Join an English-speaking guide on tours covering the State Rooms, the Changing the Guard, or nearby royal landmarks. Exclusive Guided Tours of the State Rooms are led by Royal Collection Trust guides, while some Westminster Abbey-inclusive itineraries offer guides in French, German, or Spanish too.
Buckingham Palace Guided Tours
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Quick summary
- 🎟️ Tours from £14
- 🌍 English + 9 audio-guide languages
- ⚡ Skip-the-line options available
- 🔄 Free cancellation on most tours
- 👥 Small-group options available
- ⏱️ Full-day options available
Guided tour of Buckingham Palace is...
✔️ With an expert guide
✔️ With skip-the-line access where it counts
The Buckingham Palace State Rooms Ticket with Royal Walking Tour includes skip-the-line entry to the State Rooms — a real time-saver given how long the standard queue can run. Selected tours pairing the Palace with Westminster Abbey also include skip-the-line or priority entry.
✔️ A tour of the major royal sights
Depending on which tour you pick, you'll explore the gilded State Rooms, watch the Changing the Guard up close, or walk past St James's Palace, the Mall, St James's Park, and Big Ben en route to the Palace. Some itineraries build in free time to explore the State Rooms at your own pace once the guided portion ends.
✔️ Flexible enough to fit your schedule
Options range from a focused Changing the Guard walk lasting under two hours to a full Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle day trip running 7 hours. If you want the deepest dive, the guided tour of the state rooms runs around 1.5 hours, held at times the palace is closed to general visitors, with a complimentary guidebook included.
Note: Buckingham Palace tours do not take place inside the State Rooms, but they provide essential context and an efficient entry process that elevates your entire visit. It combines the benefits of an expert-led walking tour with the flexibility of a self-guided interior experience.
What to expect on a Buckingham Palace tour
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Meet your expert guide & begin your royal walk
Your journey begins at a designated meeting point near the palace. Here, your licensed local guide awaits to provide a lively introduction to the history and traditions of the royal family. This is the start of your live guided tour experience.
Explore the royal landmarks
Your guide will lead you on a short walking tour to the gates of Buckingham Palace. Along the way, you’ll discover the history of the surrounding royal landmarks, from St. James’s Park to the iconic East Front of the Palace itself, learning stories that bring the royal family's past to life.
Skip the ticketing line & enter the palace
With pre-booked timed-entry tickets, you will bypass the long general admission queue. After a security check, your guide will hand you a free multilingual audio guide for the internal tour. Please note: The live guide will not enter the Palace with you.
Tour the State Rooms at your own pace
Inside, the audio guide will be your companion, leading you through the State Rooms, including the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. You are free to explore these spaces at your own pace, taking as much time as you like to admire the royal collections.
Which guided tour is best for you?
Multimedia-guided visits
- Guide: Official multimedia/audio guide
- Languages: 9 languages + BSL with subtitles
- Best for: Exploring independently with commentary
Explore Buckingham Palace or the Royal Mews at your own pace with an official multimedia guide. The State Rooms visit includes audio commentary on the Palace and its collection, while the Royal Mews guide covers the royal coaches, horses, and working stables.
Popular options:
- Buckingham Palace Ticket — multimedia/audio guide; choose the State Rooms or Royal Mews
- The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace Tickets — multimedia/audio guide
- The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace Tickets — multimedia guide in 9 languages
Guided tours
- Guide: Expert or licensed guide
- Languages: English; French, German, and Spanish on selected tours
- Best for: Live commentary and structured sightseeing
Join a live guide for the Changing the Guard, a royal walking route, or a Westminster experience. Depending on the tour, you can also combine live commentary with State Rooms entry, skip-the-line access, or a small-group format.
Popular options:
- Changing the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace — expert English-speaking guide + small group
- Buckingham Palace State Rooms Ticket with Royal Walking Tour — guided walking tour + skip-the-line State Rooms entry
- Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour — licensed/local guide; selected language options
- Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing the Guard — licensed English-speaking guide + small-group Abbey tour
Full-day royal day trips
- Duration: 7 hours 15 minutes–9 hours 30 minutes
- Transport: Round-trip AC coach from London
- Includes: Buckingham Palace + Windsor Castle
Combine Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in one full-day experience, with entry to both royal residences and round-trip coach transfers. Multimedia guides provide commentary at the attractions, while the organized itinerary and transport connect the two visits.
Popular option:
- Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Full-Day Tour
Highlights covered on a Buckingham Palace tour
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Changing the Guard
Witness the iconic military ceremony, a spectacular display of music and pageantry at the palace gates.
State Rooms
Explore lavishly decorated public rooms where The King hosts official ceremonies and guests.
Throne Room
Step inside the heart of the palace to see the thrones used for coronations and royal weddings.
Grand Ballroom
Walk through the largest room in the palace, used for state banquets and official investitures.
Picture Gallery
Admire a changing display of masterpieces by renowned artists from the priceless Royal Collection.
White Drawing Room
Discover a secret passage in this intimate reception room, discreetly hidden by a piece of furniture.
Royal Mews
Get up close with the royal carriages, including the famous Gold State Coach, and see the horses that pull them.
