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.
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...
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.
Guided tour vs. audio guide
An audio guide or multimedia guide lets you explore the palace interiors at your own pace, focusing on the State Rooms or royal treasures that catch your eye. A guided tour provides a structured, live-narrated route through the surrounding royal landmarks or ceremonial highlights before you head inside. For an attraction with centuries of royal history, a guided introduction helps connect the stories of the monarchy before you step through the palace gates.
Which guided tour is best for you?
Add a royal walking tour to your Palace visit
Want more than a self-guided Palace visit? Choose the Buckingham Palace State Rooms Ticket with Royal Walking Tour to explore St James’s Palace, The Mall, and St James’s Park with an expert English-speaking guide before using skip-the-line entry to the State Rooms with a multilingual audio guide.
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
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.
