garden tour buckingham palace

We tour the Buckingham Palace gardens and discover its secrets

We tour the expansive gardens found at Buckingham Palace, from the secret beehives to the impressive rosebeds

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The British Royal Family is famous for its love of gardening, so it is unsurprising that the Buckingham Palace gardens are some of the best in the world. 

Spanning a massive 42 acres, the Palace gardens in London are some of several expansive royal residence gardens cared for by a team of elite gardeners year-round. The garden fulfils many roles year-round, both as a private garden for the Royal Family and as a venue for royal events. The most famous of these were the late Queen's Garden Parties, which saw around 24,000 guests from around the world welcomed to the gardens each summer. 

Here, we take a look around the Buckingham Palace gardens for ourselves and discover some of the secrets of this immense space in the heart of London. 

Tour the Buckingham Palace Gardens

The starting point for many of the gardens tours, the herbaceous border spans a massive 511 feet. Far from standard low-maintenance garden border ideas , the garden borders feature a large proportion of the garden's plant varieties, including many humble cottage garden plants – a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.

Despite the garden's urban surroundings, some plants in and around the border are some of the only of their variety in England, with rare flora and fauna making the garden a unique biodiverse habitat.

The borders are backed by trees dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria, and some were planted by the Queen and Prince Albert themselves.

One of the main features of the gardens is the three-and-a-half acre lake, complete with a waterfall and private island that provides a safe haven for the large array of wildlife that lives within the walls of the garden. 

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Wildlife conservation is a cause close to the hearts of many of the Royal Family, with King Charles III fostering a close relationship with the Word Wildlife Fund and nurturing his own garden at his private home, Highgrove House . 

The Buckingham Palace gardens continue to provide aspirational wildlife garden ideas with a collection of five bee hives added to the property in 2008. 

Overlooking the lake and the rose beds, the bee hives help to produce around 160 jars of honey per year to cater for the royal kitchens. 

The rose garden ideas are by far some of the most impressive beds in the royal collection. The garden itself contains 25 beds, each with 60 rose bushes of different varieties. 

The striking beauty of the rose beds comes from the fact that no two adjacent beds are planted with roses of the same color. Flowers were often cut from these bushes to present to the late Queen in seasonal posies each Monday when she was staying at the Palace. 

Once an extensive grass meadow designed for grazing cows and sheep, the Buckingham Palace garden meadows are now rich with wildflower garden ideas , encouraging the wild growth of native flora and a natural habitat for visiting wildlife.

The meadow, found in the southwest of the gardens, is home to over 320 different types of wildflowers and grasses, making it one of the most diverse meadows in England, and features a gorgeous summer house for private escapes.

Besides the flowers, the Buckingham Palace gardens are also home to over 1,000 species of tree including 98 plane trees, 85 different species of oak, and 40 different types of Mulberry tree, making the garden the official site of the National Collection of Mulberries in 2000. 

The trees in the Palace gardens are also some of the oldest additions to the garden, with the first Buckingham Palace mulberry tree having been planted in the gardens in 1608 by James I, for example. Other special trees include the named Victoria and Albert plane trees planted by the couple during their reign.

Trees have been continuously planted by each generation of royals throughout the long history of the Royal Family.

The Buckingham Palace garden is also a shining example of sustainable garden ideas . 

With the family's growing recognition and support of sustainable practices, such as King Charles' refusal of Buckingham Palace as his home on the grounds of its impractical and unsustainable running costs, it is unsurprising that their gardens follow a similar philosophy. 

In 1991, a sustainable recycling center was established in the gardens at the Queen's request. The facility now recycles 99% of all green waste produced by London's royal gardens. 

The result of this sustainable approach means that the gardens are now also a haven for wildlife, playing host to more than 50 species of birds each year, 30 of which are permanent residents. On a smaller scale, the gardens are home to over 300 types of beetle too, hinting at the immense amount of biodiversity hosted at this single site. 

Buckingham Palace: A Royal Garden available on Amazon

Buckingham Palace: A Royal Garden  provides unique insight into the activities of the Palace's gardening team, such as mulberry harvesting and creating winter bouquets for the Palace. Practical advice is accompanied by atmospheric photography, royal anecdotes, and an engaging and authoritative narrative from leading gardening author, Claire Masset.

Can you walk through Buckingham Palace gardens?

The Buckingham Palace gardens usually open between July and October each year, allowing visitors to explore areas of the Palace and the Palace gardens and take tours around the property. Dates may vary depending on events taking place in the Palace and booking is required. 

Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips – many of which she tests and reviews herself in her home in Lancaster to ensure they will consistently deliver for her readers and dabbles in the latest design trends. She also has a first-class degree in Literature from Lancaster University.

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Buckingham Palace Garden Tickets

Buckingham Palace Garden tickets are now available to book between July and September 2021. You’ll get to explore the iconic gardens of The Queen’s official London residence, with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to picnic with views of the Palace. These tickets are in high demand and are expected to sell out fast.

Buckingham Palace Garden is open from 9 July to 19 September 2021. Entry is available from Thursday to Monday at either 11am, 1:30pm or 4pm.  Book your timed entry tickets today!

The Garden is not open in 2022. However, you can visit the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace during Summer 2022. At the end of the visit, you can see part of the garden. 

Buckingham Palace Garden is open from 9 July 2021

• Get unique access to explore Buckingham Palace Garden, the largest private garden in London
• Explore the grounds for the first time through a self-guided tour. The gardens houses 325 wild-plant species and more than 1,000 trees, including the National Collection of Mulberry Trees
• You’ll get to explore a route that includes the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, Plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
• See the famous lake with its island that is home to the Buckingham Palace bees
• Enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns overlooking the Palace.
• The ticket also includes an open top bus tour. You can see full details here
• Address: Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1A 1AA
• These tickets cannot be converted into 1-Year Pass
• Clients that require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace
• The use of mobile phones is permitted in the Garden. Mobile phones must be switched off elsewhere on the visitor route
• Image credits: Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021

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Book your Buckingham Palace Garden tickets today. These are tickets are likely to get sold out since there is limited availability. Hurry before they go!

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How To Visit Buckingham Palace In 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, And More

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: January 18, 2024

Don’t just stand outside and look for the full-mast flag that means the monarch is home — go in! Buckingham Palace is the British Royal Family’s official residence and even you can visit. That said, it can be tricky and you’ll need to plan ahead. To help you out, I’ve put together this guide with info on tickets, tours, what to see, and the palace’s history. Here’s how to visit Buckingham Palace.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our best Buckingham Palace tours  for a memorable trip, and the top things to do in London .

Visiting Buckingham Palace: What We’ll Cover

Witnessing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic things you can do in London—after visiting the palace itself, of course.

As the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, it is replete with all the opulence you would expect of kings and queens. If it’s on your bucket list, you’ll find out what you need to know about how to visit Buckingham Palace in this guide. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Opening hours and tickets
• How much time to budget for your visit
• What to see in Buckingham Palace
• Guided tour options
• Facts and history of Buckingham Palace
• Places to eat nearby

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if London tours are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening Hours:

Visitors have access to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and the Palace Garden for several weeks throughout the year. But for obvious security reasons, these can only be palace guided tours. Available dates vary based on the tours that the palace offers, but here’s what’s happening in 2023.

