London travel news ahead of May coronation bank holiday weekend
London is set for a bit of a shutdown this bank holiday weekend, as the royal coronation kicks off on Saturday, May 6 2023. The service will take place at 11 am at Westminster Abbey and thousands of people are expected to line the streets of the city to watch the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and back.
But due to the royal event, there will be substantial road closures in central London from the evening of May 5 until after the formalities end.
Roads in and around Whitehall, St James’s, Green Park, and Victoria will be closed, and some streets across London may be shut for street parties.
People who need to drive for some other reason are advised to use routes that avoid the area, and those who plan to watch the procession are advised to use public transport rather than driving.
Transport for London has said that the Tubes and Overground will operate as normal over the coronation weekend, but stations are likely to be busier than normal, particularly during the day on Saturday, and particularly at key interchanges.
Buses will be running as usual, but some routes that cover the Westminster area may terminate at an earlier stop than normal.
National Rail and Network Rail have said trains will be running into London as normal on the weekend of the coronation, but they advise passengers to allow extra time for their journeys, as services are likely to be very busy and queueing systems could be put in place.
The following stations are either close to or within walking distance of the procession route:
Charing Cross (Bakerloo and Northern Lines),
Embankment (District and Circle Lines)
Westminster (District, Circle and Jubilee Lines).
Green Park (Piccadilly, Victoria and Jubilee Lines)
Piccadilly Circus (Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines)
Temple (Circle and District Lines)
Marble Arch (Central Line)