Useful information for your visit to Buckingham Palace
Soak up the splendour of this famed royal building during the summer months or catch the daily changing of the guard which occurs each morning.
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1. Explore the palace interior in the summer
If you want to pay a visit to the inside of Buckingham Palace then you need to visit in the summer, normally in August and September when the Queen retreats to Balmoral Castle in Scotland. You can visit the outside any time you wish to catch a glimpse of the palace which was built in 1703.
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2. Changing of the guard
To witness British pomp and ceremony at its best, visit the palace during the daily changing of the guard. This spectacle happens at 11am every Monday through Saturday and a little earlier at 10am every Sunday morning and lasts for approximately half an hour.
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3. Getting to Buckingham Palace
There is no tube station which serves the palace directly, the Queen has alternative travel arrangements, but several stations can be reached within a 15min walk. Green Park, Westminster, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner and St James' Park are all within easy reach of London's most iconic home.
Best things to do near Buckingham Palace
The wider Westminster area has plenty of royal attractions from St James's Park to Hyde Park Corner. Explore the regal parks and world-class theatres when you visit the home of the British monarch.
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1. Parks
The 23ha St James' Park stretches from Buckingham Palace all the way to Whitehall and Downing Street and is regarded by many as the prettiest London park. There is a small café in the centre of the park where you can enjoy a cold drink on a summer's afternoon.
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2. St James's Palace
Staying with the royal theme, St James's Palace lies just of The Mall - the long road which runs from Trafalgar Square to Buck House. Built by King Henry VIII, it is considered the most senior of all the palaces, despite today being mainly a ceremonial building rather than a working home of the monarch or wider royal family.
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3. West End
A stroll through the park will bring you to the heart of London's theatre district, The West End. Catch a long-running musical such as Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Phantom of the Opera', or opt for a play starring the great and good of the world's acting royalty.