Buckingham Palace

1. Arrival
2. Nights
3. Guests
4.  

Buckingham Palace is a grand, iconic sight and is The Queen’s official London residence, serving as the administrative headquarters for the British Royal family. It is also the venue for a great number of State events and ceremonies such as banquets for visiting dignitaries and Investitures. The palace was originally a smaller house, owned by George III, who created the imposing structure we see today. The first monarch to use it as their official home was Queen Victoria in 1937.

Buckingham Palace is enormous, consisting of four wings facing into a central courtyard. It has 19 State rooms, the largest of which is the Ballroom, and a total of 775 rooms altogether. A Union Jack flag flies from the roof whenever The Queen is in residence. The area has some residential buildings and the ultimate status symbol is to be able to say that your holiday home in London is next door to The Queen.

Visitors can only look around the palace when The Queen is away on her annual stay in Scotland during August and September as she doesn’t have a holiday home in London. You can take tours of the State Rooms and the gardens and there are exhibitions on display, a visitor shop and a cafe. Admission prices are £17 for adults, £9.75 for under-17s, £15.50 for concessions and free for under-5s. These costs include the use of an audio guide.

The palace is open from 9.45am to 6pm and you should allow two to three hours for a visit. Special guided evening tours at 5pm are also available for a few days during the summer opening season. These cost £65 per person and must be booked in advance.

Although it is in the centre of the city, Buckingham Palace is surrounded by wide open space with Green Park and St James’s Park adjacent. In front of the palace is the Victoria Memorial, in a large courtyard, which opens out onto the wide boulevard of The Mall.