The nation is gearing up to mark the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, The Queen Consort.
While the coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May, celebrations will happen throughout the much-welcomed Bank Holiday weekend, and hosting a street party with your friends and neighbours may be the ideal way to enjoy the festivities.
Street parties are good fun but they do require a bit of planning, from getting permission from your council to deciding what recipes to try out. We've put together this guide to help you every step of the way.
How to organise a coronation street party
The good news is, anyone can host a coronation street party any time during the Bank Holiday weekend. Most councils required up to six weeks' notice where road closures are required, but if you are hosting a small party on a smaller street, also known as a Street Meet, you don't always need permission. Check here whether your council requires you to fill out an application form.
You don’t need a risk assessment to host a street party, and you won’t need a license for consumption of alcohol, food or to play music either.
However, if you’re planning to sell alcohol at the event or if holding a concert is the main purpose, you will need to check whether you need a Temporary Events Notice – a short-term permission for licensable activities, covering events of fewer than 500 people.
You can find more advice on Street Party and The Big Lunch. In addition to their tips, both websites have great step-by-step checklist to help you plan.
More details on the regulations are available at gov.uk.
What to serve at a coronation party?
Once your permissions and guest lists are sorted, it’s time to think about your food and drinks menu.
Depending on the number of guests, it can be useful to ask everyone to bring a dish, so you don’t spend the whole day in the kitchen.
Another thing to consider is whether it will be a standing or a sitting party. If you're struggling for ideas of what to cook, Good Housekeeping’s cookery team is here to inspire you.
From sultana scones to scotch eggs to filo tarts, we have plenty of simple finger food recipes available, if it’s mostly a standing event.
Planning something a little bit more formal? Check our Victoria sponge cake tips or opt for a savoury menu featuring our potato salad or giant pork pie recipes. And who could forget the signature dish: Coronation Chicken!
For drinks, a refreshing jug of Pimm's with all the trimming seems like an appropriate option. To help you, we have developed a host of recipes inspired by the summer drink too, including Pimm's cupcakes and even a Pimm's cheesecake, which is a real showstopper. Or you could try your hand at making one of these delicious coronation cocktails.
Celebrate the Coronation with these delicious cocktails
How to decorate for a coronation street party
Fun decorations and accessories are a must to get everyone in the celebratory mood. We've put together a round-up of the best coronation decorations.
To create an instant party feel, Good Housekeeping's Homes & Gardens Director, Carolyn Bailey, suggests draping bunting between trees and along tables. Tie bows made from fabric strips or lengths of ribbon around the top of the dining chairs also looks festive. "Make your own from fabric offcuts and use pinking shears to get a uniform edge that won’t fray," says Carolyn.
"You can also use foliage and flowers from your garden and from your neighbours," she adds. "Group together a selection of bud vases, milk bottles or jam jars filled with a mix of flowers together to create impact."
Finally, she advises gathering a selection of mix and match china and glasses to create an eclectic look (charity shops and car boot sales are a good source for vintage pieces).
Where possible, avoid plastic tableware and opt for bamboo options instead.
Looking for royal memorabilia? From mugs to candles, many retailers have launched special Coronation collectibles to mark the occasion. If you're hosting a party for a small group, these can be great accessories to add to your table. Happy celebrations!
22 King's Coronation Cakes and Bakes
Victoria sponge traybake
It's not a royal celebration with a Victoria sponge cake. This traybake recipe is easy to make and slice.
Recipe: Victoria sponge traybake
Cherry chocolate Coronation couronne
This wonderful pastry crown was the winning entry in our Fit For a King competition, to find a recipe to celebrate the coronation of King Charles. Anita Ward's recipe pairs cherries, kirsch and dark chocolate in a sweet dough.
Natural Red Velvet Cake
Add some colour to your King's Coronation table with this red velvet loaf cake! Cocoa meets beetroot, giving it earthiness and tang.
Recipe: Natural Red Velvet Cake
Profiterole berry choux crown
Making any type of pastry can be intimidating if you're new to it, but it's easy when you know how. If you want to know how to make choux pastry follow our easy guide and you'll be making showstppers like this berry choux crown in no time.
