Excitement builds as high streets get ready for Jubilee weekend

Communities are joining together across Bath and North East Somerset to dress their local centres with royal colours ahead of the Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Red, white and blue bunting with a postage stamp design and Jubilee banners are now adorning key locations in Bath city centre including Milsom Street, Union Street, Kingsmead Square and the Guildhall.

The postage stamp theme has been chosen in honour of a postmaster from Bath who was the first person in the world ever to send a stamp. Thomas Moore Musgrave was postmaster from 1833 until his death in 1854.

Bath & North East Somerset Council and Bath BID have worked together to provide the bunting which was installed today (May 30).

Councillor Kevin Guy, council Leader, said: “With the bunting giving a wave of colour to the streets, the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are now in full swing in the city and there’s a buzzing atmosphere. I know that communities across B&NES are also getting into the spirit of this special weekend with high street dressings, events and street parties. I’m looking forward to a memorable four days in which our town centres and residential streets come alive.”

Allison Herbert, Chief Executive of Bath BID, said: “We are very pleased to have worked with the team from B&NES Council to help decorate the city and achieve a co-ordinated design inside businesses and on the streets. We are looking forward to a fun weekend in the city. There are lots of events being organised by the businesses in Bath and if you want to try a special celebration afternoon tea, you will be spoilt for choice.  We’ll be sharing all those events via our Welcome to Bath jubilee page – https://www.welcometobath.co.uk/queens-platinum-jubilee/.”

The bunting will remain in place in the city centre until after the official visit of the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay on July 5.

Fifty-six street parties have been planned in B&NES across the Jubilee four-day bank holiday weekend.

The council will be illuminating Bath Abbey, the Guildhall, the Roman Baths and Pulteney Bridge in purple from 9pm on Thursday, June 2 to mark the national lighting of the beacons.

The council is also organising a Big Jubilee Picnic on the Lower Lawn of the Royal Crescent in Bath which will take place on Saturday 5th June. 

Events taking place on Friday 3rd June include Peasedown Party in the Park at Beacon Field and Alice Park’s Party in the Park in Bath. In Midsomer Norton, there will be the Midsomer Jubilee Music Fest. Midsomer Norton Town Council has events on each of the four days in the Midsomer Norton Jubilee Weekender.

In Keynsham the celebrations have already begun with a Jubilee Beacon Trail and a film project run by Keynsham Town Council as part of Keynsham's Local Cultural Programme.

People can find the events happening near them on the Platinum Jubilee events page. 

Find out more about the Platinum Jubilee


 Photo: Councillor Kevin Guy and Alison Herbert

Photo: The Platinum Jubilee bunting installed in Bath city centre