Visit Buckingham Palace | Timings, Directions, Tips & More

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Buckingham Palace State Room Tickets

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1 hr. 30 min. - 2 hr. 45 min.

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The Buckingham Palace Ticket

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Changing the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace

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Westminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour

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From London: Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Full-Day Tour

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7 hr. 30 min.

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The King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace Ticket

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The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace Tickets

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3 hr. - 4 hr.

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Combo (Save 5%): Changing the Guards Ceremony + Afternoon Tea Cruise

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Combo: Tower of London Guided Tour + Thames River Cruise

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4 hr. - 6 hr.

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Combo (Save 5%): Changing of the Guards + Tower of London Tickets

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Buckingham Palace opening hours

State Rooms: Jul 10 to Sept 28, 2025

July 10 to Aug 31: 9:30am to 7:30pm (Last entry: 5:30pm)
Sept 1 to 28: 9:30am to 6:30pm (Last entry:4:30pm)

Royal Mews: Mar 13 to Nov 2, 2025

Thursday to Monday: 10am to 5pm (Last entry: 4pm)

King’s Gallery: Apr 11 to Mar 9, 2025

Thursday to Monday: 10am to 5:30pm (Last entry: 4:15pm)

Note:

The State Rooms are open daily in July and August but are closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in September.
The Royal Mews and the King’s Gallery are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, except July 10–August 31, 2025, when they are open 7 days a week.

Know more

Best time to visit Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is open to visitors only for a few months. You can visit the attraction between July and September and explore the State Rooms and the palace gardens. The Royal Mews and the King’s Gallery are open for longer periods of time.

However, you can see the Changing of the Guard ceremony more often. The ceremony, displaying military precision and pageantry, takes place daily at 11am from April to July and on alternate days for the rest of the year. Ensure you book your tickets early, as they're sold out quickly.

Where is Buckingham Palace located?

Address: London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom | Find on Maps

Buckingham Palace is located in the City of Westminster in central London, England.

Closest landmark: Victoria Memorial (66 m)

Directions to Buckingham Palace

Getting to Buckingham Palace in London

A tube with open doors at the station platform

By tube

Closest station: St James’s Park

Both the Circle and District lines are connected to St James’ Park. Victoria Station, served by the District, Circle, and Victoria lines, and Green Park Station on the Piccadilly and Jubilee lines, are also nearby.

By train

Closest station: London Victoria Station

Buckingham Palace is 10 mins from London Victoria Station. You can get a train from your nearest station to London Victoria Station.

By metro

Closest station: Green Park Station

You can take the metro, called the Underground in London, to Green Park Station and walk to Buckingham Palace. It will take six mins to walk.

A double-decker bus on the street in london

By bus

Closest station: Wilton Street

Take buses 11, 211, C1, or C10 and get off at the Wilton Street bus stop. It is three mins from Buckingham Palace.

By bike

You can hire a bike from Tube stations, Belgravia, Park Lane, Piccadilly, and Wellington Arch, and reach Buckingham Palace.

By car

You can drive to Buckingham Palace from Big Ben or Westminster Abbey. Both attractions are 1.2 to 1.6 km away from the Palace and will take 5-7 mins to reach. Take the Birdcage Walk route for the quickest drive!

Itineraries at Buckingham Palace

A family listening to their tour guide in Buckingham palace

If you have 1.5–2 hours

For those with limited time, begin your visit by exploring the State Rooms, including the Ballroom and Throne Room. Marvel at masterpieces from the Royal Collection in the Picture Gallery. If your timing aligns, step outside to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Palace gates.

If you have 2–2.5 hours

Combine indoor elegance with outdoor tranquility. Start by exploring the State Rooms inside the Palace. Afterward, venture into the expansive 39-acre Palace Gardens. Wander through the Rose Garden, admire the Waterloo Vase, and stroll by the lake. This itinerary is perfect for visitors who appreciate both regal interiors and serene natural beauty.

If you have 2.5–3 hours

Immerse yourself fully by touring the State Rooms and delving into any special exhibitions on display. Extend your journey into the Royal Mews, where historic coaches and carriages, including the Gold State Coach, are housed. Conclude with a visit to The King’s Gallery, which features changing exhibitions of art from the Royal Collection.

Know before you go to Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is open only for a few months. It can get heavily crowded. Hence, it makes sense to find ways to avoid the crowd.

Skip-the-line tickets: You can get skip-the-line tickets to Buckingham Palace. It is the perfect choice to avoid long queues outside the attraction and enter quickly. You can book skip-the-line tickets months in advance and select the time and date of your visit.
Guided tour: Guided tours to Buckingham Palace offer two benefits: you can get express entry to the attraction and a guided tour of its highlights. You can book guided tours months before and select the timing and date of your visit.
Arrive early: Buckingham Palace opens at 9:30am. Fewer tourists are around in the morning. So, try coming early and finishing your visit before the rush kicks in.

Buckingham Palace has multiple entrances, each serving unique functions. Here are a few different entrances to Buckingham Palace:

Buckingham Gate: This is located on the south side of the Palace. This is where visitors with tickets for the State Rooms, Queen's Gallery, or Royal Mews tours will go through security and enter.
North-Centre Gate: This is the everyday entrance for staff and is the departure point for the Old Guard after the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
Central Gates: These are the grand main gates that face the Victoria Memorial and are primarily used for ceremonial purposes, state visitors, and when the Royal Family appears on the balcony.

