Buckingham Palace tour: summer opening 2025

Enjoy a self-guided tour of Buckingham Palace to see the lavishly furnished State Rooms at one of the world's few remaining working royal palaces, plus discover some of the Royal Collection's greatest treasures.

Tickets for Buckingham Palace tour: summer opening 2025 are currently not available. Please check back nearer the time, or discover more London royal attractions.

What's inside Buckingham Palace?

Something to be marvelled at outside its golden gates, inside Buckingham Palace is an even more impressive sight to behold.

Buckingham Palace is a grand royal residence with 775 magnificent rooms. Highlights of the summer opening of Buckingham Palace include:

• The 19 beautifully decorated Buckingham Palace State Rooms, used for receiving guests and official functions.
• The Throne Room – often used as a backdrop for royal wedding photos.
• The magnificent Grand Staircase.
• Pieces of fine art, including works by Rembrandt, Rubens and Van Dyck. 

When can I buy Buckingham Palace tour tickets?

Tickets for the Buckingham Palace tours 2025 are currently not available. Please check back nearer the time for more information.

Join the glorious state rooms tour at Buckingham Palace

Coinciding with the Palace opening its doors for visitors once again, the Royal Collection Trust invites visitors to take a specular tour through its state rooms and gardens.

Your visit will start with a self-guided tour of the Palace's magnificent state rooms at your own leisure. After the state rooms, you can take in the panoramic view of the lawn from the Garden Cafe.

The Palace tour will end with a walk along the south side of the garden towards the exit gate, where visitors can take in views of the famous lake and the west front of the palace.

What is in the West Wing of Buckingham Palace?

Open to the public for the first time since it was completed 175 years ago, in 2024 visitors enjoyed a guided tour of Buckingham Palace's East Wing.

In the West Wing, visitors can get a glimpse of the iconic central balcony, where the Monarch and members of the Royal Family have gathered for public appearances since 1851 – most recently, for the Trooping the Colour event in June.

You can also see examples of the finest Chinese and Japanese porcelain and 19th-century furniture in the Royal Collection displayed in the Centre Room, Yellow Drawing Room and the 240ft (73m) long Principal Corridor.

Note: the East Wing Highlights tour is separate to the Buckingham Palace summer opening tour, and tickets must be booked separately with Royal Collection Trust.

Who lives at Buckingham Palace?

Buckingham Palace serves as the official London residence of His Majesty The King, and is one of the few remaining working royal palaces in the world today. 

Is the palace open to the public? 

Buckingham Palace is open to the public during the summer months. 

Can you walk through the Buckingham Palace gardens?

Entrance tickets to Buckingham Palace State Rooms include access to the gardens. This involves a short stroll through the wooded area and past the lake, as you make your way to the exit on Grosvenor Street.

Tickets do not offer access for visitors to freely wander the grounds.

When can I visit?

Buckingham Palace tours usually take place between July and September. If you're not able to visit during this time, take a look at London's other royal attractions. 

What are the Buckingham Palace opening times?

Buckingham Palace is usually open every day, from 9.30am to 7.30pm from July to September.

Entry is on a timed admission basis and ideally you should arrive no later than 10 minutes before the entry time on your ticket.

How much do tickets cost?

Tickets to visit the Buckingham Palace State Rooms cost £20.50 for adults aged 18 to 24, £32 for adults over 24, and £16 for children over five – children under five enter for free, but tickets must be booked in advance. Tickets are also available on the day, however, they are likely to sell out and will cost between £1.50 and £3 extra per admission. 

How long does it take to tour Buckingham Palace? 

It takes between two hours and three hours to explore Buckingham Palace.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how do I get there?

Buckingham Palace is located in central London.

The closest Tube stations are Victoria (Circle and District and Victoria lines), Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines) and Hyde Park Corner (Piccadilly line).

Several buses including numbers 11, 211 and C10 also stop nearby.

If you are arriving by coach, Victoria Coach Station is only a 10-minute walk away.

The Buckingham Palace visitor entrance is located on the left-hand side of the Palace and you will exit through the gardens.

Discover more of royal things to do in London including an expert-led Royal Walking Tour, the best royal historic parks for a relaxing stroll and other top royal attractions.