Buckingham Palace
Seize your chance to cross the hallowed threshold of Britain’s most glorious and magnificent palace when the doors to its State Rooms are thrown open every summer.
Wander leisurely around the indulgently ostentatious surroundings, still used by the Royal Family today to receive and entertain guests on State and ceremonial occasions. Decorated in lavish fashion, the rooms include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Vermeer and Poussin. Visitors can also view sculpture by Canova, exquisite examples of Svres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.
Glide around the Ball Supper Room, the setting for a host of sparkling events in the history of the palace, then take a turn outside to explore the palaces sprawling 29 acre gardens, complete with 17th century lake and thriving wildlife.
Visitors can also enjoy a new exhibition each year.
Buckingham Palace operates a timed-ticket system, with admission every 15 minutes throughout the day. You do not need to book a specified time. Simply take your printed voucher to the ticket office at Buckingham Palace on day of visit where it will be exchanged for an entrance ticket.
* Most visitors spend about 2 hours at Buckingham Palace.
* Tickets are valid only on the date specified on the ticket
For 2008 only
For the first time ever, visitors will be able to experience the spectacle of the Palace’s Ballroom set up for a State Banquet. For centuries magnificent banquets have been an integral part of royal ceremonial and the traditional way to mark significant events. Among the most important of these occasions is the State Banquet, held in honour of a visiting Head of State. This is the occasion when Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family entertain around 160 specially invited guests on the first evening of a State Visit. During the course of her reign The Queen has held 94 State Banquets.
The horseshoe-shaped table traditionally used on such occasions will be dressed with a dazzling display of silver-gilt from the magnificent Grand Service, first used to celebrate the birthday of George III in 1811. Lavish buffet arrangements of jewelled cups, ivory tankards and chased dishes, sconces, shields and basins will be arranged along each side of the room.
Did You Know?
Queen Victoria ordered the removal of Marble Arch from the palace to its present position near Hyde Park in order to make way for more bedrooms.
Ticket includes:
- admission to the State Rooms
- chance to admire the famed Royal Collection
- entrance to this summer’s unique exhibition
- admission to the palace’s 29-acre garden
- free audio guide
Information for wheel chair users: Please book directly with Buckingham Palace.
Estimated duration of visit:
- 2 ½ hours: Admission is by timed ticket with entry every 15 minutes throughout the day. Tickets are valid only on the date specified on the ticket. Simply take your printed voucher to the ticket office at Buckingham Palace on day of visit where it will be exchanged for an entrance ticket. Regrettably, late-comers cannot be admitted.
Annual Visitor Figures:
294,000
Opening and Closing Times:
31st July to 29th September 2008
Daily 9:45 – 18:00 (last admission 15:45).
A VOUCHER MUST BE PRINTED OUT AND TAKEN TO THE ATTRACTION AFTER THE BOOKING HAS BEEN MADE. YOU WILL NEED TO EXCHANGE YOUR VOUCHER FOR AN ENTRANCE TICKET AT THE TICKET OFFICE.
You do not need to book a specific time! Your ticket is valid all day for the date you book.
Please note there are no fast track tickets for the palace, so please allow extra time for queuing during busy periods.
Due to the heightened security alert, visitors will not be allowed to take any form of liquid into Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Bolton
London Attractions Editor
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