Buckingham Palace is the King’s official London residence and one of the best-known landmarks in the city. You can see the Palace façade, the Victoria Memorial and The Mall at any time without a ticket, but visiting inside is a separate, seasonal experience. The State Rooms normally open during the summer, while the Royal Mews and The King’s Gallery have their own tickets, dates and opening times.
Visiting Buckingham Palace: key information
| Seeing the Palace from outside | Free and possible throughout the year. The forecourt may be busier or temporarily restricted during ceremonies and major events. |
| State Rooms | The 2026 Summer Opening ran from 9 July to 27 September. Small-group Exclusive Guided Tours continue on selected dates until 4 October 2026, and East Wing Exclusive Guided Tours run on selected dates from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027. Both currently cost £100 per person. Summer 2027 tickets are due to be released in November; always check the official Buckingham Palace page before planning around an interior visit. |
| Royal Mews | Open on selected dates from 5 March to 1 November 2026, normally Thursday to Monday. Online prices are £18 adults, £12 ages 18–24, £9 ages 5–17 and disabled visitors, and free for under-5s and access companions. Check the date and time shown when booking. |
| The King’s Gallery | The current exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, runs from 10 April 2026 to 18 April 2027. In 2026, standard prices are £22 adults, £14 ages 18–24, £11 ages 5–17 and disabled visitors, and free for under-5s and access companions. |
| Nearest stations | Green Park, Victoria and St James’s Park are all convenient. Use the TfL Journey Planner to choose the easiest route from your accommodation. |
Where is Buckingham Palace in London?
Buckingham Palace stands at the western end of The Mall in central London, beside St James’s Park and Green Park. See it on the map.
We recommend walking through St James’s Park on your way to or from the Palace. It is an enjoyable pause on a busy sightseeing day, especially if you are visiting London with children. Buckingham Palace is in Travel Zone 1.
What can you see at Buckingham Palace?
There are four different experiences to consider. They do not all operate on the same days and, apart from watching the ceremony, each requires its own ticket:
- The Changing of the Guard
- The State Rooms inside Buckingham Palace
- The Royal Mews
- The King’s Gallery
The Changing of the Guard
The Changing of the Guard is free to watch, but it does not take place every day and the programme can change at short notice because of weather or ceremonial requirements. Check the official Household Division calendar shortly before your visit and arrive early if you want a position near the Palace railings.
Afterwards, you can walk towards Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square or the South Bank, or follow our Buckingham Palace to Covent Garden itinerary.
Find out more: Changing of the Guard in London: information and dates.
The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace
The State Rooms are the ceremonial rooms used for official occasions. A summer visit normally includes spaces such as the Grand Staircase, Throne Room, Picture Gallery and drawing rooms, together with a free multimedia guide. Photography is not permitted inside the Palace.
The main summer visitor route takes around 2 to 2½ hours and finishes with a walk of approximately half a kilometre along a gravel path through the garden. Wear comfortable shoes. Toilets and baby-changing facilities are at the end of the route rather than at the entrance, and pushchairs must be checked in before entering; baby carriers can be borrowed subject to availability.
Summer admission uses timed 15-minute entry slots and popular dates can sell out, so pre-booking is sensible. Outside the summer season, the only opportunity to go inside may be a more expensive small-group guided tour on selected dates. Check current availability directly on the Royal Collection Trust website.
The Royal Mews
The Royal Mews is the working stable and carriage house connected with Buckingham Palace. Highlights include the Gold State Coach and Diamond Jubilee State Coach, and there are family activities and a free multimedia guide. Horses may be away on duty, so they are not guaranteed on every visit.
Allow around 60 to 90 minutes. The route is mostly outdoors but mainly covered. The Royal Mews is accessible and has seating, an accessible toilet and a Changing Places facility. There is no café inside. See current dates, times and tickets on the official Royal Mews page.
The King’s Gallery
The King’s Gallery hosts changing exhibitions drawn from the Royal Collection. The current exhibition, Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style, is the largest exhibition of the late Queen’s fashion yet staged and is scheduled to continue until 18 April 2027.
Allow at least an hour, and longer if the exhibition particularly interests you. The Gallery is accessible, access companions are admitted free and limited seating is available. There is no café inside, and only bottled water is permitted. Check the latest opening times and book through the official King’s Gallery page.
Accessibility at Buckingham Palace
The standard State Rooms route is not step-free. If you need step-free access, contact the Royal Collection Trust Specialist Sales team before booking so they can arrange the accessible route. A free access-companion ticket is available, accessible toilets and limited seating are provided, and assistance dogs are welcome. The multimedia guide is available in British Sign Language with subtitles, and an audio-described version is available for blind and partially sighted visitors.
Accessibility differs between the State Rooms, Royal Mews and King’s Gallery, so check the access section on the official page for the particular venue you intend to visit.
Hi, we are Alberto and Amy, the London locals behind PlanTrip London. We’ve lived in London since 2010 and have spent every year since exploring the city, from its famous landmarks to the markets, pubs, parks and hidden corners most visitors never find. Over the years we became the go-to trip planners for friends and family visiting London, so we created this site to share the same first-hand, tried-and-tested advice with you. Every itinerary, tip and recommendation here comes from our own experience with our two children, so you can plan a London trip that’s easier, better value and far more memorable.