How to Visit Buckingham Palace

Planning a trip to London? What made your must-see list? Big Ben? Tower Bridge? Buckingham Palace?

These are just a few of the iconic sites London is known for. You can easily walk to the base of Big Ben or across the Tower Bridge to cross off those experiences. But what about Buckingham Palace?

I spent a semester studying abroad in London. During that time I visited Buckingham Palace dozens of times. I even saw Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. But it wasn’t until my most recent London trip in 2018 that I actually went inside and toured Buckingham Palace.

So if you are curious about visiting this classic royal site, read on. In this post, I will share exactly how to visit Buckingham Palace. Cheers!

The Basics

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British royal family. It also serves as the monarch’s administrative headquarters. So it is basically the White House for the Queen.

Location

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster and is surrounded by St. James Park and Green Park. Green Park, Hyde Park Corner, and Victoria are the closest Tube stops. Buses 11, 211, C1 and C10 all make stops along Buckingham Palace Road.

How to Visit Buckingham Palace- The Adventuring Millennial

Or, you could take the Tube to Charing Cross and walk a mile along the Mall for a more scenic route.

Tours

Yes, the Queen lives in Buckingham Palace. But, this isn’t her only residence. She spends most of the summer in Windsor Palace. During this time, Buckingham Palace is open for visitors. We will go into a lot more detail later in this post.

Flags

When you are visiting London, you might notice one of two flags flying above Buckingham Palace. If you see the yellow, red, and blue Royal Standard flag that means the Queen is currently in the palace. Otherwise, you will just see the Union Jack flying which means she is not at home.

Fun Facts

There are 775 rooms in Buckingham Palace.
The palace grounds cover 40 acres.
The palace survived 9 bombings during WWII.

Quick History Lesson

The original building was constructed in 1703 as a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham. In 1761, King George III acquired the building and gifted it to Queen Charlotte.

Additions were made in the 19th century to The Queen’s House. It became the official royal residence in 1837 when Queen Victoria became the first monarch to live in the renovated building, now known as Buckingham Palace.

Today is is the London residence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles. Every year they entertain thousands of guests at traditional garden parties.

Still waiting on your garden party invite? Me too! In the meantime, let’s look at some realistic ways you can visit Buckingham Palace.

Each summer visitors can tour the State Rooms while the Queen is away. Check the website for updated information. Since this is a working palace, the Queen can decide to return whenever she wants. If that happens, tours for those dates would be canceled.

As of April 2019, the website lists opening dates for the 2019 season as:

July 20-September 29, 2019

There may also be a few dates that the palace is open during the winter, so check the website for more information.

Buy Tickets Online

Go ahead and buy your tickets online. Tickets can sell out, so this is the best way to make sure you can visit the palace.

Tickets can be purchased here. Standard admission tickets cost £25.00 for adults. You will need to select the specific entry time when you check out. This ticket includes an audio guide which will give you more information about the palace as you take the tour.

If you want to include more royal sites on your tour, consider purchasing the Royal Day Out ticket. This includes access to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery and the Royal Mews. This ticket costs £45.00 for adults.

What You Need to Know

Buy your tickets online and arrive at the time on your ticket.
This is a self-guided tour but you should allow about 2-2.5 hours to see everything.
There is no set dress code for entering the palace.
You will have to go through airport-style security before entering.
Larger bags and backpacks will have to be checked and you can pick them up after you finish your tour.
Photography and filming is not allowed inside the State Rooms.
A free audioguide is included with your ticket.

What You Get to See

If you take the standard tour inside the Palace, you will get to explore the State Rooms. You won’t get to see any private apartments. But, I loved just being inside the Palace. It’s not every day you get to step inside a royal residence!

The Throne Room– During your tour, you will see the gorgeous Throne Room. Here you can see the thrones that were used during the 1953 coronation ceremony of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. This room was also the setting of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s iconic wedding photos.
The Ballroom– This is a massive formal room that was originally used for concerts and balls. Now, it is mainly used for State Banquets and Royal Investitures (when the Queen honors someone with an important title like Knighthood).
Palace Garden- At the end of the standard tour, you will exit the palace and see the Palace Garden. This is where the classic Garden Parties are held. You can’t step on the grass, but this is the only place on the tour where you can take pictures. Snap a few selfies and then head to the pop-up tea shop. Here you can enjoy tea and pastries while pretending you were invited here personally by the Queen.

Other Royal Experiences in London

If you are not visiting during the few weeks Buckingham Palace is open, don’t worry. There are plenty of other royal experiences to have in London!

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is the most classic royal experience you can have (plus, it is free to attend). Every morning, a formal ceremony is held to switch out the royal guards in front of Buckingham Palace (you know, those guys with the funky hats who just won’t crack a smile). Sure, this is a popular event. And it will be crowded, but this is something everyone should see at least once during their time in London.

Check this website for up-to-date information about when the ceremony will start. Plan to arrive early to scope out a spot. If you want to see the guards, stand along the gates in front of the Palace. Otherwise, scope out a spot around the Victoria Memorial. Here you will still see the band and guard parade.

State Opening of Parliament

Every year, the Queen officially opens Parliament by parading from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster to deliver a speech. This is a traditional ceremony that dates back hundreds of years. This usually happens in May when the new Parliamentary session begins. As of April 2019, date hasn’t been announced for yet, but if you are planning a trip for mid-late May, do some research to see if the date is announced before your trip.

This was actually how I was able to see the Queen. I was studying abroad in London during the State Opening. I woke up early and secured a spot along the Mall. The Queen rode by in her State Coach (and I freaked out- it was pretty dang exciting!)

Royal Mews

If you want to see the Gold State Coach, carriage horses, or the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, be sure to visit the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews arrange all of the road travel for the royal family.

The Royal Mews is open from February- November every year. You can buy tickets online for £12.00. You can also purchase a £20.70 combined ticket which allows you to visit the Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery, which features a collection of art and rare antique furniture.

Banqueting House

The Banqueting House is the only remaining part of the Palace of Whitehall. From 1530-1698, the British monarchs lived here. This was once one of the largest palaces in Europe. With 1,500 rooms, it was larger than the Vatican.

The Banqueting House was used for royal receptions, ceremonies, and banquets. In 1617, Pocahontas was brought here to be presented to the King. In 1649, King Charles I was beheaded in front of the House. Today, you can take a self-guided tour of the Banqueting House. Purchase tickets online ( £5.50 for adults) or at the door £6.10).

Kensington Palace

Kensington Palace was the birthplace and childhood home of Queen Victoria. Today, Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children live in this palace.

Unlike Buckingham Palace, this palace is open to visitors year round. For £17.50 you can take a guided tour of this royal home.

Tower of London

The Tower of London is a historic royal palace that was originally constructed as a fortress 1070 by William the Conqueror. The fortress was later expanded to include state apartments and a chapel. Infamously, Anne Boleyn was executed in this tower.

Today, you can tour the tower to learn more about medieval England. The Crown Jewels, which are still used in royal ceremonies today, are also on display in the Tower.

I hope you enjoyed my guide detailing how to visit Buckingham Palace!

As you plan your trip, be sure to check out my other London guides:

48 Hours in London

A London Self Guided Walking Tour

10 Restaurants You Must Try in London

How to Plan the Perfect Brighton Day Trip