Things to keep in mind when you go on a tour
- Restrooms: Restrooms are available during visits to Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews also has an accessible toilet and Changing Space.
- Café: The Garden Café is available with selected Buckingham Palace State Rooms experiences. Plan your visit around the one-way route, as you cannot simply return to earlier areas after leaving.
- Seating: Seating is available throughout the Royal Mews, making it easier to take breaks during your visit.
- Accessibility facilities: The Royal Mews has accessible facilities and seating, while a downloadable sensory map and photo journey can help visitors plan ahead.
- Entry details: Keep your ticket and any required ID readily available, particularly when meeting a guide.
- Comfortable shoes: Guided experiences can involve walking through Westminster and around the Palace area, so comfortable footwear is recommended.
- Minimal luggage: Bring as little as possible. Large bags, suitcases, and other bulky items are restricted on several experiences and can slow you down at security.
- Water: Bottled water is permitted at the Royal Mews, but food and other drinks must be kept in closed bags.
- Baby carriers: Pushchairs are not permitted in the State Rooms. Baby carriers are available to borrow.
- Security screening: Expect airport-style security checks before entering Buckingham Palace. Allow extra time for screening and avoid bringing unnecessary items.
- Photography: Photography and filming are permitted for private use in the Palace Gardens, but photography is prohibited inside the Palace interiors and other specified venues.
- Bags: Large luggage and backpacks are restricted. The Royal Mews also prohibits items such as penknives and scissors.
- Food and drinks: Eating and drinking are not permitted inside the State Rooms, Royal Mews, or The King’s Gallery. At the Royal Mews, bottled water is the exception.
- Pets: Pets are not permitted, although guide dogs are welcome.
- One-way route: The State Rooms follow a one-way visitor route. Once you move through an area, you cannot return to revisit it, so see everything you want before continuing.
- Comfortable clothing: There is no strict dress code for Buckingham Palace tours, but comfortable clothing and shoes are advisable, particularly for experiences that include walking tours.
- Royal Mews: Wear practical footwear if you plan to spend time exploring the stables, coaches, and outdoor areas.
- Arrive early: Guided tours have fixed meeting times. Arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled start, as late arrivals may not be admitted or refunded on some experiences.
- Check the ceremony schedule: The Changing the Foot Guard ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, subject to availability. On other days, tours may feature the Changing the Horse Guard instead.
- Allow time for security: Even with skip-the-line access, you still need to pass through security screening before entering the Palace.
- Plan your route: The Palace visit follows a one-way route, so use the facilities and take any necessary breaks before leaving an area.
- Keep the tour type in mind: Some experiences are fully guided, while others combine a guided walking or ceremony experience with self-guided Palace exploration using a multimedia guide.
- Check accessibility before booking: Accessibility varies between experiences. The Royal Mews is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible, while some guided tours and State Rooms experiences are not.
Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace tours
Language options vary by experience. Live guided tours are available in English, with selected tours also offered in French, German, or Spanish. The State Rooms multimedia guide is available in 9 languages, plus British Sign Language with subtitles.
Tour durations vary by experience. State Rooms visits typically take around 2–2.5 hours, while Changing the Guard and walking tours vary in length. Full-day Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle tours last 7 hours 15 minutes–9 hours 30 minutes.
The self-guided tour through the State Rooms typically takes between 1.5 to 2 hours. The Changing the Guard tour involves significant walking. Your guide will lead the group on a route to get the best viewing spots. The tour itself can last up to 90 mins and does not include entry to the State Rooms, the Royal Mews, or The King’s Gallery. The amount of walking on a walking tour that includes Westminster and Buckingham Palace depends entirely on the specific tour you book. Most of these tours are designed to be comprehensive walking experiences and can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours. They often cover a distance of 3 to 5 km, visiting landmarks like Westminster Abbey.
There are no age restrictions for tours of Buckingham Palace, but children under 16 require adult supervision.
Yes, tour guides leading guided tours of Buckingham Palace have professional training or certifications related to the palace's history, architecture, and significance. They are knowledgeable experts who provide informative commentary throughout the tour.
You can take photos outside Buckingham Palace. However, photography is not permitted inside Buckingham Palace. Instead, your tour guide will provide further guidance if needed.
It depends on how you prefer to visit. A live guide provides commentary and context during walking tours, while a multimedia guide lets you explore the State Rooms independently. Some experiences combine both, with a guided tour followed by self-guided Palace access.
Yes, on experiences that combine a guided tour with self-guided Palace access. For example, the Changing the Guard walking tour is followed by free time in the State Rooms, where you can explore independently with the multimedia guide.
The products listed for Buckingham Palace include small-group options, but no dedicated private Buckingham Palace tour is specified. Small-group options can provide a more intimate experience, with the Royal Mews option capped at 10 participants.
Arrive at least 10 minutes before your scheduled tour. Late arrivals or no-shows are non-refundable on the Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour. Check the cancellation and arrival conditions for your specific experience before visiting.
Headsets are provided on selected guided experiences, including tours where groups need to hear the guide clearly. The State Rooms and Royal Mews also offer multimedia guides, with the State Rooms guide available in 9 languages.
