How to avoid it all: a guide to a royal-free bank holiday

From a visit to a historic church to a flutter on the horses, there are many ways to escape the doldrums during Monday's big shutdown

Accession of King Charles and death of Queen Elizabeth - latest updates

Watching the state funeral on Monday is not compulsory, even if some public figures have claimed it should be. But anyone looking to avoid it has other options.

The bank holiday shutdown stretches from supermarkets and big retailers to leisure centres and tourist attractions. No English Heritage site will open, not even its historic churches, it confirmed last week, nor any National Trust garden or stately home.