The State Rooms,
Buckingham Palace

What there is to see | The Garden | Special exhibition | Exclusive Evening Tour | Contact details | Opening hours | Admission prices | Ticket information | 1-Year Pass | Visitors with disabilities | How to get there | Audio tours and guidebooks | Visitor information | Garden Café | Family activities | Changing the Guard

A view of Buckingham Palace from the Mall, photographer:  Andrew Holt


Buckingham Palace serves as both the office and London residence of Her Majesty The Queen, as well as the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. It is one of the few working royal palaces remaining in the world today. 

Today the State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's nineteen state rooms are open to visitors.

Find out more about the history of Buckingham Palace and how it is used today on the British Monarchy Website.

What there is to see

The State Rooms form the heart of the working palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto; sculpture by Canova; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture.  

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The State Dining Room, photographer:  Peter Smith 

The Throne Room, photographer:  Derry Moore


The Garden

Described as a 'walled oasis in the middle of London', the Palace's garden is home to thirty different species of bird and more than 350 different wild flowers, some extremely rare. Visitors end their tour with a walk along the south side of the garden, with splendid views of the west front of the Palace and the famous lake. 

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The Lake at Buckingham Palace


Special exhibition

The special exhibition at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace in 2010 will give visitors a lively insight into the principal national and ceremonial events in the royal year.

The Queen’s Year will include displays of ceremonial robes, gifts, uniforms, dresses and jewellery, as well as archive photography and film to evoke the many and varied aspects of  the sovereign’s work.

The exhibition will illustrate the pageantry, tradition and ceremony of the State Opening of Parliament, the historic Garter Day ceremony at Windsor Castle and Trooping the Colour, as well as investitures, garden parties and State Visits.

Preview a selection of highlights online in the exhibition microsite.

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     The Queen on a visit to Newcastle, 6 November 2009, Ian Jones Photography


Exclusive Evening Tour

In the company of an expert guide, this Exclusive Evening Tour offers a very special insight into the history and use of the State Rooms, and the works of art on display.

The cost per person is £65.00 and includes a copy of the official guidebook, 20% discount in the Royal Collection shop and a glass of champagne served in the Bow Room. 

The tour lasts approximately two hours and takes place at 17:00 and 17:15 on selected dates during the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace.  Tickets must be pre-booked.  There is limited availability, with a maximum number of 30 places on each tour.

Book online or telephone +44 (0)20 7766 7322.

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     Visitors enjoy an Exclusive Evening Tour at Buckingham Palace


Contact details

Ticket Sales and Information Office
The Official Residences of The Queen 
London SW1A 1AA

Telephone (+44) (0)20 7766 7300
Fax (+44) (0)20 7930 9625
E-mail bookinginfo@royalcollection.org.uk

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Opening hours

27 July - 1 October 2010

09:45-18:00 (last admission 15:45)  

To receive updates about admission details, please register for the Royal Collection
e-newsletter.

Timing your visit

A typical visit lasts between 2 and 2½ hours.

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A detail of the Grand Staircase Balustrade



Admission prices

The State Rooms, Buckingham Palace
(includes audio guide)

Adult  £17.00
Over 60/ Student (with valid ID)  £15.50
Under 17  £9.75
Under 5  Free
Family  £45.00 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)

A Royal Day Out 
(This ticket gives admission to three sites: The State Rooms, the Royal Mews and The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace)
(only available 27 July - 1 October 2010)

Adult  £30.50
Over 60/ Student (with valid ID)  £27.50
Under 17  £17.50
Family  £80.00 (2 adults and 3 under 17s)

By asking us to treat your purchase as a donation, you enable us to claim gift aid tax relief on your payment. Tickets purchased directly from the Royal Collection can be converted into a 1-Year Pass, giving 12 months' complimentary admission to the site(s) you have visited.

Learn more about 1-Year Pass

     

The White Drawing Room, photographed by Derry Moore


1-Year Pass - terms and conditions

Enjoy free re-admission for a year if you buy your ticket directly from us. Simply ask us to stamp your ticket on your first visit.

