The Best Buckingham Palace Tours To Take in 2024 and Why
Ian Sumpter
Buckingham Palace has been the focus of national and royal celebrations for generations. Walking the Mall and viewing the palace should be on anyone’s travel list, but should you take a tour? Here I’ll cover the best tours of Buckingham Palace to take this year and why.
Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to London for more planning resources, our best London tours for a memorable trip, and the top things to do in London.
Should You Take a Tour of Buckingham Palace?
The short answer is yes! But as the Tour Guy is a tour operator, that seems a fairly obvious answer. So why should you take a tour of Buckingham Palace?
Well, the Palace is not as old as many of the great royal estates, such as Windsor Castle, but it has been the center of national and royal life for over a century now. In the age of televised events, the balcony facing the Mall has become the most famous balcony since Juliet’s, with the royal family seen waving to crowds of thousands after Royal events like weddings, coronations, and so on.
Although King Charles III has taken up residence at Clarence House until Buckingham Palace’s restorations are completed in 2027, it remains the administrative office of the monarch and, as such, a hugely important royal site.
For fans of the monarchy or history buffs, a tour will offer fascinating oversight of a site of enormous cultural and historical significance.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide to Buckingham Palace for more info.
Which Buckingham Palace Tours to Take?
There are several options if you want to tour Buckingham Palace. The staterooms are only open ten weeks a year, so interior visits can be hard to find, but we have daily options that cover the Palace from the outside and take in the key ceremonies, like the ‘Changing of the Guards’.
The Buckingham Palace Royalty tour is a fantastic and fascinating way to dive deeper into both the history of the Palace and the institution of the monarchy.
For most of the year, the State Rooms and Throne Room are closed to the public, but those rooms are open for ten weeks each summer. Tickets sell out quickly, but your space is guaranteed with this tour.
Your expert guide will lead you through St. James Park, originally a swamp turned into a hunting lodge by Henry VIII that remains a bastion of green tranquility surrounded by the concrete jungle of London.
Then, up the Mall, the royal mile of road leading to the Palace, used for the Changing of the Guard and Royal processions.
Your guide will lead you through security and into the Palace, where you will be given a personal audio guide to lead you through the magnificent State and Throne Rooms. Undoubtedly one of the best Buckingham Palace tours to take.
Note: The opening dates for 2024 have yet to be confirmed by the Palace, so be sure to bookmark this page and return towards the end of 2023 to find availability.
Not ready to book a tour? Check out our guide to Buckingham Palace for more info.
London Walking Tour with Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace
Where should you stand to get the best view of the Changing of the Guards? What time should you arrive to make sure you don’t miss anything? What is the significance of the ceremony? All of this and more is answered with this London walking tour.
With this fascinating tour, you will get an in-depth tour of Westminster Abbey without spending hours in line like the rest of the crowds. Your expert guide is like a walking encyclopedia of all things London. They will entertain you with stories of the Abbey’s long history and the historical figures who have played a significant role in its history.
Thoroughly awed, you’ll stroll through the former hunting lodge of Henry VIII, St James’s Park, before finding the perfect spot to watch the Changing of the Guard. With Buckingham Palace in the background, your guide will regale you with stories of the Palace and the monarchy.
A perfect tour to introduce you to the wonderful history of London.
Highlights:
Skip-the-line walking tour of Westminster Abbey
Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sundays, weather permitting)
London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey, Tower of London & Buckingham Palace
Want to see London’s most iconic attractions in just one day? This action-packed London-in-a-day tour makes the most of your time in this historic city.
You’ll start with a tour of Westminster Abbey before strolling through leafy St James’s Park on your way to Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guards. Then see the famous balcony were the royals are so often seen during public events and hear countless stories of the monarchs who have lived here.
You’ll also have time to explore the Tower of London, gain access to the crown jewels, see 10 Downing Street, and so much more.
This in-depth tour lets you skip the line to see London’s best sites without the long wait, and you’ll even get to take a boat ride along the River Thames. A perfect way to see many of London’s highlights if your time in the city is limited.
Highlights:
Skip-the-line entry and tour of Westminster Abbey
Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Deciding where to stay at a great hotel in London can take some effort since it’s a massive city. Make your decision easier with our list of the best neighborhoods and hotels in London.
Leave a Comment