- Who it’s for: Visitors with State Rooms tickets, including State Rooms bundles with Changing the Guard experiences.
- Where exactly: Official visitor entrance on the south side of the palace grounds, signed for Summer Opening | View on map
- Crowds & waits: Expect 20–35 min at peak times and 10–20 min during shoulder periods for security and scanning.
- Accessibility: The State Rooms are wheelchair accessible. Pushchairs must be checked, but baby carriers are available to borrow.
- Pro tip: For a quieter entry, choose an early morning slot. Late morning and early afternoon tend to be busier.
Buckingham Palace entrances | Which gate to use and why
Quick overview: Buckingham Palace entrances
Buckingham Palace has 3 visitor entrances, each leading to a different part of the palace: the State Rooms entrance on the south side of the palace (where Buckingham Gate meets Buckingham Palace Road) and the Royal Mews and King's Gallery entrances, both nearby on Buckingham Palace Road.
- State Rooms ticket holders: Enter on the palace's south side; there's no live guiding inside, only the self-guided multimedia tour.
- Royal Mews ticket holders: Enter on Buckingham Palace Road; free guided tours run throughout the day and meet directly opposite the stables.
- King's Gallery ticket holders: Enter separately on Buckingham Palace Road.
- Step-free access: The standard State Rooms route is not step-free; step-free access must be pre-booked with the Specialist Sales team and uses a different entrance at the front of the palace. The Royal Mews and King's Gallery are step-free throughout.
- Nearest stations: Victoria, Green Park, St James's Park, and Hyde Park Corner, each about a 10-minute walk.
Buckingham Palace entrance map
Find the right lane based on your ticket type
| Ticket type | Use this entrance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Standard timed entry | Main visitor entrance (Buckingham Palace Road) | Arrive about 15 minutes before your time slot; join the timed-entry queue and pass through airport-style security. |
Guided tour (State Rooms / East Wing) | Main visitor entrance (Buckingham Palace Road) | Meet your guide at the tour meeting point; have your voucher ready for check-in. |
Combo / add-on (State Rooms + Garden or East Wing) | Main visitor entrance (Buckingham Palace Road) | Use the same timed-entry lane; your combined ticket is scanned at the same entrance. |
Royal Mews | Royal Mews Entrance on Buckingham Palace Road | This is a separate attraction with its own dedicated entrance. |
King's Gallery | The King's Gallery Entrance on Buckingham Palace Road | This is a standalone gallery visit with a separate, specific entrance. |
Choose the right entrance for your attraction
Buckingham Palace has separate entrances for its main visitor attractions. Use this section to find the right door for the State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, or the Royal Mews, and know what to expect at each gate.
Buckingham Palace State Rooms entrance
The King’s Gallery entrance
- Who it’s for: Visitors with King’s Gallery tickets, including experiences such as the Changing of the Guard and the Optional Royal Mews entry.
- Where exactly: Separate gallery building on Buckingham Palace Road, with its own entrance signage | View on map
- Crowds & waits: Expect 15–25 min at peak times and 5–15 min during shoulder periods for security.
- Accessibility: Standard gallery entry includes wheelchair and stroller access, and guide dogs are welcome.
- Pro tip: The gallery has its own entrance and scan point, so don’t rely on “Buckingham Palace” alone when navigating.
Royal Mews entrance
- Who it’s for: Visitors with Royal Mews tickets, including the ticket with access to King’s Gallery and Changing of the Guard.
- Where exactly: Buckingham Palace Road, with separate “Royal Mews” signage along the palace | View on map
- Crowds & waits: Expect 15–25 min at peak times and 5–15 min during shoulder periods at security.
- Accessibility: The Royal Mews is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with guide dogs welcome.
- Pro tip: The Royal Mews is seasonal, so check your ticket date and opening period before setting off.
Accessible entrances at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is accessible, but step-free access must be pre-booked with the Specialist Sales team (+44 (0)303 123 7324, specialistsales@rct.uk).
- Standard entrance: The Ambassadors' Entrance has three flights of steps (two up, six up, three down), so it isn't step-free.
- Step-free route: Enter via the North Centre Gate, at the front of the palace nearest Green Park, crossing the gravel forecourt and quadrangle. From there, join the main visitor route and experience the palace the same way as everyone else.
