Buckingham Palace, City of Westminster, London

A photograph of Buckingham Palace — Photograph · Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

Open today, 09:00 – 17:00

Today: Open today, 09:00 – 17:00
Visit duration: 1 hr 30 min Editorial visit time estimate
Accessibility: Step-free
Price: Not recorded
Standing: Must see · Heritage site
Rank: Rank 3 of 18,189

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Plan your visit.

Opening hours

Monday	09:00 – 17:00
Tuesday	09:00 – 17:00
Wednesday	09:00 – 17:00
Thursday	09:00 – 17:00
Friday	09:00 – 17:00
Saturday	09:00 – 17:00
Sunday	09:00 – 17:00

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Admission

Not recorded

Access and facilities

Accessible toilets · Available
Pushchair access · Available
Step-free access · Available
Toilets · Available

Source · Checked 2026-08-31

About Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the London residence and the administrative headquarters of the British monarch, standing at the western end of The Mall in the City of Westminster. The building began as Buckingham House, put up in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham and Normanby to a design by William Winde, and it became royal property in 1761 when George III bought it for £21,000 as a private house for Queen Charlotte.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What's inside

The 775 rooms of Buckingham Palace break down into 19 state rooms, 52 principal bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, spread across more than 830,000 square feet of floorspace. The state rooms are the ceremonial half of the building, used for investitures, receptions and state banquets, and they are the rooms shown to ticket holders rather than the private apartments. Behind the palace lies a garden of 39 acres, or 16 hectares, described as the largest private garden in London, holding over 1,000 trees and between 20 and 25 nesting bird species. Adult State Rooms tickets start around GBP 33 by date. Green Park, Victoria or St Jamess Park stations.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

Allow 90 minutes at Buckingham Palace if the plan is the outside of the building: time to walk the railings, climb the steps of the Victoria Memorial for a raised view, watch a guard change through to its end, and leave along The Mall or Constitution Hill without hurrying. Ninety minutes is the figure this guide records. Cut it to 20 minutes on a day with no ceremony, when the palace is a facade, two sentries and a set of gates and there is nothing further to wait for. Step-free entrances, lifts and accessible toilets serve principal public areas.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

State Rooms open on selected summer dates with timed entry. Dated closures, ceremonies, performances, weather or security notices from the operator take priority over ordinary hours. Arrive early enough to complete the public route before final admission. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

Adult State Rooms tickets start around GBP 33 by date. The base ticket excludes transport, tours, premium access, special exhibitions and independently operated activities unless explicitly listed. Carry any required identity or concession document. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Green Park, Victoria or St Jamess Park stations. Use the named entrance and station because security, separate exits and large complexes can change the practical route. Allow extra time for screening and the final walk. Follow staff directions on arrival.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

Step-free entrances, lifts and accessible toilets serve principal public areas. State Rooms open on selected summer dates with timed entry. Adult State Rooms tickets start around GBP 33 by date. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

The palace faces roughly east, so the Webb facade takes direct morning light and falls into flat shade by mid afternoon, which is the opposite of what most visitors assume when they turn up for the late-morning ceremony. For the building itself, come early. For the ceremony, the steps of the Victoria Memorial give the only free elevation in the area and turn a wall of heads into a clear line down onto the forecourt, which is why they are occupied long before 1045. Adult State Rooms tickets start around GBP 33 by date.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Place details and sources

Heritage grade: Grade 2 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place: Attraction OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established: 1703 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage designation: Grade I listed building Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Opened: 1849 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: John Nash, Edward Blore, Aston Webb OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: John Nash Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: William Winde Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article: Buckingham Palace Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09

Website Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
+44 20 7766 7300 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
View on Wikidata

Common questions

What are the regular hours?

State Rooms open on selected summer dates with timed entry.

What is base admission?

Adult State Rooms tickets start around GBP 33 by date.

Is the complete route step-free?

Step-free entrances, lifts and accessible toilets serve principal public areas.

Which public transport is named?

Green Park, Victoria or St Jamess Park stations.

Can operations alter access?

Yes. Events, ceremonies, maintenance and security can change the ordinary route.

Are upgrades included?

No. Special tours, exhibitions and premium products use separate tickets.

Where it is

Open directions in Google Maps

Nearby

Within 4 min on foot

1 hr 30 min
2 min walk · City of Westminster
King's Gallery
- Notable
- Museum
45 min
3 min walk · City of Westminster
Victoria Memorial
- Must see · Heritage site
- Historic site
45 min
4 min walk · City of Westminster
Royal Mews
- Notable · Heritage site
- Historic site