Are there any hidden features in the State Rooms?

Yes! The White Drawing Room has a clever hidden door that's camouflaged as a mirror. It allows royal family members to move discreetly between rooms, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the Palace's design.

Is photography allowed inside the State Rooms?

Unfortunately, no. Photography isn't allowed in the State Rooms to help protect the incredible artworks and delicate furnishings from damage.

Do I need a separate ticket to visit the State Rooms?

Yes. There's no general Buckingham Palace admission separate from this — the State Rooms ticket is your entry into the Palace itself.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes. Entry is timed, and July–August dates sell out quickly. Arrive 15 minutes before your ticketed slot.

Are there accessible toilets in the State Rooms?

Yes, accessible toilets are located inside the Palace at the end of the route, with additional facilities available in the Garden for your convenience.

Is Buckingham Palace wheelchair accessible?

Yes. Step-free access is available but must be pre-booked with the Royal Collection Trust's Specialist Sales team in advance. Accessible toilets are located inside and in the garden.

Buckingham Palace State Rooms Tickets

RECOMMENDED DURATION

2 hours

Buckingham Palace with Victoria Memorial and gardens in London.

Select your experience

See all

‌

Guided Tours

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace Tickets

Free cancellation

Book now, pay later

1 hr 30 mins - 3 hrs

Audio guide

‌

Check availability

Get rare access to Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms, open to visitors for only 2 months each year.

Everything you get: Entry to the State Rooms, between Jul 9 and Sept 27, 2026, including the Throne Room and White Drawing Room. View artworks by masters like Rembrandt, Canaletto, and Rubens as you explore the rooms with a multimedia guide for in-depth insights.
Why choose this: This is your exclusive opportunity to step inside one of the most famous palaces in the world, usually closed to the public.
Upgrades: Join a Royal London walking tour with a live English or multilingual audio guide or witness the Changing the Guard in a small group setting.

Inclusions #

Entry to Buckingham Palace
Audio guide for Buckingham Palace in English, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and British Sign Language (BSL) with subtitles
Headsets when necessary

Additional paid upgrades:

Royal London walking tour before palace entry
Expert English-speaking guide
Audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Chinese
Changing the Guard ceremony
Small group tour

What's not allowed

For safety reasons, pushchairs are not permitted in the State Rooms. They must be checked in and reclaimed at the exit. Baby carriers are available for loan.
A one-way system operates along the entire visitor route, so be sure to check out the attractions thoroughly as you won’t be allowed to revisit them.
This tour is not meant for individuals with impaired movement.

Additional information

Photography and filming are allowed for private use and only in the Palace Gardens.
The Changing the Foot Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday (subject to availability). On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, there is no Foot Guards ceremony. Instead, you'll explore Westminster on a guided walking tour. The Horse Guards may be on parade, but it's not always guaranteed.

Get full refund if you cancel 24 hours before the experience start time.

‌

‌
‌
‌
‌

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are the grand ceremonial spaces used by the Royal Family to host official receptions, state occasions, and distinguished guests. Open to visitors during the summer, the route takes you through lavishly decorated rooms including the Throne Room, Ballroom, White Drawing Room, and Picture Gallery. Along the way, you’ll see works from the Royal Collection, ornate furniture, gilded interiors, and historic portraits. The visit offers a glimpse into the palace’s formal side, where art, architecture, and royal ceremony come together.

Quick overview

Ticket: Separate ticket ( The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace ) required.
Starting price: From £33.
Combo available: Yes. Choose a Royal Walking Tour add-on or a Changing the Guard tour alongside your State Rooms entry.
Visit duration: 1.5–2.5 hours for the State Rooms alone; allow closer to 3 hours if you add a walking tour.
Best time: Early morning slots (around 10 am) on weekdays, before the Changing the Guard crowds build up.
Included in Buckingham Palace ticket: Yes. This ticket is your entry into Buckingham Palace — the State Rooms are part of the Palace itself, not a separate attraction.

Throne Room at Buckingham Palace with ornate chandeliers and red decor.

Things to know before booking State Rooms tickets

Separate ticket required: The State Rooms require a dedicated State Rooms ticket for entry. It's the primary interior tour offered to the public, and only for a limited period each year.
Timings differ from other Palace attractions: The State Rooms open for just 9 July–27 September 2026 — daily through July and August (9:30am–7:30pm), then Thursday to Monday in September (9:30am–6:30pm). This is far shorter than The King's Gallery and the Royal Mews, which run for most of the year. Entry is timed, so book the specific slot you want rather than just a date — mornings, right after the 9:30am opening, are consistently the quietest, while late morning through early afternoon gets crowded once Changing the Guard visitors spill over.
Combo tickets: Pairing your State Rooms entry with a Royal Walking Tour or a Changing the Guard tour adds guided context, and, in the Changing the Guard option, a planned viewing spot for the ceremony. These suit first-time visitors who want a structured morning rather than a self-paced visit.
Accessibility: The State Rooms are wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and rollators available to borrow free of charge. Step-free access must be arranged in advance with the Royal Collection Trust's Specialist Sales team, as it uses a separate entrance route.
One-way route, no backtracking: The visitor route runs one way through the Palace, so you won't be able to return to a room once you've moved on.
Book ahead in peak season: July and August dates, especially weekends, sell out well in advance. Daily ticket allocations are capped, so book your slot as early as possible if you're visiting during this window.

