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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.
2 years ago
I mean, when in Rome, right? Err, uh, London. It's worth coming to take a picture with the palace and queen Victoria statue. read more
A neat experience to visit the State Rooms inside the Buckingham Palace. A one-way path brings you through nineteen of these public rooms, such as the Ballroom, Throne Room, White Drawing Room, and Music Room. Check in advance the dates that the Changing the Guard ceremony takes place. Our schedule did not align up so we did not get to witness it. Tickets for just the palace are £30. We had booked 09:30 AM for a Saturday and unsurprisingly the place was packed with tourists. Including time spent at the Garden Café, we had stayed for just an hour as we simply did a walkthrough without listening to the audio tour. No photography is permitted inside. Outside of the palace is open to the public. read more
Ohhhhhhhhhhh The Queeeeeeeeeeeennnn!!!! The whole trip, everywhere around the city, every chance I got...I would say this in my horrible British accent! My wife would smack me in the back of the head and say, "would you knock it off!" Well not really, but she would laugh at me when I did it and would even sometimes join in herself and do it with me. With all due respect, what an incredible family this is. We had the privilege and absolute honor to see London, England for our vacation in 2017 and I can't wait to go back. During our trip, we made our way to the Buckingham Palace and what a sight it was. Seeing it in the movies is one thing, but standing right outside the gates is something else! Peeking through the gates and watching the Queens Guards standing guard is pretty dang cool. I will always remember and cherish visiting while one of the greatest families ruled the Monarchy of England! Hail to the Queen!!! read more
This is one of the things you have to see while in London just for the sake of it. They do a limited number of tours, but even just passing it on the outside is worth it. The outside gate and the nearby fountain are both very beautiful. You will also see the famous Queen's Guard standing outside. I was lucky enough to be there years ago when a horse carriage entered the palace. I am not sure if the Queen was inside it at the time, but I like to imagine so! read more
4 years ago
It was huge and there are guard outside and protecting the unwanted guest. It is located on Victoria area which surrounding many restaurants. The palace had a big park in front that you can enjoying wondering around. read more
When we came to Europe in 2016, we had not planned a trip to the UK, but with a friend of ours living there and a short ride under the channel on a train, we decided, why not visit, even if only for a day. We of course wish we planned for more time in London, but we still absolutely loved every minute of it. Visiting Buckingham Palace was one of the highlights, if even just the courtyard and fountain out front, a cool touristy destination for sure! Enjoy some of our photos, and when you get the chance to visit London, add this spot to your list read more
When in London, a visit to the royal palace is definitely a must. Buckingham Palace is truly a stunner. Unless you are booking a tour well in advance, the chances of seeing the interior of the palace are pretty slim. The exterior is really beautiful however, and it's still a must see if you're visiting London. I connected to the palace by walking through St. James Park. As I walked up, I was instantly enamored by the elegant Queen Victoria Memorial that sits right in front of the palace. The statue stands 82 feet tall with a base composed of marble and the top composed of bronze. This is the tallest monument of any king or queen within all of England. There are steps that lead up to the base of the monument but they are heavily trafficked. In fact, people roam the grounds of the palace all day and night. This is to be expected as it's one of the most tourist populated areas in London. Also admirable are the royal gardens that line the roads just before the palace entrance. I've learned that London is a very green city, and the royal gardens are no exception. They are beautifully manicured and set right amongst the British flags. Perhaps one of the most notable features of the Buckingham Palace is its' wrought iron gate. The gates are complemented by a golden "Royal Coat of Arms" which is consists of three lions and a unicorn. Who knew that a gate could be so pretty? I was also able to see the guards while I was there. There's a popular march that the guards will do called "changing of the guards". Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to see it, but it's one of the busiest regular events to take place at the palace. This is a very, VERY popular tourist attraction so expect to wait your turn to get a nice picture that's free of the crowds. If you're visiting London, I would put a visit to Buckingham Palace high on your list. read more
Not many sights more iconic than this right? Even on a cloudy day, missing the changing of the guard it is still worth a visit (my 20th perhaps). You never know if you might see the Queen coming or going - we did twice in one day many years ago - so be on the lookout! Stroll around to the Mews and the various royal stores - fun. If you are planning a trip we'll in advance then check online to see if the Palace is open to tours. If so buy tickets (we did two years ago) WELL worth a visit!! 2 thumbs up Review #64 2019 read more
7 years ago
All the way to London without a visit to the Queen? Nahh, couldn't pass up the opportunity to stop at Buckingham Palace. We planned a lot in a little amount of time, so there was quick pass through. There was a bike event that passed right by Buckingham Palace which de-toured the our bus. We decided to get off here and check it out. There is a lot going on with visitors and traffic around here, so I advise to take this area on by foot. My favorite features were the unicorn and lion gargoyles on the gate posts - very regal. How often do you see unicorns guarding a palace? read more
3 years ago
