Millions of people will be travelling to and from Britain in next few days to join or flee the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday celebrations.

Heathrow expects to handle 2.9 million passengers in the two weeks, with 780,000 overseas travellers due to arrive at the west London airport between last Wednesday and bank holiday Tuesday.

UK travel organisation Abta forecast that as many six million Britons will be taking a holiday abroad or in the UK between yesterday and Tuesday.

Abta said that around four million planned to holiday in the UK over the long Jubilee weekend, with two million going abroad.

Unlike most Sundays and public holidays, London Underground will be running near normal services, with only the Waterloo and City line not operating and with part-suspensions on the London Overground line.

Many main line train companies that run services to and from London will be providing additional trains or carriages at times to cope with those visiting the capital.

At Heathrow, red carpets have been laid in arrivals halls and Jubilee and Union flags will be handed to passengers.

Channel Tunnel high-speed train company Eurostar has reported a 30 per cent surge in bookings over the Jubilee weekend.

The Association of Train Operating Companies said around 500,000 people were expected to travel to London by train to take part in the Jubilee celebrations.