alanRow

Expect chaos in central London that day as not only are Wills & Kate getting spliced at Westminster Abbey but it's also the period between Easter (22nd April) and May Day (2nd May).

The odds are that the 29th will be another public holiday so they'll be 4 public holidays in 9 days.

hetismij

Makes for a nice long weekend getaway .

flanneruk

"Expect chaos in central London that day"

Expect the precise opposite.

With Easter almost the latest possible date and English public hols on April 22, 25, 29 and May 2, just about every employed person in Britain will be trying to get two weeks' holiday away somewhere warm for the sacrifice of just six days' holiday entitlement.

The "chaos" will be in Malaga, Antalya and Corfu airports. Those traditional street parties will be round giant TV screens at Med beach bars.

alanRow

"Expect chaos in central London that day"

Procession route will be blocked off - possibly for several days beforehand, Westminster Abbey will be closed for several days. They'll be extra people visiting London from around the world...

sassy_cat

Good news! I won't be in London until July 2011

Viajero2

29 April 2010 is long gone.....:-? maybe 2011?

susie

Just booked my flights. I'm not gonna miss this one.

Dayle

For fans of "The Royals", good for you, go and have fun.

As for me, I really don't get the interest in these people.

All the same, I wish them well.

JamilaZ

Susie - are you going to london specifically for this wedding??

susie

JamilaZ

Yes. We'll be going over on the 18th and will find other stuff to do for a week but will be back in London for the wedding on the 29th. I've said for years that if I ever got the chance, I'd like to see something like this in person. I retired last year so my husband booked our flights last night using FF miles. The 18th was the closest date available on AA for a direct flight from our home (RDU). I'm packing my hat and will be in the crowd with a million others. I know some of you "don't get the interest in these people" as Dayle said, but I don't get the interest in watching motor cars go around a track or football players chase a ball up and down a field for three hours. Different strokes......

jent103

susie, I hope you post a trip report!

annhig

susie,

I'm glad that you find interest in such things and hope that the sun shines on both you and them.

however I will NOT be watching, or listening, to the hoo ha more than I can manage but I'm not churlish enough to refuse the day off!

PatrickLondon

>>As for me, I really don't get the interest in these people.<<

It's not really about them, as real people. It's about having something on which we can, as a community, focus celebrations, for our sake, not theirs*: a stuffed penguin or any halfway competent actor would do as well - all they have to do is know their lines and not bump into the furniture.

*Working that out is how one particular American sociologist first made his mark, in 1953.

daph

PatrickLondon-Would that sociologist have the initials EDB by any chance? Not on topic but if so I could add more later.
I'm a Royal watcher too, Susie and feel the same as you do. I'm considering going if I can persuade my husband. We aren't young but we walk a lot. Just don't want to get trampled. Have a wonderful time.

JamilaZ

Susie - I'm so happy for you. I'm going to London next summer and was wondering if the wedding date would be set around then but looks like I'll make it in time for all the souvenirs.

Where will you stay? I'm wondering if the hotels have already started booking up for days around April 29th.

goddesstogo

I'm not really a Royal watcher but never mind a little extra pomp and circumstance in my life. I won't have to pay for it or deal with the inconvenience so, hey, why not enjoy it? The only thing wrong is that they're getting married on a work day. I know it will be a holiday here but back home in the colonies, we won't be so lucky.

I was hoping they'd get married on a Sunday. It would be really early where I live so I was planning to get a bunch of my girlfriends over in their pjs for a wedding breakfast of tea and crumpets while we watched it on TV. Instead, I'll be at work! Bummer.

TaniaP

JamilaZ - I have a one-night stay in London on April 19, so I went to the Premier Inn website. Out of curiosity, I looked up rooms on April 28 (the night before) - ALL booked up. The closest available is in Croydon or some such place. So, yes, it looks as if hotel rooms will be tricky!

susie

JamilaZ - Since we will be staying for several weeks, we are looking for an apartment. Several on VRBO have already adjusted their rates upward for the week of the wedding. Surprisingly, there are still quite a few still available so we haven't panicked yet.

Goddesstogo - For Diana's wedding, my girlfriends and I got up in the middle of the night, put on our best (including hats) and watched it on TV. I'm wondering now if I should take a hat since I'll be in a crowd on the street. Anyone have a suggestion for hat or no hat for the commoners on the street?

PatrickLondon

>>Anyone have a suggestion for hat or no hat for the commoners on the street?<<

Only if it's so head-hugging as not to obscure anyone else's view, which rather defeats the object.

GTG, what's the point of a being a colony if you don't get the public holidays? You should start a "Royalists for Time Off" campaign!

daph, I was thinking of Edward Shils.

alihutch

Afraid I'll be missing out on the public holiday, given I'm self employed....but then I'll not be glued to the TV either, even if KM does come from the next village to the one I was brought up....If she'd had an ordinary upbringing she'd have gone to my old school...