Search results

Start typing

Buckingham Palace

Mobility access at Buckingham Palace

At different times of the year, there are three options for visiting Buckingham Palace. 

During the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace, from July to September, 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 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 step-free access must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by email [email protected]

Concessionary rates are available for you 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 enter via a different entrance, at the front of the Palace. Once inside the Palace visitors who have used the Access Route will join the main visitor route and experience the Palace in the same way as other visitors. 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.

 

Mobility aids

Wheelchairs

Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, free of charge but subject to availability, for the duration of a visit. They must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by email: [email protected].

You can use your own wheelchair provided it's compatible with the lifts inside Buckingham Palace. The lifts measure 148cm in depth by 94 cm in width with a weight limit of 500kg; and 160cm in depth by 94cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg.

Mobility scooters

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are welcome. If you have a Class 3 vehicle you will be asked to set the speed limiter to 4mph. Mobility scooters are permitted in the Palace provided they are compatible with the lifts. The lifts measure 148cm in depth by 94 cm in width with a weight limit of 500kg; and 160cm in depth by 94cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg. Manual wheelchairs are available for transfer – these must be booked in advance.

Rollators

Rollators (wheeled walkers) are available to borrow, free of charge, but must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or by email: [email protected].

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 the 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.

 

At the end of the tour, if you require step-free access and wish to exit via the Garden please check with a member of the team to see if buggy transport is available, from the front of the Palace around to the bottom of the West Terrace. Please note there is a half a mile walk out through the Gardens. Alternatively, you can exit using the buggy via the front of the Palace.

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.

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, at the end of the visit, 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; it must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email: [email protected].

More information on parking in Westminster: www.westminster.gov.uk/visitor-parking

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

The nearest public car parks are:

Q-Park Victoria, SW1P 2TX, which has 6 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/london/victoria/

NCP Victoria, SW1W 9QL, which has 2 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/london-victoria/

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, before reaching the front of Buckingham  Palace.

The following buses run close to the Palace 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. This visit follows a self-guided tour through the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace.


Mobility aids

Wheelchairs & Mobility scooters

Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, free of charge but subject to availability, for the duration of a visit. They must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email: [email protected].

Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs are welcome. If you have a Class 3 vehicle you will be asked to set the speed limiter to 4mph.

Rollators

Rollators (wheeled walkers) are available to borrow, free of charge, but must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email: [email protected].

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.

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 Queen'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. A Changing Places toilet is available at the Royal Mews.

Parking

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

More information on parking in Westminster www.westminster.gov.uk/visitor-parking

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

The nearest public car parks are:

Q-Park Victoria, SW1P 2TX, which has 6 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/london/victoria/

NCP Victoria, SW1W 9QL, which has 2 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/london-victoria/

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, before reaching the front of Buckingham Palace.

The following buses run close to the Palace 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 of Buckingham Palace. 

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. Please be aware that visitors must cross the gravel forecourt and quadrangle. 

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.

Mobility aids

Wheelchairs & Mobility scooters

Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, free of charge but subject to availability, for the duration of a visit. They must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or email: [email protected].

Mobility scooters are permitted in the Palace provided they are compatible with the lifts. The lifts measure 148cm in depth by 94 cm in width with a weight limit of 500kg; and 160cm in depth by 94cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg. Manual wheelchairs are available for transfer – these must be booked in advance. If you have a Class 3 vehicle you will be asked to set the speed limiter to 4mph.

Rollators

Rollators (wheeled walkers) are available to borrow, free of charge, but must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team +44 (0)303 123 7324 or [email protected].

Access

Access to the State Rooms for Exclusive Guided Tours is via The Queen's Gallery where there are 23 steps, both up and down, without lift-access.

Once the guided tour has started, 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, crossing the gravel forecourt and quadrangle.

At the end of the tour visitors exit via The Queen's Gallery, the same way they entered.

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

Lifts

The lift at Buckingham Palace measures 145cm in depth by 110cm in width with a weight limit of 750kg.

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 in The Queen's Gallery.

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 www.westminster.gov.uk/visitor-parking

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

The nearest public car parks are:

Q-Park Victoria, SW1P 2TX, which has 6 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.q-park.co.uk/en-gb/cities/london/victoria/

NCP Victoria, SW1W 9QL, which has 2 disabled bays – disabled parking is charged at the standard rate.

www.ncp.co.uk/find-a-car-park/car-parks/london-victoria/

The nearest wheelchair accessible London Underground station is Green Park. Visitors leave the station and travel down through Green Park, towards Buckingham Palace.

The following buses run close to Buckingham Palace 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.