The benefit of 1-Year Pass complimentary re-admission is always subject to ticket availability and cannot be used on the following dates in 2010:

Saturday 31 July
Saturday 7 August
Saturday 14 August
Saturday 25 September
Sunday 26 September

Learn more about 1-Year Pass

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     1-Year Pass


Ticket Information

Buying a ticket in advance
Book online or telephone (+44) (0)20 7766 7300. A booking fee of £1.25 per ticket applies. All major credit cards accepted.

Buying a ticket on the day
Tickets are available on arrival from the Ticket Office.

Buying tickets for groups of 15+
Please click here to visit the group pages

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Antonio Canova, Fountain Nymph, 1815-17

 

Rembrandt Van Rijn, The Shipbuilder and his wife, 1633



Visitors with disabilities

Wheelchair-users are asked to book through the Ticket Sales and Information Office by telephoning (+44) (0)20 7766 7324. 

BSL video tours of Buckingham Palace are now available.  We should be happy to reserve your tour in advance of your visit, if you contact the Specialist Sales team on + 44 (0)20 7766 7324 or e-mail specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk.

Download Access information (79 KB). 
If you are unable to download this PDF document please contact our Specialist Sales team on specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk or +44 (0) 20 7766 7324.

British Sign LanguageSaturday, 4 September, 17:00
Join a BSL Interpreted and Lipspeaking Guided Tour of this year’s special exhibition, The Queen’s Year.

Standard admission prices apply and include entry to the State Rooms, but please note that the tour will not stop in every room.
Booking essential: education@royalcollection.org.uk

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      Sèvres Pot-pourri vase and cover, 1758/9 



How to get there

By train: London Victoria. (National Rail Enquiries Service 08457 484950 (UK)).

By underground: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner.

By bus: Numbers 11, 211, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.

By road: Buckingham Palace is situated within the London Congestion Charge zone. Please see www.cclondon.com for further details.

By coach: Victoria Coach Station is a ten minute walk from the Palace.

Visit the Transport for London website for maps and information about London Underground and bus routes.

Address: Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA 

Map of Buckingham Palace

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 Audio tours and guidebooks

Audio tours are included in the admission price. Audio tours and guidebooks are available in the following languages:

English
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Japanese
Chinese
Russian

A family audio tour is also available in English.

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      Buckingham Palace, Official Souvenir Guide



 Visitor information.

Lavatories and baby-care facilities are located at the end of the visit.

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.

Photography and filming (for private use only) and use of mobile phones are permitted in the Palace garden. Mobile phones must be switched off elsewhere on the visitor route.

The shop sells a wide range of merchandise, much of which is designed exclusively for the Royal Collection. 

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Garden Café

Situated on the West Terrace overlooking the Palace's famous lawn and lake, the Garden Café offers a selection of refreshments, including tea, coffee, juice and a choice of cakes and sandwiches.

The Garden Café is open throughout the Palace's visiting hours, 09:45-18:00 (last admission 15:45).

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     Garden Cafe


 Family activities

Use our special family audio guide to explore the Palace with our two reporters James and Rachel.

Our activities are designed for family groups with children aged 5-11.  Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  Standard admission prices apply, with materials provided free of charge.

More information about family activities at Buckingham Palace.

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The family activity room

Following the family garden trail


 Changing the Guard

Changing the Guard takes place at 11:30 daily from May until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

Provisional Schedule for 2010 (please note that this schedule is set by the British Army and is subject to change.  Please check this site prior to a visit)

August - odd numbered dates (1, 3, 5, etc)
September - even numbered dates (2, 4, 6, etc)

More information about Changing the Guard

The new guards arrive at the forecourt of the Palace at 11:30 from Wellington Barracks. The journey takes about 5 minutes and the soldiers are accompanied by a band. The ceremony is conducted on the Palace forecourt and takes approximately forty minutes to complete.

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Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace


Download visitor leaflet (748 KB)