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 can now be bought for July to September.

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 spectacular tour through its State Rooms and gardens.

Your visit starts with a self-guided tour of the Palace's magnificent State Rooms at your own leisure. Afterwards, you can take in the panoramic view of the lawn from the Garden Cafe.

The Palace tour ends 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'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?

You can buy tickets for the Buckingham Palace summer opening using the booking button on this page.

Combine your ticket with a visit to the Royal Mews, where you’ll find the royal family’s state vehicles, horse-drawn carriages and motor cars, by selecting the 11.15am or 12.30pm timeslot.

How much do tickets cost?

Tickets to visit the Buckingham Palace State Rooms cost £32 for adults 25 and over, £20.50 for adults aged 18 to 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.

Please note visitors who require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace.

What is included in the ticket price?

The ticket price includes entry to Buckingham Palace, a multimedia guide available in multiple languages for the self-guided tour, and access to The King's Tour Artists.

New for 2025

This summer, the ticket price includes entry to The King's Tour Artists exhibition, featuring more than 70 works of art from His Majesty's own collection, many on public display for the first time.

The works on display in the Palace's Ballroom, chosen from a selection made by The King, provides a glimpse into life on a royal tour, capturing the tone, colours and atmosphere in ways that differ from a photographic record.

How long does it take to tour Buckingham Palace? 

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

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.

In 2025, Buckingham Palace is open from 10 July to 28 September.

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 will 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 15 minutes before the entry time on your ticket.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how do I get there?

Buckingham Palace is located in central London.

• Tube – 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).
• Bus – Several buses including numbers 11, 211 and C10 stop nearby.
• Coach – If you are arriving by coach, Victoria Coach Station is a 10-minute walk away.

The Buckingham Palace Ticket Office (Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1A 1AA) is close by to the visitor entrance, located on the left-hand side of the Palace as you head to Gate A. The exit is through the gardens.

For Buckingham Palace tickets only, you will need to exchange your voucher for tickets at the Buckingham Palace Ticket Office where some queuing time should be expected.

For Royal Mews and Buckingham Palace tickets, you will start your visit at the Royal Mews. You will need to exchange your voucher for tickets at the Royal Mews Ticket Office (Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0QH) where some queuing time should be expected.

Your scheduled entry to Buckingham Palace is 75 minutes after your entry to Royal Mews. You must leave the Royal Mews and wait outside the King’s Gallery for a Golden Tours representative to take you to Buckingham Palace – you will not be allowed into the Palace without them.

More royal things to do

Visit two iconic royal residences in one day on the Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle tour, or enjoy the ultimate royal experience with the Buckingham Palace tour and afternoon tea.

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.