Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace London | Everything You Need to Know

Few buildings on earth are as instantly recognisable as Buckingham Palace. Stand at the gates, look past the golden railings to that famous east front, and you are looking at the beating heart of the British monarchy — the official London residence of the sovereign, the backdrop to a thousand state occasions, and the stage for the most famous changing of a guard anywhere in the world. For most visitors, the first sight of it carries a small jolt of recognition: you’ve seen this place your whole life, and now here it is.

What many don’t realise is that you can step inside. Each summer, the palace opens its State Rooms to the public — nineteen grand spaces filled with treasures from the Royal Collection, used by the monarch for the most important ceremonies of state. Add the Changing of the Guard, the gardens, and the surrounding sweep of royal London, and a visit here becomes one of the defining experiences of any trip to the capital. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go.

Where Is Buckingham Palace?

Buckingham Palace is located at London SW1A 1AA, in the City of Westminster in central London. It sits at the western end of The Mall, framed by the Victoria Memorial and bordered by some of London’s finest green spaces — St James’s Park to the east and Green Park to the north. Victoria, one of London’s major transport hubs, is a short walk away.

The setting is part of the appeal. The palace anchors a stretch of ceremonial London that includes The Mall, St James’s Park and Green Park, making it easy to combine a visit with a walk through some of the city’s most beautiful royal parkland. For navigation, any map app will take you straight to the gates.

Opening Hours

Buckingham Palace operates differently from most London attractions, because it remains a working royal residence. The State Rooms open to the public for a limited summer season each year, typically running from mid-July through to late September, with daily opening from around 9:30 am. Certain days near the end of the season may be closed for royal engagements.

At other times of year, exclusive guided tours of selected areas — such as the East Wing — are offered on limited dates. Because the schedule is tied to the royal calendar and changes from year to year, checking the official Royal Collection Trust website for current dates and times is essential before planning your visit.

How to Get to Buckingham Palace

The palace is exceptionally well connected, with several easy options from across London.

By Underground. The three closest stations are Victoria (Circle, District and Victoria lines), Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines), and Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line). All are within a short, pleasant walk of the palace.

By bus. Routes including the 11, 211 and C10 stop near the palace.

By coach. Victoria Coach Station is roughly a ten-minute walk away, convenient for those arriving from outside London.

By car. There is no free parking near the palace. Paid options such as the Carrington Street and Cadogan Place car parks are a short walk away, and pre-booking through a platform like JustPark is advisable. For most visitors, public transport is the simpler choice.

On foot. The approach is half the pleasure. From Victoria station, a ten-minute walk through Green Park or along The Mall offers a genuinely grand arrival — particularly along The Mall, with the palace growing larger ahead of you the whole way.

Compare Transfers & Local Transport in London →

The Best Time to Visit

A little planning makes a real difference here, particularly given how popular the palace is.

For the State Rooms, weekday mornings early in the summer season tend to be quieter than weekends and late August. Arriving close to opening time means smaller crowds and a calmer pace through the rooms. The very start and very end of the summer opening season are generally less busy than the peak weeks of high summer.

The Changing of the Guard is a different matter entirely. This free ceremony — typically held at 11:00 am on selected days, weather permitting — draws very large crowds, with the best viewing spots taken well in advance. Arriving by 10:30 am at the latest is essential for a decent view, and earlier still on weekends and during summer. The ceremony schedule varies, so checking the official Royal Family website beforehand is the only way to be sure it’s running on the day you plan to visit.

As the State Rooms are largely indoors, weather is less of a concern for the palace tour itself — but it matters considerably for the Changing of the Guard and any time spent in the surrounding parks.

Tickets and Costs

Buckingham Palace tickets are in high demand and are best booked well in advance, particularly for the summer State Rooms season. Several ticket types are available depending on how much of the royal estate you wish to see.

Children under 5 enter free across all ticket types, and reduced rates apply for young people (18–24), children (5–17) and disabled visitors. A free companion ticket is available for visitors with disabilities.

Ways to save: groups of 15 or more receive a discount, and family tickets offer savings for one adult with two children, or up to two adults with four children. Tickets should be purchased through the official Royal Collection Trust or an authorised partner such as GetYourGuide.