Palace-guided tours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November to May. Tours usually start at 4:00 pm on Fridays, and 11:00 am through 2:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Summer tickets: July 14 – September 24, with State Rooms closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets have a timed entry so you’ll want to book ahead , but the palace is open from 9:30 am to the last admission at 5:15 in July and August, and 4:15 in September.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place outside the palace building but within its gates. The public can view this ceremony without a ticket around 10:40 to 11:00 am every day. This time is not exact and is also dependent on weather. The ceremony only happens everyday in June/July and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for the rest of the year.

Tickets and Tours:

Tickets must be booked online or booked here for a guided tour that includes the area around Buckingham Palace.

Palace-guided tours in the winter and spring:

Adults: £90 Family guided tour: ages 5-17 is £49.50, under 5 is free

Summer Buckingham Palace tickets if purchased in advance:

Adults: £30 Young adults (18-24): £19.50 Child (5-17): £16.50 Disabled: £16.50 Under 5: Free Families: automatic discount for 1 adult and 2 children or up to 2 adults and 4 children

Pro Tip: Your tickets can be validated for up to a year if you ask a Warden to stamp it before leaving!

Address: Buckingham Palace

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best London tours to take and why .

How Long To Spend at Buckingham Palace

Short Answer: 2.5 hours for the State Rooms or 4.5 hours for the Royal Day Out

There are 19 State Rooms (the palace has a total of 775 rooms) so a meaningful visit will take a few hours. You’ll have access to several of the most ornately decorated rooms with treasures from the Royal Collection, paintings by old master artists, expensive sculptures, and elegant English and French furniture.

Also, you get to see the opulent and historic Throne Room. You might agree as I do that the White Drawing Room is even grander than the Throne Room. Find out for yourself!

What To See In Buckingham Palace

On your visit to the royal residence, make sure you see these incredible rooms and sights. There’s a lot of history and opulence to take in as you see Buckingham Palace. For a more detailed list with history, check out our article on the top things to see at the palace.

• The Changing Of The Guard
• The Throne Room
• The Queen’s Gallery
• The White Drawing Room 
• The Palace Garden
• Treasures Of The Palace
• The Ballroom
• The Gold State Coach
• The Diamond Jubilee State Coach
• The Grand Staircase

Buckingham Palace Tour Options

Guided tours to see Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and other important areas around this royal area are the best way to get to know this historic site. We offer several top-rated tours that you can choose to make your vacation in London the best ever.

The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour (2.5 hours)

Anyone can take an audio-guided tour, but if you book this tour, you get the special attention of a tour guide who knows incredible stories you won’t hear on that audio guide. Plus, you’ll first explore the serene St. James Park where you’ll hear about it’s transformation from a swampland to a deer park and a quiet oasis.

You’ll feel like you know the royals even better after exploring the Mall where official processionals and the Changing of the Guard have happened for centuries. Rest assured that your guide will get you to the right door at Buckingham Palace after entertaining you with stories of what you’ll see inside.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard (3 hours)

Clients love our skip-the-line access to the famous Westminster Abbey where they can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with their guide in the nave of the abbey before the public enters.

There’s more to see at Westminster than you think, so having a knowledgeable guide to lead you through the Quire, Poet’s Corner, and more, is extremely helpful. And if the Changing of the Guard happens on the day of your tour, they’ll be sure to help you see it from several vantage points.

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London (7 hours)

Our top-selling London tour is a must-do when you’re traveling to the heart of the United Kingdom. Your local guides are highly qualified and can share an unreal amount of cool facts and stories about London’s iconic sites and history. Starting at Westminster Abbey, you’ll be amazed at just how much of London you can see on foot and on a Thames river cruise.

Your skip-the-line tickets help you maximize your time, and your guides know where the best spots to see the Changing of the Guard are found. Your final stop at the Tower of London brings London’s more grisly history to life. It’s the perfect place to end your busy day tour of London!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if sightseeing tours in London are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Facts and History 

• The palace has a total of 775 rooms, 19 of which are state rooms open to the public. 
• There have been many properties on the site. From 1698, however, it was known as Buckingham House and was the home of the Duke of Buckingham, where it gets its name.
• In 1761, it became known as the Queen’s House after George III bought it for his wife Queen Charlotte.
• It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George IV had it lavishly restructured fit for a king.
• The royal family made it their official residence in 1837, and Queen Victoria was the first royal to officially live there as head of state.
• The palace entertains 50,000 invited guests a year. Also, it averages 578,000 paid visitors a year.
• The Changing of the Guard ceremony happens daily at 10.45 am. King Henry VII made them the official Royal Body Guard 500 years ago. 
• During World War II, the palace was repeatedly targeted but survived nine bombing raids. The Royal Family refused to move out despite concerns for their safety.
• The palace is heavily protected but in 1982 an intruder called Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom while she was sleeping. When she awoke, they had a brief chat before she fled the room and raised the alarm.

Places To Eat Nearby

The good news is your dining options are plentiful, but you’ll need to choose wisely. You can dine like royalty on Buckingham Palace Road, very close to the palace. Or, on the same stretch of road, there are sandwich bars with a more laid-back atmosphere and casual dining.

Take your pick of traditional British fare or more exotic cuisines. Here are a few suggestions, but if you’d like more options, also check out our guide to the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace . 

The Laughing Halibut : £ | Takeaway —Grab some old-school fish and chips to take away or take a seat inside. It’s a great place for a quick lunch with good reviews.

Bon Gusto : ££ | Italian Cuisine —Fancy a change from British grub? Try this Italian restaurant with a selection of meat, seafood, and pasta dishes. There are also soups and Mediterranean salads.  

The English Grill : ££££ | Traditional British Fare —This restaurant promises you’ll dine like royalty. Indeed, it is ornately decorated with regal furniture and furnishings. You can enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a garden overlooking the Royal Mews. Also, the range of steak, salad, and dessert dishes (to name a few) are product-sourced from the same Royal suppliers as Buckingham Palace.

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Reader Interactions

Comments (10).

June 30, 2022

We Want to visit inside Buckingham Palace either on 13th or 14th July. Can you help us tour and visit it?

July 5, 2022

We don’t currently offer Buckingham Palace tours, but we’d love to take you around London to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, plus even more great locations on our London in a Day tour and Westminster Abbey tour .

July 1, 2022

Will we be able to turn up at Buckingham Palace and buy a ticket on the day? Shanthi

[email protected]

Not necessarily. Since the royal family uses Buckingham Palace, schedules and public access are subject to changes at short notice. Additionally, tours are not available every day. It’s best to plan ahead and purchase tickets before you arrive to have the best chance of entering the palace.

September 19, 2022

It’s my 70th birthday august 21 2023 and I would like to bring my children/grandchildren to visit Buckingham Palace. There will be 2 x Oaps, 3 adults, 1 child aged 9 and 1 aged 4. What would you recommend and at what cost? Thank you for your help Best wishes

September 21, 2022

What a fun trip! You can check their website for tickets next season. The palace is only open for 10 weeks in the summer, and it’s closed early this year due to the queen’s death. You can also book a trip out to Windsor Castle and Stonehenge for fun day trip to another royal residence.

