Very few people don't know about the royal grandeur of Buckingham Palace. The most recognizable address in the world is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. The palace itself is nothing short of sublime. This beautiful feat of architecture is in the heart of London and is a must-visit for anyone visiting London.
A Buckingham Palace tour will take you through the fascinating history of the royals in England. The guides will also be able to tell you all about the lineage of the royals and give you a guided tour of the insides of the palace.
Let us help you choose a guided tour that will be perfect for you and your needs!
Advantages of a Buckingham Palace Guided Tour
Skip The Line Entry
Buckingham palace is a popular tourist destination. There is a high chance that there would be a crowd at the door if you decided to book a ticket on-site. By booking a Buckingham Palace guided tour beforehand, you get to skip the horrendous lines and get into the palaces at a time of your choosing!
Walk With A Local Guide Who's An Expert
With the help of a local guide, you can gather in-depth knowledge about the palace that otherwise would have slipped your notice. The guides will also put in witty narratives about the sights you are seeing.
Get A Free Audio Guide
If you like working at your own pace and don’t work well with a guide, then a Buckingham Palace guided tour will provide you with a free audio guide! Enjoy the sights of Buckingham Palace at your own pace!
A Chance To Enjoy A Sightseeing Tour Of London (Selected Tours Only)
With a Buckingham Palace guided tour, you will also get admission to a comfortable ac coach. With the heat waves becoming more prominent in London and surrounding areas, an ac coach can come as a blessing. It will also be helpful when you are sightseeing in the middle of the day.
The Best Buckingham Palace Guided Tours
Guided Tours
Combo Guided Tours
The Complete Guide To Buckingham Palace
Choosing the Best Buckingham Palace Guided Tour
Before choosing your tour, take a look at the main features of each type of tour and then make an informed decision. Here’s a list of all your Buckingham Palace tour options and their highlights.
1Guided Tour In A Luxury Coach
Travel in luxury as you take in the attractions of the greater and lower London area. You will be provided with an AC coach. With reports of the heatwaves in London, you would want to have the comfort of an AC coach to come back to! Make great use of a luxury coach to discover the pomp and grandeur of London!
2Walking Tour With Changing Of The Guard
If you are the kind of person who loves to explore a city on foot, then this ticket is for you. Your expert guide will walk you through historical landmarks and famous locations. You will also be given a walking tour of the changing of the guards. Marvel at the discipline and elegance of the royal guards and learn fun, quirky facts on the walking tour!
3Audio Guide With State Rooms Ticket
Every summer, Buckingham Palace holds a summer gala. This fascinating experience is a self-guided tour. This experience harnesses the power of multimedia to teach you all about the 19 state rooms in Buckingham Palace. The exhibition this year is dedicated to Queen Victoria and the 200th anniversary of her birth. All of the staterooms are like works of lavish art. The rooms are furnished with ornate furniture and antique decorations. Truly a treat for the senses!
4Audio Guide with Queen’s Gallery Entrance
Take a deep dive into the rich heritage and culture of the English empire and British royalty with the help of this ticket. You can wonder at the rare and precious items put on display in the royal collection. The exhibition that is going on right now is showcasing the artistic, and cultural connections between the royal and imperial houses of the United Kingdom and Japan.
5Audio Guide with Royal Mews Entrance
The royals and their stables were a match made in heaven. This is why the finest working stables in the world are the Royal Mews. enjoy yourself as you learn about the beautiful Windsors Greys and the Cleveland Bays. these are the horses that draw the royal carriages at Mew. your guide will also be able to tell you little historical tidbits about the stables and their significance to the royal family.
Buckingham Palace Tours Deconstructed - A Typical Guided Tour Experience
Make the best out of your Buckingham Palace tickets and let your expert guide take you through a journey of the opulent palaces and the expertly kept stables. You will also get to hear witty anecdotes and quirky tidbits about the history of Buckingham Palace. With your Buckingham Palace tickets, you will also be able to visit other places other than just Buckingham palace and the royal stables! Read on to find out all the places you can visit on the Buckingham Palace tickets!
The State Rooms
The staterooms occupy the heart of Buckingham palace. These 19 staterooms are used by the royal family and the queen herself to house royal dignitaries and guests. These rooms are also used to host royal functions and events. These rooms are decorated with lavish furnishings and the finest collection of paintings from Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto, and Claude.
The Grand Staircase
If you are visiting the royal palace, the staircase will be the first attraction you come across. These sweeping pair of staircases will be your welcome into Buckingham palace. Historic portraits of events and royal family members line the stairway. Make sure to take in the grandeur of this beautiful staircase and see if you can name the royal family members in the portraits hanging in the stairway!
