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Buckingham Palace (United Kingdom)

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Buckingham Palace, {CATEGORY}

This massive, graceful building is the official residence of the Queen. The red-brick palace was built as a country house for the notoriously rakish Duke of Buckingham. In 1762, King George III, who needed room for his 15 children, bought it. It didn't become the official royal residence, though, until Queen Victoria took the throne, she preferred it to St. James's Palace. From George III's time, the building was continuously expanded and remodeled, faced with Portland stone, and twice bombed (during the Blitz). Located in a 16-hectare (40-acre) garden, it's 108m (354 ft). long and contains 600 rooms. You can tell whether the Queen is at home by checking to see if the Royal Standard is flying from the mast outside. For most of the year, you can't visit the palace without an official invitation. Since 1993, though, much of it has been open for tours during an 8-week period in August and September, when the royal family is usually vacationing outside London. Elizabeth II agreed to allow visitors to tour the State Room, the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room, and other areas designed by John Nash for George IV, as well as the Picture Gallery, which displays masterpieces by Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, and others. You have to buy a timed-entrance ticket the same day you plan to tour the palace. Tickets go on sale at 9am, but rather than lining up at sunrise with all the other tourists - this is one of London's most popular attractions - book by phone with a credit card and give yourself a few more hours of sleep. During the 8 weeks of summer, visitors are also allowed to stroll through the royal family's garden, along a 4.5km (2 3/4-mile) walk on the south side of the grounds, with views of a lake and the usually off-limits west side of the palace. The garden is home to 30 types of birds, plus 350 varieties of wildflowers. Buckingham Palace's most famous spectacle is the vastly overrated Changing of the Guard (daily Apr-July and on alternating days for the rest of the year). The new guard, marching behind a band, comes from either the Wellington or Chelsea barracks and takes over from the old guard in the forecourt of the palace. The ceremony begins at 11:30am, although it's frequently canceled because of bad weather, state events, and other, harder-to-fathom reasons. We like the changing of the guard at Horse Guards better because you can actually see the men marching and you don't have to battle such tourist hordes. However, few first-time visitors will resist the lure of the Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard. If that includes you, arrive as early as 10:30am and claim territorial rights to a space in front of the palace. If you're not firmly anchored here, you'll miss much of the ceremony. The Guard Doesn't Change Every Day - The schedule for the Changing of the Guard ceremony is variable, at best. In theory, at least, the guard is changed daily from May to mid-July, at which time it goes on its "winter" schedule - that is, alternating days. Always check locally with the tourist office to see if it's likely to be staged at the time of your visit. The ceremony has sometimes been cut at the last minute, leaving thousands of visitors feeling they have missed out on a London must-see (though we say it's overrated anyway).

Practical Information

Address: Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

Phone 1: +44 20 7766-7300

Official site: www.royalcollection.org.uk

Opening hours: Daily 9:45am-6pm. Changing of the Guard daily Apr-July at 11:30am

Entrance fee: Palace tours £17 adults, £15 61 and older and students, £9.50 16 and younger, family ticket £44, free for ages 4 and younger, Changing of the Guard free

Access by subway: Tube St. James's Park, Green Park, Victoria

Hotels nearby

399 yd - 41

The 41 Hotel is located in London making it one of the best hotels to stay at while in town.All the modern facilities are available in all of the hotel's 27 rooms. All of the guestrooms are replete wiRead moreth non smoking rooms, air conditioning, bathrobes, daily newspaper, inhouse movies, desk, hair dryer.Guests can experience the high standards of comfort while staying at this luxury London hotel with everything they need right on the site such as room service 24hr, shops, executive floor, elevator, bar/pub, laundry service/dry cleaning. These top-class facilities are complemented to excellent services to meet the needs of visitors to London. Make your reservation at the 41 Hotel London now by selecting your chosen dates of stay and submitting our secure online booking form. Hide

6videos

406 yd - Rubens At The Palace

Set in a prime location of London, Rubens At The Palace Hotel puts everything the city has to offer just outside your doorstep. The property features a wide range of facilities to make your stay a pleRead moreasant experience. Laundry service/dry cleaning, bar/pub, babysitting, valet parking, shops are just some of the facilities on offer. Guestrooms are designed to provide an optimal level of comfort with welcoming decor and convenient amenities like bathrobes, ironing board, complimentary bottled water, non smoking rooms, bathtub. Entertain the hotel's recreational facilities, including massage, tennis courts. For reliable service and professional staff, Rubens At The Palace Hotel caters to your needs.Hide

Overall Traveler rating :

4.1/5

(92 reviews)

9videos

411 yd - FORTY ONE

A modern boutique hotel with the style and atmosphere of aprivate members club. Situated in one of londons mostcoveted locations, overlooking the royal mews. 41 envelopsguests in sophisticated style aRead morend luxury. Location descriptionideally located in londons west end, 2 3 minutes fromvictoria station and close to shops and theatresHide

