Visiting Buckingham Palace – Tickets, tours + FAQs

Everything you need to know to plan and book your visit to Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the home of the British royal family and is one of London’s most iconic and impressive attractions. 

It only opens on selected dates each year so tickets are highly sought after. Visitors are wowed by the palace’s decor, furnishings and incredible artwork, all of which are steeped in British history and culture. 

We love visiting Buckingham Palace and consider it an unmissable London attraction. 

Visiting Buckingham Palace

There are different experiences and tours available at Buckingham Palace depending on the time of year in which you visit. 

During the peak summer months when the palace is open everyday, most visitors purchase a standard admission ticket. This provides access to the State Rooms and palace gardens but not the East Wing. These self-guided visits use a free multimedia audio guide and last around 2- 2.5 hours. 

However, you can also pre-book exclusive small group tours of the Palace. 

Summer tour options include a 1 hour tour of the East Wing followed by a visit to the State rooms or a State Rooms and Garden Highlights tour. In this tour, you’ll enjoy a self-guided visit to the state rooms followed by a 45 minute guided tour (in English only) of the gardens. Note that this tour takes place whatever the weather. 

Alternatively, you can join the 4.5 hour Royal Day Out tour. 

This encompasses The King’s Gallery (to view the Age of Elegance exhibition), followed by the Royal Mews (to see the Royal family’s historic coaches and carriages) and then the State Rooms and Palace Garden.

In winter and spring, you can book guided tours of the East Wing (run on selected dates from January to May).

These 90 minute tours explore the principal rooms of this part of the Palace, view the Royal Collection and visit the Centre Room, where you can view the Palace balcony. 

Note that the winter East Wing tour does not visit the State Rooms. However, if you are in the UK for an extended visit, you can convert your ticket to an annual pass and return to see the State Rooms in the summer. 

All tours are limited to 20 people so you’ll have time to explore and admire the palace plus ask questions of your guide.

Starting from 2025, a new feature of tours is the chance to enter the Palace’s front gates and cross the Forecourt, just like the Royal family and guests of the palace. 

Entry tickets and tours can be booked directly on the Buckingham Palace website. 

Buckingham Palace Facts and Figures!

1. There are 750 rooms inside Buckingham Palace, including 78 bathrooms.
2. Over 400 staff work at the palace.
3. The palace was originally built as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. 
4. In 1761, it became known as the Queen’s House after King George III bought the property as a private home for Queen Charlotte.
5. It was expanded and redesigned into a palace by architect John Nash in 1820. 
6. The first monarch to live in Buckingham Palace was Queen Victoria in 1837. 
7. When the monarch is inside the palace the Royal Standard flies from the flagpole on the roof. When the monarch is away, you’ll see the Union Jack flying. 
8. Buckingham Palace was hit by nine bombs during World War II.
9. The palace contains a post office, cinema, swimming pool, doctor’s surgery, and jeweller’s workshop.
10. The Royal family do not own Buckingham Palace, it is held in trust by the Crown Estates. 

What to see at Buckingham Palace

If you are visiting Buckingham Palace as part of your London itinerary it is good to know a little before you visit so you don’t miss anything which is of particular interest.

• The State Rooms – this is where the King and the royal family entertain their guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions.

They include the lavishly decorated White Drawing Room and the impressive Throne Room which contains the coronation chairs of King Charles and Queen Camilla. You’ll also see the historic Green Room which is used for diplomatic meetings. 

• The Ballroom – this opulent room draped in chandeliers is used for state banquets.
• The Picture Gallery – a 47 metre long room lined with the best paintings from the Royal Collection including famous artists such as Rembrandt and Titian.
• The Grand Staircase – this sweeping staircase is lined with paintings of Queen Victoria’s family.
• The Palace Garden – the 39 acre garden is the largest private garden in London. It contains 325 wild-plant species, 30 species of breeding birds, over 1,000 trees, a rose garden, lake, summer house and a tennis court. 

Getting to Buckingham Palace

• Tube: The nearest tube station is Green Park which is a 6 minute walk from the Palace. Other nearby stations are Victoria, St. James’s Park and Hyde Park Corner which are a 10 minute walk from the palace.  
• Overground rail: The nearest overland train stations are London Victoria (a 10 minute walk) or London Charing Cross (a 20 minute walk). 
• Bus routes: Bus numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road, a few minutes walk from the palace. You can also get a coach to Victoria Coach Station which is a 10-minute walk from the Palace.
• Uber boat: Westminster Pier (a 20 minute walk from the palace).
• Sightseeing buses: All major sightseeing buses pass close to Buckingham Palace.

