. There’s the JMW Turner exhibition at Tate Liverpool, or maybe street art is more your thing – in which case check out the Saatchi gallery’s Beyond the Streets exhibition.
In Manchester, there is the People’s History Museum, which tells the story of working people’s struggle for the vote (collection includes Michael Foot’s donkey jacket and Andy Burnham’s “king of the north” coat, as well as memorabilia from the Chartists, suffragettes and trade union movements). For a kilty pleasure, how about the tartan exhibition at the V&A Dundee? The Ulster Museum in Belfast has an exhibition on the untold stories of the women who were influential to peace building in Northern Ireland.
Or for something outdoors how about Beamish in County Durham or the Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield. In Wales you could head to Caernarfon Castle – newly refurbished and tackling the issue of English imperialism.
