One of the most important places among the attractions in London is Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen of England. Most of the year, the residence is completely closed to the public, who have to be content, at most, to attend the changing of the royal guard, which takes place in the courtyard of the palace. However, for a few weeks in the Northern Hemisphere summer, it is possible to visit the palace, which always has a different exhibition, the Queen's Art Gallery, the Royal Stables, and the gardens of Buckingham Palace. In this post, we talk about how to visit Buckingham Palace and give tips for those who want to include this tour in their itinerary. When planning your visit, you might be considering where to stay to maximize your London experience. Fortunately, there's no shortage of accommodation options. From luxurious stays to more budget-friendly boutiques, every kind of traveler can find their fit. One convenient option for a comfortable stay is checking out hotels-of-london.com, where you can find a range of hotels that cater to your preferences and proximity to Buckingham Palace. In addition to the practicalities of accommodation, you may be eager to find out the best-rated hotels in the city to ensure your comfort and satisfaction. For travelers focused on experiencing top-tier accommodation, it's worth visiting tophotels.com. Here, you can discover a curated list of top hotels in London, complete with reviews and ratings to help you make an informed decision. After all, a good night's rest will ensure that you're recharged and ready for a day of exploration at Buckingham Palace and beyond.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Currently, Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom, but it was not always so. The building was built in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham and was not originally a palace, but was known as Buckingham House, a much simpler townhouse than the palace we know today. In 1761, King George III, acquired the property with the aim of being the private residence of Queen Charlotte. During the 19th century, it was expanded and 3 wings were built around a central courtyard, including the famous balcony where the royal family traditionally gathers to greet their subjects.
View of Buckingham Palace in the background of The Mall, the main avenue leading to it
After Queen Victoria ascending the throne in 1837, Buckingham Palace eventually became the official residence of a monarch. Since then, the tradition has continued with all the kings and queens that followed (Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI and Elizabeth II). During the Second World War, the existing chapel in the palace was destroyed due to German bombing. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, and the garden is the largest private garden in London. At "State Rooms", used for official purposes; you royal stables and the Queen's Art Gallery are open to the public every year.
HOW TO VISIT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
There are several attractions that can be visited at Buckingham Palace. Each of them requires a specific ticket that must be purchased in advance for a pre-scheduled day and time (See all the information at the end of the post). There are 4 specific spaces that can be seen through Buckingham Palace tours. You have to go through a metal detector / x-ray every time you enter a new environment, as the access doors are independent. The map below shows the entrance to each of the attractions.
1. STATE ROOMS
It is, without a doubt, the most sought after tour. The "State Rooms" are the rooms where the queen receives presidents from other countries, ambassadors, diplomats, and important personalities in general. That is, they refer to the public rooms of the building. The Palace is finely decorated with beautiful paintings, statues, tapestries, furniture and works of art. Important rooms and even the throne room are visited. Every year, in addition to visiting the "State Rooms", an exhibition is organised with important pieces for some royal celebration. The 19 "State Rooms" feature many of the pieces of furniture, chandeliers and other works of art that were purchased or produced for Carlton House, the London residence of George IV when he was Prince of Wales. Today, the "State Rooms" are equipped with many of the Royal Collection's greatest treasures, including paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculptures by Canova, exquisite porcelain pieces by Sèvres, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.
The official photograph of the royal wedding was taken in the throne room, one of those in the script. Photo: publicity
We were there in 2011, right after the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and the exhibition featured, among other things, the wedding dress, bouquet and decorations used in the royal wedding. In 2016, the 90th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II was celebrated and the exhibition focused on the monarch's personal items, mainly dresses and hats used on special occasions and official visits to other countries. To visit, arrive 10 minutes before the previously scheduled time (Gate C). Your ticket will be checked and some instructions will be given. You need to go through the metal detector/x-ray before accessing the Palace. Then, take the audio guide (in Brazilian Portuguese) to take an explanatory tour of the "State Rooms". Remembering that on this tour, it is forbidden to take pictures and film.
2. QUEEN'S GALLERY
The Queen's Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit artwork from the royal collection. The Royal Collection is extremely vast. It is estimated that there are over 1 million objects, including 7,000 paintings, 30,000 prints, as well as photographs, tapestries, ceramics, books, sculptures and jewellery. Therefore, annually, two different exhibitions are selected to be shown at the Queen's Gallery. It is necessary to go through the metal detector and x-ray and get a specific audio guide that will explain the works that are on display. In 2016, the featured exhibitions were prints by artist Maria Sybilla Merian, which focused on the process of butterfly metamorphosis, and another exhibition that featured several paintings by renowned Scottish artists such as Sir David Wilkie. Photos are allowed, but no flash. Unlike the "State Rooms", the Queen's Gallery is open most of the year.