Toilets and baby care: Accessible toilets and baby care facilities are available at the start and end of your tour inside Buckingham Palace.
Borrow wheelchair: You can borrow wheelchairs and rollators, free of charge, for the duration of your palace visit. Folding stools may also be available.
Wheelchair access: Powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome inside the premises.
Elevator access: Two lifts are installed inside the palace.
Assistance dogs: You can bring registered assistance dogs to the palace. You can leave the staff to take care of them.
Multimedia guide: A multimedia guide with subtitles is available in British Sign Language (BSL). An audio-descriptive guide is available for blind or partially sighted visitors.
Gift shops: Buckingham Palace has several gift shops as well as a fully accessible terrace café.

Two men listening to an audio guide while in Buckingham palace

Buckingham Palace can get crowded when it opens for visitors. The rush might prevent you from properly exploring each highlight of the attraction and learning its history.

An audio guide is an excellent option as it narrates the history of the place and its many highlights. You can get a multimedia guide in English with skip-the-line and guided tour tickets. A multimedia guide with subtitles is also available in British Sign Language (BSL), while an audio-descriptive guide is also available for blind or partially-sighted visitors.

Arrive 30 mins before your chosen time slot because there might be a rush when you arrive. If you miss your entry time, it will be tough to include you in a later slot.
Only bottled water is allowed inside the palace. You cannot bring any other food or drink inside with you.
Pushchairs are not allowed inside the State Rooms.
Pets are not allowed inside the palace.
Before you enter Buckingham Palace, you must undergo airport-style checking, so be mindful of that and bring as little baggage with you as possible.
Do not wear backpacks inside the palace. Large items, bags, and suitcases over 45x20x30 cm are also not allowed. You can take purses only if you hang them on your side.
Smoking and vaping are prohibited inside the premises.
Drones, knives, and pepper sprays will be confiscated during the entry check.
Photography and videography are restricted in the palace but are allowed in the gardens.

A family looking at the statue of the royal mews

The King’s Gallery: You can buy bespoke china, homeware, postcards, and glittering jewellery at The King’s Gallery.
Buckingham Palace Road: Buckingham Palace Road offers the best selection of elegant, royal-inspired gifts and souvenirs.
The Garden Shop: The Garden Shop, in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, is another place to discover wonderful Royal gifts.

Restaurants nearby:

Bon Gusto - Bon Gusto is an Italian restaurant three mins from Buckingham Palace. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with changing specials.
Th@51 Restaurant and Bar - Th@51 Restaurant and Bar is an excellent place to dine in and enjoy waffles and South Indian dishes.
Colosseo Restaurant - Colosseo Restaurant is four mins from Buckingham Palace. This Italian restaurant offers amazing pasta, pizzas, seafood, and weekly specials.

Budget stays: YHA London Central Hostel (from £40 | 2.1 km), Vegas Hotel (from £43 | 1.1 km), Astor Museum Hostel (from £49 | 2.3 km), Carlton Hotel (from £50 | 1.3 km)
Mid-range stays: The St. George's Inn Victoria (from £90 | 1 km), Mornington Victor Hotel London Belgravia (from £96 | 1.2 km), The Z Hotel Victoria (from £98 | 700 m), Best Western Buckingham Palace Rd. (from £117 | 1.1 km)
Luxury stays: The Resident Victoria (from £191 | 270 m), St. James’ Court London (from £271 | 440 m), The Guardsman Hotel & Residence (from £319 | 440 m), The Rubens at the Palace (from £373 | 360 m)

A mother and son looking at a manta ray fish at SEA life centre

*<link linkType="custom" newTab="false" url="https://www.aquarium-tickets.com/sea-life-london-aquarium-tickets/?_gl=11ea15i7_gaMTg5ODYyMjI0LjE2NzA1NDQ5MzM.gaY45PC9R73CMTY4MDc5Nzg2NS45MS4wLjE2ODA3OTgxOTUuNTkuMC4w" id="BeVlYipj" shortCodeType="link" text="SEA LIFE Centre London Aquarium" /> - SEA LIFE London Aquarium is home to the UK’s largest living coral reef, with regal tangs, cardinal fish, and clownfish swimming through the 40-foot-long sea life tank.
**Westminster Abbey - A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and active place of worship, Westminster Abbey is a London church used for coronations and other ceremonies of national significance.
British Museum - The British Museum, founded in 1753, has a collection covering two million years of history. It has the world’s first public museum of its kind and attracts more than six million visitors yearly.

Visitor tips

Book well in advance for summer: Tickets, especially for the State Rooms, sell out months ahead for the popular summer opening. Secure your slot as soon as your travel dates are firm to avoid disappointment.
Understand Changing of the Guard viewpoints: Don't just show up at the Palace gates expecting a perfect view. For the best experience, arrive at least an hour early and consider positioning yourself along The Mall, near the Victoria Memorial, or even along Birdcage Walk for different perspectives of the marching bands and Household Cavalry.
Embrace the multimedia tour: Instead of rushing, utilize the free multimedia guide provided. It offers rich historical context and anecdotes that transform your understanding of each State Room.
Factor in security time: Allow a minimum of 15-30 mins for airport-style security checks upon arrival. Pack light, leaving large bags and backpacks elsewhere (lockers are not available on-site for big items) to expedite your entry.
Explore the Gardens post-tour: The tour of the State Rooms concludes with an exit into the Palace Gardens. Don't rush out! Take time to stroll through this immense private oasis, appreciating the lake, the Waterloo Vase, and the diverse flora.
Check flag status: The Royal Standard flag flying means the monarch is in residence. If the Union Flag is flying, it signifies the monarch is not present. This can add a layer of interest to your external viewing.