An insider tip worth knowing: validated tickets typically allow free re-admission for a full year. Before you leave, ask a warden to stamp your ticket — it can turn a single visit into several.

Because prices are reviewed annually, checking the official website for current rates is the most reliable approach before booking.

Check Tickets & Skip-the-Line Options →

What to Expect Inside

A tour of Buckingham Palace is a journey through nineteen State Rooms — the grandest spaces in the building, used by the monarch for official ceremonies, investitures and state entertaining. These rooms reflect the lavish taste of King George IV, who transformed the palace in the early nineteenth century, and they are filled with treasures from the Royal Collection.

The art alone is extraordinary. Paintings by Van Dyck, Canaletto and Rembrandt hang on the walls, alongside sculpture by Canova and some of the finest furniture in Europe. The White Drawing Room, a grand and gilded reception space, and the Throne Room, which displays the chairs used in coronation ceremonies, are particular highlights.

The visit typically lasts between two and two and a half hours and includes a free multimedia guide available in nine languages, which brings the history and the art to life as you move through the rooms. The tour concludes outdoors, with a walk along a half-kilometre gravel path through the palace gardens — offering views of the lake and the famous west front of the palace, a side most people never get to see.

On-site facilities include accessible restrooms, a garden café for refreshments, and gift shops selling souvenirs. Family activity bags are available to keep younger visitors engaged throughout the tour.

Browse Guided Tours & Experiences →

Safety and Accessibility

Security. As you’d expect for a royal residence, all visitors undergo airport-style security checks on arrival. A one-way system guides visitors smoothly along the route. Eating and drinking are not permitted inside (bottled water excepted), and pushchairs must be checked in before entering.

Accessibility. Step-free access is available but must be pre-booked in advance by contacting the Specialist Sales team (+44 (0)303 123 7324 or specialistsales@rct.uk). Accessible toilets and limited seating are provided along the route. Assistance dogs are welcome, and the multimedia guide offers British Sign Language and audio-descriptive options. Wardens trained as Dementia Friends are on hand to support visitors with cognitive needs. The tour spans two indoor floors and an outdoor gravel path, so it’s worth planning around mobility needs in advance.

Families. Children under 5 enter free, and family activity bags add an engaging element for younger visitors. Note that pushchairs must be checked in, so a baby carrier may be more practical for those with very young children.

Where to Stay Near Buckingham Palace

Staying near Buckingham Palace places you in the heart of royal and ceremonial London, within walking distance of the palace, St James’s Park, Green Park and Westminster. It’s one of the most prestigious — and convenient — areas to base yourself for a London visit, with excellent transport links radiating out from Victoria.

A few neighbourhoods worth considering:

• Victoria & Westminster — the most convenient base, with the palace, the parks and Westminster Abbey all within walking distance. Victoria station’s connections make the rest of London easy to reach.
• St James’s & Mayfair — among London’s most elegant and exclusive addresses, just north of Green Park. Quieter in the evenings, with exceptional dining and a refined atmosphere.
• Belgravia & Knightsbridge — graceful, upmarket and a short walk or hop on the Tube from the palace, with Hyde Park and the area’s famous shopping close by.

Accommodation in this part of London is in consistently high demand, particularly during the summer State Rooms season. Booking well ahead is strongly recommended, especially for weekends.

Find Hotels Near Buckingham Palace →

A Brief History of Buckingham Palace

The story of Buckingham Palace begins long before it became a royal residence. The original building, Buckingham House, was constructed in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. King George III acquired it in 1761 as a comfortable family home for his wife, Queen Charlotte, and it became known for a time as “The Queen’s House.”

The transformation into a palace came in the nineteenth century. The architect John Nash, working for King George IV, expanded the modest house into a grand palace, a project later continued by Edward Blore. Wings were added around a central courtyard, and the building gradually took on the scale and grandeur recognisable today. It became the official London residence of the monarch in 1837, when the young Queen Victoria moved in — the first sovereign to live there.

