What events are planned?

Plans for Queen Elizabeth’s death, known as Operation London Bridge , have been in place for decades. Bells across the country tolled around midday Friday, and artillery units paid tribute with a 96-gun salute, one round for each year of her life. King Charles III returned to London for his first address as monarch and was officially proclaimed king on Saturday . The queen’s coffin will be transported from Balmoral Castle to Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, on Sunday, the palace announced. On Tuesday, it will be flown to London, where the queen will lie in state at the Palace of Westminster, the seat of Parliament, for four days. Her funeral will be held Sept. 19 at Westminster Abbey. After the funeral, another procession will take her to Wellington Arch, where she will then be transported to St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle to be laid to rest.

What events are open to the public?

Mourners in Scotland can attend the procession from Holyroodhouse to St. Giles’ Cathedral, as well as the public viewing at the cathedral, which will last about 24 hours. The processions in London — from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall for the queen to lie in state, from Westminster Hall to the Abbey for her funeral, and from the Abbey to Wellington Arch — are expected to be major public events. Flowers can be left at designated locations outside the Royal Residences, including at a memorial flower garden in Green Park in London. The public will be able to visit Westminster Hall while the queen lies in state any time of day for four full days, starting at 5 p.m. local time on Wednesday and ending at 6:30 a.m. the day of the funeral, the government said . During that time, the queen’s closed coffin will lie on a raised platform known as a catafalque, draped in the flag of the sovereign with the orb and scepter — symbols of the monarchy — placed on top. Thousands of people are expected to pay their respects in person, and authorities have warned the public that they “will be required to queue for many hours, possibly overnight.” When the Queen Mother lay in state there in 2002, more than 200,000 visited, the BBC reported .

What historic and tourist sites are closed?

The Royal Residences closed upon the queen’s death and will remain closed until after her funeral. This includes Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh, as well as Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland. Information on refunds for pre-purchased tickets is available on the Royal Collection Trust website. Other major tourist attractions like the National Gallery , the London Zoo and Legoland in Windsor announced closures Friday in memory of the queen. Sporting events, including this weekend’s slate of Premier League matches, were postponed . Many businesses and schools are also expected to be closed on the day of the state funeral, said Tim Hentschel, co-founder and CEO of bookings site HotelPlanner.

What about transportation?

Whether you’re walking, driving or taking the Tube, give yourself extra time to navigate the city. Hentschel said to expect delays and disruptions at airports and train and bus stations because of the unexpected influx. “There’s a number of hotels along that route that will become challenging to access during those procession periods,” Gouveia said.

Are flights and hotels getting more expensive?

Despite the strong U.S. dollar, travelers to the U.K. can expect to see higher travel prices across the board, Hentschel said. “Demand is surging right now as thousands of Anglophiles from around the world are looking at flights and hotels in London right now,” he said. In the hour after the queen’s death was announced, searches for flights from the United States to London spiked 49 percent compared with the previous day, according to Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper . Flight searches from around the world to London also jumped 40 percent over Wednesday’s numbers. It doesn’t help that London was already experiencing a travel boom before the week’s events. “London is an incredibly popular destination for Americans, sitting among the top five destination during the past three summer holidays,” said Jen Moyse, vice president of product for the travel planning app TripIt . Gouveia warned that travelers should “be mindful of extreme limitations on availability for someone looking to do a last-minute trip.” For a better shot, Hentschel recommends that travelers book as early as possible, be flexible with travel dates and accommodations, and “pack your patience.”

Will I run into extra security and restrictions?

Travelers can expect a more visible police presence throughout London, “even more so outside Westminster Abbey, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and along the funeral parade route,” Hentschel said. With special security events, it should feel comparable to Inauguration Day in the United States. “Visitors can expect to go through magnetometers or other enhanced screening before entry, depending on the event and location,” Hentschel said. If you plan to visit Westminster Hall to see the queen lie in state, be prepared to “go through airport-style security,” with “tight restrictions” on what you can bring inside, warned the British government.

Should I just cancel my trip?

While you may face closures and higher prices, some see visiting Britain at this time as being a part of history. “It’s not every day an entire Nation comes together to celebrate the life of the longest-reigning British monarch,” Hentschel said. “How lucky you will be to witness such a once-in-a-lifetime historical event.” Gouveia agreed, adding that she expects people to make plans rather than cancel them “to participate in this incredibly sad but historic event,” particularly with the coronation in the coming months.

Is there special etiquette to follow?

“There’s no doubt that British pubs across England will be packed with people watching the events on TV and celebrating with a pint or two as well,” Hentschel said. “But the Lying in State and Funeral Procession and the King’s Accession to the throne will be very solemn events and proper etiquette and respect is required and expected.” TripIt’s Moyse also said it’s important for travelers to remember “this is a time of intense sadness for many who have never known a time without the queen’s rule.” But that doesn’t mean everyone in the country feels that way. Gouveia noted that views of the royal family and the queen vary, “so you’re going to see people who mourn and you’re going to see people who might not necessarily be as ardent supporters of the royal family,” she said. “But there’s the basic protocol of she was a human being and to treat this with compassion and dignity as well,” Gouveia added. Annabelle Timsit and Ellen Francis contributed to this report.

By The Way

What to know about attending Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral events

The queen’s death is expected to bring a surge of mourners to London

By Natalie B. Compton

and

James Bikales

Updated September 12, 2022 at 8:54 a.m. EDT|Published September 9, 2022 at 3:01 p.m. EDT

The United Kingdom has entered a period of national mourning after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which is set to last until after her state funeral on Sept. 19.

While it is a solemn time, her death is expected to spark a surge in travel to Britain to pay respects. Crowds already began gathering in front of Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening.

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Chantal Gouveia, the U.K. and Ireland destination lead for Kensington Tours, said London is expected to fill with visitors in the days to come “to mourn and to show their respect to this head of state who has played a part in so many of our lives,” she said.

Here’s what potential visitors need to know about visiting the U.K. during this historic time.

See how the world is mourning Queen Elizabeth II, in photos and videos

The death of Queen Elizabeth II

The final resting place: Queen Elizabeth II has been buried in her final resting place next to Prince Philip, her husband of more than 70 years, capping an elaborate state funeral, which was invested with all the pomp, circumstance and showmanship that the monarchy, military and state could put on display for a global broadcast audience of millions.

The state funeral: The funeral was full of pageantry and pathos, including a new national anthem, funeral ensembles with affectionate touches in honor of the queen, a personal note from King Charles III, appearances by the young heirs, Prince George and Princess Charlotte and the royal corgis. Here are some of the most memorable moments in photos and videos.

A new monarch: Queen Elizabeth II’s son, Charles, became King Charles III the moment his mother died. He may bring a markedly different personal vision of religion and spirituality to the role. Here’s what to know about him.

We’re following changes in the British monarchy post-Elizabeth. Get the Post Elizabeth newsletter for the latest updates.

Queen Elizabeth II

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