Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the British monarch since Queen Victoria’s reign, and its cream stone facade and famous balcony are instantly recognizable even to people who’ve never set foot in London. Most of the year it functions as a working royal office and residence, off-limits to the public, but for a window each summer the State Rooms open their doors, and outside those weeks the palace remains a fixture of any London itinerary thanks to the ceremony that unfolds in its forecourt.

What to See and Do

Watch the Changing of the Guard

The ceremonial handover between the Old and New Guard, complete with a military band, draws crowds to the palace railings on scheduled mornings. Arriving thirty to forty-five minutes early secures a decent view along the fence line before the crowd thickens.

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Tour the State Rooms

During the summer opening, visitors can walk through nineteen State Rooms used for official functions, including the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery hung with works by Rembrandt and Vermeer from the Royal Collection — a rare look inside a building that’s otherwise closed to the public.

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Explore the Royal Mews

Just along the road, the Royal Mews houses the ceremonial carriages and horses used for state occasions, including the Gold State Coach, and gives a different angle on royal pageantry than the palace tour itself.

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Walk Through St James’s Park

The park in front of the palace offers some of the best photo angles of the building across the lake, plus a pleasant green space to regroup after the crowds around the gates.

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Best Time to Visit

The State Rooms typically open only during a limited summer window, so travelers hoping to see the interior need to plan around those specific dates rather than assume year-round access. The Changing of the Guard runs on a published schedule that varies by season, so it’s worth checking the current pattern before setting an alarm for an early arrival.

How to Get There

The palace sits at the end of the Mall, an easy walk from Green Park, Victoria, or St James’s Park underground stations, all within about ten minutes on foot. Its central location makes it simple to combine with a walk through the parks or a visit to nearby Westminster.

Good to Know

A State Rooms tour typically takes around two hours at a comfortable pace, and audio guides are usually included to walk you through the history of each room. For the Changing of the Guard, no ticket is needed to watch from the railings, but the ceremony is sometimes canceled for weather or state events, so it’s worth checking on the day.

Final Thoughts

Even without going inside, Buckingham Palace anchors a walk through royal London, and the ceremony out front costs nothing but a bit of patience. For those visiting during the summer opening, the State Rooms offer a rare glimpse behind a facade most people only ever see from the street.