How to enjoy the Bank Holiday Bonanza in 2022

Early spring is the time of year when we begin to miss Bank Holidays. Christmas and New Year are now a distant memory, and it feels like ages till Easter. 

But the good news is that there are six Bank Holidays between now and next Christmas. And the even better news is that this year we get an extra one!

The next Bank Holidays to look forward to fall over the Easter weekend. Good Friday is 15th April, and Easter Monday is 18th April. So not that far away. And they are soon followed by the early May Bank Holiday on Monday 2nd May. 

But the really exciting thing is that just one month later we get not one but two more Bank Holidays, on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June. One of these replaces the traditional Spring Bank Holiday that usually falls on the last Monday in May. And one is an extra in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. So in effect there will be a four day Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June.

Which means that you have a big decision to make. Do you embrace the Platinum Jubilee and get stuck into whatever celebrations are going on around you? Or do you make the most of a long weekend away somewhere else? The choice is yours.

Let’s take a look at some options for both choices.

Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee weekend at home

On 6th February Queen Elizabeth became the first UK monarch in history to serve 70 years on the throne. In acknowledgement of this, various events and initiatives are already beginning to take place, including the Platinum Pudding competition. 

But the main focus will be on the four day Bank Holiday from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June. What kind of things may be happening that weekend?

There will be a calendar of events organised centrally. These include:

  • Thursday 2nd June

  • The Queen’s Birthday Parade with Trooping the Colour and an RAF flypast.

  • Lighting of beacons throughout the UK, UK Overseas Territories, and capital cities of Commonwealth countries, with a principal beacon being lit in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

  • Friday 3rd June

  • Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral..

  • Saturday 4th June

  • The Derby at Epsom Downs.

  • Platinum Party at the Palace – a special live concert from Buckingham Palace.

  • Sunday 5th June

  • The Platinum Jubilee Pageant – a London-based creative festival telling the story of The Queen’s 70 year reign. The Platinum Pageant will include the River of Hope – 200 silk flags carried by children down The Mall to represent hopes and dreams for the next 70 years.

  • The Big Jubilee Lunch, encouraging communities to celebrate the Jubilee together. Many communities will be organising street parties. If you want to organise a street party for the Big Jubilee Lunch, here are a few tips you need to know . . . . 

Five Top Tips for organising a Platinum Jubilee Street Party

  • It is legal for anyone to hold a street party between Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June. You don’t need any special permission or formal risk assessment. However it’s advisable to contact your local council in advance as they may require you to complete a simple application form.

  • A street party and any related publicity should only be for residents and neighbours.

  • You do not need any kind of licence unless you are selling alcohol, in which case you may also need a Temporary Events Notice from the Council.

  • If you want a road closure then you definitely do need to contact your local council at least 6 weeks in advance to let them know where and when the road closure will take place. Some local councils will lend you signs and cones, or you can hire or buy signs. 

  • Another option would be to keep the road open and have a “street meet” on driveways or front gardens. You need to ensure that this does not obstruct other pedestrians or involve participants – particularly children – wandering into the road unsafely.

Go away during the Platinum Jubilee

Reading the above may make you feel excited and want to stay at home during the Platinum Jubilee. You may decide to be an active part of this historic milestone.

However, you may prefer to see it as an opportunity to get away for a break. Still celebrate remotely perhaps, but have some rest and relaxation somewhere completely different.

You may decide to have a lovely long four day weekend away. Or you could even plan a longer break. The two day Bank Holiday means that you could have nine days away but only need to take three days off work. 

There are three things to bear in mind here.

  • Book your holiday now!

Our advice to you is that if you do want to go away over that time, you get something sorted as soon as possible. Demand will be high. Bear in mind that the two day Bank Holiday falls at the end of half term week in England and Wales, so many families may already have the same idea. 

  • Plan how you are going to pay

As your holiday will be within 12 weeks of you booking it, you are probably going to have to pay the full amount at the time of booking. If you need a quick financial top up to do this, remember that Munzee offers online loans that may be able to help.

Regarding the actual mechanics of paying, it may be worth using your credit card. This means that you will be covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which provides financial protection on your purchase. 

  • Get good travel insurance at the time of booking

It’s also important to take out good travel insurance at the same time you book your holiday. Don’t be tempted to leave it till later. You need to be covered for anything that might go wrong right from the start. 

You need to find a policy that protects you in case of:

  • Cancellation or travel disruption

  • Medical costs and emergencies

  • Loss, theft and damage

We hope that this article has given you more information about UK Bank Holidays this year, and some of the things that will be happening over the Platinum Jubilee weekend. 

Whatever you decide to do with your extra Bank Holiday, enjoy!!

For more lifestyle and financial tips visit us here again soon at Munzee Loans.