The Buckingham Palace Tour is one of those must-do things in London that lets you see inside the royal family’s home. The Buckingham Palace Tour has both grandeur and intimate history.
It has an iconic front, a ceremonial Changing of the Guard, and private State Rooms that are only available for a brief time. If you’ve ever wondered if a tour of Buckingham Palace is worth the hype, get ready. This is the best guide to reviews, insider insights, what to anticipate, and how to get the most out of it!
🥈Location:
- Westminster, London SW1A 1AA, UK
- Green Park, Victoria, and St. James’s Park are the closest stations.
- What it’s known for: the Queen’s balcony, the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and being the official royal home
- Public Entry: The Buckingham Palace Tour only lets people into the State Rooms from mid-July to late September.
- You can only take a complete tour of Buckingham building in the summer. exterior of that, you can still see the building from the exterior, and the guard ceremonial is a regal sight.
🕡 The best time to see Buckingham Palace
- It is in the summer (July to September), when you can only arrange a tour inside.
- Outside views and the Changing of the Guard throughout the rest of the year
- Best time of day: Mornings are less busy and the light is gentler.
- Want royal magic with less people? Get up early and go on the morning Buckingham Palace Tour to take in the sights and the ceremony.
🎟️ Buckingham Palace Tour Ticket Information
- £30.00 for adults, £19.50 for teens (18–24), and £16.50 for kids (5–17).
Less than 5 Family of 2 adults and 3 kids: £76.50 - Optional extras: Royal Mews or Queen’s Gallery for longer excursions
- There are just a few tickets available, so it’s best to reserve the Buckingham Palace Tour ahead of time.
🎒What to Bring for the Buckingham Palace Tour:
- Comfortable walking shoes, a small bag (larger items need to be screened by security), a photo ID and a print or digital ticket, a water bottle, a light jacket or umbrella (the weather in London is unpredictable), and a fully charged camera or phone. No photography is allowed inside the State Rooms during the tour.
- The best places to take pictures on a Buckingham Palace tour
In front of the gates and balcony of the palace - Near the fountain of the Victoria Memorial
- Along the Mall, which is decorated with flags
- In St. James’s Park to take pictures of the palace in the water
- At the Changing of the Guard ceremony
- These are the best places to get great pictures of your Buckingham Palace Tour.
🧭 A Sample Schedule for a Day at Buckingham Palace
- 9:00 AM—Get there early and wander through Green Park or the Mall.
10:45 AM—Get a good place for the Changing of the Guard, which starts at 11:00 AM and lasts around 45 minutes.
Start your Buckingham Palace Tour within the State Rooms at 12:00 PM (only in the summer; lasts 1.5–2 hours).
2:00 PM: Lunch at places close by, such The Goring or St. James’s Park Café
3:00 PM—Take a walk in St. James’s Park, then decide whether to keep touring or rest.
4:00 PM: Optional extras include the Queen’s Gallery or the Royal Mews (or you may go to Trafalgar Square or the Churchill War Rooms).
🛌 Where to Sleep Near Buckingham Palace for the Tour
- Stay close to the centre of London, where all the activity is and where you can get the best palace experience:
- The Goring, The Ritz, or Brown’s Hotel are all fancy places to stay.
- The Clermont, Z Hotel Victoria, and Thistle Piccadilly are all in the middle price level.
- Budget: YHA London St. Pancras or tiny bed and breakfasts in Westminster
- Being close by means you can spend more time on an early Buckingham Palace Tour and less time worrying about getting there.
🍽️What and where to eat on the Buckingham Palace Tour
- Casual, picturesque dinners at the St. James’s Park Café
- The Goring Hotel: Fine cuisine following your tour
- There are hotels and cafés around where you may have breakfast or tea.
- Option for a picnic: Get some pastries, sandwiches, and set up beneath the view of the palace.
- After your tour of Buckingham Palace, have some quiet meals nearby to refuel.
🗣️ What people in London say about it
- People who live there say you should go to the Buckingham Palace Tour and Changing of the Guard early.
- People say the inside of the palace is beautiful, and summer visits are even more enchanting because there are less people there.
- As the gates open, people in London pad across the Mall. They know that even the palace looks different depending on the weather and time of day.
⚠️ Mistakes tourists make often and how to avoid them
- Not reserving a ticket: Book your Buckingham Palace Tour as soon as you can; spots fill up quickly.
- Getting there late for the Changing of the Guard: Make sure you get there by 10:45 AM.
- Wearing heels: Pick shoes that are comfortable for walking and on cobblestones.
- Bringing huge baggage: Only small luggage are allowed, and security checks slow things down.
- The Queen’s Gallery and Royal Mews are the last stops on your royal tour.
💸 Tips for smart budgeting
- Get the Royal Mews + Queen’s Gallery combo together with your Buckingham Palace Tour.
- Save money on lunch by having a picnic at St. James’s Park.
- To obtain better discounts, book hotels early in advance.
- During the summer, look for family tickets that let you inside both palaces.
🎒 Packing Tips for the Buckingham Palace Tour:
- Wear light layers and bring a waterproof coat or umbrella.
- Shoes that are easy to walk in
- Charger for your phone that you may take with you
- Water bottle and tiny nibbles for the road
- ID, ticket printout, and a little camera that may be taken off
💻 Appeal of Remote Work and Content Creation
There is no place to work within the Buckingham Palace Tour, however there are adjacent cafes with good Wi-Fi for uploading. For beautiful material, creators can record shifting light, royal gates, guard rituals, and pictures of parks.
💫Nearby Add-On Experiences:
- The Queen’s Gallery has rotating exhibitions.
- Royal Mews: Old royal carriages
- Churchill War Rooms: Explore history nearby
- Art and public squares at Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery
- The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey are both close by and full of history and culture.
- Great for turning your Buckingham Palace Tour into a full day of royal fun.
✅ List of Things to Do to Show Respect
- ✅Get there early so you don’t mess up the event.
- ✅No pictures are allowed in the State Rooms of the palace.
- ✅During the guard ceremonial, stay behind the barricades.
- ✅Be quiet—palace grounds are regal and serious.
- ✅Pick up your trash and keep the palace grounds tidy.
🕰️ How Buckingham Palace Tours Have Changed Over Time
Only in the 1990s was the palace open to the public for visits.
During the improvements, new lighting, security, walking tours, and audio guides were added.
Travelling to Buckingham Palace is easier and more exciting now that you can use virtual tours and book your trip online.
🙋 What I learned and what I think now
On my first visit to Buckingham Palace, seeing the golden gates before the Changing of the Guard felt like a dream. You could hear the music and see the sombre guards. Then I went into the State Rooms, which had halls lit by lights, pictures of royalty, and a silence that seemed to last for decades. I continued to remain in the Ballroom until I was no longer able to hear the sound of toe-laces tapping.
The peace and quiet before going to the Queen’s Gallery were helped by having lunch in the park. As I left, I thought about my stay. It was a great mix of show, pause, and find. The Buckingham Palace Tour is a great thing to do if you like history, events, or the royal family. There are crowns and rituals, so it’s more than just a visit. It’s a time in UK history.
You don’t just see Buckingham Palace when you take a tour of it; you also learn about its history, customs, and royal stories. You should plan ahead whether you want to see the wedding, the building, or the ideal Instagram setting. Are you prepared to address “Your Majesty”? 👑