In your ‘blurb’ “It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George VI had it lavishly restructured to be fit for a king.” This is incorrect. In actual fact it was ‘King George IV’ who died in 1830 King George VI was Queen Elizabeth II father and died in 1952

Thanks for letting us know about that typo! It makes a difference of generations!

I purchased four Buckingham Palace tour tickets for Thursday, September 29. I do have my confirmation email, but I don’t have the actual ticket email. If I would email my customer and order numbers to an office or a person, is there some way I could please get the email with the actual tickets.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance with this matter.

You’ll need to check with the company from whom you purchased your ticket as they’ll have the accurate information.

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How to have a picnic at Buckingham Palace this summer

Apr 9, 2021 • 2 min read

Visitors can check out the Rose Garden © Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2021. Photographer John Campbell

If you've ever fancied checking out the garden at Buckingham Palace in England, or would enjoy the prospect of having a picnic in it, you can avail of the opportunity this year.

The grounds of Queen Elizabeth’s official London residence can be explored through self-guided tours for the first time. Visitors can also still take official guided tours. The current landscape of the historic 39-acre garden dates back to the 1820s when George IV turned Buckingham House into a palace. Despite its urban location, the garden is home to a remarkable array of flora and fauna, including rare native plants seldom seen in London.

The garden is a rich biodiverse habitat, with more than 1000 trees and 320 different wildflowers and grasses, and features include the Rose Garden, summer house and wildflower meadow. Visitors will be free to explore a route through the garden that encompasses the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, plane trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the 3.5-acre lake. The unique opportunity to enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns will be part of the visit.

On weekends in April and May, garden enthusiasts can enjoy the tranquillity of the garden and discover its history and highlights by joining a guided tour. Visitors will experience the garden in springtime, with its meadows carpeted with primroses and bluebells, and flowering camellia, magnolia and azalea shrubs and trees. From May to September, special guided tours of Buckingham Palace will be available, and from July, access to the garden will be included in these visits.

Buckingham Palace Garden Guided Tours will run on weekends from 17 April to 16 May 2021. Tickets are priced at £21.50 ($29.47) for adults. Buckingham Palace Spring Guided Tours will run on Fridays and weekends from 21 May to 20 June 2021 and tickets are priced at £47.50 ($65.11) for adults. The Garden at Buckingham Palace will open from 9 July to 19 September and tickets are priced at £16.50 ($22.62) for adults.

The Garden Highlights Guided Tours should be booked with the main ticket and are priced at £6.50 ($8.91) for adults. The State Rooms and Garden at Buckingham Palace will run from 10 July to 19 September 2021, and tickets are priced at £60 ($82.24) for adults. Bookings can be made on the Royal Collection Trust website here.

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Explore The Garden at Buckingham Palace

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to the press preview of the The Garden at Buckingham Palace. Although tickets are now sold out, some do occasionally become available on the day so it’s worth trying your luck on their website .

But, don’t worry if you missed out because I’m here to share a sneak peek behind the walls and some of the history of this 42 acre garden, the largest private garden in London…

The Garden at Buckingham Palace

Walking alongside the walls in Victoria, you might not guess at the oasis hiding behind them.

It’s really only from the air that you get a sense of the scale of the garden. It’s almost as big as Green Park.

Image from Wikimedia Creative Commons

The history of the garden starts with a King and the story of a spectacular business fail.

In 1608 King James I, envious of European silk production, requested the planting of 10,000 mulberry trees. These were important because fussy-eater silkworms will only eat mulberry leaves.

But. Disaster. James ordered the wrong ones; black rather than white or it’s possible that Londons’ cold damp climate didn’t suit. In any case silk production didn’t flourish.

The site of this plantation stands on the site of the garden and today you can find 45 different types of mulberry trees.

Buckingham Palace

To tell the story of the Garden, we first need a bit of background on the palace itself. It started as Buckingham House, a large home that was present from the early 1600s but gets its name from 1698 when it was let to John Sheffield, the Duke of Buckingham.

Image from Wikimedia Creative Commons – Buckingham House c.1702

The Duke promptly demolished his new home, building a bigger, modern one which stayed in their family until 1762.

It then passed into Royal hands when King George III bought it for his family and yet again it was remodelled. Then his son – King George IV – comes to the throne in 1820 and has huge plans for a new palace.

George IV hires John Nash to create a huge U-shaped block with a triumphal arch at the front. They blew the budget and conveniently George IV then dies, leaving poor old Nash to answer to parliament for the spiralling costs. He was fired and new architect Edward Blore was hired to finish the job.

It was only with Queen Victoria that Buckingham Palace was finally used by a Royal as a family home and palace. In 1845 she too caught the renovation bug and Edward Blore was employed to build a new wing along the front, the iconic Portland Stone facade that we see today.

It’s quite different from the warmer Bath stone that you can see from the gardens.

It’s also worth noting that the arch was moved but did survive. It went to Hyde Park Corner and give us today’s ‘ Marble Arch ’.

But what about the gardens?

The design of the private, enclosed garden is the work of King George IV. He appointed William Townsend Aiton to landscape the grounds into a more natural feel than arranged, manicured gardens you might see in Versailles.

With over 1,000 trees and 325 wild-plant species, here are some of the highlights of the Garden at Buckingham Palace.

I have to admit I had to double check I was allowed to walk on it. But I needn’t have worried, the lawn is the main site for official events and hosts 24,000 guests during the annual Summer Garden Parties.

During the 18th century the garden was home to an exotic menagerie including an elephant and zebra.

It’s also used to land the Royal helicopter, naturally!

The Terrace

Decorated with Coade stone urns and sculpture, there’s also a 3-part frieze along the West front of Buckingham Palace.

Carved by Richard Westmacott the frieze shows King Alfred (according to Architectural Historian Pevsner).

In the middle is a depiction of Fame displaying Britain’s triumphs, also made of Coade Stone.

To the far left hand side, you’ll spy part of the building has tinted windows. These provide privacy for the palace’s very own indoor swimming pool.

The central feature of the garden, the lake is artificial and lined with clay. In Queen Victoria’s time it had a fountain in the middle and would frequently freeze over to allow for Royal skates on the ice.

In the middle of the lake is an Island, made into a wildlife sanctuary and home to over 60 types of wild birds. Prince Albert built two bridges to lead into the Island so he could feed and admire them.

The current Royal family have tried to keep up this green attitude with 99% of green waste recycled on site and the use of pesticides kept to a minimum (eventually planning to be phased out completely).

The Herbaceous Border

The burst of colour runs for 156 metres, packed with a diverse mix of flowers.

Each Monday the Head Gardener, working with the Royal florist, creates a small posy of fresh flowers from here  to be popped into a vase on the Queen’s writing table.

Other Highlights

Only parts of the gardens are available to freely stroll past and some parts are only accessible on one of the guided tours which sadly I didn’t get a chance to join.

However, the tour would take in sights like the 18th Century Summer House. Here’s a picture inside from my Blue Badge Guide colleague David Kelleher

You can also see the Waterloo Vase , an epic – 4.5m high – urn made of carrera marble. Originally Napoleon Bonaparte had his eyes on it having spotted the huge chunk of stone in Tuscany. However, the vase was instead presented to the Prince Regent (later King George IV) by the Duke of Tuscany after Napoleon was defeated a the Battle of Waterloo. It was then given to the National Gallery who promptly returned it to the Palace in 1906, presumably because it was far to big to put anywhere!

