Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — The death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history, has caused stunning scenes in the United Kingdom.
Over the past few days, King Charles III has ascended the throne, and the Queen’s coffin has traveled across the Scottish Highlands to Edinburgh, before being flown to London and brought to Buckingham Palace for the funeral.
The Queen’s coffin was taken on Wednesday to Westminster Hall, where it will remain until Monday, the day of the state funeral, the first to be held in the United Kingdom since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965.
The United Kingdom is currently going through a period of national mourning, which will continue until the end of the day of the funeral, and mourners from all over the world flock to the capital, London, to witness these historical events closely.
On the day of the Queen’s death, travel app Hopper recorded a 49% increase in searches for flights from the US to London compared to the previous day.
Increase the number of visitors
Jos Croft, chief executive of the UKinbound tourism trade association, told CNN: “We expect an increased number of international visitors traveling to the UK, particularly London, in the coming days, not only to mourn the death of Her Majesty the Queen but also to celebrate her life.”
Shortly after the news of the Queen’s death was announced, Rachel Shoemaker from Louisa White Travel, a tour company specializing in travel to Britain, received several requests from people wishing to travel to London, while some tourists, who were in the United Kingdom at the time, were keen to extend their trip .
“The Queen has had an amazing ability to inspire people all over the world, and there are many Americans, including myself, who feel a special bond with her and want to offer their condolences,” Shoemaker explains.
But while some tourists have made or are making last-minute travel arrangements, there are many others who have just arrived on their pre-planned trips during an unprecedented time.
Those who arrive at the last minute are likely to find it difficult to find vacant hotel rooms, especially if they are planning to stay in London.
Many of the capital’s hotels are now fully booked, while room rates have tripled in some cases, with visitors descending on the city hoping to either see the Queen’s coffin in the Palace of Westminster between Wednesday and Monday, or to be among the many mourners lining the streets. Monday, which has been declared a public holiday.
Earlier this week, Paul Charles, founder of travel and PR agency The PC Agency, tweeted: “London is filling up significantly over the coming days, with many hotels closing online bookings so they can check in. Manually manage available rooms and rates for foreign delegations.
And the Travelodge hotel chain, which operates about 80 hotels in the British capital, reported an increase in bookings, with a spokesperson commenting that staff were “preparing for a busy period in the lead-up to the state funeral”, noting that hotels in central London and Windsor were “booked.” completely.”
Watch history
Justin Allen, from the US state of Illinois, who has visited London several times in the past, is thrilled that his pre-planned trip to the British capital, with his partner Matthew Anastasia, coincided with these historic events.
“It made the trip even more historic for my partner who had never left America,” Allen told CNN by email.
The duo were among those who lined the streets to watch the procession of King Charles III, after he was formally declared the new king of the United Kingdom on Saturday morning.
Allen notes that being in town at this very moment was incredibly special.
“The city was so bustling, I had never seen so many people on the streets in the last 18 years I’ve been to London.”
Currently, the area around Buckingham Palace is the busiest, becoming a major focal point for people offering condolences.
Several roads around the area are currently closed to traffic, and Monday’s funeral will lead to further closures.
An event that changes the world
Allen and Anastasia remain in the capital and hope to see the Queen’s coffin in Westminster Hall on Sunday, provided they “can wait with the crowds”.
Of course there will be crowds, and London Rail and Transport issued a joint statement advising those planning to use public transport during this time to plan their trip in advance due to the “unprecedented travel demand in the capital”.
A statement issued by the UK government earlier this week said: “We understand that many people will be traveling to Buckingham Palace and other royal residences to offer their condolences.”
“We expect large crowds, which can pose risks to public safety, so travelers are asked to follow the instructions given to them by supervisors and the police,” the statement continued.
Some level of disruption is also expected, particularly at Heathrow, over the coming days.
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We anticipate further changes to Heathrow operations on Monday 19 September, with Her Majesty’s funeral scheduled to take place, and will provide more details over the coming days.”
Disruption of travel plans
Business closures in the UK are inevitable, especially on the day of the Queen’s funeral.
Many department stores and supermarkets will be closed on Monday, some all day, others part of the day.
Travelers who have previously booked tickets to theaters or restaurant tables for Monday are advised to check in advance, as many will be temporarily closed.
For example, the National Theater in London is closed on Mondays, and popular evening shows such as “Hamilton” at the Victoria Palace Theatre, and “Mamma Mia!” At the Novello Theatre.
The majority of major British cinemas will not be open for business on the day of the funeral either, although some will be open for broadcasts of the funeral.
Meanwhile, the royal properties and famous historic landmarks such as the State Chambers, the Royal Stables Collection, and the galleries at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle have been closed since last Friday and will not reopen during the mourning period.
The state funeral will be held at Westminster Abbey, which means the famous church, which is also a popular tourist attraction, will be closed to tourists until September 21.