BUCKINGHAM PALACE ULTIMATE GUIDE
14 July - 31 August: 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
1 - 24 September: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Time Needed: 2.5 hours
Price: £30
Many tourists feel surprised when their free walking tours of Westminster take them to the entrance of Buckingham Palace. From the outside, this famous landmark may look like a dismal, grey building that doesn’t have much to offer. But in a classic case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”, this grey building is essentially the epicentre of royal London which serves as the official royal residence of the Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters for the British monarchy.
Dating back to 1703, Buckingham Palace was originally built for the Duke of Buckingham (hence the name), but was eventually transformed into an official residence for several notable royals such as George IV, Queen Victoria, Edward VII, William IV, and many more.
Both Edward VII and William IV were born at Buckingham Palace, and Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to both her sons (Prince Charles and Prince Andrew) inside the palace as well. Queen Victoria was the first member of the British royal family to rule from Buckingham Palace, and held countless lavish costume balls, concerts and events inside the palace throughout her reign.
Buckingham Palace Highlights
Buckingham Palace has around 775 rooms including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 78 bathrooms, 92 offices, and even a cinema, swimming pool, post office and police station. (It even has its own postal code!)
Out of the hundreds of rooms inside the palace, the most famous are The Grand Hall, The State Dining Room (which is used by presidents and prime ministers from all over the world), The White Drawing Room (which is used as a Royal reception room) and The Bow Room (which is used to entertain guests during the Royal Garden Parties). The Throne Room is also the setting for various formal royal family photographs (such as the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge).
The Buckingham Palace gardens are also famous in their own right, and are often described as “a walled oasis in the middle of London”. The gardens boast more than 350 different types of wildflowers, over 200 trees, a three-acre lake, and even tennis courts (where King George VI and Fred Perry used to play during the 1930s).
The eastern front of the palace (the side which is the most visible to the public), is perhaps the most famous as it is where members of the royal family step out onto the balcony to wave to the crowds; (however, this only occurs during royal weddings, events and celebrations). The street which leads to Buckingham Palace (also known as “The Mall”) is also famous as it serves as a “ceremonial approach” route to the palace.
Special Tips
If you purchase your tickets directly from the Royal Collection Trust, you will automatically be given a 12 months' complimentary admission to return to the palace. To get the annual pass, make sure you sign and print your name on your ticket before you leave the palace, and get a member of staff to stamp and validate it.
If you don't feel like taking a tour of the inside of the palace, you can always enjoy spectacular views of the palace from the outside – but make sure you correlate your visit The Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place at 11:30 a.m. everyday. The ceremony leads to Buckingham Palace as well as St. James's Palace and Wellington Barracks, however, the best spot for watching the ceremony is said to be at the eastern side of Buckingham Palace near the gates.
A visit to Buckingham Palace is the cherry on top of a free tour in London. After a good introduction to the history and architecture of Westminster area by a local guide, you will ready to fully appreciate the palace.
Getting There
Address: London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom.
By Tube: The nearest stations are Green Park and St. James's Park stations, which are both about an eight-minute walk away from the palace
By Train: London Victoria Station which is a ten-minute walk away.
By Bus: You can also get to the palace by bus via routes 11, 211, C1 and C10 to Buckingham Palace Road.
By coach: The nearest station is Victoria Coach Station which is a 13-minute walk away
Visiting Buckingham Palace
Tours of Buckingham Palace are only offered during the summer months, and the majority of the rooms are closed to the public. However, The State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews are open to visitors.
The tours last for approximately two and a half hours, and photography and video recording is strictly forbidden inside the Palace (you can however, take photographs and videos of the gardens).
Eating and drinking is strictly forbidden inside the State Rooms, but you will be able to buy refreshments at a café at the end of your tour. The café offers tea, coffee, juice, cakes and sandwiches, and closes at 5:45 p.m.
Ticket prices and Opening Hours
Buckingham Palace is open from:
- 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (with last admission at 5:15 p.m.) from 14 July to 31 August
- 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (with last admission at 4:15 p.m.) from the 1st September to 24 September
In order to see the inside of the Palace, you will need to book a tour beforehand, and there are three different tours available:
- Buckingham Palace Standard Admission Tour costs £30 for adults, £19.50 for young adults between 18 and 24 years, £16.50 for children between 5 and 17 years, and the disabled. (There is a family discount for bookings of at least 1 adult and 2 children, up to 2 adults and 4 children. Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount).
- The Royal Day Out Tour (which includes The State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews) costs £55.80 for adults, £36.40 for young adults between 18 and 24 years, and £31 for children between 5 and 17 years and the disabled. (There is a family discount for bookings of at least 1 adult and 2 children, up to 2 adults and 4 children).
- The Exclusive Evening Tour (an exclusive visit after the Palace closes its doors to the public, limited to 30 guests on each tour) costs £90.00 per person and requires mandatory booking in advance.
Children under the age of five can get in for free for any of the tours.
If you are checking out Buckingham Palace, you might also want to join any of the free tours in London that are available on offer.
