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Buckingham Palace

Blind or partially-sighted visitors at Buckingham Palace

During the Summer period from July to October there are three different visit options at Buckingham Palace.

During the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace the magnificent State Rooms are open to the public. The nineteen State Rooms are the main reception chambers of Buckingham Palace, used by Members of the Royal Family for all kinds of ceremonial, official, diplomatic and personal occasions.

You can combine a visit to the State Rooms with a Garden Highlights Tour – a guided walk of the most remarkable features of the Palace garden.

At other times of the year, Exclusive Guided Tours of Buckingham Palace are available and last 90 minutes. Visitors have a private tour of the Palace State Rooms in a group of 30, with a Warden guide.

We offer a free access companion ticket for all visits.

The Summer Opening of the State Rooms

Buckingham Palace is accessible, but visitors who require step-free access or a quieter entrance must pre-book by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email [email protected]. 

Concessionary rates are available if you have a disability and we offer a free Access Companion ticket which can be booked online. No proof of disability is required.

Visitors who require step-free access and a quieter entrance enter via a different gate, at the front of the Palace. Once inside the Palace visitors who have used this entrance go the same way as other visitors and experience the Palace in the same way. Folding stools are also available to borrow; these are issued on a first come first served basis and are not available to book in advance, please ask a member of staff on the day of your visit.

Access

There are six steps at the Ambassadors' Entrance, the main visitor entrance to the Palace, and then a further four steps from the Quadrangle into the Grand Entrance.

There are 47 steps on the Grand Staircase leading up to the State Rooms and a permanent handrail is available on both sides of the Staircase.

There are 41 steps down on the Ministers' Staircase at the end of the tour – a permanent handrail is available on both sides of the Staircase.

There are ten steps from the West Terrace down into the garden.

Lifts

There are two lifts at Buckingham Palace which measure 148cm in depth by 94 cm in width with a weight limit of 500kg, and 145cm in depth by 110cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg respectively.

Interpretation

A descriptive audio guide, produced in partnership with Vocaleyes, is free of charge and available to borrow from the Quadrangle, at the start of your visit.

Flooring and surfaces

As Buckingham Palace is an historic building, the floors and surfaces may be uneven and visitors should take care. Most rooms in the Palace are carpeted and some have polished wooden floors.

The temporary structures at the entrance and in the Garden have decking floor.

The garden path is hard gravel.

Respite Seating

A visit to Buckingham Palace lasts approximately 2-3 hours. Seating is available in the Picture Gallery along the visitor route inside the Palace, on the West Terrace and in the Garden.

You are welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments, provided that they have rubber stoppers. Folding stools can be borrowed and are available upon request, subject to availability.
 

Assistance animals

Assistance animals are welcome. We recommend that if possible animals wear a jacket or lead slip to identify them as working.

Staff reserve the right to ask visitors to remove their animal if it is deemed not to be behaving appropriately. Arrangements will then be made for the visitor to return without their animal. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Shops

The shop is at the end of the visitor route, in the garden. There are ten steps down into the garden. The shop flooring is lino.

An Access shop, with level access, is located at the end of the tour, off the Bow Room, before the exit on to the West Terrace. The shop is carpeted.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are located at the start of the Access Route inside the Palace. Additional, accessible toilets are available at the end of the visit, in the garden.

Parking and transport

Parking is available for disability parking pass holders who require step-free access, but must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or [email protected].

More information on parking in Westminster.

The nearest public parking, on-street bays, are on Palace Street.

The nearest public car parks are:

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, before crossing the front of the Palace and turning right. The Royal Mews is 3 minutes down the road, in the direction of Victoria.

The following buses run close to Royal Mews and are accessible for wheelchair users: 11, 36, 211, C1 and C10.

Garden Highlight Tours

Enjoy the tranquillity of the Buckingham Palace Garden and discover its highlights on a guided tour led by one of our expert Wardens. We offer a free Access Companion ticket which can be booked online. 

Access

Access to the Garden Highlight tours is via the West Terrace where there are 10 steps down into the Garden.

Alternatively, a golf buggy is available to transport visitors from the front of the Palace round to the Gardens.

Interpretation

The Garden Highlights Tour is not a sensory tour and it is not possible to touch any of the plants or trees in the garden. If you require a Descriptive tour of the Garden please email: [email protected]

Paths and surfaces

The Garden path is hard gravel.

