Coronation Ceremony in the UK is generating a lot of travel buzz

The former Prince of Wales’ official Coronation as King Charles III will take place next Saturday, May 6, during a ceremony held in London’s iconic Westminster Abbey, a historic site which has witnessed the enthronement of 39 previous British Heads of State in a revered ceremony that has remained essentially unchanged since the church’s consecration in 1066 CE.

Although the Royal House of Windsor’s Charles Philip Arthur George immediately assumed the title and role of England’s reigning Monarch upon Queen Elizabeth II’s passing in September of last year, the formal rite inducting him as Sovereign of the United Kingdom (U.K.) and Commonwealth is only now coming about. And, boy, is it causing a stir the world over.

It’s not lost on anyone that an astonishing 70 years have passed since Charles’ predecessor was officially crowned Queen, which was the first such ceremony to be broadcast and celebrated on the world stage. Therefore, the rarity of this royal occasion gives Britons unparalleled cause for celebration, and the rest of the world seems eager to join in.

Many Anglophilic Americans will do so from afar by watching the accompanying pomp and pageantry on their TVs or devices, but a surprising number are actually preparing to cross the pond to experience this historic moment alongside the locals. Plenty of them have carefully calculated and their presence in London to coincide with the historic happening, while others still scramble to make last-minute arrangements.

In any case, with the U.K. topping U.S. travelers’ wish lists and TripAdvisor calling London the most popular European destination of 2023, England’s capital is in for a heavy influx of global citizens who want to witness the festivities firsthand.

According to a new report released by Expedia, Americans even beat out Brits in terms of hotel searches for the Coronation weekend. Other research figures tied to King Charles III’s Coronation include:

— Flight searches from the U.S. to London are up 44 percent year over year for travel between May 4 –14.

— London hotel bookings are up 64 percent year over year the Coronation weekend.

— Searches for London hotels are up 179 percent year over year for travel between May 4 –14.