How To Visit Buckingham Palace This Year: Tickets, Hours, Tours, And More

Don’t just stand outside Buckingham Palace hoping for a glimpse of the royals, get in there! Knowing how to visit Buckingham Palace takes some planning, since the State Rooms open for only a few weeks each summer, entry is timed, and slots disappear fast. Our guides know which vantage points work for the Changing of the Guard and when to arrive, so we’ve put together this guide with info on tickets, tours, what to see, and where to eat nearby.

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Visiting Buckingham Palace

Long before it was a palace, this was Buckingham House, built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and bought by George III in 1761 for Queen Charlotte, which is why it was once known as the Queen’s House. George IV had it lavishly restructured into a palace in the 1820s, and Queen Victoria became the first sovereign to live there in 1837. Today it’s the official London residence of the British monarch and a working royal headquarters, hosting state banquets and investitures year-round, which is why public access is so tightly controlled.

Let’s jump into the most important things you need to know about visiting Buckingham Palace.

Not ready to book? Learn if a Buckingham Palace Tour is worth it.

Buckingham Palace Ticket Prices & Hours 2026: When the State Rooms Open

So, how much does it cost to see Buckingham Palace? Here’s what you need to know:

Buckingham Palace Ticket Prices:

• Adult: £33 booked in advance, £37 on the day
  
  
• Young Person (18 to 24): £21.50 in advance, £24.50 on the day
  
  
• Child (5 to 17) and Disabled Person: £16.50 in advance, £18.50 on the day, and access companions go free
  
  
• Under 5: Free
  
  
• State Rooms plus a Garden Highlights Tour: £48 for an adult
  
  
• State Rooms plus an East Wing Tour: £93 for an adult in advance, £97 on the day

👉 No tickets left on the official Buckingham Palace website? We reserve a limited number of Buckingham Palace tickets ahead of time just for this reason.

Buckingham Palace Opening Hours (2026):

Period	Opening Pattern	Good to Know
July 9 to August 31	Open daily	Timed State Rooms admission
September 1 to 27	Thursday to Monday	Closed Tuesday and Wednesday
After September 27	Selected dates only	Guided tours may operate

• Timed entry: Admission runs in 15-minute slots. Arrive at the time on your ticket rather than substantially earlier.
  
  
• Outside summer: The palace opens only on selected dates for exclusive guided tours, with very limited places.
  
  
• Next season: The 2026 summer opening has ended, so check the official website for next summer’s dates and prices before you plan.
  
  
• Changing of the Guard: Free to watch in the forecourt on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 11 am, weather permitting, and the crowd forms well before anything starts.

Interesting Fact: The palace entertains around 50,000 invited guests a year, so the summer opening is your chance to walk the same rooms they do.

How to Get to Buckingham Palace: Tube, Train & Walking Routes

Buckingham Palace sits in the heart of Westminster, with the Queen Victoria Memorial right out front and The Mall running straight to Trafalgar Square. On one side sits St. James’s Park, London’s oldest Royal Park, and on the other, historic St. James’s Palace.

• Tube to Green Park: Served by the Victoria, Jubilee, and Piccadilly lines. Walk south through the park toward the Queen Victoria Memorial.
  
  
• Tube to St. James’s Park: Served by the District and Circle lines, with an approach through the park itself.
  
  
• Train or Tube to Victoria: The mainline rail station and the Victoria, District, and Circle lines all stop here, just south of the palace.
  
  
• Walk: From Trafalgar Square, follow The Mall, the grand ceremonial route the Royal Family uses for official processions and the Changing of the Guard.

Interesting Fact: St. James’s Park started out as the grounds of a 13th-century leper colony before Henry VIII made it his private hunting ground.

👉 Can’t be bothered with logistics? Our London in a Day Tour walks you from Westminster Abbey past Big Ben and through St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard or the Horse Guards ceremony.

Best Guided Tours of Buckingham Palace

For your time, budget, and interests.

👉 Compare all Buckingham Palace tour options.

Visitor Tips for Buckingham Palace: Bags, Photos & Timing

To make the most of your visit, follow these tips.

• Leave the stroller and big bag at the hotel. Large bags and strollers must be stored before security, though small bags, purses, and water bottles are fine. Food and drink can’t be consumed inside the palace.
  
  
• Keep the camera in your pocket indoors. Photography isn’t allowed inside the State Rooms.
  
  
• Expect to explore without a guide. Guiding isn’t allowed inside the palace, so every visitor uses the free multimedia guide, available in nine languages.
  
