Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British sovereign since Queen Victoria and her brood settled in 1837, has had a rather bumpy career as a royal residence. It was so unloved at one point that it was offered to the nation as a temporary House of Parliament. But today it is one of the most iconic attractions in the whole of the UK. Tourist experiences at Buckingham Palace can range from an informal observation of the Changing of the Guards to a tour inside the palace complex.
This is what you need to know to plan your visit.
History of Buckingham Palace
In the early 17th century, during the reign of King James 1, son of Mary Queen of Scots, the land where Buckingham Palace and Palace Garden now stands was a blackberry plantation for one of many doomed attempts to raise silkworms in Europe.
The land, now between Green Park and St. James’s Park, already had a home when it was handed over to a nobleman in 1628. For the next 70 years, it was passed from one resident noble to another until it was given to the Duke of Buckingham. He built a new house on the site and it became known as Buckingham House.
The original construction of Buckingham House cost £ 7,000. A little when you consider that it is undergoing a £ 370 million “essential” renovation, which lasts 10 years and started in 2017.
The house was first converted into a royal residence, though not an official palace, in 1762 when King George III purchased it for his wife, Queen Charlotte, and their children. Renovations carried out included fabulous ceilings designed by Scottish architect Robert Adam.
When King George IV ascended the throne, Buckingham House was still a very large house. The king wanted a palace and hired the famous regency court architect John Nash to give him one for the last five years of his life. Nash spent so much money (around £ 470,000) that as soon as the king died, the Prime Minister fired him.
Other architects participated in the renovations, but when the next monarch, George III’s brother William IV, became king, the house was left unfurnished and loveless. William refused to move.
And then came Queen Victoria
William had a phenomenal number of illegitimate children but no legitimate heir, so the throne was inherited by his niece, Victoria, and her sizeable family. Before long, Buckingham House, now officially Buckingham Palace, was too small. The architect parade continued and the Brighton Pavilion was sold to finance the addition of a new wing for £ 53,000. The central balcony, familiar to royal wedding watchers, was then added. And the Arch of Triumph, designed by Nash, was moved to the northeast corner of Hyde Park, where it is now known as Marble Arch.
So if behind its 19th-century facade and early 20th-century Portland stone cladding (George V), Buckingham Palace looks a bit stingy, now you know why.
Visiting Buckingham Palace
The palace’s state rooms have only been open to the public since 1993, and then only for a limited period from mid-July to late September. The “Buck House” public performances were initially intended as a way to raise funds to repair Windsor Castle after a disastrous fire in 1992. It turned out to be so popular that the Queen continued to allow visitors every summer. However, don’t expect to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth or the member of the Royal Family on your visit. When the palace is open to the public, she goes to one of her country’s residences or makes her annual visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
And you are not likely to see much of the royal life in the palace. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms that are included in one visit. State rooms are where the queen and members of the royal family receive guests on state, ceremonial, and official occasions. The remainder, 52 royal and guest rooms, 188 staff rooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, is strictly prohibited.
What you will see is a series of extremely large chambers filled with many of the treasures of the Royal Collection; paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and Canaletto; beautiful examples of English and French furniture and much more. Highlights include:
- The White Drawing Room: considered the most magnificent of the reception rooms. Look for a fabulous rolling desk and gold piano for Queen Victoria.
- The Throne Room – Who knew there were so many different thrones. Beneath a dramatic arch and canopy, designer John Nash was influenced by the design of the theater, are the pair of Estate Chairs used by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during the Coronation in 1953. The chair was used before the Queen was anointed and crowned. Another throne, kept and displayed in Windsor Castle, was used later. The room also features the throne of Queen Victoria and the chairs used by George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Surprisingly, before 1910, the furniture used in the coronation ceremony was sold to guests, so there are no earlier thrones here.
- The Picture Gallery This is where candidates about to be honored with knighthoods and other official honors wait before being invited into the ballroom for the investiture ceremony. While they wait, they can see paintings from the Queen’s collection, which are changed from time to time.