Read more: How to Visit the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace
3. ROYAL STABLES (ROYAL MEWS)
In this place it is possible to discover the royal carriages used at official events, weddings, the queen's birthday and celebrations. Among the attractions are historic carriages, an official Royal Royce car, the incredible carriage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (60 years of reign) and, at the end of the tour, the highlight, the carriage that is used in the coronation ceremony of a new monarch. She is all gold with beautiful designs! At the end of the tour, some royal horses are in the stables. To enter, you have to go through the metal detector/x-ray. Take your audio guide (it's in Brazilian Portuguese) and follow the numbers indicated to get information about each location. Photos are allowed, however, without flash.
Read more: London: Visiting the Royal Stables at Buckingham Palace
GARDEN COFFEE
At the end of the tour of the "State Rooms", you will have to return the audio guide and on your right will be set up a delicious cafe with a menu that includes paninis and delicious pastries. Take a break from your walk while sitting at one of the tables facing the Royal Garden on the terrace of Buckingham Palace.
THE ROYAL STORES
After each of the attractions ("State Rooms", Royal Stables and the Queen's Art Gallery) you will pass by shops with assorted products branded by Buckingham Palace. Books, porcelain, decorative items, key chains, fridge magnets, clothing, cookies, teas, Christmas tree decorations, stationery are some of the items sold. For those looking for something to take as a gift to friends and relatives, they are great options. It is possible to do online shopping and ask to deliver it to the hotel where you are staying.
HOW LONG FOR TOURS
In general, according to the official website of the Royal Collection, on average, visitors spend this amount of hours to visit the Palace:
Royal Stables: approximately 1 hour
Queen's Gallery: usually 1 hour to 1 hour in a half
State Rooms: on average from 2 hours to 2 and a half hours
TIP: 1 YEAR PASS
At the end of the tours, you can ask an employee to stamp your ticket so that you can use it, free of charge, for a period of 1 year. Just write your name and sign on the back of the ticket for the employee to validate. There are some rules for using the 1-Year Pass and the content is worth reading from this link to find out how to use it.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Wear comfortable shoes because you will be walking a lot.
Take little things with you because if you do the 3 tours (State Rooms, Queen's Gallery and Royal Stables) you will have to go through the metal detector / x-ray 3 times.
Do not take sharp objects or objects that may raise questions about safety.
There are no restrooms during the Buckingham Palace tour. Schedule to use before the start or end.
It is not allowed to consume food or drinks during the tours.
HOW TO GET
Access by subway is very easy and it is possible to reach it through 3 stations that are closer:
Victoria Station: Victoria Line (light blue), circle line (Yellow), District Line (green)
Green Park Station: Victoria Line (light blue), Piccadilly Line (marine), Jubille Line (grey)
Hyde Park Corner Station: Piccadilly Line (marine)
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. State Rooms
2019 hours:
July 20th to August 31st: daily from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm
September 1st to September 29th: daily from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
Entrance: £25 - buy online at this link
2. Queen's Art Gallery
2019 hours:
from July 20th to September 29th, 2018 from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
other times of the year: daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm
Entrance: £12 - buy online at this link
3. royal stables
2019 hours:
February 1st to March 24th: daily from 10 am to 4 pm
March 25th to October 31st: daily from 10 am to 5 pm
November 1st to 30th: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm
Entrance: £12 - buy online at this link
4. Combo: Queen's Art Gallery + Royal Stables
Entrance: £20.70
5. Royal Day Out: State Rooms + Queen's Art Gallery + Royal Stables
Entrance: £45
Tip: The time selected at the time of purchase is the time to start the tour of the Queen's Gallery. Then head to the Royal Stables and be at the time marked on the ticket for the State Rooms (which is 2:30 hours after the time you booked).
6. Combo: State Rooms + Garden Tour
Entrance fee: £32.50
Tip: This is the only tour that allows you to see the main attractions of the immense gardens of the Palace. The other tours to the Palace end in the garden, however, you go outside them to reach the exit.
7. Special Tours: Winter and Spring
Schedules:
Winter: generally mid-December to early February at 1:30pm, 2pm, 4pm and 4:30pm - confirm times on the official website
Spring: generally late March to April at 5:30pm and 6pm - confirm times on the official website
Entrance fee: £80
Tip: This guided tour is the opportunity to see inside Buckingham Palace during the holiday season or spring. Unlike the summer tour, this one is led by an expert guide and holds a maximum of 30 people at a time. At the end, visitors receive a champagne glass.