Diamond Jubilee Events | What’s on Guide 

If you’re planning to spend the Jubilee bank holiday weekend (June 2 until June 5) in Mayfair or Belgravia, you’re in for a treat. As well as hosting their own street parties, Mayfair and Belgravia are putting on a packed programme of gigs and activities to celebrate 60 years of the Queen’s reign. Whether you’re a resident or you plan to travel to the area for the celebrations, Mayfair and Belgravia – both located within walking distance of Buckingham Palace – provide some of the best backdrops for your big royal weekend. What better place to experience these Queen’s Jubilee events than the Queen’s very own corner of London?

And best of all, there’s plenty for everyone to do. Families, groups, couples and friends are all sure to find something amongst these Diamond Jubilee events to brighten up their diary:

Diamond Jubilee Festival, Hyde Park
If you’re heading to Belgravia or Mayfair with a party of excited kids in tow, you’re in luck. There are plenty of Queen’s Jubilee events that are tailor made for festal families, and the festival in Hyde Park might just be the most fun-packed family event in the whole of London. Taking place from 10.30 AM till 7.30 PM on June 2 and June 3 (Saturday and Sunday), the event features music, games and performances from children’s television characters, celebrities and roaming entertainers – plus a bigger-than-big finale at the end of each day, featuring characters and songs from all your favourite Disney movies. There will be plenty of food stalls too, so you shouldn’t have to go far to grab lunch.
Hyde Park Jubilee tickets must be purchased in advance, and are available from a number of online ticket shops.

Diamond Jubilee Tea Party, Duke of York Square
A chance to dress in your finest, tuck into some tea and sandwiches, and have your photo taken with ‘Her Majesty’ at this extravagant street party. Okay, our real monarch won’t be there, but with the fun and games taking place in Duke of York Square on Sunday June 3, the assembled tea drinkers will hardly notice that HRH is a lookalike. There’ll be all of the traditional tea party trappings – cakes, biscuits and sandwiches – as well as champagne, for those who want to toast her Majesty with a tipple. There’s a prize for the finest outfit, and entry is completely free, making it one of the best Queen’s Jubilee events for partygoers on a budget. Duke of York Square is located just to the south of the Belgravia estate.

Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration, Buckingham Palace
This one-off exhibition gives you the chance to see some of the Queen’s very own personal jewels – in the grand and regal setting of Buckingham Palace. The tour will look at the use of diamonds by British monarchs during two centuries of rule, with displays of some of the world’s most extraordinary diamond jewellery. History lovers will enjoy learning of the sometimes surprising stories behind these gems, but the tour will appeal to anyone with an interest in royal life. The exhibition begins a little later than the other Diamond Jubilee events listed, opening Saturday June 30 and wrapping up on Sunday October 7. Please note that Buckingham Palace will be closed between July 9 and July 30.  Diamonds: A Jubilee Celebration tickets are available online from The Royal Collection.

BBC Diamond Jubilee Concert, Buckingham Palace
The biggest gig of them all. The BBC’s Diamond Jubilee Concert is set to feature famous songs from luminaries of the music world, including Sir Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sir Paul McCartney and Shirley Bassey, as well as megastars-to-be such as Ed Sheeran. In true Jubilee spirit, there are enough top acts on the lineup to get everyone’s toe tapping – this eclectic programme comes courtesy of the concert’s coordinator, former Take That sensation Gary Barlow. Tickets were allocated randomly by public ballot in March, so if you haven’t already applied, unfortunately you won’t be able to attend the concert in person. However, it is being broadcast live on BBC One and Radio 2 on Monday June 4, so you don’t even have to travel to take part in the fun.

More Jubilee Guides
• Shopping – Make sure you’re prepared for your Jubilee party with these shopping essentials
• Food – Some of the best places in Mayfair and Belgravia for a positively majestic lunch
• Drinks – Where to go for some quintessentially British refreshment
• Street Parties – The best street-based activities in Belgravia