We're just days away from the Coronation of King Charles III. Alongside his wife Camilla, he will officially be crowned monarch on Saturday, May 6.
The historical ceremony will be carried out by The Archbishop of Canterbury and will be Britain's first coronation in seven decades, since Queen Elizabeth II's crowning in 1953. A full programme of events have been planned for the long-weekend, which includes a bank holiday Monday on May 8.
While proceedings in London will take place across the weekend - from the Coronation on Saturday, to the Coronation Big Lunches and a special gig at Windsor Castle on Sunday - up and down the country tens of thousands of street parties are expected. Big screens will also be erected in places across the UK including Manchester city centre and Oldham.
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Across Greater Manchester there will be events to mark the occasion, from street parties to afternoon teas and family fun days, alongside all the usual Bank Holiday events. So, if you're still not sure how to spend the weekend or your extra day off, our guide below might just provide some inspiration.
Saturday, May 6
Watch the Coronation of King Charles III
Big screens will be available in public places across the UK to show the Coronation, giving people the chance to come together with their local community and celebrate this historic moment. Visitors and locals can watch a live broadcast of the ceremony on May 6 at Piccadilly Gardens as well as the Coronation Concert on May 7. Screenings of the coronation on May 6 - all of which are free to attend - will also take place at the likes of the stunning Manchester Cathedral as well as Parliament Square in Oldham.
Coronation festival in Oldham Town Centre
And a big knees-up will take place on the Saturday outside the Old Town Hall in the town centre from 10am until 6pm, where the Coronation is being streamed live on the big screen. It will be followed by an afternoon of live music and family entertainment including tribute bands with the likes of Do It Like Dua – A Tribute To Dua Lipa, Gladness, Queen II and Tania as Amy Whitehouse, with Oldham’s own The Threetles taking the stage.
Oldham Town Centre, OL1 1JA
Trafford extravaganza
The historic occasion will be shown across libraries in the borough as well as Sale Waterside, where there will also be craft activities and a competition for children. At Waterside Plaza meanwhile, Sale-based GRIP Adventure will be providing kayaking, canoeing, a karaoke boat, archery, and rock climbing on the canal and in their unit under the bridge.
Venues across Trafford
Pong & Puck
Great Northern Warehouse's Pong & Puck will be debuting its special King Charles frozen cocktail on May 6 and 7. It’s a very reasonable £5, making it even more tempting to have more than just one. Made from a mix of raspberry daiquiri, pina colada and margarita and blue curacao, so it’s layered red, white and blue., it's not only patriotic, but the perfect way to raise a glass to King Charles.
235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Afternoon Tea at The Lowry Hotel
Of course, The Big Lunch will be full of afternoon tea staples, from Coronation chicken to quiche and strawberry trifle, but if you don't fancy the washing up, a number of Manchester venues are pulling out all the regal stops for a treat fit for kings and queens.
At The Lowry Hotel it's all about the Coronation Afternoon Tea, which includes a selection of traditional sandwiches with a luxury twist, including an egg-mayo royale complete with smoked salmon and caviar, plus sweet treats like crème brûlée tart and a white chocolate, pistachio and raspberry torte. The Coronation Afternoon Tea will be available at The River Restaurant throughout the May from Thursday to Sunday and is priced at £27.50.
50 Dearmans Pl, Salford M3 5LH
Disco brunch at Ducie Street Warehouse
The Saturday Disco Brunch returns to Ducie Street this Saturday, just in time for the celebrations, and featuring live DJs and performances in the restaurant. On Sunday, and nodding to the Coronation, they'll also be serving up a mini-scone dessert to celebrate the occasion. Expect Earl Grey cream and raspberry jam, Manchester tart-inspired cherry, coconut and whipped custard, and Strawberry and ginger scone.
Ducie St, Manchester M1 2TP
Sunday, May 7
Attend a Coronation Big Lunch or Street Party
The Big Lunch co-ordinated by The Eden Project, is aiming to bring together neighbours and communities to share friendship, food and fun, and there will be many being held across Greater Manchester.
As well as special events in Oldham town centre, there will also be The Big Coronation Lunch taking place outside Leigh Town Hall, which allows you to bring your own picnic or enjoy the treats on offer from local traders, plus the Mayor of Wigan is hosting a Coronation Party in the Park on Monday, May 8 at Mesnes Park with a packed schedule of games, fun fair rides and food stalls.
Piccadilly Gardens will also be transformed into a picnic space and will be complete with picnic tables, benches and food stalls. In the evening, the Coronation Concert will be live streamed and residents are invited to enjoy the entertainment and historic event in the city centre with family and friends. Over 200 street parties are taking place in Greater Manchester between May 6 and May 8. To find out if your street is having a party, you can check our full list here.