Please don't be mad but I was so bored. Can't go in and learn. It's just a building with rich historical background that you can't experience. I mean come on! I know it's beautiful but I don't want to jsut look. I want to experience things in life. I could have seen it from my computer for free instead of London for $5k lol read more
2 years ago
It's just one of those things you have to experience while in London. We only had a day in London to squeeze in a bunch of attractions and I wanted to be sure we got to see Buckingham Palace. We didn't get to see the changing of the guards, but the palace is beautiful and that was enough for me. read more
5 years ago
Well well well, good old Buckingham Palace, sorry to break the news, but I didn't manage to go inside, nor did I see the queen. But what I can say, is that Buckingham Palace is probably one of the most amazing landmarks in the UK. From the architecture, to the guards, everything is immaculate. It's quite fun just to visit here and take pictures from the front gates. Maybe if you're lucky you'll catch the queen peeking through the curtains!! If you're in London, this is definitely one of the top places you have to go to. read more
Buckingham Palace is something that you don't want to miss. The changing of the guard is elegant, disciplined and reminded me of the marching soldiers in the Wizard of Oz. The precision of the march, the music of the band makes you feel like a royal. Just to see this magnificent palace is breathtaking. TIP-be sure to get here early for the changing of the guard and check the schedules as it changes in the Fall/Winter months. The ceremony is over an hour and be sure to stand to the left of the main gate as you will see where they come in and out. There is security all around, of course and it can get crowded but, use common sense. The Bobbies are very friendly and helpful. Great place for photos and there is a beautiful park that you can walk around and relax. A short walk to The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abby. read more
We always planned to just pop outside during some spare time on our trip to London. We wandered past during the evening and during the day and it really is impressive! Walking around the palace it was also fun to see all of the security guards - while they are doing a very important and hard job many of them were very kind and friendly to folks walking by. What struck me the most was being able to see this cultural landmark for the first time in my life in person! After seeing this place in a million movies, tv shows and ads it was pretty surreal to see it all up close! Even if you aren't into the whole royal family thing - it is interesting to pop over and take a look to see what all the fuss is about. We didn't see the changing of the guard - and honestly going outside of that time in the off season (we went in October) gave us a more intimate experience with getting close to the palace gates. read more
11.1o.19 I saw the changing guards 5 years ago but not my friend. So we woke up pretty much for this consider we have jet lag and I was super tired. However, we found that it was the Remembrance Sunday so they didn't have it this morning? We kind of waited until the time it supposed to start but it didn't do we asked the police officers there and they said not today? Maybe it was bc of the Remembrance parade. But there were so many people waiting. Ok, maybe they were waiting for the parade? Oh well, I got to snap a picture with one of the officers. I actually just asked if it's ok if he's gonna be in the picture bc he was kind of in my background and so I just wanted to ask him for his permission. But I think he thought I asked him to take a picture with me so that's how it happened. Lol read more
I didn't do enough backwards planning to be able to schedule a tour inside the palace. We still made the trek over to see it, look at the guards, and get the photos. We didn't get a peek at any of the royal family. read more
7 years ago
Amongst the plethora of royal sites to visit in the UK, Buckingham Palace is certainly one of the greatest of them all. The ornate, decorative architecture is gorgeous and the pomp and circumstance surrounding the changing of the guard. The show lasts 11:00 to 11:45 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. The music, the horses, the sophistication, the coordination, it's all quite impressive. Get there by 10:00 though if you want a good spot! read more
7 years ago
The iconic tourist must see was ......a bit underwhelming. The weather was mild in Mid-March, so the hordes were out, in their full touristy glory. Myself included. Twice. The guard were wearing gray uniforms, not the red I was expecting/hoping for. Winter wear perhaps? The whole thing is quite the spectacle, and doesn't last all that long , but it is nicely spaced out so you are standing around for even longer, having no idea what to expect next. Horses ! Music ! Maybe a carriage with ambassadors ! Get there extra extra early for a place at the gate. read more
8 years ago
12/10/2018: I took the London Bridge Station's Tube to Green Park Tube Station hoofing like San Francisco CA's three and a half l-o-n-g city blocks in order, arriving at Buckingham Palace across a major, busy street . . . Please notice my POV of Buckingham Palace: I had to walk from London Bridge Station TRANSFER to Green Park in order, exiting the station, and strolling through a huge park arriving at the signal lights . . . Upon arrival at Buckingham Palace: Yep~Did you notice the Bobbies were EACH toting assault rifles guarding that huge gate? "Uh~Hello~ . . . Hi~Uh-May I take a picture of you guarding the gate?" Still, I asked if, I may take a flash photo of them FIRST because the Bobby on the left appeared too trigger-happy caressing the "action" of that DEADLY assault rifle . . . I recognized the mannerisms and the behavioral attitudes from serving in the USAF seeing soldiers who are "ate up" holding the assault rifle like that Bobbie on the left . . . I was extremely nervous taking his photo . . . The Bobby on the left, gave me permission taking his photo: I alerted the Bobby, "Ok~Say CHEESE!" CLICK~Proof-you don't want perturbing the Bobbies toting assault rifles with their finger caressing that action on the ready . . . IF, you get my DRIFT~OY-EVAY!!!! Seriously, I know I won't return to Buckingham Palace; however, I thought taking photos during golden hour are far more dramatic than taking photos during boring daylight hours: My exact purpose taking photos at 4:30 PM are succinctly proven correct when it becomes typically, strangely dreary and dark in London UK. read more
