Buckingham Palace is the King’s official London residence, a working royal palace, and the backdrop for the balcony appearances you’ve watched on TV. The best Buckingham Palace tours help you experience it properly, whether you want to step inside the State Rooms or just get a clear view of the Changing of the Guard. Here’s the catch: the palace opens its doors for only a few weeks each summer, and just one tour on this list takes you inside, so book it early or bookmark this page until next summer’s dates are released. Our guides know exactly where to stand and when to arrive for the ceremony out front. Below, you’ll find what each of the four tours covers, who it suits, and what it costs.
Every tour on this list earned its spot by making a royal London visit easier:
Buckingham Palace on every route: all four picks take you to the palace, from the State Rooms inside to the Changing of the Guard out front and a ride past it by black cab.
Tickets sorted before you arrive: every pick includes reserved entry, whether to the palace itself, Westminster Abbey, or the Tower of London, so you’re never buying on the day. Security checks still apply.
Guides who know royal London: each tour comes with an expert English-speaking guide, and the Changing of the Guard tour uses Blue Badge certified guides. Guides aren’t allowed inside Buckingham Palace, so on the palace tour yours walks you to the entrance and hands you an audio guide.
Groups you can actually hear in: three of the four picks cap groups at 20 guests, and the black cab tour is private.
Strong traveler feedback: each pick consistently earns strong praise from travelers.
Quick Look: The Best Buckingham Palace Tours Compared
Only one of these tours gets you inside the palace, so the What You Get column is the place to start.
Private cab, hotel pickup, Westminster Abbey and Tower of London entry
From around $1,520 (private group)
The 4 Best Buckingham Palace Tours
Visiting in summer? Start with pick 1, since it’s the only way inside. The other three fit royal London into a morning, a full day, or a private day out.
Best Buckingham Palace Tour For: royal fans visiting between July and September who want to see the palace from the inside, not just through the gates.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Group size: up to 20
Sites: St. James’s Park, The Mall, Buckingham Palace State Rooms, Throne Room
Why Book the Buckingham Palace Privileged Entrance Tour with Us?
This is the only tour on our list that gets you inside Buckingham Palace, and the State Rooms open for just a few weeks each summer. Your guide shares the royal stories on a walk through St. James’s Park and up The Mall, then sees you to the entrance with your ticket and audio guide. Entry is mid-morning, while the Changing of the Guard is happening out front, so save the ceremony for another day and book this one as soon as dates open.
Highlights:
Expert English-speaking guide
Guided royal walking tour of St. James’s Park and The Mall
Privileged access entry ticket to Buckingham Palace
Best Buckingham Palace Tour For: first-time visitors who want the palace as part of one full, well-paced day of London’s headline sights, and don’t mind a lot of walking.
Duration: 7 hours
Group size: up to 20
Sites: Westminster Abbey, Big Ben (exterior), Buckingham Palace (exterior), Trafalgar Square, River Thames, Tower of London
No other pick fits this much royal London into a single day. You’ll watch the Changing of the Guard near Buckingham Palace, or the Horse Guards ceremony on days it doesn’t run, then cruise the Thames to the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels. Palace entry isn’t included, so add the Privileged Entrance Tour on another day if you’re visiting in summer.
Highlights:
Timed entry and guided tour of Westminster Abbey
Changing of the Guard or Horse Guard ceremony viewing (certain days, weather permitting)
Best Buckingham Palace Tour For: travelers visiting outside the summer opening who want a proper view of the Changing of the Guard and Westminster Abbey in one morning.
Duration: 3 hours
Group size: up to 20
Sites: Parliament Square, Big Ben (exterior), Downing Street, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace (exterior), Westminster Abbey
Watching the ceremony is free, but where you stand decides whether you actually see it. Your Blue Badge guide leads you to a less crowded spot, and on days the ceremony doesn’t run, you’ll see the Changing of the Horse Guard instead. Afterward, you skip the long ticket lines at Westminster Abbey, though security checks still apply.
Highlights:
Expert English-speaking guide with Blue Badge certification
Viewing of the Changing of the Guard or Horse Guard ceremony
Skip-the-line entry and guided tour of Westminster Abbey
It’s the only pick with hotel pickup, a private guide, and a traditional black cab, so there’s no Tube and no crowd to keep up with. You’ll see Buckingham Palace from the cab on a panoramic drive, then get guided visits to Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. Because the tour is private, the pace and itinerary can be adjusted for your group, including for mobility needs.
Highlights:
Private traditional black cab and driver
Hotel pickup and drop-off in central London
Skip-the-line entry to Westminster Abbey
Skip-the-line entry to the Tower of London
Panoramic drive with photo stops
More Buckingham Palace Tour Ideas: Private Options and a Royal Walk
Want a guide all to yourself, or an easier stroll past the palace? These tours add private takes on the classics, plus a walking route through Westminster to Buckingham Palace.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buckingham Palace Tours
Are Buckingham Palace tours worth it?
For most visitors, yes, because State Rooms entry is timed, capped, and available for only a few weeks each summer. A tour secures your place and adds the royal stories behind The Mall and St. James’s Park. Guiding isn’t allowed inside, so everyone explores the rooms with the palace’s free multimedia guide.
What is the best Buckingham Palace tour?
The Buckingham Palace Privileged Entrance Tour is the best pick if you want to go inside, since it’s the only tour on our list that includes palace entry. Outside the summer opening, the Changing of the Guard Tour is the strongest way to see the palace and its ceremony.
Can you visit Buckingham Palace without a tour?
You can, by booking a timed State Rooms ticket directly with the Royal Collection Trust. You’ll see the same rooms with the same multimedia guide, but you miss the guided walk beforehand and take your chances if slots sell out.
When is Buckingham Palace open to visitors?
The State Rooms open each summer, roughly July to September, with selected winter and spring dates for official guided tours. Dates are confirmed year by year, so check our guide on how to visit Buckingham Palace before you plan.
Do you need to book Buckingham Palace tours in advance?
Absolutely, and as early as you can. Capacity is capped and the season is short, so book the Privileged Entrance Tour as soon as next summer’s dates are released, or bookmark this page until they are.
How much do Buckingham Palace tours cost?
A standard adult State Rooms ticket costs £33 when booked in advance with the Royal Collection Trust. Group tours on our list run from around $80 to $160 per person, while the private black cab tour starts from around $1,520 per group.
When can you see the Changing of the Guard?
On set days throughout the year, weather permitting, and it’s free to watch from outside the palace. Crowds build well before it starts, so arrive early or join one of our Changing of the Guard tours for a guide who knows where to stand.
Are there private Buckingham Palace tours?
Several. The Private Black Cab Tour drives you past the palace, and our private London tours include private versions of the Changing of the Guard and London in a Day tours.
Final Thoughts
Buckingham Palace rewards a little planning. If you only book one tour, make it the Privileged Entrance Tour, and grab it the moment next summer’s dates are released, since it’s the only way inside. With a few more days, pair it with the Changing of the Guard Tour on a different morning to see the palace from both sides of the gates. Visiting outside the summer opening? Browse all our Buckingham Palace tours and find the right fit for your dates.
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