Have you been lucky enough to peer beyond the walls of Buckingham Palace and wander through the garden? Maybe you’ve even been to a garden party? Let me know in the comments!

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Chris Williams

I’ve visited the gardens before, but as part of a visit to the state rooms in the palace a couple of years ago. It looks like these visits are not operational any more. When I checked their webpage, only organised tours at the weekend are available, although tickets to the gardens only seem to be available quite easily.

Gary Curtis

I am due to go in August after a tour with yourself. So looking forward to seeing John Nash’s palace close up. Oh and the gardens of course!

Pam Lorraine

Yes I’ve been to one of the garden parties. At the time I was organising Duke of Edinburgh expeditions and courses in St Albans and Harpenden. Wasn’t introduced to any royals but saw them at fairly close quarters! Enjoyed the teas and a walk round the garden including the flamingos. On the way through to the garden I took the liberty of trying out one of the sofas.

I have been to a garden party enjoyed wandering round the garden and seeing the flamingos. Saw the Royals at fairly close quarters! The dainty afternoon tea was a treat, well worth dressing up for!

Geraldine Beare

I took my mother to a Garden Party in 2010. For her it was second time around as she had first gone, as a child, in the 1930s. At that time, she was studying at Italia Conti alongside Freddie Bartholomew and they were taken to one of the Children’s Garden Parties. As for the tale of the Mulberry Garden as it was originally known, Bruce Graeme tells the story in his book A Century of Buckingham Palace 1837-1937. It became somewhat notorious under Charles II though Pepys thought it ‘a very silly place, worse than Spring-Gardens.’

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Welcome to the most famous palace in the world

Our website brings you Information and Facts about Buckingham Palace including how to get there, when to visit the Palace, the History of the Buckingham Palace, Interesting Facts about the Buckingham Palace, Buckingham Palace Tours and not forgetting the world famous Changing of the Guard.

Please Note: Our website is not the official website of the the royal collection trust and have no link or association with buckingham palace, the King or the Royal family nor is it operated with their endorsement. It is, however, provided by dedicated royalists for your information and is the UKs oldest and much loved unoffical guide.

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From Wednesday, June 5th to Thursday, June 6th, 2024, the Royal Family came together to honour the sacrifices made by troops during the historic D-Day landings. This significant military operation, which took place 80 years ago, marked a pivotal moment in World War II.

Tickets & Tours

Parts of Buckingham Palace are now open to the public including the Queens Gallery and Gardens.

The State Rooms of the Palace are open for visitors to visit throughout the ‘Annual Summer Opening’ in July, August and September. The rooms are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection.

The Buckingham Palace Gardens, also referred to as the Royal Gardens, are a vast and meticulously maintained landscape located at the rear of the palace. Covering an area of approximately 39 acres, the gardens offer a serene and tranquil escape from the bustling city.

Changing the Guard

The traditional ceremony of the old guard changing with the new.

Changing of the Guard is one of the oldest and most recognizable ceremonies connected with Buckingham Palace. The correct name of the ceremony known as Changing the Guard is actually Guard Mounting. In this process a New Guard exchanges duty with the Old Guard and both Guards are drawn from one of the regiments of Foot Guards.

The Royal Mews

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Buckingham palace interesting facts.

The Centre Piece of Britain’s Constitutional Monarchy

Buckingham Palace is home to over 775 rooms, 19 of these are State rooms along with 52 official royal bedrooms and guest rooms. The staff themselves, have an impressive 188 bedrooms, 92 offices and a lavish 78 bathrooms. Still very much a working building it is the center piece of Britain’s constitutional monarchy which includes the everyday duties of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh as well as their immediate family. Buckingham Palace was first opened to the general public in 1993 and it is opened every year between April and September since.

Banquets & Ceremonies

State banquets also take place in the main Ballroom of Buckingham Palace; these formal dinners take place on the first evening of a state visit by a visiting Head of State. On these occasions, 150 or more guests in formal “white tie and decorations”, including tiaras for women, may dine off gold plate.

The largest and most formal reception at Buckingham Palace takes place every November, when the Queen entertains members of the foreign diplomatic corps resident in London. On this occasion, all the state rooms are in use, as the Royal Family proceed through them beginning through the great north doors of the Picture Gallery.

As Nash had envisaged, all the large, double-mirrored doors stand open, reflecting the numerous crystal chandeliers and sconces, causing a deliberate optical illusion of space and light.

Smaller ceremonies such as the reception of new ambassadors take place in the “1844 Room”. Here too the Queen holds small lunch parties, and often meetings of the Privy Council. Larger lunch parties often take place in the curved and domed Music Room, or the State Dining Room.On all formal occasions the ceremonies are attended by the Yeomen of the Guard in their historic uniforms, and other officers of the court such as the Lord Chamberlain. Since the bombing of the palace chapel in World War II, royal christenings have sometimes taken place in the Music Room. The Queen’s first three children were all baptised here in a special gold font. Prince William was also christened in the Music Room. However, his brother, Prince Harry, was christened at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace Gardens Visiting Guide

• Updated on September 26, 2022
• In Vacation

Royal gardens, a lake, and woodlands at Buckingham Palace total roughly 16 hectares. Buckingham Palace Gardens originated in the 1640s, the gardens underwent a redesign in the late 18th century, and further work was done on them in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The grounds of Buckingham Palace are where the gardens at Buckingham palace are. This is the current British monarch’s primary home. William Townsend Aiton’s 1826 design of an informal garden took the place of Henry Wise’s C18 formal garden. The majority of Aiton’s work has been modified for the C20 era.

History of Buckingham Palace

The location of Buckingham Palace in downtown London is around 500 meters ( hectares to meters = 0.05 hectare ) to the north of Victoria station and just next to St James’s Park . Constitution Hill, which divides the Palace from Green Park, borders the approximately 16-hectare land to the north (qv). The road around the Queen Victoria Memorial serves as the east border (listed grade I).

Place, Territory, Limits, Landform, and Environment

Lower Grosvenor Place serves as the border to the south, Buckingham Palace Road and Buckingham Gate Road as the boundary to the east, and Grosvenor Place as the boundary to the west. The mostly flat site rises in the northwest corner, matching the elevation in Constitution Hill, and is surrounded by tall brick walls that date from the C18 to the mid-C19.

Approaches and Entrances

East of the Palace courtyard is the primary entrance to Buckingham palace gardens, which are located to the north of the building. Sir Aston Webb created the forecourt railings, gate piers, gates, and lighting (listed grade I) between 1901 and 1911 as a component of his Victoria Memorial plan. A doorway in the colonnade screen (listed grade I), constructed as part of Nash’s construction program in the vicinity of 1830, serves as the entry to the Palace’s north side. 

Bath stone and cast-iron columns support the Greek Doric screen, which is adorned with royal arms. Grosvenor Gate, a small opening in the southern boundary wall, runs north from Grosvenor Place to the home and yard of the head gardener. A second small entry to the garden can be found to the south-east, where a pair of tall wooden gates known as the “Electricians Gate” is installed into the south-east boundary wall to give access from Buckingham Gate road.