The numbers behind the palace are remarkable. Today it contains 775 rooms in total, including the 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. It remains a fully working royal residence and the administrative headquarters of the monarchy, hosting state visits, investitures and ceremonies throughout the year.

A detail that surprises many visitors: when the palace’s grand ballroom was completed in the mid-nineteenth century, it was the largest room in London — and it has hosted some of the most lavish state occasions in British history ever since.

Nearby Attractions

Buckingham Palace sits at the centre of one of London’s richest areas for sightseeing, with royal parks and historic landmarks in every direction.

A natural day out: take a morning tour of the State Rooms, watch the Changing of the Guard if it’s scheduled, then walk through St James’s Park towards Westminster Abbey and Big Ben in the afternoon.

See Multiple Attractions for Less with a London Pass →

Practical Tips for Your Visit

• Overseas visitor? The UK uses Type G plugs — a UK travel adapter is essential for charging your devices.
• Book well in advance. Summer State Rooms tickets sell out quickly — secure yours early, especially for weekends and peak summer weeks.
• Get your ticket stamped. Ask a warden to validate it before leaving for free re-admission across the year.
• Arrive 15 minutes early. This allows time to clear the airport-style security before your timed entry slot.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The tour covers two indoor floors and a half-kilometre gravel garden path.
• Bring a light jacket or compact travel umbrella. London weather is unpredictable, and the garden section is outdoors.
• Only water is allowed inside. No other food or drink is permitted in the State Rooms.
• No photography inside the State Rooms — this protects the artworks. Photography is permitted in the gardens.
• Bring headphones for the free multimedia guide if you prefer your own.
• For the Changing of the Guard, arrive by 10:30 am at the latest for the 11:00 am ceremony, and check the schedule in advance as it doesn’t run every day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours of Buckingham Palace London?

The State Rooms open to the public for a summer season each year, typically from mid-July to late September, usually from 9:30 am, with some closures near the end of the season for royal engagements. Guided tours of selected areas run on limited dates at other times of year. As the schedule follows the royal calendar, always check the official Royal Collection Trust website for current dates.

How much does it cost to visit Buckingham Palace London?

Several ticket types are available, from Standard Admission (the 19 State Rooms) to the Royal Day Out (State Rooms, The King’s Gallery and the Royal Mews) and a Standard + Garden Tour option. Children under 5 enter free, with reduced rates for young people, children and disabled visitors. As prices are reviewed annually, check the official website for current rates before booking.

Is Buckingham Palace suitable for children?

Yes. Children under 5 enter free, and family activity bags help keep younger visitors engaged throughout the tour. Highlights such as the Throne Room tend to capture children’s imaginations. Note that pushchairs must be checked in before entering.

Are there any discounts available for Buckingham Palace?

Groups of 15 or more receive a discount, and family tickets offer savings for one adult with two children or up to two adults with four children. A free companion ticket is available for visitors with disabilities.

How long does a visit to Buckingham Palace take?

A typical visit lasts between two and two and a half hours, covering the State Rooms and the gravel garden path at the end of the route.

Is photography allowed at Buckingham Palace London?

Photography is not permitted inside the State Rooms, in order to protect the artworks and furnishings. Photography is allowed in the palace gardens.

Are there guided tours available at Buckingham Palace?

A free multimedia guide in nine languages is included with admission to the State Rooms. In addition, guided tours of selected areas — such as the East Wing — are offered on limited dates during the year.

What’s the best way to get to Buckingham Palace from the city centre?

Take the Underground to Victoria, Green Park or Hyde Park Corner, all a short walk away. Bus routes 11, 211 and C10 also stop nearby. From Victoria station, it’s about a ten-minute walk through Green Park or along The Mall.

Is Buckingham Palace wheelchair accessible?

Step-free access is available but must be pre-booked in advance via the Specialist Sales team (+44 (0)303 123 7324). Accessible toilets, limited seating and specialist multimedia guides are provided. The tour covers two indoor floors and an outdoor gravel path.

Are there dining options near Buckingham Palace London?

The on-site garden café offers refreshments during the State Rooms season. Beyond the palace, the nearby areas of Victoria and The Mall, along with St James’s, have a wide range of cafés and restaurants to suit every budget.