United kingdom Daily news: Diamond Jubilee weekend London: Where to celebrate the Queen's milestone

Diamond Jubilee weekend London: Where to celebrate the Queen's milestone

By Sebastian Lander

PUBLISHED: 03:57 EST, 28 May 2012 | UPDATED: 07:55 EST, 30 May 2012

In less than a weekâ€™s time, the nation will mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in a series of countrywide events from street parties to river pageants.

But where better to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Monarchâ€™s glorious reign than in Her Majestyâ€™s home city itself?

Flying the flag: The Diamond Jubilee weekend celebrations will crescendo at Buckingham Palace

Four days of revelry will include a Thames river pageant, a concert at Buckingham Palace, beacon lighting throughout the UK and a carriage procession through central London, culminating in that pinnacle of royal showmanship - the balcony appearance.

Whether you've been able to bag a spot at any of these or not, there's plenty of opportunity to get in the Jubilee spirit.

From hotels offering free Champagne if your name's Elizabeth to Thames boat trips following Her Majesty's pageant route, the following suggestions will help you get involved in this very British occasion...

Model monarch: The Queen's waxwork has been updated at a cost of Â£150,000

Meet the Queen (ish)

If you dream of meeting the Queen, and havenâ€™t quite worked out how, these options could be the next best thing. The National Portrait Galleryâ€™s exhibition, The Queen: Art and Image brings together some of the iconic images of Her Majesty throughout her reign, from portraits to photographs. The Queen takes more solid form at Madame Tussauds, which recently unveiled an updated waxwork â€" the 23rd to be made. Fellow royals include the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Details: Tickets for The Queen: Art and Image cost Â£6 for adults and Â£5 for concessions; www.npg.org.uk. Adult tickets at Madame Tussauds cost Â£30, while childrenâ€™s tickets are priced at Â£25.80 (Â£22.50 and Â£19.35 if booked online); visit www.madametussauds.com/London or call 0871 894 3000.

Lunch on a grand scale

Britons will be hosting street parties all around the UK over the bank holiday weekend, but probably not on the scale of that being held on June 3 in Greenwich. The Old Royal Naval College will play host to the Big Jubilee Lunch, an event where visitors can enjoy their feast on a table measuring two-thirds of a mile. There will be live music, market stalls, sustainability workshops and childrenâ€™s activities. You might even get a glimpse of our Sovereign as she sails past on the river pageant. Entry is free and booking is not required â€" particularly satisfying as tickets are all sold out for the Battersea Park Festival up river.

Details: The event takes place from 12 â€" 5pm at the Old Royal Naval College; visit www.ornc.org .

Hyde and seek

The appropriately regal Hyde Park will be the setting for a two-day extravaganza for families over the Jubilee weekend. There will be live music and attractions, from the Disney Zone to performances by representatives of the Commonwealth countries (and the odd Pearly King and Queen). Traditional British fare includes pies, roasts, fish and chips, jellied eels and cream teas, while top billing will be The Magic of Disney in Concert show, with additional entertainment from BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and War Horse.Sponsored by Sainsbury's.

Det ails: Tickets currently available cost Â£20 per person; visit www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk.

London icon: The Ritz has been entertaining the rich and famous for over a century

Lunch like royalty

The Ritz is apparently the only hotel to have a Royal Warrant for Banqueting and Catering Services which means you could be enjoying Sovereign-standard fare at the hotelâ€™s Diamond Jubilee brunch on June 5. There will be a range of hot and cold dishes on offer, including Beef Wellington, and diners can watch the carriage procession live on a big screen. Thereâ€™s also a glass of Champagne included to toast Her Majestyâ€™s landmark achievement, a commemorative souvenir menu, and a limited edition gift from the Highgrove Collection.

Details: Lunch is priced from Â£175 per person and takes place between 10.30am and 4.30pm. For more i nformation or to make a reservation, book online at www.theritzlondon.com, telephone 020 7300 2370 or email restaurant@theritzlondon.com.Â

See the Duchess of Cambridge... in kisses

London attraction Ripleyâ€™s Believe it or Not! is offering free entry to anyone marking their 60th birthday over the Diamond Jubilee weekend. Royal-themed exhibits will be on display â€" perhaps less suited to Her Majestyâ€™s refined sensibilities â€" including a portrait of Princess Diana created with lint from a tumble dryer and a â€˜kissing portraitâ€™ of the Duchess of Cambridge, made entirely â€" you guessed it - from the artistâ€™s lipstick kisses.

Details: Ripley's Believe It or Not! is located in Piccadilly Circus and is open seven days a week from 10am until midnight. To qualify for the promotion (w hich runs from June 2 â€" 5), proof of age must be shown on arrival; visit www.ripleyslondon.com.

River run: City Cruises is offering the chance to take the same route as Her Majesty for the pageant

Cruise the royal river

On Tuesday June 5, the Queen will hold court in the Royal Barge as the sparkling centrepiece of a flotilla of 1000 boats assembled from around the world. And while it might be too late to actually be part of the pageant, you can still soak up the atmosphere. From June 1, for 3 days, City Cruises are offering people the chance to cruise the 'avenue of sail' (the vessels lining the route) before the big event. City Cruises will be operating regular services on Friday June 1 and Saturday 2, departing every 30 minutes from Westminster Pier to Greenwich, stopping at Tower Pier - the route Her Majesty will take. The cruise firm will also be laying on two 'showboat nights' when guests will enjoy dinner and a panoramic tour of London, with regular 'Sundowners on the Thames' cruise.

Details: Prices for single sightseeing tickets at the pier start from Â£9.50 per adult with special rates for senior citizens, children under 16 and students with a valid ID. Tickets for the Showboat evening cruise costs Â£75 per person, while the two-hour sundowners cruise costs Â£20 per person and includes a glass of champagne and canapÃ©s. To book, visit www.citycruises.com or call 020 77400 400.Â

Elizabeth II (and third, fourth, fifth, sixthâ€¦)

The Z Hotel in Soho is offering a quirky deal â€" anyone with the name Elizabeth booking a one-night stay in a Queen room over the Jubilee weekend will enjoy a free bottle of Lanson Champagne. If you book a two-night stay, youâ€™ll also enjoy a royal tea for two.

Details: Room rates start from Â£85; visit www.thezhotels.com or call 020 3551 3700.

A kingâ€™s ransom

You might have to sell the family silver but the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is offering a diamond-studded package to help celebrate in true majestic style. The four-night extravaganza includes prime spots on the HMS Belfast to view the river pageant and at Carlton House Terrace, overlooking The Mall, to watch the royal procession to and from Buckingham Palace. The price also includes a welcome dinner, a visit to Penshurst Place, Henry VIII â€™s hunting lodge in Kent, and lunch at the home of Randolph and Catherine Churchill.

Details: Package costs from Â£6,500 per person, based on a minimum four-night stay between June 2 and 6 and includes breakfast and some dinners. Visit www.mandarinoriental.com/london or call 0207 201 3618 or email jsandhu@mohg.com.