Principal Structure

East of the location is where the grade I-listed Buckingham Palace is located. The structure is built around a square and has three stories with mezzanines on the ground and attic floors. Its east front faces the Victoria Memorial. The West Terrace, which stretches 100 meters north-south and dominates the west front, overlooks the main lawn. Coade stone balustrading and classical urns, both constructed of Coade stone, adorn the terrace. When John Nash (1752–1835) was commissioned in 1825 by his friend Prince Regent (later George IV) to produce designs for the reconstruction of Buckingham House as a royal home, the Palace mostly remained in the early C19 style. 

The Royal Mews , which are made up of the Mews and the Riding House, is located to the southwest of the Palace and face Buckingham Palace Road. Although the Riding House was constructed in 1764, its frieze and pediment were first added in 1859. Sometimes, a royal garden party at buckingham palace takes place here. The actual Mews was constructed in 1824-5, centered on a square with a huge doorway with paired Roman columns that were sometimes obstructed and was topped by a clock tower.

Gardens and Recreational Areas

The gardens and pleasure grounds are best observed from the West Terrace. Despite being shielded from the outer world by tall brick walls and mature trees (London plane being a prevalent species), they preserve an open look. The site’s plan, which is mostly based on William Townsend Aiton’s design from 1825, has branches that go around lawns, island beds, and other features. A rolling gravel road around the perimeter of the property. Here Buckingham palace gardens picnics also take place.

A gravel walk connects with the Broad Walk below the West Terrace after running beside Nash’s north range of the Palace from the main entrance. The main lawn (about 2 hectares) extends 150 m southwest from the Broad Walk to the lake. Helicopters may land on the main lawn, which hosts royal garden parties up to six times a year. 

Get an Essence of the Nature

From the northern end of the Broad Walk to the island shrub beds to the north of the main lawn, a short walk winds northwest and is bordered by Indian chestnut trees that were planted in the late 20th century. From the main entrance, the northern perimeter walk meanders west between the main lawn and a northern herbaceous border that is bordered by a grassy strip. In the late C20, an herbaceous border took the role of a border made of seasonal bedding plants.

To have an afternoon tea at Buckingham palace gardens, visit the basic wooden Tea House, built about 1939, which is located about 180 meters west of the main entrance and to the south of the perimeter walk. Rhododendrons are particularly prevalent on the island beds around the Tea House, which are mostly covered with bushes. The perimeter walk continues to the west, passing the Waterloo Vase after about 200 meters. 

The Waterloo Vase is located in the Arboretum and sits amid a glade of trees with views of the lake that is located in a depression to the south. The 4.5m-tall, grade I-listed Carrara marble vase has an acanthus-carved base and is placed on a paved pedestal. The vase, which Sir Richard Westmacott subsequently sculpted, was made in 1812 for Napoleon Bonaparte and given to the Prince Regent. 

Picnic in Buckingham Palace Gardens

It has a combat scene on one side and a person, most likely the Prince Regent , on the other. The vase was a gift from William IV to the National Gallery, but it was restored to Buckingham Palace in 1906 when King Edward VII received it from the gallery’s trustees.

The C20 rose garden is to the north, east, and west of the Waterloo Vase, while the Admiralty Temple is about 30 meters north of the Vase on the north side of the perimeter walk. 

The early C18 structure, which was used as a summerhouse in 2000 and is situated on the grass among island rose gardens, has a tripartite elevation and four free-standing supporting pillars or herms in the shape of tritons. The structure was transported from Spring Gardens in 1901. From the Admiralty Temple, the perimeter route travels west, reaching the Silver Garden after about 50 meters. 

There are also a lot of things to do near Buckingham and things to do in Buckingham.

The History of the Garden

The garden was created in 1972 to mark the Silver Wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. It is located against the northern border wall. The terrain dips south away from the perimeter walk to the tennis courts to the west of the Silver Garden (made 1919). An area designated for recycling garden waste is located to the north of the tennis courts, mostly hidden by C20 plants (late C20).

The perimeter path continues south for approximately 150 meters until it reaches the lake from the garden’s north-west corner (southeast of Hyde Park Corner). The boundary wall to the west is largely hidden by trees and shrubs, and the lawn to the north-east is adorned with ornamental trees and shrubs. The roughly rectangular, two-hectare lake has a 150-meter-long serpentine water tail to the north-west. To the south-west of the lake’s main body is an oval island (about 0.5 hectares) and a much smaller island. 

The Decorations around the Surroundings

The Table, a tiny land outcropping, protrudes into the lake from the southeast side. By 1827 or 1828, the lake that was intended by Aiton had been dug. A little waterfall may be seen near the northwest corner. This waterfall, which was built in 1991 to enhance water quality, replaced a cascade that was built in 1961 and was located about 5 meters to the south.

A pair of decorative Japanese cranes may be seen on the north side of the lake, around 100 meters to the north-east of the waterfall. While visiting India in 1903, Edward VII received life-size bronze figurines. The lake’s west bank and the sizable island are connected by two bridges, one to the north and one to the south. The bridges were reportedly built in 1904 by Pulham & Son (Beresford 1996), however, the southern bridge has the year 1920 engraved close to its base, perhaps suggesting a later restoration.

The Western Border 

The western border route continues south for a further 150 meters among the bushes and trees that mostly conceal the western boundary wall until it reaches the Mound, where it splits into two branches that go to each side of the earthworks.

The Mound , created by Pulham and Sons in 1904, has a maximum height of 8.6 meters, sharply sloping sides, and is covered with vegetation such as grass, trees, and bushes (Beresford 1996). The linear construction projects begin in the east and go for 100 meters before curving to the north-east for another 200 meters and coming to a conclusion to the north of the Royal Mews. The Mound was built in 1827–1828, largely to block the Palace’s view of the stables. 

Although the two landforms are comparable in size and are assumed to have been formed in part by material dug from the lake, the Mound is much taller and deeper than the lake (c 1.5m). The trees and bushes that were first planted on the Mound have since been expanded upon and thinned. 

A gravel road was paved along the summit of the Mound in 1840 by order of Prince Albert; it has since been covered with grass. The Comus pavilion was built on the Mound in 1844 at the request of the royal couple. It was called after the images from Milton’s Comus that were used to adorn the inside and was built looking north-west across the lake, above the Table. The pavilion, which had remained abandoned after the First World War, was taken down in 1928.

The North Side

The route to the north of the Mound travels between it and the south-east end of the lake before swinging to the east and coming together with the Back Path flowing north from the south-east of the Mound after about 50 meters.

The southern Mound walk, which is a continuation of the western perimeter path, initially goes to the gardener’s yard, which is home to the head gardener’s residence, greenhouses, and other support facilities, before turning east to connect with the Grosvenor Gate Back Path. 

Before connecting the route leading north of the Mound at the north-east end of the mound, the Back Path continues along the south-eastern side of the mound, with the Royal Mews buildings to its south-eastern side. The perimeter route continues beyond the structures to the west of the Electricians Gate entry from here, where it connects with the southeast end of the Broad Walk after around 50 meters.

Things To Do In Buckingham: Know Before Visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens

You will instantly get a 12-month pass for free entrance to the palace if you buy your tickets directly from the Royal Collection Trust. Before leaving the palace, print your name on your ticket, sign it, and ask a staff member to stamp and authenticate it in order to get the yearly pass.

