Royal Destinations in London

As the first British coronation in 70 years approaches, all eyes are increasingly on the capital, with its great palaces and buildings of state that have hosted so many centuries of royal history. Yet it’s something we can easily take for granted, and not realise just how many riches await behind the battlements.

“Tower of London? For decades, I assumed it was just ravens, Beefeaters and a crown,” a very happy recent visitor posted to us. “Then I went, and now I’m going to have to go again, as one day wasn’t enough!” Starting our Coronation Countdown with four stunning destinations indelibly linked to the history of the monarchy, to help you plan the best right royal days out, read on to discover a lot more than “ravens, Beefeaters and a crown”!

Tower of London

Secure fortress, royal palace, infamous prison; covering a massive 18 acres “London’s Castle” is a whole small town, with its own hierarchy and history. As your admission ticket includes tower green, the central white tower keep, the bloody tower, the medieval palace, ravenry, walls and battlements, and the Fusiliers museum, we recommend starting with a fascinating introductory talk from one of the regally-attired Yeoman Warders (Beefeaters!) to help you prioritise!

And, of course, there couldn’t be a better time to see close-up the Crown Jewels that will soon be starring centre stage in the coronation (sadly, they don’t encourage you to try them on!) But you can get hands-on with lots of fascinating exhibitions, the enigmatic carved Line of Kings, Armoury in Action, Torture at the Tower of London and the Royal Menageries. Now you can see why one day might not be enough!

Westminster Abbey

About to host the coronation of King Charles III, Westminster Abbey stands at the heart of British constitutional and royal life. The coronation church since 1066, with the stones of the current Abbey originally laid by Henry III in 1245, people still worship here every day. The resting place of more than 3,000 great Britons, including 17 monarchs, there’s more to London's most storied religious building than kings and queens.

Step into this stunning building in the heart of London and be propelled through more than ten centuries of British history. Explore the fascinating history and drama behind statesmen and soldiers, poets, priests, heroes and villains on a self-guided audio tour. One of the most important Gothic buildings of England, marvel at the soaring Gothic architecture, and explore the treasury of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles, books and monumental sculptures. Then on Saturday May 6th, you can point at the TV and say “I stood right there!”

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Many people don’t realise Kew’s blue-blooded connections, but at Let’s Go Out, we like to take you beyond the obvious. Princess Augusta, George III’s mother, founded the original botanic garden at The Kew Gardens in 1759, and on inheriting it in 1772, George joined Kew with the royal estate in Richmond. Beloved by every Royal generation since, Queen Elizabeth II commissioned “The Queen’s Garden” within its 500 acres, which she opened to the public in 1969; a very special place to visit leading up to her son’s coronation.

Spring and early summer is a glorious time to visit, when glorious flowers begin to bloom among Kew’s 50,000 different species of flora! With world-famous botanical collections, exotic palm houses, acres of woodland, paths, statuary, temples, interactive children’s garden, there’s lots to delight the whole family. Take a break in one of Kew’s many cafés and restaurants for seasonal specialties and food foraged from the gardens- you don’t even have to help with the weeding!

St Paul’s Cathedral

Rebuilt by Christopher Wren after 1666’s Great Fire of London, and iconic survivor of the Blitz, St. Paul's Cathedral has hosted innumerable historic royal and state occasions, including Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, Winston Churchill's state funeral, Queen Elizabeth II’s Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations and of course 1981’s famous Royal Wedding, which smashed worldwide TV viewing records.

Multimedia guides to its rich and diverse history are included with sightseeing admission, as well as fascinating free guided tours. Explore the stunning main cathedral and peaceful crypt, resting place of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Christopher Wren himself. Take a deep breath, then climb 257 steps to test the acoustic quirks of the famous Whispering Gallery, then continue up to the Stone and Golden Galleries and have your breath taken away again by stunning views across London.