- The Ballroom The largest of the state rooms is used for state banquets and investments. It has a gallery of musicians, complete with an organ. The most striking feature of this room is the Throne Awning, designed by Lutyens. It is crowned by a triumphal arch, with winged statues, symbolizing history and fame, and holding a medallion with profiles of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The thrones below him were used at the coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902. This room was designed, frankly, to hit their socks. And depending on where you are in such things, it will either have the desired effect or you will think it demonstrates the worst excesses of Victorian design. The jury is out of it.
After your tour of the 19 rooms, you can stroll through the gardens or have a light bite (tea and coffee, sandwiches and pastries) at the Garden Cafe.
Visitor essentials
- When: Buckingham Palace is open to the public from mid-July to late September and then for private tours on select dates in the winter. In 2019, the annual summer opening is from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm from July 20 to August 31 and from 6:30 pm to September 29.
- Where: between Green Park and St James’s Park in central London. The Palace is located at the junction of two processional roads: Constitution Hill, which runs from Hyde Park Corner and Wellington Arch to Palace and The Mall (rhymes with the name Al), which runs from the Palace to Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar. Square.
- How to get there:
- By Train: Victoria Station and Charing Cross are the closest train stations. Check National Rail Inquiries for timetables and ticket prices.
- By London Underground: The closest London Underground stations are Victoria, Hyde Park Corner and St James’s Park Green Park and St James’s Park. See Transport for London to plan a trip.
- By Bus: Bus numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop at Buckingham Palace Road, just a short walk from the Palace entrance and other attractions. Victoria Coach Station, for long-distance bus arrivals, is about a ten-minute walk away.
- Tickets
- Prices: In 2018 for standard admission, adult tickets are £ 25, student or senior tickets are £ 22.80. Children 5 to 17 cost and disabled cost £ 14 and children under 5 years are free. Family tickets for two adults and up to three children are also available.
- How to Buy: Tickets are sold for tickets scheduled at 15 minute intervals. They are available on the day at the Palace, but as the entrance can be busy during the annual opening, visitors are advised to purchase their tickets in advance, either at the Palace box office or online.
- Combination Tickets: To make the most of your visit, Royal Day Out tickets are available and can be used for three attractions. In addition to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, this combo ticket provides entry to the Royal Mews, where the royal carriages and horses are kept, and the Queen’s Gallery. Find out more about Royal Day Out tickets.
- Practical information The Palace website has information pages on everything from the length of the visit, multimedia guides in nine different languages, facilities for the disabled, and access to restrooms and diaper-changing facilities. To learn how to cope with the practical needs of life, see the Practical Information web pages.
What else is close?
The Royal Mews claims to be “one of the best working stables in existence.” I have no way of judging that claim, but it’s fun to visit. The Royal Mews is responsible for all road transport for the Queen and the Royal Family. This includes the care of many elaborate state carriages, the horses that pull them, and also the Queen’s cars. You can visit this as part of a Royal Day Out ticket (see above) or separately. The Royal Mews are open between February and November, so most of the year, except for the winter holiday season.
The Queen’s Gallery is located next to Buckingham Palace on the road from Buckingham Palace and features changing works from the Royal Collection: paintings, furniture, decorative objects. In the summer of 2018, a special exhibition celebrates Splendors of the Subcontinent: Art from India and the Mughal Empire. This gallery can be included in a Royal Day Out ticket, as above, or separately. The Gallery is open all year round, except for planned closings, listed on the website, to change exhibits.
Clarence House is right next to the mall and down the road from Buckingham Palace. It was built during the reign of George III for his third son, the Duke of Clarence. It was the home of the Queen Mother for over five decades and is currently the official residence of the Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Normally, it can be visited during the month of August. But the Clarence House will be closed to visitors all of 2019 for maintenance work. The expected reopening date is August 2020.
A word of warning
The official Buckingham Palace website indicates that if you have your ticket stamped at the end of your visit, it will be good for unlimited visits throughout the year. That’s very misleading because Buckingham Palace just isn’t open for a full year. It is open from mid-July to the end of September. If you buy a Royal Day Out ticket, the other attractions are open year-round, but “Buck House” is not. Just keep that in mind to avoid disappointment.