Other Options for visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens

If you don’t feel like seeing the palace inside, you can always take in the breathtaking views of the building from the outside. Just be sure to time your visit to Buckingham palace gardens with the daily 11:30 a.m. changing of the Guard ceremony. The ceremonial passes through Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Wellington Barracks, however, it is considered that the best place to see the spectacle is on the eastern side of the palace, close to the gates.

Opening Hours and Ticket Pricing 

All the detailed information about Buckingham palace gardens tickets for you to visit Buckingham palace gardens are listed below. 

Buckingham Palace Gardens is open from:

Buckingham palace gardens tickets.

You must reserve a tour in advance if you want to visit Buckingham palace gardens, and there are three distinct tours you may choose from:

The cost of the Royal Day out Tour (which includes The State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews) varies depending on age: adults pay £37, children between the ages of five and 17 or individuals with disabilities pay £20.80, and seniors and students pay £33.80. Family tickets (two adults and three children) are also offered for £94.80.

• The cost of the State Rooms Tour is £19.60 for seniors and students, £21.50 for adults, and £12.30 for kids between the ages of five and 17. Tickets for families cost £55.30.
• The cost of the State Rooms and Garden Highlights Tour , which also includes a guided tour of the grounds of Buckingham Palace, is £30.50 for adults, £27.50 for pensioners and students, and £16.40 for children between the ages of five and 17 or for persons with disabilities.

For any of the trips, children under the age of five are admitted free of charge.

Buckingham Palace Address and Buckingham palace postcode to visit Buckingham Palace Garden 

London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

Here’s the Map.  

Frequently Asked About Buckingham Palace

You must reserve a tour in advance if you want to visit Buckingham palace gardens, and there are three distinct tours you may choose from.

Buckingham palace gardens are 39-acre

Buckingham Palace Gardens are open to visitors this summer from 9th July to 19th September.

If you choose to disregard the clothing code, you would stand out like a sore thumb. Men are urged to wear morning suits or lounge clothes, while ladies are encouraged to wear afternoon dresses, often accessorized with hats or fascinators.

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The London Info website has the most current global news and blog posts to satisfy your curious minds. We have interesting and informative content in 11 categories. We believe that excitement and vibrancy are key in conveying accurate information.

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Take a tour around Buckingham Palace's glorious gardens

A new book follows a year in the life of the famous gardens.

Written by garden writer Claire Masset, the book follows a year in the life of the famous gardens, giving readers a rare insight into what goes on behind the scenes. As well as breathtaking photographs taken by the award-winning photographer John Campbell, the book also features seasonal gardening tips from Mark Lane, Head Gardener at Buckingham Palace.

Some of the highlights to look out for include the sweeping lawns, 156-metre herbaceous border, wildflower meadows, rose garden, and 3.5-acre lake. As well as this, the book also explores how the gardeners balance the best horticultural practices with a nature-friendly, sustainable approach.

'Readers will learn about the seasonal posies created for Her Majesty The Queen every Monday when she is in residence and will discover the stories behind the commemorative trees planted by generations of the Royal Family, including the two plane trees introduced by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,' say The Royal Collection Trust.

Take a tour around the immaculate gardens below...

Herbaceous border

The garden's sprawling herbaceous border is 156m long, providing a wonderful route for visitors to explore. Isn't it stunning?

Since 2008, the island in the lake has been home to five beehives, which produce around 160 jars of honey a year for use in the royal kitchens .

Garden lake

The glistening lake at the palace is a true sight to behold. We imagine it looks especially beautiful on a balmy summer's day.

READ MORE : Buckingham Palace's head gardener shares small space gardening tips during lockdown

Magnolia trees

This idyllic curving path leads past the Magnolia Dell to the Rose Garden. We love the pops of blossom bursting through!

Flowers from the garden

How beautiful are these blooms from the garden? This winter posy features a mix of evergreen leaves and colourful berries.

READ MORE : The royal family is looking for a housekeeper to 'clean and care' for interiors

The Rose Garden

The beautiful Rose Garden at the palace has 26 beds of roses (each with 60 rose bushes in a different variety). Impressively, no two adjacent beds are of a similar colour. It certainly has that 'wow' factor.

Plane Trees

There are more than 1,000 trees in the garden, including 98 plane trees, 85 different species of oak and 40 different types of mulberry trees.

Known as Victoria and Albert, these two famous plane trees were planted more than 150 years ago by the Queen and her consort.

The Waterfall

The Palace's waterfall helps to circulate water in the lake, oxygenating and revitalising it. We're certain it's a place heaving with wildlife.

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Love what you’re reading? Enjoy House Beautiful magazine delivered straight to your door every month with Free UK delivery. Buy direct from the publisher for the lowest price and never miss an issue!

 Lisa Joyner is the Senior Digital Writer at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK , where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening , dog breeds , pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller , House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.  

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Buckingham Palace Gardens: How to Visit the Queen’s Garden

Until now, the only people allowed into Buckingham Palace Gardens were the Royal Family and those people lucky enough to have an invite to one of the Queen’s garden parties. But this summer, for the very first time, visitors can book tickets to visit the garden and have a picnic on the famous lawn.

So many people fancied walking round Buckingham Palace Gardens that tickets sold out within days of being released – but what’s it really like behind those high palace walls? Harry Brocklehurst  is here to tell you all…

The formal facade of Buckingham Palace is perhaps the most recognisable sight in Britain. The appearance of it rarely changes with its closed windows and curtains, gilded gates and uniformed Grenadier Guards. But the 39 acre garden that stretches behind the palace could not be more different. With its hundreds of trees and rare plants, the garden’s blooms put on an impressive show for each season.

Buckingham Palace is a residence built for formality but the gardens provide an escape for the Queen (and a jolly good walk for the corgis). On a guided tour, I was struck by just how personal the garden felt as the guide points out the Queen’s favourite bench and her summer house, complete with 1960s furniture and a wicker corgi.

For £16.50 visitors can wander around the main areas of the garden including the lawn where garden parties are held, the 3.5 acre lake that contains 2.5 million gallons of water and the 150 metre herbaceous border that is one of the longest in Britain. It is from this flower bed that the gardeners create a posy that is placed on the Queen’s desk each Monday so that she can view the garden’s progress through the seasons.

The Queen gave Pope Francis a pot of honey from these bees when she first visited him at the Vatican. The story goes that the Pope liked the honey so much that he asked his assistant to write to the Palace asking if he could have some more. Apparently his request was turned down.

These islands are rarely visited as they are mostly used as nesting areas for the many resident birds. The islands are so wild and dense in plants that eight years ago the white helleborine was discovered on the banks – these are very rare orchids that were last seen in London in 1900.

For an additional £6.50 visitors can join a guide for a tour of the more private areas of the garden. This tour is a must-see as without it you cannot see the famed rose garden (planted with 25 different rose beds), the Waterloo Vase (commissioned by Napoleon for his intended victory at Waterloo but later presented to King William IV), the Queen’s bench and the family tennis courts. The Queen’s father, King George VI, was a keen tennis player and competed at Wimbledon in the Mixed Doubles in 1926.