The Throne Room
Perhaps the most recognizable room in the palace. The Throne Room is often seen in the backdrop of royal wedding photos. You will get to see the thrones that the royal family used for their investitures and ceremonial receptions. Keep an eye out for the throne used by Queen Victoria and the chairs used by George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
The Gardens
If you are in the mood to see some feats of botanical wonder in the middle of London, check out the Palace Gardens. The palace gardens are also known as the “walled Oasis in the middle of London”. The garden has structures that are just as beautiful as the palace itself. The garden stretches over 16 hectares. The garden boasts 350 species of plants and is simply too beautiful to miss out on.
Diamond Diadem
The diamond diadem was made for the coronation of King George IV in July 1821. George IV later purchased the diadem and passed it on to Queen Adelaide, consort of King William IV who established the tradition of feminine wearing of the diadem. This is a tradition that is followed even today. The diamond diadem and other precious jewels from the queen's collection are on Display in Buckingham palace!
The Royal Mews
The Royal Mews is perhaps the finest working stables in the world today. They are responsible for all the stately visits of the royals and of course, the Queen herself. You can also take a closer look at the Gold State and Diamond Jubilee State coaches. You can also meet the Windsors Greys and the Cleveland Bays that are responsible for drawing these beautiful carriages!
Changing of the Guards
Arguably one of the most popular features of Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guards happens every two hours a day. This is a very popular attraction with tourists. And a picture of them changing guards is essential in every London tourist's itinerary. The ceremony takes place four days a week starting from 11 am. The guard begins to leave the Royal Barracks and St. James Palace by 10:30.
The Japan: Courts and Culture
Arguably one of the most popular features of Buckingham Palace. The changing of the guards happens every two hours a day. This is a very popular attraction with tourists. And a picture of them changing guards is essential in every London tourist's itinerary. The ceremony takes place four days a week starting from 11 am. The guard begins to leave the Royal Barracks and St. James Palace by 10:30.
Gold State Coach
Located in the beautiful stables of Buckingham palace, the Golden State Coach is a shining example of British culture. This was the very carriage that was used by her majesty on her Platinum Jubilee Pageant. This beautiful piece of art is open for the public to see, so make sure that you take a good look at this seven-meter-long carriage before leaving the palace!
Are Buckingham Palace Tours Really Worth it?
Buckingham palace is one of the few working royal palaces left in the world. The Buckingham Palace tickets let you tour the opulently decorated staterooms where you can marvel at the grandeur of the decorations in these rooms. You can also see the beautiful Royal Mew stables. This is where you will find one of the best-kept stables in the world. And then, you can go to the Palace gardens where you will be serenaded by the beauty of the 350 different species of plants that are planted over 16 hectares. All the while you will be given an expert local guide to help you on your tour. So, yes, a guided Buckingham palace tour is worth it.
Buckingham Palace Practical Information
Opening Hours
From July to August
Timing: 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM
From September to October
Timing: 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Buckingham Palace is open for tours to the public from mid-July till the end of September. Private tours are available on selected winter dates.
Getting to Buckingham Palace
- By Bus: Bus numbers 11, 211, C1, and C10 all stop on Buckingham Palace Road, a short walk from the Palace entrance and other attractions. Victoria Coach Station, for longer distance coach arrivals, is about a ten-minute walk.
- By Tube: The nearest London Tube Stations are Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, St James's Park Green Park, and St James's Park.
- By Train: Victoria station and Charing Cross are the nearest rail stations for the train.
Insider Tips
- It will take two hours to tour the whole Buckingham Palace complex.
- The walk through the garden to the exit will take you almost half an hour. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- After the tour of the 19 rooms, stop for refreshments in the Garden Cafe.
- Entry to the palace is preceded by a security screening. So make sure to budget time accordingly.
- The tickets are time slotted. This means you are allowed admission only in certain time slots.
- Photography is strictly prohibited in certain rooms on the tour.
FAQs
No, you can’t visit the inner complex of Buckingham palace for free. However, you can still watch the changing of guards for free! Just make sure to be mindful of the two-hour rotation.
It is mentioned clearly on their website “Smart attire for men includes the wearing of a jacket and tie, and for women a trouser or skirt suit. Those wearing jeans or trainers will not be admitted and casually dressed members of the media will be turned away. This also applies to technicians.”
Yes, there are places to eat inside the palace. Enjoy an exceptional Bottomless Champagne Afternoon Tea in our Palace Lounge. Or enjoy a light snack at the Garden Cafe.
The queen has a private residence within Buckingham palace that is shielded away from the public quite well. However, you might never know! She might just decide to give one of the 19 staterooms a visit on the day you are touring Buckingham Palace!
Buckingham palace is one of the few working royal palaces in the world today. This kind of display of royal wealth is rarely seen these days. It is worth visiting Buckingham Palace.
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