Guidance

How to watch the Coronation Concert (Sunday 7 May)

Updated 5 May 2023

About the Coronation Concert

On Sunday 7 May, a concert will be held in the grounds of Windsor Castle to mark the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The concert will be attended by a public audience including volunteers from charities supported by Their Majesties.

The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, and supported across the BBC network. It will be shown on large screens at screening sites in London and events around the country.

The concert will include music, dance and spoken word performances, and feature a range of famous faces from musical icons to contemporary stars of stage and screen.

Read this guidance carefully if you are planning to visit the screening site in London. Please be aware that large crowds are expected, and public transport services are likely to be very busy.

The concert in Windsor is for ticket-holders only.

The public ballot to apply for tickets has now closed. Please do not travel to Windsor to try to access the concert unless you have a ticket; you will not be admitted, and there are no ceremonial events in Windsor for the Coronation.

If you have a ticket for the concert, you will be sent information directly in the coming days to help you plan your journey.

How to watch

• The concert will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. Find out how to watch on the BBC’s website.
  
  
• You can watch the concert at the screening site in London (St James’s Park), where the concert will be shown on a large screen.
• You can also watch the processions and service at screening sites around the country, and take part in other celebrations and events. Visit the Coronation.GOV.UK website to:
  • find events in your local area.
  • find other ways to get involved in the celebrations, such as hosting a Coronation Big Lunch or street party, and taking part in the Big Help Out.

Screening the Coronation Concert at events

The BBC has confirmed a special one-off TV licence dispensation for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. If you are hosting an event, you won’t need a TV licence to screen coverage of the Coronation on 6 May 2023, or the Coronation Concert on 7 May 2023. Find out more on the BBC’s website.

Watch the Coronation Concert at the London screening site

You can watch the concert at the screening site at St James’s Park. The concert will be shown on a large screen in the park. Please note that there will be no screens in Hyde Park.

The concert begins at 8pm on Sunday 7 May. You can access the St James’s Park screening site from 4pm, however the screens may not be broadcasting until the concert begins.

Access to the screening site is free. There will be first aid facilities, toilets, water refill stations, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks.

The screening site will have an accessible viewing area which can be used by people with access requirements. Read the accessibility section for more information.

Follow the directions given by stewards and the police, who will monitor crowd numbers and help everyone to stay safe and secure. If you choose to leave the screening site during the concert, you may lose your viewing position.

Map of the St James’s Park screening site and facilities

The image below shows a map of the St James’s Park screening site. The screen is located near the Marlborough Gate. The screen is marked on the map with a screen symbol, with a lighter triangle showing the direction the screen will be facing.

The screen at each site is marked on the map with a letter ‘S’ icon. An orange area next to the icon shows the direction the screen will be facing.

The map also shows the facilities at the site, including first aid points, water refill stations, toilets and accessible toilets, welfare points, accessible viewing spaces and quiet spaces.

You can buy food and drinks at the concession kiosks, located near the Marlborough Gate and The Mall.

View or download a larger version of the map(PDF, 12.4MB)

Plan your journey

The sections below contain information on:

The concert in Windsor is for ticket-holders only.

The public ballot to apply for tickets has now closed. Please do not travel to Windsor to try to access the concert unless you have a ticket; you will not be admitted, and there are no ceremonial events in Windsor for the Coronation.

If you have a ticket for the concert, you will be sent information directly in the coming days to help you plan your journey.

How to get to London

The major railway stations in London include:

• London Blackfriars
• London Cannon Street
• London Charing Cross
• London Euston
• London King’s Cross
• London Liverpool Street
• London Bridge
• London Marylebone
• Farringdon
• London Paddington
• London St Pancras International
• London Victoria
• London Waterloo
• London Waterloo East

Use the Transport for London journey planner to continue your journey to the viewing areas or screening sites. Check how to get to the screening site to find out which station to travel to.

Please be aware that transport services are expected to be very busy before and after the coronation service, and it is likely there will be queues at stations. Remember to check National Rail Enquiries latest travel information and Transport for London status updates before you travel, and allow more time than usual for your journey.

You can also keep track of the latest travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or by downloading the TfL Go app.

After the event, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed.

How to get to the screening site

The screening site is in St James’s Park.

If you are travelling on the London Underground, the best stations to use are St James’s Park, Victoria and Westminster.

There will be signs marking the walking routes, and stewards can help to direct you to the viewing areas.

You can also use other nearby stations (such as Green Park, Embankment, Charing Cross and Waterloo) with a slightly longer walking time.

After the concert, police and stewards will direct you to the exits and to nearby transport hubs. Remember to check the latest travel information before your onward journey, as service updates may have changed. You can find up-to-date travel information by following National Rail Enquiries on Twitter or downloading the TfL Go app.

Accessibility

An accessible viewing area is available for people with accessibility needs. The accessible viewing area is located at ground level.