Recipe: Profiterole berry choux crown
Millionaire Brownie Traybake
This is our new favourite brownie recipe. It combines Millionaire's Shortbread with a classic chocolate brownie recipes.
Recipe: Millionaire Brownie Traybake
Orange Drizzle Cake
Packed with flavour, this cake is a sweeter and mellower version of lemon drizzle. You can eat the cake straight after cooking, but for the best texture, we recommend making this cake a day ahead of the King's Coronation, to allow the drizzle to soak in evenly.
Recipe: Orange Drizzle Cake
Celebration Geode Cake
Far easier to make than you think and mightily impressive to look at. We think this would make a stunning Coronation cake to enjoy over the weekend.
Recipe: Celebration Geode Cake
Strawberry Chocolate Celebration Cake
This cake is surprisingly simple to make, but the fragrant buttercream and chocolate glaze transform it into a wow-factor showstopper to adorn your Coronation table!
Strawberry Streusel Loaf Cake
Showcase perfectly in-season strawberries in this moreish loaf cake this King's Coronation.
Recipe: Strawberry Streusel Loaf Cake
Easy Biscoff Traybake
Whip up something easy this King's coronation weekend. Requiring just three ingredients, this is undoubtedly one of our simplest (and most delicious) traybake recipes.
Recipe: Easy Biscoff Traybake
Marmalade and White Chocolate Loaf
The tangy marmalade in this teatime treat is perfectly balanced by the white chocolate drizzle that goes on top. The sponge is made deliciously moist by the use of yoghurt in the batter, it's the perfect loaf cake to serve to guests this King's Coronation weekend.
Chocolate Courgette Cake
The courgette adds great moisture and texture to this scrumptious cake that's fit for a king!
Recipe: Chocolate Courgette Cake
Persian Tea Loaf
Mix things up a little on Coronation day and celebrate with this fragrant bake. It contains rosewater, cardamon and pistachios for a Middle Eastern twist on a classic tea loaf.
Recipe: Persian Tea Loaf
Earl Grey, Lemon and Poppy Seed Celebration Cake
We’ve given the classic lemon and poppy seed cake a subtle, Earl Grey twist. Covered with decadent lemon curd buttercream, it’s the perfect teatime Coronation celebration cake. If you’re not a fan of Earl Grey, simply leave the tea out.
Blueberry Coffee Cake
Not a coffee-flavoured cake, but a variety of cake served with coffee. Give this blueberry loaf cake a go this King's Coronation.
Recipe: Blueberry Coffee Cake
Raspberry and Fizz Celebration Cake
A true showstopper, this sensational cake is perfect for a Coronation celebration. Use Prosecco, cava, Champagne or elderflower pressé for the fizz.
Easy Carrot Cake Traybake
This fail-safe carrot cake is delightfully soft and fluffy and perfect when you have lots of guests to feed n the King's Coronation Bank Holiday weekend.
Recipe: Easy Carrot Cake Traybake
Rhubarb and Custard Éclairs
These picture perfect eclairs would make a wonderful addition to your Coronation table!
Recipe: Rhubarb and Custard Éclairs
Coffee and Walnut Spelt Cake
Cardamom works well with coffee, and brings an extra dimension to this classic teatime treat. Coronation weekend wouldn't be the same without a coffee and walnut cake!
Recipe: Coffee and Walnut Spelt Cake
Banoffee Pie Biscuits
Bring some biscuits to the King's Coronation table! If you're a fan of banoffee pie, then this cookie recipe is for you.
Recipe: Banoffee Pie Biscuits
Classic Victoria sponge cake
Perhaps the ultimate Coronation recipe, aside from Coronation chicken, is a classic Victoria sponge cake filled with raspberry jam.
Recipe: Classic Victoria sponge cake
Gin and tonic cupcakes
Topped with straws and buttercream, these Gin and tonic inspired cupcakes are the perfect cake to celebration a big occasion like the Coronation.
Recipe: Gin and tonic cupcakes
