Home › Travel Guide › Buckingham Palace Guide
Travel Guide Updated April 2026

Buckingham Palace Guide

How to see the Changing of the Guard, when the State Rooms open and the best photo spots.

InfoUK.org · Independent guide · Not affiliated with any government

Quick Facts

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms. Built 1703, became royal residence in 1837 with Queen Victoria. Today the official London residence and administrative HQ of the King.

  • Address: Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA
  • Nearest Tube: Green Park, Victoria, St James's Park (all 8-10 min walk)
  • Exterior: always free
  • State Rooms: mid-July to late September only

Changing of the Guard

The Foot Guards in red tunics and bearskin hats hand over duty in front of the palace. Free public spectacle, ~45 minutes.

  • When: 11am Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (April-July daily, 11am)
  • Cancelled: heavy rain, state events
  • Best spot: Victoria Memorial steps facing palace (arrive 10:15am)
  • Alternative spot: St James's Palace (Friary Court) — Old Guard forms there from 10:30am
  • Walk along The Mall: watch the New Guard march down from Wellington Barracks
📅 Always check schedule: The official changing-the-guard.com or householdcav.org has the daily schedule. Schedules change weekly. Cancellations not always announced in advance.

State Room Tours

  • When: mid-July to end of September only
  • Cost: £33 adult, £21 child, family ticket £85
  • Duration: 2-3 hours self-guided audio tour
  • Highlights: Throne Room, Picture Gallery (Rembrandt, Vermeer, Canaletto), State Dining Room
  • Garden access: included; café in the Royal Garden
  • Booking: rct.uk months ahead — sells out
  • The Royal Mews (£17) — Gold State Coach + working stables, open most of the year
  • The King's Gallery (£21) — rotating exhibitions from the Royal Collection
  • Combined ticket with State Rooms: £55, saves £16

Best Photo Spots

  • Victoria Memorial — central, classic angle, but very crowded
  • The Mall (looking towards palace) — wider road perspective with flags
  • St James's Park bridge — palace reflected in lake, most photogenic
  • Green Park entrance — quieter, less obstructed view
  • Constitution Hill — when guards march past at 10:30am
🚶 Walking route: Big Ben → Westminster Abbey → St James's Park → Buckingham Palace → Green Park → Hyde Park → Knightsbridge. 90 minutes, hits Westminster, the palace, two royal parks.
← Back to Travel Guide

Related Guides

Big Ben & Westminster Guide
The clock tower ("Big Ben"), Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge — how to visit, tour times and the best photo angles.
Read guide →
Westminster Abbey Guide
England's coronation church for 1,000 years — Henry VII Chapel, Poets' Corner and 30 monarchs buried inside.
Read guide →
London in 3 Days
Three perfectly-paced days covering Westminster, the Tower, Borough Market, Camden and Shoreditch — no tourist traps, just the best of the capital.
Read guide →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buckingham Palace open to the public?

Only in summer (mid-July to late September) when the King is at Balmoral. State Room tickets £33 adult.

When is Changing of the Guard?

11am Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (May-July daily). Free, lasts about 45 minutes.

Can you go inside Buckingham Palace?

Yes during the summer State Rooms opening — 19 of the palace's 775 rooms are open to ticketed visitors.

Is Buckingham Palace worth visiting?

Yes for the spectacle of the Changing of the Guard (free) and the once-a-year State Rooms tour (paid). Otherwise, the exterior + St James's Park is enough.