8 years ago
How can you go go London and not see Buckingham Palace? We headed to the palace to see the Changing of the Guards. The best views of the ceremony are at the gates of the palace (check the dates and times online). You can also watch the guards marching along the mall if crowds aren't your thing. The palace itself is gorgeous and beautifully landscaped. Definitely worth a walk by if nothing else. read more
4 years ago
Cool place to visit because it's where the Queen stays. I was told when the Queen is in the palace. The Union Jack flag would rise. (I did not confirm). We happen to see changing of the guards as we went so we got lucky. Afterwards we realized it's not a daily thing and the guards do rest for a period of the year. We heard the guards play 007 theme towards the end and that was kind of cool. read more
8 years ago
As you may know, you can take a tour of the state rooms only in August and September when the Queen is not at home. Since we happened to be in London in September, we had to pay a visit. I have visited a number of palaces and castles in Europe, but I thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Buckingham Palace. No pictures are allowed inside the palace. You walk through the state rooms with an audioguide. When you have questions, you can ask the staff members. I thought it was a bit cheesy but it was fun to have tea and snacks at the end of the tour. We may not be invited to the official garden party at the palace, but we can pretend when you drink tea and eat a scone while you're looking at the garden. The very end of the tour is the gift shop, of course. The gift shop here is probably bigger than the one at Windsor Castle, but both gift shops have many of the same things. PRO-TIPS 1. Tickets have entry times. They are very strict about them. 2. Home delivery of souvenirs is available at the gift shop. You do not have to pay (British) taxes on your merchandise for home delivery (although your home country may assess a tax). ****************************** If you found something useful in my review, please hit "useful" so that I can improve my reviews. If you love food and traveling, follow me, or better yet, let's become friends on Yelp! Thank you and happy Yelping! read more
4 years ago
Go when there are less crowds! Otherwise you can take in the true experience of Buckingham palace! Windsor is much better to visit if you had to pick between the two read more
If you love castles this is a great place to visit and tour. This is a very beautiful place to tour and visit, the grounds and palace are quite massive and offer a ton of history. Some may find it boring but I found it very interesting and also learned the hard way that you're NOT supposed to take pictures on the inside of the palace! You can watch the changing of the guards, I found the architecture very stunning. read more
8 years ago
We arrived mainly to see the palace, not caring that much about the changing of the guard due to the heat wave, but we received a good show at 11:30am. A Bobby recommended staging next to the big gate on the right(when facing the palace) and away from the inner fence. We were able to see a large procession of horses come out of the palace, then a marching band, followed by a military looking brigade. It was quite interesting and we squeezed toward the inner rope with little issue. Unobstructed pictures! read more
2 years ago
I was able to get tickets to tour Buckingham Palace while it was open to the public while the Queen was on holiday. The State Rooms are absolutely stunning! You are given an audio guide to take with you on your tour, which gave interesting information about each room. Unfortunately, no photos are allowed in the palace and they will ask to see your photo reel on your phone if you even take it out to check the time. There is a lot of walking involved with this tour. It is flat terrain on a path, but it could get tiring for guests with reduced mobility. At the end of the tour, you get the chance to see the back garden, stop in the cafe and gift shop before making your way out. I got a macaroon and hot chocolate at the cafe. It was good, but standard. You will find that everything here is pricey - from the tickets to the food to the gift shop. They do have discounts available for seniors and students, so look for those when booking your ticket. However, seeing the State Rooms is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so for me, it was worth the cost. read more
3 years ago
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9 years ago
This review is going to be a bit limited as this pertains to everything outside. I can and will delve deeper about the inside of this place in another review as that is more pertinent. The palace itself is beautiful. A place where everyone in London knows and is a fairly busy place to be. A total tourist trap as well, but not in a bad way. I was aimlessly roaming about the city one day and I decided to meander over this way. Minding my own business and just looking about. I was in awe of how beautifully maintained this area is. Everything about it is, for lack of a better term, royal. Everyone was very respectful in the general area. It was a delight to see the guards at attention standing in front of the palace. Every so often they would move a few feet and continue to stand at attention. I cannot speak to the changing of the guards because I was more interested at heading inside as the State Rooms were open for the public. I snapped a few pictures for myself and made my way to the entrance area. read more
What if I told you that visiting Buckingham Palace is cool, but visiting Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard is even cooler! My family and I visited Buckingham Palace during a one day tour and saw the Changing of the Guard and it was awesome. I highly recommend this experience, during your stay in London. read more
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Buckingham Palace - landmarks - Updated July 2026
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