Buckingham Palace

Attraction Information

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham. Today it is The Queen's official residence. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened to visitors on a regular basis. The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during the Annual Summer Opening in August and September. They are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. The State Rooms are the heart of the working Palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection. A complimentary audio tour provides a lively introduction to centuries of royal history and includes interviews with Royal Household staff about the working palace and the magnificent works of art. In 2006, to celebrate The Queen’s 80th birthday, visitors to the Palace can enjoy an exhibition of Her Majesty’s dresses and jewellery.

Opening Times:
Open between 1st August - 28th September
Open daily 9.45am - 6pm Tour time is booked for 2.30pm

Nearest Underground: Victoria and Green Park (Circle, District, Victoria, Jubilee and Piccadilly Lines)

MAP for Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official London abode for the Queen and home to the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen's immediate family, it has undoubtedly one of the most famous façades in the world and receives over 50,000 guests annually.

Buckingham Palace - The Facts

The Palace has been the home of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 - King George III first purchased Buckingham House (as it was originally known) in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a family home, in fact it was so much of a family home that 14 of her 15 children were born there. It was one of George III's sons, George IV that turned the house into a Palace with the help of architect John Nash and a budget of £450,000 from Parliament.

It was Queen Victoria that became the first member of Royalty to take up residency at the Palace in 1837 and the first to leave from the Palace for her Coronation. Over the years Queen Victoria left her mark on the impressive building, adding a further wing (by moving Marble Arch!) and after her death in 1901 the forecourt that is present today was commissioned as part of the Victoria Memorial Scheme.

Buckingham Palace has had over ten centuries of royal occupancy and to this day the Queen resides within the gates when in London - marked by four sentries on guard outside the Palace dressed in the familiar red tunics and bearskins. Just two sentries stand guard when the Queen is absent from Buckingham Palace.

Changing of the Guard is the ceremony Buckingham Palace is most famous for and occurs daily during the Summer months and every alternate day during the Winter. The event is free of charge and has been a part of British life since 1660. As the name suggests the ceremony revolves around the exchange of duty between a new and old guard. The process is usually accompanied by traditional marching to the Guards band.

Buckingham Palace - Visiting

For a number of years now Buckingham Palace has opened its ornate cast iron gates for the public throughout the Summer months. During a tour of the Palace you can explore the 19 State Rooms and examine the Royal Collection - including sculpture, porcelain, furniture and an agglomeration of paintings with works from Rembrandt, Poussin and Vermeer.

Ensure you don't miss out on the Changing of the Guard ceremony which occurs daily during the Summer and alternate days during the Winter. The ceremony is free of charge and begins at 11.30 am. A provisional schedule for the event can be found below, please be aware that dates are subject to change;

• May - Daily
• June - Daily
• July - Daily
• August - Even numbered dates (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc)
• September - Odd numbered dates (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc)
• October - Odd numbered dates (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc)

Interesting Facts

• Buckingham Palace is not solely owned by the Queen but rather by a trust
• The largest multi-purpose room in the Palace is the Ballroom which measures a whopping 36.6m long, by 18m wide and 13.5m high