  
• Dress for heat and gravel. The State Rooms can get very hot in summer, and the route exits via a long outdoor gravel path through the garden.
  
  
• Pre-book step-free access. The standard route isn’t step-free, so contact the Royal Collection Trust’s Specialist Sales team before your visit. Registered assistance dogs are welcome.
  
  
• Stake out the Queen Victoria Memorial early. Apart from the palace railings, it’s the best place to watch the Changing of the Guard.

How Long Does a Buckingham Palace Tour Take?

Our guided Buckingham Palace tour runs about 2 hours 30 minutes, with a walk through St. James’s Park and along The Mall before you head inside at your own pace. If you’re visiting on your own, allow 2 to 2½ hours for the State Rooms and the walk out through the garden. Watching the Changing of the Guard adds about an hour, so plan it for a different morning if your palace entry falls mid-morning.

👉 Want the ceremony without the guesswork? Our Changing of the Guard Tour watches from a less crowded spot, then skips the long ticket lines at Westminster Abbey (security still applies).

What to See Inside Buckingham Palace: Throne Room, Ballroom & More

On your visit to the royal residence, make sure you see these incredible rooms and sights, and check out our guide to the top things to see at Buckingham Palace for the full history.

• Grand Staircase: John Nash’s grand entrance, redecorated in white and gold under Edward VII and hung with full-length portraits of Queen Victoria’s family.
  
  
• Picture Gallery: A 47-meter-long room hung with Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, and Van Dyck from the Royal Collection.
  
  
• Throne Room: Crimson silk, gold sconces, and thrones from several coronations, set on a stage under a ruby-red canopy.
  
  
• White Drawing Room: Where Elizabeth II often met special guests. We think it’s even grander than the Throne Room, so judge for yourself.
  
  
• Ballroom: The largest State Room, still used for state banquets and investitures, with a canopied throne from Edward VII’s 1902 coronation.
  
  
• Queen Victoria Memorial and the balcony: The 82-foot memorial faces The Mall, and the palace front behind it was refaced in Portland stone in 1913, though Queen Victoria made the first recorded balcony appearance back in 1851.

Interesting Fact: In 1982, an intruder named Michael Fagan made it all the way into the Queen’s bedroom while she slept, and the two had a brief chat before she left the room and raised the alarm.

Where to Eat Near Buckingham Palace

The good news is your dining options are plentiful, but you’ll need to choose wisely.

• The Laughing Halibut | £ | Grab some old-school fish and chips to take away or take a seat inside. It’s a great place for a quick lunch on Strutton Ground.
  
  
• Bon Gusto | ££ | Fancy a change from British grub? Try this Italian restaurant on Buckingham Gate, with a selection of meat, seafood, and pasta dishes.
  
  
• Quilon | £££ | Michelin-starred cooking from India’s southwest coast, just down Buckingham Gate, and a great place for vegetarians, too.
  
  
• The Goring Dining Room | ££££ | The holder of a Michelin star and three AA Rosettes, serving classic British cooking in one of London’s most storied hotels.

Interesting Fact: The palace’s own Garden Café serves afternoon tea in a keepsake tin, so your snack doubles as a souvenir.

Attractions Near Buckingham Palace

These are all within walking distance of Buckingham Palace and make a great addition to your London itinerary.

• St. James’s Park: London’s oldest Royal Park, 57 acres of ponds and paths where pelicans glide across the lake.
  
  
• The King’s Gallery: Rotating exhibitions from the Royal Collection, open for most of the year, unlike the palace itself.
  
  
• Horse Guards Parade: Catch the mounted Changing of the King’s Life Guard daily at 11 am (10 am on Sundays), with far smaller crowds than the palace ceremony.
  
  
• Westminster Abbey: Britain’s coronation church for nearly 1,000 years, home to the Coronation Chair and Poets’ Corner.

👉 Want the Abbey, Big Ben, and the Crown Jewels in one go? Our London in a Day Tour adds a Thames River cruise and a guided visit to the Tower of London.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buckingham Palace

Final Thoughts

Standing at those gates is a London must, but seeing what’s behind them takes a little planning. Knowing how to visit Buckingham Palace the smart way means booking your timed slot early, picking the right morning for the Changing of the Guard, and giving the State Rooms at least 2 hours. Pack light, leave the big bag at the hotel, and save time for a stroll through St. James’s Park on the way out.

Eager for more? Check out these travel planning resources:

• Where to Stay in London
• Is a Tour of Buckingham Palace Worth It?
• Top Things to Do in London
• All London Tours