Buckingham Palace

Facts and information

Address:: Buckingham Palace, The Mall,
London SW1A 1AA
England
Website:: www.royal.gov.uk
Opening times:: Closed to the public, apart from the Summer Opening during Aug–Sep; Note: Opening times are subject to change, and may not apply on public holidays. Always reconfirm with the venue before making plans.
Buses:: 8 10 16 24 38 44 52 73 82 148 170 171 187 214 507 C1 C10
Trains:: Green Park JUB PCL VIC, St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Victoria CRC DSC VIC Note: The nearest train station to Buckingham Palace is St Jamess Park. We can help you find the best route from any other train station:
Train journey to Buckingham Palace

^{Buckingham Palace’s forecourt} Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

^{Changing the Guard Ceremony}

Did you know… Buckingham Palace has 661 rooms, including 19 State rooms, 52 bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms.

Did you know… Three of the Queen’s children were born in the Palace – Charles (1948), Andrew (1960) and Edward (1964) – Anne was born at Clarence House (1950).

View of the Palace behind the Queen Victoria Memorial fountain

^{Buckingham Palace, London} View of Buckingham Palace and the Queen Victoria Memorial, from St. James’s Park

^{Buckingham Palace}

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Buckingham Palace was built by the 1st Duke of Buckingham in 1702. It was originally intended as a country mansion at the edge of St. James’s Park, but the rapidly-expanding city meant it settled into a central position.

George III purchased it in 1762, and embellishments by King George IV turned it into an imposing royal home.

Inside Buckingham Palace

George IV secured £200,000 from Parliament and hired Britain’s leading light – John Nash – to make the alterations. Unfortunately, the King’s incessant demands pushed the price up threefold, and Nash was replaced by Edward Blore.

Most of what you see today is relatively new. The large wing facing The Mall for example, was only added in the 1850s, when Marble Arch was moved to its present location near Hyde Park corner. Marble Arch originally served as the main entrance gate, but the new Queen added an entire front wing – creating the famous balcony where they wave at the crowds.

The last major piece of work occurred in 1913, when the front was replaced with Portland Stone. This was to complement the Queen Victoria Memorial nearby, which was built upon her death.

History of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was bombed no less than seven times by the Nazis, but escaped serious damage. The Germans intended it to be a demoralising blow – but it actually had the opposite effect. Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) was quoted as saying, I’m glad we’ve been bombed – now I can look the East End in the face!

A famous newsreel from the 1940s shows a brave man ramming a bomber off-course as it descended on the Palace. The brave pilot miraculously survived, and his plane’s engine can still be seen in the Imperial War Museum.

The State Rooms, and Buckingham Palace Tour

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh occupy twelve rooms in the north wing – opposite the 40-acre gardens. The State Apartments (including the Ballroom, Music Room and Throne Room) are reserved for official business. Most of these State Rooms can be visited during the Buckingham Palace Tour.

The tour visits just 19 of the Palace’s 661 rooms – but what rooms! It starts in the Ambassador’s Court and moves up the grand marble staircase. Walking past the Guard Room, you come to the Green Drawing Room, where Heads of State wait before greeting the Queen. These State Rooms – used for investitures, official banquets and meeting dignitaries – contain some of the richest decorations in Europe. The Throne Room will take your breath away. Imagine meeting the King and Queen in full regalia!

The Queen’s Gallery boasts one of the finest art collections in Europe – everything from Vermeer, Van Dyck and Rubens, to the Dutch master Rembrandt.

On from the Picture Gallery is the Silk Tapestry Room and Ballroom – where the Queen knights her worthy subjects. Then it’s on to the State Dining Room and Music Room.

Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11.30 on the Buckingham Palace forecourt, and lasts approximately 40 minutes – but you’ll have to arrive by 11 to get a place at the front.

>> Drummerboy’s blog – Buckingham Palace Summer Opening

Drummerboy – “You get to see all of the State Rooms and the gardens out the back too, but there are a few bits and pieces that are missing. You don’t get to see the famous balcony, for example, but I imagine that everyone would be up there woo-hooing their mates down below if they opened that up. You are pretty much free to walk around at your own pace, but everyone is kept moving along by the little guide on the headset, so in reality you are pushed from room to room pretty quick… continued.”

>> Drummerboy’s blog – Changing the Guard

Drummerboy – “Changing the Guard is one of those things that all the tourists do the first day off the plane, but when you speak to people who have lived in London for years, they have never bothered to do it. It’s too touristy to bother with. It seems a bit twee. That’s the camp that I fall into. I was always under the impression that it wasn’t that busy. I was expecting a crowd about 4 or 5 deep at the gates, assembling about 30 minutes before it starts… but boy was I wrong… continued.”

>> Write a review of Buckingham Palace Read all reviews

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donald – “Of all the tourist sites I've been too (and I'm not a tourist -- I've lived here for 20 years) the Palace is the most interesting by far. The place just impresses the moment you step through the door. The audio guide is superb and gives you an insight into… read the full review”
pearlyqueen – “Having already been to Windsor Castle and loved it, I was already knowing the kind of spendour to expect, but to say that Buckingham Palace took my breath away is an understatement! What an amazing palace. And it is even more impressive inside given that t… read the full review”