How to Get Down the Front at the Jubilee?

RealGem

Hi, 

The last jubilee I went to I was 9 in 1977 and it was up north, so not as grand as London. And I have always stayed away from the Royal events ever since, as 99% of the time I don't like crowds. And food, loos and rests are very important to me! 

But now (I think I am having a mid life crisis!) I reckon this will be the Queen's last jubilee, so I want to go on Jun 2nd, the day of the flypast at Buckingham Palace. 

But it will only be worth it if I am down the front, and I can see the Royals on the balcony. 

All my friends are royal haters, or elderly with mobility problems, so I am going on my own. And I am on a tight budget. It's only £22 return on the coach, so that's doable. 

Has anyone been to a big royal event at Buck House?

How early do I have to turn up, to be at the front?   ...Night before and camp out? 

Or get a cheap AirBnB or hostel and get up at 5am?

Any other advice would be welcome. 

Thank you

elsien

You can’t just turn up at Buck house and grab pole position.
If I remember rightly from previous occasions, the area is kept clear till Madge has processed past for the trooping of the colour. You have to find a space on the mall for the procession then leg it once the barricades have been opened. 
I would suggest that finding a cheap air bnb or hostel for the jubilee weekend is also a tad optimistic. 

RealGem

elsien said:

You can’t just turn up at Buck house and grab pole position.
If I remember rightly from previous occasions, the area is kept clear till Madge has processed past for the trooping of the colour. You have to find a space on the mall for the procession then leg it once the barricades have been opened. 
I would suggest that finding a cheap air bnb or hostel for the jubilee weekend is also a tad optimistic. 

Thank you, yes I remember now, they do all leg it on telly don't they?!

I will go to the top of the Mall then. Thanks. 

"I would suggest that finding a cheap air bnb or hostel for the jubilee weekend is also a tad optimistic."
I thought that too, but I looked and hostel beds are going for £20 same as usual. Maybe they will put the prices up over the next few weeks. 

Oh! I Have to share this with you... THIS on AirBnB lol!



I notice only fellas have stayed there previously. Can't think why!

I will try and find a female dorm and pretend I am at St Trinians...

Anyone know if I could turn up at 5am, or would I need to be there earlier?

Thanks a lot

elsien

Absolutely no idea how accurate this is, but fwiw:
https://abroadpurpose.com/how-to-get-the-best-view-of-trooping-the-colour-to-see-the-royal-family/

That host really has people who pay to stay there? Words fail me.

RealGem

elsien said:

Absolutely no idea how accurate this is, but fwiw:
https://abroadpurpose.com/how-to-get-the-best-view-of-trooping-the-colour-to-see-the-royal-family/

That host really has people who pay to stay there? Words fail me.

That link is very helpful thank you!

Emmia

The area close to the palace around the fountain has seating / stands going up for the concert, which will be used for watching the balcony bit - but it's ticketed, via a ballot which closed weeks ago.

The public area will be rammed (it's pretty constrained and busy with the normal changing of the guards) and you won't be able to 'leg it' from one area to another - it will be a case of getting a good spot on the mall, very early and staying there.

I was sitting on the seating in 2012 on one of the jubilee days, and got a fair view of the event, and was lucky enough to also go to the main trooping the colour that year.

Emmia

Gaucho (the restaurant recommndation in the blog) is overpriced and pretentious - if you want steak and have ££ go to Hawksmoor (or frankly anywhere else!)

RealGem

Thank you for the tips @Emmia

I will go down early and get a nice spot on the mall. 

Steak? in a restaurant? What is that please?!!

A Mac cheeseburger is the nearest I ever get to that lol

p00hsticks

Bear in mind that at the moment they are saying that due to her mobility issues the palace will only announce what engagements the queen will be attending on the day, and there appears to be some debate at the moment about whether there will be a balcony appearance at all by other royals if she can't make it

Emmia

RealGem said:

Thank you for the tips @Emmia

I will go down early and get a nice spot on the mall. 

Steak? in a restaurant? What is that please?!!

A Mac cheeseburger is the nearest I ever get to that lol

If you'd like reasonably priced, in wonderful surroundings I'd recommend Brasserie Zedel on Piccadilly Circus.

Doshwaster

I need to be in London that weekend for a non-Jubilee event and the hotel prices are currently jaw dropping.  Even Travelodges at over £200 a night.

Hopefully it will be like the Olympics when prices were very high in the weeks leading up to the events but hotels found they had a lot of unsold rooms so there were some excellent late availability deals available at lower than normal rates.