20 Stories Coronation Celebration
While 20 Stories are launching a special afternoon tea to celebrate King Charles III Coronation, they'll also be bringing the party vibes to Spinningfields this bank holiday weekend. In partnership with Grey Goose, Manchester’s highest restaurant and bar will host resident DJ, Rich, who will be playing a very special set between 2pm-5pm and 7pm-11pm with a range of beats including soulful house, disco and everything in between.
NO. 1, 1 Hardman Square, Manchester M3 3EB
The Stamford Quarter - Altrincham
The Not So Secret Garden and George Street will play host to a number of free events on Sunday including free arts and craft workshops with Inch Arts, plus live music, and amazing food and drink from Altrincham's Stutter and Twitch and Most Bakery.
Starting at 10am, there will be four Coronation themed arts and craft workshops, centred around stamp designing, a ‘modelling the new King’ with clay session, a ‘pimp up your sunglasses’ workshop, and a 3D crown making and decorating event to finish off the day. The free sessions are bookable and places are limited.
The S&T team will be serving up a delicious menu of hotdogs, nachos, coffee and tea from their van, as well as craft beers, cider and cocktails from the bar. Joining them will be Most Bakery, who will be dishing out their delicious brownies.
Stamford St, Altrincham WA14
Coronation Weekend at RHS Bridgewater
To mark the historic occasion, RHS Garden Bridgewater are putting on a celebration fit for a king. Visitors can explore the gardens while live music performances from the Blackley Brass Band and The Untold Orchestra at a regal sense of occasion. There will also be bunting making workshops across the weekend so you can help decorate the gardens in a royal fashion.
RHS Garden Bridgewater, Occupation Road, Worsley, Manchester
Cosy Club
The Cosy Club are marking the occasion by serving up some newly created cocktails in special china cups. The Victoria Sponge cocktail features Hendrick's gin, Pimm's strawberry, vanilla and lemon served with a mini Victoria sponge on the side, while the Coronation Cup is made from Hendrick's gin, elderflower, lemon, coconut and orange served with a mini cucumber sandwich. For those called Charles, Camilla or have the surname King, you’ll also get your drinks for free.
Corn Exchange, 37 Hanging Ditch, Manchester M4 3TR
Monday, May 8
Free bus rides at the Museum of Transport
The museum on Boyle Street is inviting visitors to round off the Coronation weekend by travelling back in time to the last Coronation, in 1953, with free rides on buses that were around seventy years ago. If you miss out this time, more bus ride dates are taking place in September and October. Tickets can be purchased on their website.
Boyle St, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M8 8UW
Wigan's Coronation Party in the Park
To help you make the most of the extra bank holiday in Wigan, the Mayor of Wigan will host a Coronation Party in the Park, on Monday, May 8, at Mesnes Park. With a royal selection of family entertainment, games, fun fair rides, food stalls and much more this is the opportunity to celebrate history in the making with your loved ones.
Mesnes Park Terrace, Wigan WN1 1TU
Coronation celebrations on King Street
Across the weekend, Manchester’s King Street will be celebrating the Coronation with food, drink and the arts. There will be a King Street Coronation Market - hosted at Hosted inside 35 King Street - will feature more than 20 stalls from local artisans and makers as well as gallery spaces and crown making workshops and face painting.
Catch a film at King Street Townhouse
It wouldn't be a British Bank Holiday without a slight chance of rain, so, if you don't fancy braving the rain and wind this weekend perhaps treat yourself to a movie night at one's of Manchester's very best hotels. King Street Townhouse kicks off is movie marathon with some classics - with Skyfall and Bridget Jones on Friday, followed by Paddington on Saturday, Bean and King’s Speech on Sunday, and everyone's favourite, detective Sherlock Holmes and Great Expectations, on Bank Holiday Monday.
10 Booth St, Manchester M2 4AW
Tea-themed cocktails a Motley Manchester
It's time to spill the tea with Motley, the stylish Deansgate bar, who will be raising a toast to the King with a special tea-themed cocktail menu.
Its take on this beloved British institution will see cocktails inspired by all things tea - from 'Spill the Tea', made with Indian Spiced Rum, Elderflower, Passionfruit & Tea, to 'Peach Please', a refreshing burst of Gin, Peach, Fresh Mint and Tea. The limited edition menu will run all weekend long to kick off the bank holiday in style.
Motley Manchester, located in YOTEL Manchester Deansgate, 2 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M3 2NW
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