Buckingham Palace is the London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. It’s located in Westminster.
Visiting
It’s possible to visit all three sections of Buckingham Palace on a self-guided tour. Tickets are on a timed entry for the State Rooms and Queen’s Gallery, while the Royal Mews can be visited at your leisure. An excellent multimedia guide is available at each section of the palace.
We did the Royal Day Out (see below), which is a long but enjoyable day. It’s well worth the price.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased on-site or on the official website. You get a small discount if you buy them online in advance.
Tickets to the State Rooms cost £50 for adults, £32.20 for young adults age 18-24, and £25 for children under 17 and persons with disabilities (as of February 2024). Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. Allow about 2 ½ hours to visit. The State Rooms are open every summer from July to September, plus select dates from December to May.
Tickets to the Royal Mews (historic coaches and carriages) cost £19 for adults, £12 for young adults age 18-24, and £9.50 for children under 17 and persons with disabilities (as of February 2024). Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. Allow about an hour to visit. The Royal Mews are typically open from February to November.
Tickets to the Queen’s Gallery cost £19 for adults, £12 for young adults age 18-24, and £9.50 for children under 17 and persons with disabilities (as of February 2024). Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. Allow about 1 ½ hours to visit. The Queen’s Gallery is open daily except when galleries are being prepared for new exhibitions.
The Royal Day Out includes admission to all three of the above sections. Tickets cost £65.70 for adults, £41.80 for young adults age 18-24, and £32.80 for children under 17 and persons with disabilities (as of February 2024). Children under 5 are admitted free of charge. Allow about four to six hours to complete your visits to all three attractions.
Other ticket combinations and special tickets are available, including guided tours of the garden and evening tours, depending on the time of year. Check the official website for more info.
More Info
- The best time to visit is in the summer, when all sections of the palace are open.
- I highly recommend purchasing tickets online well ahead of time.
- Keep in mind you will have to go through airport style security to enter each building.
- There are no bathrooms in the State Rooms until after you leave the building, and no photos are allowed inside.
- You can take photos at the Royal Mews and Queen’s Gallery.
- The nearest Tube stations are St. James’s Park, Victoria, Green Park, and Hyde Park Corner.
Click on the links below to learn more about my visit to each section of the palace: