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We toured the interior state rooms of Buckingham Palace and it was fantastic. You unfortunately cannot take any photos but seeing the various rooms and having the included audio tour was really a bucket list item. Walking in the steps of the royals and seeing the art room and throne room and others along with select antiquities was a 10 out of 10. Small bags only. Lots of security as you can imagine.
Historic piece of royalty and an absolute must see when in London. If you time it right you can view the changing of the guard which is always fun. If you have time when being a tourist and out sightseeing do a tour here if one is available. Always a good spot for pictures but be prepared for many others also doing the same. Both times I have been in London we made sure to visit the Palace.
While visiting London, I had to see Buckingham Palace! My friends and I were walking the city and the Palace was about a 25 minute walk from the tube station. Well worth it! I was told when the national flag was full staff that meant King Charles was present. That was pretty cool as it was full staff;))) The gardens leading up to and in front of Buckingham were gorgeous! The gates, trimmed in gold, were spectacular! I was able to see a few guards in front marching back and forth. No guards were outside the gate. I watched a gate open and saw someone important, I can only assume, drive inside. I watched The Crown on Netflix several years back and wished I could have toured the inside. But it was still great to see in person! If you get the chance take it!
The Buckingham Palace is official living quarters of the monarchs of the UK, so this is where King Charles is living. If you visit London during the summer months, you can actually get tickets to visit the inside of the Buckingham Palace. Most people like to come by the Buckingham Palace to see the formal changing of the guards. You can observe the full ceremony on Mon, Wed, Fri at 11am or a less formal version on Tues, Thurs, and Sat at 3pm. I hear it gets packed so you need to arrive an hour early to get a good spot. I personally didn't care to see all of that so I just swung by when it was convenient for my schedule. It's a palace. It's grand and pretty. I saw it, I took some photos, I left. No need to stay for hours and hours to burn vacation time. Even avoiding those prime times, I still found this landmark to be overly crowded and stressful. I think you should at least do a quick walk by, if not the whole experience, but manage expectations.
This was a must see for me when we visited London, so I was looking to reserve tickets for the tour inside back in January when our trip wasn't until August. I'm glad I did because even that far ahead I saw time slots already selling out. And since I did plan so far in advance, I was also able to get us tickets for the special East Wing tour that included the room behind the big balcony the royal family steps out onto to wave to the crowds. However, there was some confusion as to where to line up. There's a line for the regular tour that's on the left side of the palace if you're facing it. There's another lesser known line on the right side of the palace if you also bought tickets for the special tour. There were 2 women ahead of me who were as confused as I was so we wandered around together. Someone told them to go to the general line, but that didn't sound right to me, so I kept asking and was told by an actual docent, not a security guard, to go to the special line, but at that point I noticed that the 2 women had taken off and abandoned me, which I'm sure they regret now. While standing in the correct line, they did a head count and those 2 women were missing, so the tour went on without them. They did the special East Wing tour first and we got to see the ornate Oriental rooms behind the famous balcony and the mirrored and gold laden hallways along the way. Afterwards, we were allowed to join the rest of the crowds doing a self guided tour through the rest of the palace. On that first floor there's public restrooms and I highly suggest going there first because if you're on the upper floors, it's going to be more work for you and the docents since the self guided tour is roped off and one way only. Plus, how often do you get to say you went to the bathroom, or used the loo, in Buckingham Palace? It's unfortunate that photos aren't allowed inside because everything truly is gorgeous, but I could see how it would cause a traffic jam because everyone would be stopping to take hundreds of photos. Once you're outside, you're free to take all the photos you want and they also did a photo op where you can take your picture in front of a poster that makes it looks like you're on the balcony with the royal family. There's also a cafe, a souvenir store, and gardens in the backyard that you can enjoy. On a separate day we came to watch the captain's inspection which is like the changing of the guards, but without the parade and the guards stayed behind the gates. What you get really depends on the day's schedule, so I highly recommend checking it out online ahead of time. That way you know if it's even happening based on the weather and if so, what days and times. If you don't mind being far away, I recommend finding a spot on the stairs of the marble statue in front of the palace. That way you get a view above the gates and you're not squished between the crowds of other spectators. The closest public restrooms, though, were at the nearby park, but even then that was troublesome because the closest one was for children only and the adults one required payment. Plus, the janitors there were extremely ill tempered and rude, like they just had had it with tourists. This is such a quintessential London tourist spot unless you could care less about such things or the royal family. However, if this is what you're into like I am, do your homework online and make sure to reserve tickets as far in advance as you can. You can't avoid the crowds unless I suppose you come in the dead of winter, but once you're back home it'll be all worth it in the end.
Not sure what I should say here. If you want to see a building that other people have been to, that you've seen on TV, that you want to go take a picture of just like the thousands of other people there that day then boy is this the right place for you. If you are looking for somewhere to visit for more than ten minutes because it's so fascinating, this isn't the place for you. Maybe I'm missing something but it's a building with not much going on as you peer through the fence at a few guards standing there, walking a path back and forth once in a while. Maybe I wasn't there at the right time? Maybe I was looking at the wrong side? That's pretty much it. I felt like Clark Griswold looking at the Grand Canyon after "cashing" his check at the unattended register. Maybe hiring a Buckingham Palace tour would be the way to go?
We were here in September 2024 to watch The changing of the guard . Now this doesn't occur everyday but only on certain select days in September each week. Crowds line up behind barriers hours ahead of time to get the best spots for watching the parade . the parade starts close to Wellington barracks and winds up a broad avenue going up to and around Buckingham Palace . There are not only troops dressed in red uniforms and black fur hats but also in black uniforms. If you are fortunate they will be playing music also while marching. Nearby are St. James Park and Victoria memorial. Huge crowds make it impossible to move once the parade starts . got to watch your pockets for pickpockets in close quarters . Also remember to bring 50 pence pieces for paying for the toilet at James Park next door, the only public place for restrooms. Worth watching at least once during your visits to London. But those fortunate enough to come in the summer when they have tours of Buckingham Palace, can use the public restrooms before and after the tour.
Dream It. Plan It. Do it! I always try to live by these rules. When our flight was canceled and we had a few extra days in London, I decided to check an item off my bucket list. Luckily, there was space on the Buckingham Palace State Rooms Tour. This tour includes the 19 state rooms, as well as the throne room and the grand staircase. Great tour! There were alot of people but it was not over the top. There is a souvenir shop at the end of the tour with alot of great items. After our shopping excursion, we took a walk through the garden and stopped for ice cream at the ice cream parlor.
Went for the changing of the guards and oh my God what a waste of time! You get a better view on YouTube! Tours are only in the summer so I didn't get to go see the tour but maybe I'll get to go back in the summer and actually do the tour. But as far as I'm concerned, you can look at the palace take a picture in a video and that's it. It's not that great to me. Not even that pretty from the outside. But if you wanna swim with a bunch of people and a huge crowd just to see some guys march, and the changing of the guards go ahead, but I thought it was a complete waste of time! And like I said before, it's better to watch on YouTube. If you want to see the palace go when they are NOT doing the changing of the guards. read more
19 days ago
2 years ago
Buckingham Palace is internationally recognised as one of the most iconic buildings in the United Kingdom, Located in the City of Westminster, a short walk away through Green Park from the Underground station of the same name, it is certainly a sight which will be at the top of the list for tourists visiting London. It is the home of the monarch, with the building as we know it built between 1825 and 1837 PRO TIP: If you're looking to attend the Changing of the Guard, this happens at 10:45, with the official handover at 11 am. For tourists, there isn't a lot you can see other than the building through the security gates and the changing of the guard, but it's certainly a nice place to visit, take in the vibes, admire the scenes and the Mall around the Palace, not forgetting the three Royal Parks (St James, Green, Hyde) leading up to it. It does always seem busy around the Palace, too, even well into the afternoon after the ceremony has taken place, but it doesn't feel as overly crowded as other touristy parts of the city. On a personal milestone, this marks my 300th (and final) review of 2024, and review number #4446 overall. 4* - One of the must-see landmarks while in London even if the trip is somewhat limited to admiring the exterior, the iconic status and the grandeur of its setting still make it worth a visit. read more
"I went to see Buckingham Palace when I was in London, and all I got to show for it was this crummy yelp review." Everyone has heard of this place and knows who lives here, but unless you make it out for the changing of the guards it's just a giant building you see from outside the gates while you're strolling through/past St. James or The Green park. Since a lot of the city is fairly walkable I'd still say it's worth it to come check out, but there's not as much fanfare compared to everything else in London that you can see and actual visit inside and around. read more
2 years ago
This was a must when visiting London! We didn't stay for very long but we were able to watch the changing of the guards. It was a really cool experience and as much as all the Swifties drove me crazy, their band actually played the "shake it off" song by Taylor Swift. Interesting how popular media gets incorporated at such a historic site. Warning, would recommend arriving at least 45 min to an hour early for a good spot. Crowds can be overwhelming. Also to wear sunscreen as I was sunburned standing after just 20 minutes. read more
1 year ago
It's been a year since I was in London and Bucking Palace, but I still remember how awestruck I was when I was there! They have tours during the summer, but we were there before the tours started. Although I really wanted to see the inside of Buckingham Palace I was happy to be able to see it at least from the outside. It was crowded but not horribly crowded, so I was able to get a couple of good pictures and a good look at the guards and the inside through the gates. I would suggest checking for when they have tours to go inside, because even though it's beautiful from the outside I can't imagine what it's like inside! read more
Super busy all the time! If you want to see the changing of the guards better get here early to find yourself a spot because it gets crowded. They do it only Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Follow the orders of the local police and keep your camera at hand it doesn't last very long but its worth the wait and pretty cool to see. The area is kept super clean and very safe, lots of bicycles so watch where you are walking . If you want to go in the palace buy your tickets in advance. read more
No changing of the guard today, but the crowds are all here any way. We came back Wednesday morning from 11:00 until noon & there were crowds & a lot of activity at the palace. This is the royal residence & administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The palace is at the center of state occasions & royal hospitality. It has been a focal point for the British people at times of national rejoicing & mourning. Originally it was a large townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. The front of the palace is 355 feet across, by 390 feet deep, by 80 feet high and contains over 830,000 square feet of a living space. There are 775 rooms, including 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 78 bathrooms, 52 principal bedrooms & 19 state rooms. It also has a post office, cinema, swimming pool, doctor's surgical suite, and jewelry repair shop. The Royal family occupy a small suite of private rooms in the north wing. Queen Elizabeth hosted her annual garden parties each summer & also held large functions to celebrate royal jubilees. The garden is 42 acres & includes a helicopter landing area, a lake and tennis court. The Victoria Memorial is in front of the massive gate. It is marble & bronze weighing 2,300 tons. Elton John, Paul McCarthy, Tom Jones & others have performed here for free & BBC had telecasted the concerts. read more
1 year ago
Beautiful palace. Lots of history. Beautiful historical paintings. Worth a visit. Very friendly and professional staff. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Aug 2023 Absolutely loved visiting the majestic and regal palace. It was absolutely It was nice to learn about where official royal business and entertainment is done. Photos are not permitted only in the garden. Tours are self-guided. Our itinerary said that the tour would last about two hours, but we were done in 30-40 minutes. Visiting the palace was in my top three favorite excursions in London. Highly recommend! read more
A must see when visiting London! The best time to go is Monday, Wednesday or Friday when they do the change of guards. This happens around 10:45am but it's best to get there around 10:15am for a good spot. You can get a spot near the palace to see the marching inside the palace, or you can stand at the start of it to see them walk in, and then walk with them to the palace. read more
I've wanted to tour Buckingham Palace since I was a little kid and learned the Queen lived there. Unfortunately for me, tours are only open to the public during the summer months (July-September), so I was out of luck on this visit. I was able to watch the changing of the guards for the second time, so all wasn't lost on this visit. I made sure to get some nice pictures of Queen Elizabeth ll's initials; I'm sure King Charles's initials will take over very soon. The architecture and grounds of the Palace are beautiful, so I'm looking forward to coming back again soon to see the eye candy inside. Overall, it's definitely worth a visit, even if you can't get inside tours. Highly Recommended! read more
I made it to Buckingham Palace!!!!! ((((((SCREAM))))) we didn't get to the changing of the guards bcuz they do it at different times throughout the day. We took lots of pictures by Queen Victoria memorial and of Buckingham Palace. We did see the guards that stand outside the Palace, though. I tried to make him laugh, and he did not move. He marched every 5 to 10 mins. You do get to see that for free. read more
Buckingham Palace is very beautiful! Very touristy area but worth the visit. Walking distance from the Strand and free for all to walk around + take pictures. There is a lovely garden across the street to walk & take pictures, as well. Very close by walk to Big Ben & London Eye. Highly recommend including Buckingham Palace as a place to visit when visiting London ! read more
Definitely a must see if you're visiting and even for locals who haven't been yet. It's so vast that it's pretty easy to get right up to the gates to take a photo. I went on a Saturday mid-summer and it was still possible to get the photos I did without people in some of them. If you're prepared to get up at sunrise you'd be able to capture the statue in front without people all over it, but by mid-morning lots of tourists are on it. Worth seeing! read more
On our visit to London, we swung by to view the palace while exploring the city. All you can do is peer through the rod iron fence to witness the changing of the guard. For me it was just okay. It is huge and their is a large lion statue in the center of the round about that people and kids climb on. It would be nice if they offered a tours of certain areas, but being just a commoner this wasn't going to happen. I found the Royal Mews (separate review) to be a much better place to learn about the monarchy and all its finery. I would not make a special trip to see the palace unless you are really into the royal family. The best thing about the palace is it's proximity to Hyde Park, a absolutely beautiful place. Since the Queen has now passed and there is a new King it will be interesting to see how it goes in the future for the royal family. read more
10 months ago
Beautiful iconic building. Gilt gold everywhere. Lovely square. Runners clubs start and finish here. Multiple venues and parks. Queen Victoria statue and the great lions make this a place that just can't be missed. Looking forward to seeing the inside when it is open to the public. read more
2 years ago
A must see when you come to London, with the famous balcony and the Royal Guard. The Changing of the Guard is quite the production and lasts about 45 minutes. After that take a stroll in any of the adjacent parks (Green Park and St. James Park) and have a picnic :) read more
First time in London, and this was definitely on my to-do list. I told the family we needed to be up very early and they slept in while I made my way there! I was told to be there an hour before start time, which is 10:45AM; however, even with me getting there an hour ahead, there was still a huge crowd. I was able to get a pretty good spot in front of the gate. The palace seemed to be in excellent order and the Changing of the guard took place right in time. I stayed for about an hour, but left as it was extremely crowded and I felt like I had seen enough. I would say this should be on everyone's list for a first time trip to London. Some of the officers here are helpful, but some aren't. The first officer was relatively rude because I struggled to understand him with accent. The next officer who I asked for directions was extremely pleasant and went above and beyond to assist me with directions! read more
Buckingham Palace is truly one of the most popular tourist destinations in London, and obviously for a very good reason. It's home to the new King and it's steeped in tradition. In the heart of Westminster, I found myself walking past numerous times. I toured the palace years ago, so this time I was just in awe of the beautiful building so rich in history and wondering how many world leaders and famous people entered through those beautiful doors. The official Changing of the Guard is carried out Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 11 AM. It's quite a site to see and it gets crowded, so best to arrive early. If you miss it, the Military Guards that watch the Palace change every hour and that's exciting to watch. My husband and I were lucky this trip as we spotted a police escort and horse drawn carriages on the side of the palace. In typical tourist mode we ran up to see who and what it was...after a quick google search, it was King and Queen of South Africa and King Charles first State Visit of his reign. read more
You obviously can't go to London without going by Buckingham Palace- it's a must see! I was surprised by the walkable area nearby. There's even a park to explore and walk around right next door, So many people were there on the Monday we went by. Even on a foggy day, the palace was beautiful. So many gold accents and several great photo opportunities. There is a beautiful water feature situated out front. We encountered some nice tourists willing to take photos for us. I noticed they had some rotating exhibits to check out and also a gift shop. It was neat to watch the guards out front. Lots to do and see here! read more
