Buckingham Palace in London is one of the places you must include on your itinerary when planning a trip to London.
Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the British Royal Family since 1837. As a matter of fact, this is where Queen Elizabeth II lived.
Where is Buckingham Palace in London
You will find Buckingham Palace at the end of the long avenue called The Mall in central London. The Mall starts at Trafalgar Square and ends at Buckingham Palace. This avenue is between two beautiful London parks: St James’s Park and Green Park. See map.
I recommend walking through St James’s Park during your visit to London. Even though it is one of the smallest parks, it is one of the most beautiful parks in London. St James’s famous pelicans arrive in spring, and it is possible to meet London´s famous friendly squirrels in both parks. The squirrels are always a big hit if you visit London with kids, so remember to take some nuts!
The nearest underground stations are Green Park, St James’s Park and Charing Cross, all within Travel Zone 1 in London.
What to see at Buckingham Palace in London
Even though it is evident that you can walk past Buckingham Palace to see it, some tourists don’t realise other aspects of it are open to the public.
At Buckingham Palace you can see:
- The Changing of the Guard
- The Royal Mews
- The Queen’s Gallery
- The State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the best-known tourist attractions in the British capital. It is usually held every day during the summer months and every other day during other months. However, there are usually exceptions, and the exact dates are generally confirmed a few weeks before. Watching the changing of the guard is free; all you have to do is head to Buckingham Palace before it’s about to start.
Afterwards, from Buckingham Palace, you can easily walk towards Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square or Southbank, or why not follow our itinerary 1 for a perfect day out in London.
Find out more: Changing of the Guard in London: Information and Dates.
Royal Mews
The Royal Mews are located at the rear of Buckingham Palace. This is where you can see the royal stables and some horses used today for different events. We can also see the different carriages that have been used for historical events and are still used nowadays, such as the impressive Gold State Coach used for coronations since 1821.
A free multilingual audio guide is available for visitors. Photography is allowed inside the Royal Mews.
The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace in London are open from February to November. We recommend purchasing tickets in advance to secure entry. Entry to the Royal Mews is free with the London Pass. In addition, this card also includes free entry to the Guards Museum and the household cavalry museum, which are both in the same area.
The Royal Mews visitor information
Opening Times 2023
2nd March – 30th October: 10 am to 4 pm. Normally closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Entry fees
Adults: £14.00.
Under 17s: £8.00.
Under 5s: free,
Expected visit time
We expect a visit to the Royal Mews to take 60 – 90 minutes.
The Queen´s Gallery
The Queen’s Gallery is an art gallery dedicated to temporary exhibitions from the Royal Collection, featuring decorative arts, old master paintings, rare furniture and images from the vast photograph collection.
A free multilingual audio guide is available for visitors. Photography is allowed inside the Queen’s Gallery.
The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace is open to the public throughout the year. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance. Entry to the Queen’s Gallery is also included if you have the London Pass.
The Queen’s Gallery Visitor Information
Opening Times 2023
Open from Thursday to Monday from 10 am to 5.30 pm. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Closed from the 27th of February to the 20th of April 2023.
Entry fees
Adults: £17.00
Under 17s: £11.00
Under 5s: free
Expected visit time
We expect a visit to the Queen’s Gallery to take 60 – 90 minutes.
State Rooms at Buckingham Palace
The 19 State Rooms at Buckingham Palace in London are open to the public for eight weeks a year, usually during summer. This is certainly a unique visit that allows us to go inside Buckingham Palace. Upon entering, we arrive at the Grand Staircase, an impressive marble staircase designed by the architect John Nash for King George IV. From there, you can visit the different state rooms of the Palace, including the Throne Room, the Music Room, the Ballroom, and the impressive Banquet Hall. Additionally, you can visit the Gardens at the rear of the Palace.
A free multilingual audio guide is available for visitors. Unfortunately, photography is not permitted inside the Palace.
As the State Rooms are only open to the public eight weeks a year during the summer months, it is highly recommended to book tickets in advance as it gets booked up pretty quickly. It is one of the best things you can visit in London if you plan to visit during the summer.
Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms Visitor Information
Opening Times 2023
14th of July to 31st of August: Monday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 7.30 pm.
1st to 24th of September: Monday to Sunday from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm.
Entry fees
Adults: £25.00
Under 17s: £14.00
Under 5s: free.
Expected visit time
We expect a visit to the State Rooms to take approximately 2 hours.
