Today the State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. During August and September when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the Palace's nineteen state rooms are open to visitors.

 

The State Rooms form the heart of the working palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto; sculpture by Canova; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture.  

 

Described as a 'walled oasis in the middle of London', the Palace's garden is home to thirty different species of bird and more than 350 different wild flowers, some extremely rare. Visitors end their tour with a walk along the south side of the garden, with splendid views of the west front of the Palace and the famous lake. 

01 August - 28 September 2010

09:45 - 18:00 (last admission 15:45)

Admission is by timed ticket with entry every 15 minutes throughout the day. 

Tickets are valid only on the date and at the entrance time specified on the ticket. 

Regretably, late-comers cannot be admitted.

A visit lasts between 2 and 2½ hours.

By train: London Victoria.

By underground: Victoria, Green Park, St. James’s Park and Hyde Park Corner.

By bus: Numbers 11, 211, 239, C1 and C10 stop on Buckingham Palace Road.

The entrance to the State Rooms is on Buckingham Palace Road.

The exit to the State Rooms is at the rear of Buckingham Palace, on Grosvenor Place.

There is an alternative entrance and exit for visitors with mobility difficulties (pre-booking directly with Buckingham Palace is essential).

Cloakroom
There is a cloakroom at the entrance, however large bulky items such as suitcases will not be accepted.

Toilets
The toilets are located at the end of the visitor route, in the palace gardens. Baby care rooms are also provided.

Visitors with Disabilities
The visitor route is on 2 levels, with most rooms located upstairs. Access to the principal floor is via   The Grand Staircase, which consists of 47 steps.

Alternative access is available for visitors with mobility difficulties.  Admission is via a separate entrance where a stair lift is provided.  Inside the building, a lift is available for access to the principal floor.

Manual wheelchairs are available for use for the duration of the visit.  There is no charge for the use of wheelchairs, but they must be pre-booked.

Registered Assistance Dogs are welcome.

Audio induction loops for visitors with hearing impairments are available.

Disabled visitors are admitted to Buckingham Palace at the standard admission rate and an accompanying companion is admitted free of charge if their presence is essential to enable the disabled person to visit.

If you require wheelchair access or the use of the lift, you should not book with 365 Tickets.com and should pre-book tickets directly with Buckingham Palace. Access booking line: 020 7766 7324 www.royalcollection.org.uk or email specialistsales@royalcollection.org.uk

Refreshments
Bottled water and ice cream are available at the end of the visit, from the shop in the garden.

There are several cafes, hotels, pubs and restaurants on Buckingham Palace Road.

Shopping
There is a gift shop, located at the end of the visitor route in the palace gardens, which sells a wide range of merchandise, much of which is designed and sold exclusively by the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace.

Each year, a limited edition range of commemorative collectable china is commissioned.

Photography
Visitors are not permitted to use cameras or video cameras inside Buckingham Palace.

The official Souvenir Guidebook is available at the start and end of the visit, and includes full colour pictures of each room, with details of the works of art that decorate them.

Security Checks 

For safety reasons, visitors and their belongings are subject to security checks on arrival. (similar to airport checks). Baggage, umbrellas, pushchairs and electrical equipment may have to be checked into the cloakroom and reclaimed at the end of the visit.