This year’s Platinum Jubilee plays host to a bumper four-day bank holiday to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years as a sovereign. Not only is this the longest reign ever undertaken by an English monarch, but it’s the longest bank holiday us Brits have had in a while! Which can only mean one thing – a nationwide celebration! 

With a host of street parties, exhibitions and live events, there’s something for everyone this Jubilee. Even better, the majority of events are based outside. This means that there’s plenty of mobility scooter friendly ways to get involved. 

There’s no reason to miss out on any of the fun, simply plan ahead to ensure you and your mobility scooter can have a royal knees up, stress-free!  

An Accessible Jubilee 

Celebrate Your Way 

The Platinum Jubilee Pageant is a procession that will take over the streets of London on Sunday 5th June. Tickets are available for the pageant, which will be broadcast far and wide for all to tune in. 

However, the palace is encouraging us to stay local and host our interpretation of a community pageant. They’ve pulled together some fantastic suggestions to help inspire some creative planning. From community art to meet and greet picnics, flower areas to street parties, no celebration is off limits. 

Street Parties

Us Brits love a street party, so what better excuse to hold one than a Platinum Jubillee. A street party is also a brilliant way to get to know your neighbors better and build some community spirit. 

Show some neighborly love and get involved in the party planning. Your mobility scooter is perfect for carrying out any Jubilee jobs that you volunteer for. From the comfort of your chair you can offer to make decorations, rustle up a royal dish or get involved with the seating plan.

Street parties are arguably the most mobility scooter friendly way to celebrate the Jubilee. Thanks to the venue being on your own doorstep, accessibility shouldn’t be an issue. Simply speak to the party organisers to ensure space is made for you and your mobility scooter at the table. 

Gov.uk and Street Party have some great advice to help you throw a fabulous street party. See here for some practical tips on how to properly close your street and what safety protocols need to be followed. 

The Big Jubilee Lunch

The Big Lunch is a fantastic initiative that encourages people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds to come together for an annual community lunch. It was started in 2009 with the aim to build communities and create a sense of unity, safety and strength. 

This year is set to be the biggest lunch to date. Organisers have worked hard on a Jubilee themed event pack to help thousands of people across Britain come together to host a lunch fit for a queen 

Join a Big Jubilee Lunch near you to create new friendships, get to know your community and generally have a bit of fun. Most lunches are held in community halls and centers, which tend to be very accessible for mobility scooters. 

Check the Big Jubilee Lunch map to see where your nearest venue is so you can plan ahead and let the organiers know that you’ll be bringing your mobility scooter along. 

The Jubilee Beacons

Royal weddings, Jubilees and Coronations are traditionally marked by the lighting of thousands of beacons across the UK and the Commonwealth. This year, over 1,500 beacons will be lit worldwide, as part of the Jubilee celebrations. 

From June 2nd local communities will host a beacon event, lighting their fires during processions and parties to mark this historical milestone. Due to the street party nature of the event, mobility scooters will be welcome far and wide. But don’t forget, you’ll need to stick to a 4mph limit when using your mobility scooter in pedestrianized areas. 

Due to the late night nature of the beacon lighting, be sure to take full advantage of your mobility scooter’s front and back lights for full visibility. 

Check your local council’s website to see when and where your nearest lighting will be hosted. Visit the main beacon website here. 

Exhibitions

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace only open to the public for a few months of the year. This year they open to a unique exhibition, Platinum Jubilee: The Queen's Accession. 

This special show celebrates Dorothy Wilding’s portraits of the Queen. The now famous visual of Queen Elizabeth went on to inspire the design of the Royal Mail stamp. Also on show will be precious jewelry worn by the queen during her sittings with Wilding. 

Buckingham Palace is fully accessible with plenty of amenities for those with impaired mobility. However, you must pre-book step-free access so staff can prepare for your visit, which requires different entry and exits. 

Mobility scooters are permitted and manual wheelchairs are available upon request if you’d prefer to leave your scooter at home. Read more here.

The exhibition will run from 22nd July - 2nd October 2022. 

Broadcast Bonus

Enjoy the Jubilee celebrations from the comfort of your mobility scooter, as the festivities are streamed far and wide. Whether you’d rather keep it close to home, or celebrate at a local venue, you’ll not be short of places to catch the action. 

From Thursday June 2nd through to Saturday June 4th, venues will extend their hours to accommodate the bank holiday festivities, including live streams of all the events. If you’re venturing out till late, be sure to stay visible on your mobility scooter by utilising your lights and wearing a hi-vis jacket. 

With so many ways to enjoy the Platinum Jubilee this year, its easy to forget that safety must always come first. Always check that your destination is mobility scooter friendly and always remind yourself of our top safety tips here.