The gardens of Buckingham Palace act as a sort of living museum. Next to the North Terrace of the palace you’ll find two plane trees planted in 1840 to celebrate Victoria and Albert’s wedding. It’s not known who planted which one so they are both known as Victoria and Albert. Lining the lake are five willow trees dating from the 1880s. Although they are slowly dying off, the gardeners plant a new seedling for every dead tree to continue the garden’s rich diversity of plants.

Buckingham Palace is home to the largest private garden in London. It feels like an oasis in the middle of the city. You can still hear the noise of the traffic but the garden is hidden from the outside world. Our guide told us that the palace gardeners sometimes ride at the top of the number 52 bus which goes past the gardens to double check that the gardens can’t be seen from the top of a double decker. They plant fast growing trees wherever they see gaps.

Buckingham Palace is describing this summer’s opening as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to explore the gardens. We hope that the gardens are opened up to the public more frequently particularly given the high demand to visit them. It is still possible to book tickets to visit the gardens this summer. If you keep checking the Royal Collection website you’ll find some dates still available although it might not be possible to book onto one of the private tours.

Top Tips for Visiting

• Buckingham Palace Gardens are open to visitors this summer from 9th July to 19th September.
• Tickets for Buckingham Palace Gardens cost £16.50 for adults and £9 for children aged 5 to 16.
• Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics to have on the lawn. You can bring your own food and drink or buy something from the café in the garden. Alcohol is not permitted.
• The Garden Highlights Tour is an absolute must as it will take you round the more private parts of the garden. You need to book tickets for this before you arrive and you will not be allowed to take photos in this part of Buckingham Palace Gardens. Tickets cost £6.50 per person.

Disclosure: We were very kindly given free admission to Buckingham Palace Gardens but all opinions are honest and my own.

If you’re inspired to visit more Royal palaces and gardens take a look through some of these:

The 8 Castles in London You Need to Visit

The Royal Guide to London: Everything You Need to Know about Visiting Royal Sights in London

Is Kensington Palace Worth Visiting?

The Best Castles Near London

The Tower of London With Kids

Visiting Windsor Castle With Kids

Why We Love the Royal Mews

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Spinalonga in crete: visiting the island, why kids love the london transport museum, 15 things to do in snowdonia with kids, the covid-19 diaries – week nine.

It looks beautiful! The lake is especially nice. Glad you were able to look around and enjoy it.

We were really lucky, Lisa. I couldn’t believe how wild some of it felt, right in the middle of London.

What a wonderful opportunity! The photos are lovely.

Thanks Hilary. It was one of Harry’s summer highlights, that’s for sure!

Wow, so very beautiful. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much for commenting, Patrick. Really glad you enjoyed the post.

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What You Need To Know Before Visiting Buckingham Palace (Yes, You Can Go Inside)

• Key Takeaways:
• Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a major renovation until 2027. Some areas may be closed during the renovation, so it is important to check the official website for updates.
• Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace and other royal palaces were closed to the public and are gradually reopening. The State Rooms of Buckingham Palace will be closed for the rest of the year.
• To visit Buckingham Palace, it is recommended to book in advance and arrive early to allow time for security checks. Certain items are prohibited inside the palace, and photography is only allowed in the garden. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is also worth watching.

One of the things that all Americans will most likely do when traveling to London is visiting Buckingham Palace. A far cry from some of the overrated tourist attractions in London , the palace is still a working royal residence and is definitely worth a visit. Keep reading to find out what you need to know before going.

For 70 years, Buckingham Palace was one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II - now, it is an official residence of King Charles III. The changing of the King's (formerly Queen's) Guard is one of the most iconic attractions in London and something visitors from around the world flock to see.

UPDATE: 2023/10/27 17:07 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Everything People Need To Know When Visiting Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace continues to be a global icon for tourists and English people alike. Although there is a renovation happening until 2027, there will be plenty of tours, photo-ops, and history once you enter the property. Have fun, and be safe!

Buckingham Palace Is Being Slowly Renovated

Because Buckingham Palace is so old, there have been efforts made to renovate the property. According to the Royal Family, the building's infrastructure is in urgent need of a complete overhaul to prevent long-term damage to the building and its contents. Of course, this should not result in anyone's trip being ruined, but it is worth it to check the official website now and then to ensure none of the Palace is closed.

Moreover, Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing major refurbishment works costing £369 million, expected to be completed in 2027. This will be one of the most significant renovations ever to the property, which is the country's way of preserving an iconic landmark. King Charles has been steadfast in his efforts to have this project completed as soon as possible, although such a large Palace can only be repaired so fast.

Visitors can expect certain areas to already be finished, with others closing periodically. Therefore, tours may be adjusted and altered to show more of one section over the other, so keep that in mind. Nobody ever said a renovation was easy!

• When Will Construction Be Done At Buckingham Palace?: Construction at Buckingham Palace is expected to finish in 2027.

These scenic train rides through England may offer something unique to visitors.

Notice Of Closures Following The Death Of The Queen

Following the passing of the much-loved Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Buckingham Palace (and the other royal palaces) were closed to the public. The official residences and palaces have been and will be reopening progressively to the public.

The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and The Queen’s Gallery, Edinburgh reopened later in September. However, Buckingham Palace will not be fully reopening in 2022 as the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace will be closed for the rest of the year.

Ordinary Opening Hours For The State Rooms:

• July to August: 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
• September to October: 9.30 to 6.30 pm
• Closed: Tuesday and Wednesdays

One should check with the Royal Collection Trust for up-to-date information.

How To Get To Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the prettiest destinations in London , and that’s just when looking at it from the outside. Centrally located, it’s super easy to get to and is close to three underground stations: Victoria, Green Park, and St. James’s Park, all of which are about 10 minutes away.

Many tourists choose to get off the Tube at St. James’s Park and then stroll through the luscious gardens in the park on their way to the palace. Alternatively, you could take a cab, but this can take a lot longer than the Tube due to traffic. If you don’t mind walking, the palace is within walking distance of several hotels in Westminster. It’s also one of the stops of the Hop on Hop off bus tour.

These are the cheapest spots to visit in England (outside of London, of course).

When You Can Go Inside

Many tourists are content to observe Buckingham Palace through the gates, but it is possible to go inside. The palace offers internal tours between July and October. It’s a self-guided tour where each participant is given an audio guide and allowed to travel through the rooms included on the tour at their own pace. If you’re touring the palace, you must always follow the designated route, and you won’t be allowed to return to another room you’ve already been to.

Entry Fees Buckingham Palace Only:

• Adult: £30.00 ($33)
• Young Person: £19.50 ($22) (Aged 18 to 24)
• Child: £16.50 ($18) (Aged 5 to 17)

Entry Fees Royal Day Out:

• Adult: £55.00 ($61)
• Young Person: £36.00 ($39) (Aged 18 to 24)
• Child: £30.00 ($33) (Aged 5 to 17)

The Royal Day Out includes access to the Royal Mews, The Queen's Galley, and Buckingham Palace. The tour offers access to 19 of the 775 rooms in the palace. You’ll get a chance to walk through the State Rooms where the Queen entertains guests for state affairs, including the Throne Room and the White Drawing Room. You’ll also get to see the Ballroom and walk through the garden on the way out. You also have the option to pay more for access to the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery.