This area has limited capacity, and people will be admitted in order of arrival time. People using the accessible viewing area can be accompanied by carers or companions. Please note that space will be limited.

The accessible viewing area will have:

• stewards managing the areas
• accessible viewing areas  at ground level, providing dedicated locations for wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments and other access requirements
• a British Sign Language interpreter
• a hearing loop for people using hearing aids
• welfare points to provide assistance, if needed
• disabled people’s toilets and a Changing Places toilet
• assistance dog facilities

The screening site also has a quiet space which people can use if they feel overwhelmed, or require time out in a calm environment. The quiet space will have soft seating, and ear defenders will be available.

Anyone can use the quiet space at any time. However, this area has limited capacity and people will be admitted in order or arrival time.

Where to find the accessible viewing area and quiet space

The image below shows a map of the concert screening site.

The accessible viewing area is marked on the map with a letter ‘A’ icon. The quiet space is marked on the map with an icon of a crossed-out microphone.

Stewards will be available at the site to help you locate these areas.

View or download a larger version of the map(PDF, 12.4MB)

Accessible transport

There are more than 200 step-free stations across the TfL network. Visit Transport for London’s accessibility page for more information on accessible public transport information in London. You can find out how accessible each station is, and there is also a step-free journey planner.

Step-free stations

The following stations near the screening site have step-free access, however please check before you travel as there may be short-notice changes. You can find up-to-date travel information by following TfLAccess on Twitter.

• Green Park (London Underground)
• Bond Street (London Underground)
• Tottenham Court Road (London Underground, Elizabeth Line)
• Victoria (London Underground)
• Waterloo (London Underground, National Rail)
• Westminster (London Underground)

Transport for London offers a ‘turn up and go’ service to help passengers who require additional assistance, such as people with visual impairments, mobility impairments, and large groups travelling together. This could include providing boarding ramps, help to move you through the station or interchange between trains and suggesting alternative or step-free routes.

The turn up and go service is provided on the London Underground and London Overground, and most stations on the Elizabeth Line. You do not need to pre-book this service, just ask staff for assistance at the station.

Transport for London also provides:

• Accessible maps of London transport facilities. You can download or order tube, bus and other transport maps in alternative formats (such as audio maps, large print, black and white) and maps of toilet and baby-changing facilities.
• Maps of London transport facilities in other languages. You can download the London Underground map in languages other than English.

For help with lost property, please visit the TLC Welfare website.

What to expect at the screening site

To keep everyone safe, security measures are in place at all sites. You or your bag may be searched before you can enter.

Please note that there is a temporary restriction on the use of drones across the ceremonial areas, which includes the viewing areas and screening sites. You should not attempt to operate a drone in these areas, for photography or any other reasons.

At the screening site, there will be first aid facilities, toilets, water refill points, and concession kiosks where you can buy food and drinks. You can bring your own food and drinks, but please avoid bringing glass items (such as drinking glasses) into the sites, where possible. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove, particularly from parkland areas.

St James’s Park is managed by The Royal Parks. You can visit The Royal Parks website for more information on visiting this park, including guidance on the park’s rules and facilities.

Conduct and behaviour

There will be stewards and police officers at the screening site, helping to keep everyone safe and secure. Antisocial or inappropriate behaviour (including excessive consumption of alcohol or drunken behaviour) will not be tolerated and you may be asked to leave.

You should:

• Follow the instructions of stewards, event staff and police at all times.
• Dispose of litter using the litter and recycling bins provided.
• Respect your surroundings. The Royal Parks are historic sites, and provide a diverse habitat for wildlife. Please stick to footpaths, do not damage or remove plants, and do not attempt to climb or attach anything to trees.
• Remember not to leave any of your property unattended, and report unattended bags or luggage to stewards or police.
• Leave the screening site quietly so you do not disturb people who live nearby.

What you should and shouldn’t bring

Remember to bring:

• Suitable clothing for the weather conditions. You may want to bring warm, protective clothing or an umbrella in cold or wet weather, or sunscreen and a hat if it is likely to be sunny.
• A water bottle. There will be water refill stations at the screening site where you can refill bottles. There will also be concession kiosks available where you can buy food and drinks, but you may want to bring your own refreshments (particularly if you have specific dietary requirements).
• Appropriate footwear. You will be required to stand outdoors for long periods, so you are advised to wear comfortable shoes.
• You may want to bring a blanket, stool or folding chair to sit on as the viewing screen is located in a grassy area (but please note there may not be space to use or store them).

You should not bring:

• Barbecues and equipment for fires.
• Drones. The use of drones is not permitted across any of the ceremonial sites, including the viewing areas and screening sites. You should not attempt to operate a drone in these areas, for photography or any other reasons. You may be fined, and your drone may be confiscated.
• Glass items. Broken glass is a hazard to other visitors and wildlife and can be difficult to remove. If you bring your own refreshments, please use paper or plastic cups for your drinks.