Opening hours

• From November to May Buckingham Palace opens on selected dates for small guided tours. Check the Buckingham Palace website for upcoming dates. 
• East Wing Exclusive Guided Tours run on selected dates from January to May.
  • Tours run from 10:30 am – 3:00 pm. 
  • Tours last around 1 hour 45 minutes.  

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening Times

• Buckingham Palace opens to visitors each summer from the middle of July until the end of September. Exact dates vary from year to year so check the Buckingham Palace website in advance of your visit. 
• The Palace is open 7 days a week during July and August. In September it’s closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
• The Palace is open from 9.30 am until 7.30 pm in summer, with last admission at 5.30 pm. 
• In September, the Palace is open from 9.30 am until 6.30 pm with last admissions at 4.30 pm. 

When is the best time to visit

• Due to the limited opening dates, Buckingham Palace can get very busy especially at weekends and in the peak summer season. Try to visit mid-week if you can.
• For fewer crowds, visit as early in the day as you can or as late in the day as you can.

What other London attractions are located near Buckingham Palace?

• The Changing of the Guard – this historic ceremony is when one troop of palace soldiers are relieved by another troop. It usually takes place at 11.00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays all year round and lasts around 45 minutes. The times can change so it’s best to double check before you visit. Arrive early if you want a good viewpoint. 
• St. James Park and Green Park – bordering the Palace, these gardens are an oasis of green in the busy capital.  
• Westminster Abbey and Big Ben – a 15 minute walk brings you to iconic Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and historic Westminster Abbey, the site of Royal marriages and burials.
• Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery – a 20 minute walk to the heart of London and Trafalgar Square, The National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery
• Churchill War Rooms – see where the course of World War II was planned and fought, just a 20 minute walk from Buckingham Palace. 

Tips for planning your visit

1. Plan your visit carefully as you’ll need to choose a day and time when booking your ticket. Admission is every 15 minutes and you can only enter at your designated time. 
2. Airline style security and bag checks are carried out before entering the palace. There is no facility to check large bags or suitcases. The nearest left luggage is at Victoria coach and overland station, a 20 minute walk away. Bags larger than 45cm x 20cm x 30 cm are not permitted inside the palace and all bags must be worn sideways or on your front. Wearing a bag on your back (like a backpack) is not allowed. 
3. Visitors are not allowed to take photographs inside Buckingham Palace. Photography is only allowed in the garden (which is only open during the summer tours). 
4. Pick up one of the free multimedia guides at the start of your visit. The audio tours are available in English and 8 other languages. There is also a visual BSL tour and a detailed guide for visually impaired visitors. We highly recommend using this excellent audio tour; you’ll learn so much more than just looking around the palace on your own.
5. If you have children under 12, you can use a child friendly audio tour. 
6. Eating and drinking is prohibited inside the Palace. Only bottled water (of a reasonable size) is permitted. 
7. Toilets and baby-care facilities are available at the end of your tour. You won’t be able to go at the start of your visit or mid-tour. 
8. During the summer months, the Garden Cafe on the West Terrace is open but can only be accessed at the end of your visit. The cafe serves snacks, drinks, cakes and an afternoon tea and boasts a fabulous view over the garden towards the lake. 
9. Pushchairs are not allowed inside Buckingham Palace. You’ll have to check your pushchair at the entrance and collect it at the end of your tour. Baby carriers and hip seats are available to borrow for free. The same check-in rules apply for large umbrellas.
10. Buckingham Palace and its garden is fully accessible by wheelchair. If you need step free access for entry, contact the booking office in advance of your visit. 
11. Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll be on your feet for over 3 hours.
12. If you buy your ticket directly from the Palace website, you can convert it into a 1 year pass which gives you free admission for 12 months from the initial date of entry. Note that you’ll have to contact the booking office to book a date and time for subsequent visits.

Buckingham Palace is packed with history, character and amazing art and furnishings. If you love history, architecture, fabulous interior design or just want to learn more about the history of the British royal family, Buckingham Palace is a must visit.

Visit these other London attractions and landmarks – tickets, tours & FAQs

• The Tower of London
• Westminster Abbey
• The London Eye
• Windsor Castle
• Hampton Court Palace
• St Paul’s Cathedral
• Kensington Palace