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Book In Advance And Be On Time

Because the palace is only open to visitors for four months every year, places fill up very quickly. Book in advance as far ahead as possible. When purchasing your tickets online, you’ll be able to choose an entrance time, and the sooner in advance you book your ticket, the better chance you’ll have of selecting a convenient time slot.

• Tip: Plan Ahead And Book Tickets Well In Advance

One of the things to know before your Buckingham Palace tour is that you should arrive at the palace between 15 and 30 minutes early. There is always a long queue to get through security, and if you’re too late, there’s a chance you will miss out on your tour.

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The Rules Of Entry

Understandably, there are a few rules of entry that all tour participants are required to follow when visiting the palace. Certain items are banned, including liquids, food, backpacks, scissors, penknives, and luggage. If you bring any of these items in, they will be confiscated. In some cases, they will be returned as you exit the palace. Those with large umbrellas are also asked to check them before embarking on the tour.

Photography is permitted in the garden but not in the staterooms. Mobile phones must also be switched off during the tour. Baby pushers are also not permitted in the staterooms.

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Other Things To Do At Buckingham Palace

If you don’t book a tour of Buckingham Palace, it’s still worth a visit. Many visitors are content to admire the palace from the outside, but there’s also the Changing of the Guard ceremony. In June and July, this generally takes place every day, although it is subject to change.

From August to May, you can catch the ceremony on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The official start time is 11 a.m. and there are several vantage points to watch the ceremony from, including the Buckingham Palace Gate and the Victoria Memorial.

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London’s Kew Gardens Has Long Links to Japan. Now the Emperor Is Set to Visit.

Emperor Naruhito is touring the famous botanic gardens this week as part of a state visit to Britain with his wife, Empress Masako.

By Megan Specia

Megan Specia reported from London, where she wandered Kew Gardens’ paths and visited its historic greenhouses to learn more about its connections to Japan.

When Emperor Naruhito of Japan will visit Kew Gardens on Thursday as part of a state visit to Britain, the links between his island nation and the famed London landmark will be on full display.

Dotted through the botanic gardens’ 330 acres are constant reminders of that longstanding relationship. In a large greenhouse, bronze sculptures of bonsai trees — some nearly the height of the room — stand in tribute to the Japanese horticultural art form. A short walk away is the Japanese Gateway, an intricately carved cypress replica of a Kyoto temple. Nearby, gravel neatly raked into waves and swirls surrounded by Japanese plant species evokes a traditional tea garden.

Dignitaries and heads of state from many countries regularly stop by Kew Gardens during official tours, joining the crowds that account for roughly 2.3 million visits annually at one of London’s most popular tourist destinations. But, for the emperor, the site will perhaps hold even more relevance.

“We have had a longstanding and close relationship with Japan, which can be seen through several beautiful structures in our landscape, but also in our living collections as well as our economic botany and art collection,” said Richard Deverell, the director of Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the organization that runs the site, recalling the gardens’ monthlong festival in 2021 celebrating the relationship.

The lineage of the emperor, 64, traces back more than 15 centuries , making the Chrysanthemum Throne the world’s oldest monarchy. But much like that of the British royal family, the role of Japan’s imperial family is symbolic and separate from the country’s government.

The tour on Thursday is part of a weeklong visit to Britain by the emperor and his wife, Empress Masako. The couple have long had a personal connection to the country. Both studied at Oxford University in the 1980s — the emperor was crown prince at the time; the empress was part of a Japanese foreign ministry program that sends early-career diplomats abroad to study.

The links between Japan and Kew Gardens date to the early 20th century.

Since the early 20th century, the royal and imperial families of Britain and Japan have had a close relationship. In 1902, the two countries signed the Anglo-Japanese Alliance, an agreement that fostered cooperation and cultural exchange.

As British interest about its new ally grew, Japanese art exhibitions became popular; the 1910 Japan-British Exhibition in London drew more than eight million visitors, according to the Japanese Embassy here. Among them was Queen Mary, who was the wife of King George V and Queen Elizabeth II’s paternal grandmother, and an avid collector of Japanese art .

The ties between Kew Gardens and Japan have continued for generations. The Japanese Gateway — a scaled-down replica of a gate in the Nishi Hongan-ji Temple in Kyoto, made of hinoki cypress — was installed in 1911 after it was shown at the Japan-British Exhibition in London a year earlier.

After the Japanese Gateway was restored in 1996, the temple copy and a new traditional landscape were formally opened by the emperor’s sister, who at the time was Princess Sayako. (She lost her title in 2005, when she married and became a private citizen.) At the dedication, she planted a northern Japanese magnolia, which still grows in Kew Gardens.

The Japanese art of bonsai will be featured during the visit.

The tiny treasures that form part of Kew Gardens’ impressive bonsai collection will be on display when the emperor tours the historic Temperate House, one of the botanic gardens’ Victorian-era greenhouses.

Bonsai, the growing and shaping of miniature trees in containers, often takes years of work from skilled artists. Among the highlights of the Kew Gardens’ collection of 60 bonsai trees is a tiny specimen that stands just 10 centimeters tall, and another that is 180 years old.

Richard Kernick, a botanical horticulturist at Kew Gardens, said that while bonsai trees are often thought to be dwarf forms, they are actually trees that have been expertly pruned and shaped to prevent them from growing to their full size.

“This intricate and precise art form transforms trees into tiny living treasures,” he said. “A living bonsai is a never-finished artwork that usually outlives its artist. Inheriting a tree is like being a rung on a ladder — there are often many rungs behind and, hopefully, many rungs ahead.”

A series of bronze bonsai sculptures created by the British artist Marc Quinn is also featured in the greenhouse, as are some of the rarest plants from across the world.

The emperor will meet with Masumi Yamanaka, the first Japanese residential botanical artist at Kew Gardens, who will talk about her painting of the Miracle Pine , which became a symbol of hope after Japan’s devastating 2011 tsunami.

The visit to Kew is just one stop on the royal tour.

The emperor and empress, who arrived in Britain on Saturday, are also spending time with the British royal family. Prince William met them at their hotel on Tuesday, at the start of their official visit, and King Charles III and Queen Camilla hosted them at a formal state banquet at Buckingham Palace in the evening.

King Charles, 75, and the emperor have much in common — including their sometimes niche interests and the public’s scrutiny of their marriages and obsession with their domestic lives.

Both men are relatively new monarchs. Naruhito became emperor in 2019 , when his father, Emperor Akihito, abdicated, and Charles was crowned king in 2022 , after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. On Friday, the last day of their visit, the Japanese royals will visit Oxford.

The emperor and empress have visited several other sites, among them Japan House, a cultural center in London, and the River Thames Barrier, one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world. While the barrier may have seemed like a random stop for a royal, the emperor possibly had more interest in it than many visitors.

The title of his memoir about his two years at Oxford is “ The Thames and I ,” a nod to the waterway’s effect on his time there and to his college thesis, whose subject was the history of transport on the river in the 18th century.

Motoko Rich contributed reporting from Tokyo.

An earlier version of this article misstated the number of Japanese royals who would be visiting Kew Gardens in London. It is Emperor Naruhito, not the emperor and Empress Masako.

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Megan Specia reports on Britain, Ireland and the Ukraine war for The Times. She is based in London. More about Megan Specia

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