Buckingham Palace
The King's official London residence and a working royal palace.
Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home of the monarch, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.
Buckingham Palace's magnificent State Rooms open to visitors each summer. Dates for 2026 are 9 July - 27 September. During the rest of the year the Palace only opens on selected dates for exclusive guided tours.
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Highlights
What's on
Looking for Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style?
The exhibition Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style takes place at The King's Gallery.
Visit The King's Gallery, LondonChildren and Families
Top highlights for children
Learn more about some of the highlights of Buckingham Palace for families and children.
Read the highlightsShopping and eating
Buckingham Palace shops
Browse official royal gifts in the shop during your visit to the Palace, or shop online.
Shop onlineGroups
Group bookings
Group visits to Buckingham Palace must be pre-booked, either online or over the phone.
Coach parking
Coaches can pick up passengers after they exit the Palace on Grosvenor Place. There is no coach parking near Buckingham Palace.
Guiding
Guiding isn't allowed at Buckingham Palace. Visitors can enjoy a free multimedia tour, available in nine languages.
Schools
Bring the curriculum to life with a visit to Buckingham Palace during the summer. We offer a range of interactive workshops, tours, learning activities and resources for nursery, primary and secondary pupils. Our school visit information will help teachers and organisers plan their visit.
School activities at Buckingham Palace are published each spring and take place during the summer. Throughout the rest of the year we offer school sessions at the Royal Mews and The King's Gallery, Buckingham Palace.
Access and Mobility
Concessionary rates are available if you have a disability and we offer a free access companion ticket which can be booked online.
If you require step-free access this must be pre-booked by contacting the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or [email protected]. The standard admission route is not step-free. The Specialist Sales team may also be able to arrange accessible parking, subject to availability and this must be pre-booked at least 3 full working days before your visit. Please contact the Specialist Sales team for more information.
Accessible toilets and limited seating are available.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
The multimedia guide is available in British Sign Language (BSL) with subtitles, and an audio-descriptive guide is available for blind or partially-sighted visitors.
A number of Wardens are Dementia Friends, please ask staff for any assistance.
The State Rooms tour is indoors, taking in several large rooms and halls over two floors, exiting via a long outdoor gravel path through the garden. As the State Rooms are open during the summer months, it can become very hot inside.
The terrace café and garden shop are accessible. Download an Access Guide and Photo Journey (PDF).
For detailed access information, please select one of the options below. For any other information, you can contact the Specialist Sales team on +44 (0)303 123 7324 or [email protected].
About the Palace
History of the East Wing of Buckingham Palace
A journey through Queen Victoria’s famous addition to the Palace.
Who built the Palace?
The history of the site where Buckingham Palace stands can be traced back to the reign of James I in the early 17th century.
The Garden at Buckingham Palace
Learn about the history of the royal garden and how it is used today.
VE Day at Buckingham Palace in 1945
Learn about the VE Day celebrations at Buckingham Palace in 1945, as Britain marked the end of World War II in Europe.
State Portraits Hung in Buckingham Palace
Their Majesties' State Portraits are unveiled in the iconic Throne Room at Buckingham Palace.
Book tickets
Looking for £1 tickets for those on Universal Credit and other named UK benefits? Book £1 tickets to Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace standard admission
Buckingham Palace plus a Garden Highlights Tour