434 yd - Crowne Plaza London St James

The Crowne Plaza London St James is located in London, England, 300 metres from Buckingham Palace, and one mile from Knightsbridge and Trafalgar Square. Victoria Station is 500 metres away. Hotel FeRead moreatures. The Crowne Plaza London St James is a traditional Edwardian hotel with a courtyard garden providing an oasis of peace in central London. Spa 51 offers gym facilities, a sauna and Turkish bath, and a range of therapies including organic face and body treatments. There is a beauty salon and florist on site, and Internet access is available in the air conditioned public areas. Multilingual staff at the 24 hour front desk can assist with currency exchange and secure valuables in the safe deposit box. Concierge and porter services are available, and there is 24 hour room service.The Crowne Plaza London St James has three dining options. Bistro 51 serves Haute Cuisine using fresh local ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and serves traditional Sunday Roasts at the weekend. The Michelin starred Quilon serves south coastal Indian cuisine for lunch and dinner, and Bank Westminster is a contemporary restaurant serving British fusion cuisine also for lunch and dinner. The Hamptons Bar serves coffee and tea, lunches, and alcoholic beverages, and offers live piano music. Zander Bar features the longest bar in London and serves a range of cocktails.Business services are available on site. The Queen Elizabeth II Convention Centre is 500 metres away. The 342 air conditioned rooms are spread over eight floors and have traditional decor. Amenities include satellite television with pay movies, direct dial phones with voicemail, Internet access, minibars, safes, and tea making facilities. Bathrooms include bathrobes and hair dryers.Expert Tip. In the summer months, there is open air swimming in the Serpentine in Hyde Park, 800 metres from the hotel. Hide

438 yd - 41 Hotel

Set in a prime location of London, 41 Hotel puts everything the city has to offer just outside your doorstep. The hotel has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Service-minded staff will welcomRead moree and guide you at the 41 Hotel. Guestrooms are designed to provide an optimal level of comfort with welcoming decor and convenient amenities like satellite/cable TV, hair dryer, separate shower and tub, air conditioning, coffee/tea maker. The hotel offers various recreational opportunities. Discover all London has to offer by making 41 Hotel your base.Hide

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Buckingham Palace, {CATEGORY}

This massive, graceful building is the official residence of the Queen. The red-brick palace was built as a country house for the notoriously rakish Duke of Buckingham. In 1762, King George III, who needed room for his 15 children, bought it. It didn't become the official royal residence, though, until Queen Victoria took the throne, she preferred it to St. James's Palace. From George III's time, the building was continuously expanded and remodeled, faced with Portland stone, and twice bombed (during the Blitz). Located in a 16-hectare (40-acre) garden, it's 108m (354 ft). long and contains 600 rooms. You can tell whether the Queen is at home by checking to see if the Royal Standard is flying from the mast outside. For most of the year, you can't visit the palace without an official invitation. Since 1993, though, much of it has been open for tours during an 8-week period in August and September, when the royal family is usually vacationing outside London. Elizabeth II agreed to allow visitors to tour the State Room, the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room, and other areas designed by John Nash for George IV, as well as the Picture Gallery, which displays masterpieces by Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens, and others. You have to buy a timed-entrance ticket the same day you plan to tour the palace. Tickets go on sale at 9am, but rather than lining up at sunrise with all the other tourists - this is one of London's most popular attractions - book by phone with a credit card and give yourself a few more hours of sleep. During the 8 weeks of summer, visitors are also allowed to stroll through the royal family's garden, along a 4.5km (2 3/4-mile) walk on the south side of the grounds, with views of a lake and the usually off-limits west side of the palace. The garden is home to 30 types of birds, plus 350 varieties of wildflowers. Buckingham Palace's most famous spectacle is the vastly overrated Changing of the Guard (daily Apr-July and on alternating days for the rest of the year). The new guard, marching behind a band, comes from either the Wellington or Chelsea barracks and takes over from the old guard in the forecourt of the palace. The ceremony begins at 11:30am, although it's frequently canceled because of bad weather, state events, and other, harder-to-fathom reasons. We like the changing of the guard at Horse Guards better because you can actually see the men marching and you don't have to battle such tourist hordes. However, few first-time visitors will resist the lure of the Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard. If that includes you, arrive as early as 10:30am and claim territorial rights to a space in front of the palace. If you're not firmly anchored here, you'll miss much of the ceremony. The Guard Doesn't Change Every Day - The schedule for the Changing of the Guard ceremony is variable, at best. In theory, at least, the guard is changed daily from May to mid-July, at which time it goes on its "winter" schedule - that is, alternating days. Always check locally with the tourist office to see if it's likely to be staged at the time of your visit. The ceremony has sometimes been cut at the last minute, leaving thousands of visitors feeling they have missed out on a London must-see (though we say it's overrated anyway).