If you’re heading to South Devon in the next couple of weeks you can’t escape the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations! The pretty villages, market and seaside towns of the South Hams have a fun filled diary of events planned for the long Bank Holiday weekend (Thursday 2nd June to Monday 6th of June).

Tradition says that we celebrate Royal occasions by lighting a beacon…  

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is no exception! The UK and the Commonwealth will be ablaze with some 1500 beacons. The lighting of the beacons will take place at 9.45 on Thursday 2nd June. One of the most spectacular locations to see this has to be at Plymouth’s Royal Citadel on the Hoe.

While in London, this is what the diary looks like for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee weekend

Trooping of the Colour

When? Thursday 2nd June at 10am 

At the Trooping of the Colour there will be a possible appearance of the Queen on the Royal balcony at Buckingham Palace.

Lighting of the Beacons

When? From 9:30pm 

The Lighting of the Beacons will take place across the country and the Commonwealth

Service of Thanksgiving at St. Paul’s Cathedral

When? Friday 3rd June at 11:30am

St Paul’s will hold a special service of thanksgiving for the Queen’s reign on Friday morning. 

Epsom Derby

When? Saturday 4th June at 5:30pm 

As part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the Queen and other Royals will attend the Derby at Epsom Downs. 

BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace

When? 7.40pm on Saturday 4th June (shown live at 8pm on BBC) 

The BBC’s Platinum Party at the Palace is a celebration of all of the artistic talent that has been born and evolved during the Queen’s reign. It includes music performances from Queen + Adam Lambert, Alicia Keys, Hans Zimmer, plus many more. Well-known stars from the screen, as well as the sporting world, will also make guest appearances.

Street Parties

When? Sunday 5th June 

Street Parties and Big Jubilee lunches are set to get underway nationwide on Sunday. There will also be a Jubilee Pageant in central London culminating with the singing of the National Anthem in front of Buckingham Palace. 

Back on the coast in Salcombe 

The beautiful Woodcot Gardens are open to the public on the 5th June for a Royal bring your own picnic between 11am and 4.30pm. Dog on leads welcome.

Just across the estuary (actually a ria) in East Portlemouth, Port Waterhouse has an exciting diary of events to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The pop up bar will be open from Thursday 2nd June and over the Bank Holiday weekend with toe tapping live music courtesy of Nick the Fish on Saturday 4th June in the Raj Tent. These events are very popular so entry is by bookings only. Come and relax and celebrate. The food is pretty awesome too with The Braai Guy and his South African inspired food truck, Tom will be serving delicious flame cooked food, all seasonal and local. There’s no need to book for lunch,  available from noon until 4pm  But if you’re planning to stay for dinner it’s being served from 5pm and you will need to book.

Dartmouth’s Royal connections 

Thursday 2nd June is also of Royal historical importance. It is of course where the young Princess Elizabeth first met Philip Mountbatten at the Royal Naval College in 1939, when she was just 13 years of age. 

Visitors to Dartmouth can join in with the Diamond Jubilee Walk and an opening ceremony at the Royal Avenue Gardens. Dartmouth is also organising a street party and afternoon tea. Thursday’s events draw to a close with a torchlit procession along Dartmouth’s historic streets. 

The weekend’s events include a Jubilee market in the cobbled market square and much merriment with musical entertainment in the Royal Avenue Gardens. Britannia Royal Naval College hosts live bands and stages a firework display on Saturday night complete with bar and barbeque. Be sure to buy your tickets from the Guild Hall. 

Come and check out the bright lights of Kingsbridge! 

From Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June, the Kingsbridge the town square will be a mass of colour when the trees and flower beds will be illuminated with red, white and blue to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Street parties and picnics

You can’t have a right Royal celebration of any kind without a street party or a big picnic! These are the pick of the best ones in South Devon over the Royal Jubilee weekend: 

• Dartmouth Sunday Coronation Park with Morris Men and entertainment for the children.
• Churchstow, Kingsbridge, Street party Sunday 5th June 
• Thurlestone Street Party on Sunday 5th June from Midday onwards with plenty of live music and childrens’ entertainment.
• Soar Mill Cove.. what a location for a Jubilee Garden party with traditional cream tea, bubbly and jazz. (Please book your tickets from the Soar Mill Cove Hotel)
• The Pig’s Nose at East Prawle is hosting a Family Fun Weekend with plenty of live music and fairground rides.

We can’t think of a better place to celebrate and remember the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. 

Whatever you do, celebrate in style, have fun and don’t forget to include a picnic on one of Salcombe’s finest beaches. 

If you are looking for somewhere to stay in South Devon to continue your celebrations into the summer, let us know. 

Kate and the Team X