It’s been knitted, deck-chaired, sick-bagged, 3D-mapped and you can even ‘blag’ it by app. But with just one day to go, all eyes are on London coach holidays for the Royal Wedding. Five London landmarks will play a major part in the wedding of the century – and the good news is that most of them can be visited in some way on London tours. Here’s our guide to the Royal Wedding London Landmarks, in order of Big Day appearance. Expect an influx of tourists (me included) hot on the heels of the newlyweds…
The Goring Hotel, Belgravia
(The Bride’s Bolt Hole)
Every bride needs somewhere to get ready for her big day, and Kate has chosen the Goring Hotel situated in London’s trendy Belgravia over Buckingham Palace, for its neutrality. The actual suite that Kate will be staying in (the aptly named Royal Suite) has recently undergone a £150,000 upgrade, and among the luxuries which Kate can enjoy on her final night as a Middleton include a waterproof TV at the end of the bath and a grand piano. Following in Kate’s footsteps here is a little pricey, with suites said to be going for the princess-ly sum of £5,000 a night. Those not put off by the price tag will find that the Royal Suite will not be open to members of the public until May. Those who are can just admire from the road, free of charge.
The Mall
(The Royal Wedding Procession Route)
Making up part of the wedding procession route, the iconic Mall will be lined with crowds eager to catch a double glimpse of the wedding party on their way to and from Westminster Abbey. The route itself takes in a number of impressive landmarks including St. James’s Palace, Downing Street, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. An estimated 1 billion people around the world will be watching bride as she greets the crowds from her wedding car, a Rolls Royce Phantom VI. To take a look at the complete route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, check out Google map’s 3D procession route.
Westminster Abbey
(The Ceremony Venue)
Some 1,900 guests have been invited to the ceremony against the spectacular backdrop of Westminster Abbey, which has been hosting royal weddings for centuries. The majority of guests will arrive at the Abbey between 8.15 and 9.45, culminating with the arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at 10.45. Kate will arrive at 11am in a dress that is reported to have a 10 foot train that she has helped to design herself. Such is some folk’s desire to get prime position that they have been camping out since the start of the week. One fan, a sixty-year old royalist, is reportedly camping out now to catch the Wedding Procession – and has been since Tuesday. Dedication!
Buckingham Palace
(The Reception Venue)
Hosted by none other than Her Majesty the Queen, the reception will be held at dream venue Buckingham Palace. After getting married, the Bride’s carriage procession will arrive at Buckingham Palace at 12.30, followed by the rest of the family and 600 lucky reception guests. In addition to the formal lunch reception and the hotly anticipated kiss on the balcony at 13.25, the Palace will also be home to a much livelier dinner bash. Come the evening, it’s said that the throne room will be transformed into a nightclub, with bacon butties and ice cream to hand for those still standing. With Ellie Goulding among others set to perform, it’s shaping up to be one impressive party. No wonder the Queen and Philip plan to make an early exit before the real party gets started.
Clarence House
(The After Party Venue / Newlywed’s Pad)
As well as being the place where Wills and Harry will get ready before leaving for the Abbey, nearby Clarence House will also be the venue of choice for the ‘after-after-party’ in the basement, run by none other than keen partygoer and bro of the groom Harry. On return from their honeymoon, Kate and Wills are going to share a suite with Harry as newlyweds while they decide where to live. Nice digs!
Will you be visiting the Royal Wedding landmarks any time soon?