Respite Seating

There is no seating available on a Garden Highlights Tour, however, visitors are welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments.

If you, or someone in your party, has any concerns about walking the Garden Highlights Tour route please contact the Specialist Sales Team on +44(0)303 123 7324 or email [email protected]


Assistance animals

Assistance animals are welcome. We recommend that if possible animals wear a jacket or lead slip to identify them as working.

Staff reserve the right to ask visitors to remove their animal if it is deemed not to be behaving appropriately. Arrangements will then be made for the visitor to return without their animal. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Shops

We recommend visitors use the Access Shop, off the Bow Room, before the exit on to the West Terrace. There is a large shop in the garden of Buckingham Palace but this is only available before the Garden Highlight Tour starts. Additional shops are available on Buckingham Palace Road, at the Royal Mews, and The King's Gallery, located near the entrance to the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are located at the start of the Access Route inside the Palace. Additional, accessible toilets are available in the garden, before the start of the Garden Highlights Tour.

Parking and transport

Parking is available for disability parking pass holders who require step-free access, but must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team +44 (0)303 123 7324 or [email protected]

More information on parking in Westminster.

The nearest public parking, on-street bays, are on Palace Street.

The nearest public car parks are:

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, before crossing the front of the Palace and turning right. The Royal Mews is 3 minutes down the road, in the direction of Victoria.

The following buses run close to Royal Mews and are accessible for wheelchair users: 11, 36, 211, C1 and C10.

Exclusive Guided Tours

Join an expert guide and be taken on an Exclusive Guided Tour of the magnificent State Rooms once Buckingham Palace has closed to the general public. Access companion tickets are available by contacting the Specialist Sales Team at [email protected].

Buckingham Palace is accessible, but step-free access and access companion tickets must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 7324 or email: [email protected] 

Visitors who require step-free access enter via a different entrance, at the front of the Palace. Folding stools are available to borrow; these are issued on a first come first served basis and are not available to book in advance. Please ask a member of staff on the day of your visit for availability.

Access

Access to the State Rooms for Exclusive Evening Tours is via the main entrance on Buckingham Palace Road.

There are six steps at the Ambassadors' Entrance, the main visitor entrance to the Palace:

There are then a further four steps from the Quadrangle into the Grand Entrance:

There are the 47 steps on the Grand Staircase leading up to the State Rooms with a permanent handrail on both sides:

There are 41 steps down on the Ministers' Staircase at the end of the tour – a permanent handrail is available on both sides of the Staircase.

If you require step-free access you can enter at the front of the Palace, where a golf buggy is available for transportation to the lift facilities. 

At the end of the tour you exit via the front of the Palace.

If you require step-free access please contact the Specialist Sales team +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email [email protected]

Lifts

There are two lifts at Buckingham Palace which measure 148cm in depth by 94 cm in width with a weight limit of 500kg, and 145cm in depth by 110cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg respectively.

Interpretation

The Exclusive Evening Tour is not a sensory tour and it is not possible to touch any of works of art in the Palace. If you require a Descriptive tour of the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace please email the Specialist Sales Team at [email protected]


Paths and surfaces

Most rooms in the Palace are carpeted and some have polished wooden floors.

Respite Seating

Seating is available on request and visitors are welcome to use walking sticks or folding stools with seat attachments.

Assistance animals

Assistance animals are welcome. We recommend that if possible animals wear a jacket or lead slip to identify them as working.

Staff reserve the right to ask visitors to remove their animal if it is deemed not to be behaving appropriately. Arrangements will then be made for the visitor to return without their animal. Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Shops

An accessible shop is available after the guided tour.

Toilets

Accessible toilets are available at the start and end of the tour.

Parking and transport

For information on accessible parking, please call the Specialist Sales Team on 0303 123 7324 or email [email protected].

More information on parking in Westminster.

There is no parking available at the Royal Mews. The nearest public parking, on-street bays, are on Palace Street.

The nearest public car parks are:

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, before crossing the front of the Palace and turning right. The Royal Mews is 3 minutes down the road, in the direction of Victoria.

The following buses run close to Royal Mews and are accessible for wheelchair users: 11, 36, 211, C1 and C10.


The income from your ticket contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity. The aims of The Royal Collection Trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational activities.