Is it worth it?

Standalone vs combo?

Ticket	Best for
State Rooms	Visitors who want to see inside the Palace at their own pace, without guided add-ons
Buckingham Palace exterior & Changing the Guard	Visitors on a tight budget or schedule who just want photos and the ceremony
Combo with Royal Walking Tour or Changing the Guard tour	First-time visitors who want guided context and a structured royal morning

Your ticket options explained

Access / Factors	State Rooms only	State Rooms + Royal Walking Tour	State Rooms + Changing the Guard Tour
State Rooms access	Yes	Yes (skip-the-line)	Yes
Guided walking tour	No	Yes — past St James's Palace, the Mall, and St James's Park	Yes — focused on the Changing the Guard ceremony
Changing the Guard viewing	Not included	Not included	Yes — reserved viewing spot
Garden Café access	No	Yes	Yes
Audio/multimedia guide	Yes, self-guided	Yes, plus live English-speaking guide	Yes, plus English-speaking guide for the walking portion
Why go for it	Self-paced visit, no add-ons	Skip-the-line entry plus royal landmarks context	One ticket covers ceremony viewing and palace visit
Starting price	From £33	From £53.52	From £61
Cancellation	Non-refundable	Full refund up to 24 hours before	Full refund up to 72 hours before

How to best experience the State Rooms

Exploring inside the State Rooms

What makes the State Rooms genuinely distinct is that they're not a museum recreation — they're working rooms the King still uses for real ceremonies, banquets, and investitures between summer openings. The one detail that changes how you move through them: it's a strict one-way route, so decide what you want to linger over before you reach it, because there's no walking back.

1/7

The Grand Staircase

Designed by John Nash, the Grand Staircase leads visitors into the State Rooms through portraits and elaborate architectural decoration. It has 47 steps. Look beyond the portraits to appreciate the staircase’s proportions, balustrades and decorative finish.

The Throne Room

The Throne Room contains the Chairs of Estate and is associated with royal ceremonies and official occasions. It has also been used for royal photographs. View the chairs from different angles to appreciate how the canopy and decorated interior shape the room’s ceremonial character.

The Picture Gallery

Approximately 50 metres long, the Picture Gallery displays paintings from the Royal Collection. Look for Johannes Vermeer’s The Music Lesson, alongside works by artists including Rembrandt and Van Dyck. Slow down to compare the paintings and examine details that are easy to miss.

The Ballroom

Completed in 1855 during Queen Victoria’s reign, the Ballroom is the largest state room. Designed by James Pennethorne, it includes a musicians’ gallery and an organ. State banquets have traditionally been held here since 1914. Stand near the centre to appreciate its scale.

The State Dining Room

The State Dining Room is arranged as a formal reception space, with a long dining table, elaborate decoration and portraits. Look at how the table, ceiling and walls work together to create its ceremonial character.

The Blue Drawing Room

The Blue Drawing Room is richly decorated and contains paintings, furniture and decorative objects from the Royal Collection. Look beyond the larger works to examine the smaller details, and follow the labels for information about the objects currently displayed.

The Music Room

The Music Room is recognisable by its bow-fronted design, domed ceiling and columns painted to resemble lapis lazuli. It has been used for royal christenings and other family occasions. Look up before turning towards the windows: the ceiling is central to the room’s design.

Note: Due to ongoing works as part of the Buckingham Palace Reservicing programme, the White Drawing Room will not be accessible to visitors during the 2026 Summer Opening. The Ballroom and parts of the Bow Room will be obscured by hoardings, though visitors will still pass through them.

Historical and cultural significance of the State Rooms

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are far more than just lavish interiors; they are the living canvas of the British monarchy and history. Since Queen Victoria's reign, these 19 rooms have been the backdrop for pivotal moments, from State Banquets hosting world leaders to Royal Christenings and Investitures. They symbolize the continuous role of the monarchy, symbolizing centuries of tradition, diplomatic relations, and cultural heritage. Their annual public opening allows visitors a rare personal connection to this institution.

Know before you go to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms

Frequently asked questions about the Buckingham Palace State Rooms

The State Rooms were designed by architect John Nash, whose theatrical background greatly influenced the rooms' dramatic style.