- Lifts: Two are available, measuring 148cm × 94cm (500kg limit) and 160cm × 94cm (750kg limit). Your own wheelchair or scooter must fit these dimensions.
- Toilets: Accessible toilets are located at the start of the Access Route inside the palace and again in the garden at the end of the visit.
- Borrowed equipment: Folding stools and rollators are available but issued on a first-come, first-served basis on the day (rollators must be pre-booked).
- The King's Gallery: Step-free via lift to the main exhibition; the gallery shop has a few steps, with a ramp alternative.
- The Royal Mews: Fully accessible with level access throughout. Concessionary rates and a free Access Companion ticket are available; no proof of disability is required. On-site facilities include an accessible toilet, a changing space, seating, a sensory map, and a photo journey. Guide dogs are welcome.
- Guided walking-tour bundles: Some products that include Changing the Guard or Westminster walking tours are not wheelchair or stroller accessible, even when the indoor attraction itself is accessible. Always check the accessibility line on your specific product before booking.
Security, bags & re-entry
- Security: Airport-style security applies at the State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews. Large luggage and backpacks are not permitted; bags larger than 45cm x 20cm x 30cm cannot be taken in.
- State Rooms: Pushchairs must be checked in, and the visitor route follows a set one-way path through the State Rooms. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the State Rooms.
- The King’s Gallery: Photography for personal, non-commercial purposes is permitted. Mobile phones may be used inside; visitors are asked to be considerate and avoid disrupting others.
- Royal Mews: Large bags, pen-knives, scissors, and open food and drink are not allowed; bottled water is permitted. Photography and filming for non-commercial purposes are welcome; selfie sticks must not be used around the horses.
Arrival tips
- Arrive about 15 minutes before your timed entry, especially for the State Rooms, where airport-style security can create a short outdoor line.
- Look for signs with the attraction name (State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, Royal Mews), not a generic “Buckingham Palace entrance” label.
- Entrance locations do not usually change by season; what changes is whether the attraction itself is open. The State Rooms are primarily a summer visit, the Royal Mews has seasonal opening dates, and The King’s Gallery runs separately from both.
- If you’re combining a walking tour or Changing the Guard experience with entry, follow the meeting-point instructions on your ticket first, then proceed to the correct attraction entrance.
- Don’t assume every palace ticket uses the same gate. A State Rooms ticket will not be scanned at The King’s Gallery or the Royal Mews.
- Don’t head to the palace forecourt just because it’s the famous photo spot. Your visitor entrance may be on Buckingham Gate or Buckingham Palace Road instead.
- Don’t arrive too early for the State Rooms. Timed entry keeps the line moving, and arriving far ahead of your slot can mean extra waiting outside.
- Don’t confuse a guided walking tour with a guided interior tour. Most third-party walking tours guide you outside first, then you enter the attraction on your own timed ticket.
- Don’t forget to check the attraction name, date, and time on your ticket before you leave your hotel.
Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace entrances
Use the Buckingham Palace State Rooms entrance on Buckingham Gate. This applies to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace Tickets and to any experience that includes State Rooms entry after a walking tour or guard experience.
No. Buckingham Palace uses separate public entrances for the State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews. Always follow the attraction name printed on your ticket, not the general palace address.
Yes, usually. The important detail is that signs show the attraction name — State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, or Royal Mews. If you only follow signs to ‘Buckingham Palace,’ you can still end up at the wrong visitor door.
You’ll usually be redirected, but you can lose useful time walking to the correct gate and clearing security there. Leave a small buffer, especially for timed State Rooms visits and seasonal Royal Mews entry.
Usually no — the entrances stay tied to each attraction. What changes is the opening period. The State Rooms are summer-only, and the Royal Mews also has seasonal dates, so check that your attraction is open first.
Use the entrance for your booked attraction. Standard entry products for the State Rooms, The King’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews list wheelchair access, but some walking-tour bundles do not, so check your specific product details.
About 15 minutes early is usually enough. That gives you time for security without creating a long extra wait outside. For State Rooms visits, first morning slots tend to feel calmer than midday arrivals.
Yes, if you’ve booked tickets that include more than one attraction and their timings work together. Just remember that each attraction has its own entrance, so finishing one visit does not move you automatically into another.
Check 4 things: the attraction name on your ticket, your entry time, any separate meeting point for guided products, and the venue rules on bags or strollers. Those details prevent almost all entrance mix-ups.