Since this was my daughter's first time in London, we did a little detour to ensure that we walked by the Buckingham Palace on one of the long walks around the center of London. Yes, it is an important landmark. That said, the space in the front is usually very crowded, and you don't really get much for your time investment here. For me, it is skippable, especially if you are on a tight schedule, otherwise - just build the route to walk past it and explore the St. James's Park instead (which is absolutely lovely in spring and summer) read more
Date of visit: September 5, 2022 What tourist WOULDN'T hit up Buckingham Palace on their first trip to London? It's such an institution, even if you haven't been watching "The Crown." A massive, imposing structure with impressive gates keeping out the general unwashed, grabbing tickets in advance and gaining entry was not difficult, though there really aren't any signs out front directing you where to go. We came from the north and found out that you have to head around the grounds and enter on Buckingham Gate, which did allow for some cool scenes of the building and the guard. Check in was easy and security was not as strict as I thought it would be. The audio tour is free and I would highly recommend it as it adds a lot of commentary and insight that you wouldn't otherwise get. You can't take pictures inside, but the staff is friendly if you have any questions. There is a small gift shop kiosk shortly after starting the tour, but I would recommend waiting for the main store after the tour as it's quite impressive and has a wide range of gifts at various price points. After you exit, there is a cafe to one side and an ice cream stand on the path to the gift shop. We passed on both, but definitely stop at the Garden Gift Shop! And here outside you can take pictures, also make sure you look back at the palace from the exit path as there are some nice views. read more
I had the opportunity to visit and stay in London on 25-31 December 2023 with my wife and during my stay there I visited several beautiful places, including Buckingham Palace, this wonderful and distinctive historical place. As you wander inside the palace, you will discover what the life of those who lived in it was like and their standard of life, which differs from the life of the common people. I advise everyone who visits London to visit it. read more
3 years ago
I have never managed to be in London while I could tour Buckingham, so I have seen it from the outside a few times. Add to that that all my outside views have been obstructed by either protesters, marathon seating, or coronation prep/activities, and I have never fully gotten to take in its splendor. However, it is Buckingham Palace, and it is an impressive and famous sight to behold, even when obstructed. read more
4 years ago
One of the most well known locations in London and so beautiful. Made it over to see its splendor at night and day with a small to no crowd. After all the years of seeing it on television I quickly recalled various shots of weddings and other engagements celebrated by the public as we walked down the mall to the palace and then while admiring it at various angles. A magnificent experience. read more
If you come to London, especially the first time, you need to visit and see Buckingham Palace, whether making online reservations for an inside stateroom tour or watching the changing of the guards during the day. I was there on New Year's Eve and a lot people were sitting in front at the fountain waiting for the fireworks to happen. read more
3 years ago
Dream come trough when you are in England it's a must to visit Buckingham palace unfortunately we weee only outside and this place is crowded. It was a Saturday and no guard change on Saturday. The place and architecture are impressive. read more
2 years ago
It was just a funny but good feeling to step foot on the premises of a historic place. Many of the things seen on tv from 40 years ago was right in front of me including the traditions! Once in a lifetime experience. Friendly guards who joked with us and took pictures with us. These humans were not as rigid as they might have seemed. Truly had a good time learning and relearning a lot of the history. read more
We HAD to get a glimpse of the Queen's residence while in town . The memorial for Queen Victoria is located in front of the palace. The flowers were STUNNING with vibrant colors that serve as a gorgeous entry point to the grounds. They do have a ceremony for the 'Changing of the Guard" every day, but we missed it. I have been to London a few times, and I am always amazed with how strongly the Monarchy is represented in SO many ways. The Royal image seems to be everywhere from the currency to pub names, parks, Souvenir Stores to the sides of city buses. I think it's pretty awesome, and as an American, it's quite fascinating . In comparison to the White House, Buckingham Palace is much more ornate and ceremonial, complete with the palace guardvin bright red and bearskin hats. read more
3 years ago
One of the bucket list we need to visit. Its close to a Green Park train station, went there on July and it was very nice weather to walk around London read more
3 years ago
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Buckingham Palace - landmarks - Updated July 2026
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