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. This year the dates are 10th July – 28th September 2025.
During the rest of the year the Palace opens on selected dates for small-group guided tours.
Sign up to email updates to be the first to hear ticket announcements and the latest news.
The State Rooms are the main reception chambers of Buckingham Palace, used by the monarch and members of the Royal Family for all kinds of ceremonial, official, diplomatic and personal occasions. There are many famous, must-see moments within these spectacular rooms. Don’t miss the red-carpeted Grand Staircase, the Throne Room and the breathtaking Ballroom.
The White Drawing Room, perhaps the grandest of all the State Rooms, serves as a royal reception room for The King and members of the Royal Family to gather before official occasions. While you take in the splendour of the room, see if you can spot the enormous hidden door formed from one of the four side cabinets and mirrors.
A visit to the State Rooms is a chance to see some of the finest paintings by some of the biggest names in art history. The Picture Gallery inside Buckingham Palace displays some of the greatest paintings in the Royal Collection. A highlight has to be the Music Lesson by Johannes Vermeer. There are just 5 Vermeer paintings in the whole of the UK and only 34 in total anywhere in the world, so this is a rare opportunity to see one first-hand.
Exhibition
This summer, visitors to the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will see a special exhibition, The King’s Tour Artists, featuring over 70 works of art from His Majesty’s own collection, many on public display for the first time.
Since 1985, 42 artists have been personally chosen by The King to accompany him on royal overseas tours, capturing their experiences through art. These artists have visited 95 countries across 69 tours. Displayed in the Palace’s Ballroom, the artworks – chosen from a selection made by The King from his personal collection – will provide glimpses of life on a royal tour, capturing the tone, colours and atmosphere in ways that differ from a photographic record.
Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the sculptures in the Marble Hall of the Palace. The beautiful sculptures were created by Italian maestro Antonio Canova, who is considered to be one of the greatest artists of his time. Canova created three masterpieces for King George IV, including the sublime Mars and Venus which was carved from a single block of stone.
And could there be a more British welcome than tea at Buckingham Palace? During the Summer you can enjoy a cup of tea with a vie in the Garden Café on the West Terrace. It is a moment to rest your feet and indulge a little. As well as tea, coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches, and sweet treats are served, and if you prefer a pick-me-up on the move, there are also ice cream stands as you walk along the Garden path.
Book a Garden Highlights Tour to Enjoy a 45-minute stroll around the private side of Buckingham Palace Garden with a guide. Soak up the colour in the Rose Garden, spot London’s most exclusive tennis court, and learn about the amazing wildlife in this little oasis in the middle of the city.
Spectacle
Even more royal spectacle awaits outside of the State Rooms tour, with Buckingham Palace’s art gallery and working stables both open for visitors, and of course the world-famous Palace façade, with the balcony, the gates and the guards.
No trip to London is complete without experiencing the world-famous Changing the Guard ceremony where the New Guard replaces the Old in front of Buckingham Palace.
Changing the Guard takes place, weather permitting, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 11:00, and on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 15:00.
https://www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace#book_tickets
See also: Meet the Royal Ladies of Blenheim Palace
