While there are countless attractions to check out while in London, Buckingham Palace never seems to disappoint.
With a whopping 775 rooms, there have been countless events, ceremonies, banquets, garden parties, and other important happenings that have taken place here. This historic building is absolutely gorgeous on both the inside and outside, with incredible art, jewelry, and decor.
However, if you really want to learn as much as possible about the palace and the royal family in relation to it, we highly recommend taking a proper tour.
We’ve done the hard part for you, in order to bring you the top Buckingham Palace tours that will be worth your time and money.
Best Tours of Buckingham Palace
| London: Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour | Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London | Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket with Royal London Walking Tour | |
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| Departure: | By the Duke of York column on Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace | Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd | Duke of York Monument, St. James's, London |
| Start: | Variety available | 7:45 am | 1:30 pm |
| Duration: | 165 minutes | 5.5 hours | 2.5 hours |
| Includes: | Entrance ticket to Buckingham Palace, tour guide, headsets (if needed) to hear your guide | 1960's Vintage bus tour, Thames River cruise, Buckingham Palace The State Rooms, local guide | Expert local guide, guided walking tour, audio guide and entrance ticket for Buckingham Palace, headsets where appropriate |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Buckingham Palace Tours For 2024
- London Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour
- Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London
- Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket with Royal London Walking Tour
- Private Tour of Buckingham Palace Exterior and Royal History
- Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle tour from London
Buckingham Palace Tour Reviews
1. London Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour
- Duration: 165 minutes
- Departure: By the Duke of York column on Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace, London
- Departure Time: 9:45 AM
- Includes: Entrance ticket to Buckingham Palace, tour guide, headsets (if needed) to hear your guide
There’s a lot to do in the city, so if you have a full schedule (and if you don’t) we recommend checking out the London: Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour.
Lasting around 165 minutes, it packs in a lot of education and interesting experiences for someone who wants to get acquainted quickly with the country’s royal history. No matter what age, we can’t recommend this excursion enough.
Start out by meeting your guide by the Duke of York column at Waterloo Place. They’ll give you a briefing on what to expect, and answer any questions you may have while walking over to Buckingham Palace.
We do recommend wearing some comfortable walking shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of that today! Before heading in to explore the state rooms, you’ll get to see the Changing of the Guard if the weather is right.
The precise talents of the Queen’s Foot Guards are quite impressive, and definitely worth a photo or two! Once inside, you’ll learn all about royal protocol which is fascinating and sometimes a bit confusing.
Your guide will provide interesting commentary on the history behind the Changing of the Guard, and you’ll get to see the mounted Household Cavalry on horseback.
If you end up going on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you can also see the change of the Household Cavalry. The horses are always so sweet and well-behaved, which is even more impressive in a way.
Then, check out the luxe apartments and glittering chandeliers, along with a magnificent Royal Collection which includes the Sèvres porcelain and gorgeous furniture. There is a café nearby, where you’ll be able to enjoy a cup of Joe and find somewhere to sit and enjoy the palace in all its splendor.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Other Experiences You May Enjoy:
2. Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London
- Duration: 5.5 hours
- Departure: Victoria Coach Station, 164 Buckingham Palace Rd, London
- Departure Time: 7:45 am
- Includes: 1960’s Vintage bus tour, Thames River cruise, Buckingham Palace The State Rooms, local guide
This next tour will take you by bus, foot, and cruise boat for a comprehensive experience full of adventure and education.
The Buckingham Palace and Vintage Bus Tour of London is great if it’s your first time in the city, and is easy on the wallet. Lasting 5.5 hours, it’s a wonderful way to see a lot of sights and be back in time for dinner!
The tour starts off with you meeting your guide at the Victoria Coach Station, which is very easy to get to. You’ll meet at 7:45 am, so that you have plenty of time in the afternoon for other activities if you choose.
You’ll then hop on the famous Routemaster bus, which is one of those iconic red, double-decker buses we tend to associate with London.
Pick a seat – they’re all comfortable and have great views – and get your phone ready to take some snapshots of this panoramic tour!
These tours offer such a great view of popular sites like Lord Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and more. At the Thames, you’ll transfer onto a sightseeing boat for a gorgeous and relaxing cruise.
This is one of the most wonderful modes of transport for seeing London’s skyline, the river, and more landmarks like the London Eye, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral.
You’ll then head by bus to Buckingham Palace, where you’ll learn about it being the residence of the royals since the 19th century. While guides aren’t allowed to be inside with you, you’ll have time to check out the interior and take an audio-guided tour of the state rooms.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Related: See the Home of Royalty at Windsor Castle – Find the Best Tour For Your Money With Our Reviews.
3. Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket with Royal London Walking Tour
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Departure: Duke of York Monument, St. James’s, London
- Departure Time: 1:30 pm
- Includes: Expert local guide, guided walking tour, audio guide and entrance ticket for Buckingham Palace, headsets where appropriate
Do you want to get to know the royal history and London better? If so, sign yourself up for the Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket with Royal London Walking Tour! The 2.5-hour tour is great if you have a busy schedule but still want to see and learn a lot.
Meet up with your guide at 1:30 pm at the Duke of York column at Waterloo Place. This is a great tour to take if you have plans in the morning, or simply want to sleep in and enjoy a cup of coffee at your leisure.
Head on over to St. James’ Palace, which hosted everyone from Princess Diana to Anne Boleyn, as your guide tells you all about each location’s history.
Stroll through the lush green St. James’ Park, down The Mall “red carpet”, and see the home of Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall: Clarence House. Then, you’ll head to the grandiose gates of Buckingham Palace and head inside with an audio guide to direct you.
You’ll learn all about the chambers of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the incredibly lavish décor, and some of the most stunning pieces of furniture and art in the world.
You can choose to upgrade to the afternoon tea option, which we detailed in the previous tour. If you decide to, you’ll be provided with a tasty array of finger sandwiches, scones, cakes, pastries, and teas.
Overall, this is a wonderful tour with guides who offer plenty of time at each spot to stop and take photos.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Related: See the Mysterious Stonehenge – Skip the Lines – Find the Best Guided Tour With Our Reviews.
4. Buckingham Palace Exterior and Royal History Private Tour
- Duration: 2-6 hours (depends of options selected)
- Departure: Obelisk Charles James Napier, Trafalgar Sq
- Departure Time: Variety available
- Includes: Buckingham Royal Heritage and Westminster Highlights Private Tour, other options available
Next up, is the Buckingham Palace Exterior and Royal History Private Tour. This ~4-hour tour combines a private tour of the exterior and grounds of Buckingham Palace.
Start off by meeting up with your guide outside Buckingham Palace, which is a must-see if it’s your first time in London. The fully-operating royal palace was the Queen’s city residence and also the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household.
While this tour only covers the exterior of the palace, many people agree that is the most interesting and spectacular part of visiting the palace.
You’ll check out The Garden, which is often referred to as “the walled oasis in the middle of London”.
It’s easy to see why they call it this way, too. With over 30 species of birds and almost 400 kinds of wildflowers, it’s truly a beautiful garden that is the perfectly tranquil place to clear your head and take some photos.
With a wide choice of start times and options to customize your private tour, we feel this tour is well worth the money.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle tour from London
- Duration: 9.5 hours
- Departure: The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London
- Departure Time: 9:15 am
- Includes: Blue Badge guide, live commentary on board, coach transportation, Windsor Castle Admission, Buckingham Palace State Rooms Admission, audio guide
Perhaps these tours all sound fine and dandy to you, but you’re looking for something a bit more comprehensive. Maybe you have the whole day free so you can enjoy a quality tour of the palace and other areas of London.
If that sounds like your case, then check out the Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle Tour from London. Lasting 9.5 hours, this is definitely the longest tour of its kind and ticks off 2 of the Queen’s former major residences: Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
You’ll meet your guide at Buckingham Palace at 9:15 am so you have plenty of time to see everything. Guests are only allowed to enter the palace for 2 months a year, so this is definitely a great opportunity.
Serving as the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, it has an incredibly rich and fascinating history.
You’ll be able to head inside and tour the State Rooms, including iconic rooms like the Throne Room, White Drawing Room, and Ballroom. As you can imagine, they’re all dripping in lavishness.
We highly recommend you also see the Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Accession which includes portraits taken of The Queen, along with her personal jewelry worn for them.
Take note of The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara, which was a wedding gift to Princess Victoria Mary of Teck – later Queen Mary. It was then given to then-Princess Elizabeth when she married Prince Philip in 1947.
Now, it’s time to set out to Windsor Castle, which is known as the biggest continuously-occupied castle in all of Europe. It dates back to almost 1,000 years since William the Conqueror was around. The State Apartments are luxurious and well-respected around the globe, featuring paintings by Van Dyck and Rubens on the walls.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
Why You Should Visit Buckingham Palace
- Royal Residence: Buckingham Palace has been the London residence of the British monarch since 1837. It’s one of just a few royal palaces that remain occupied and is a fascinating place to visit.
- Changing of the Guard: Probably the most popular attraction at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Which takes place everyday in the summer months and on alternate days during the winter. It’s a colorful and traditional display of British pageantry.
- The Architecture: The palace is an example of neoclassical architecture, and the front façade is quite impressive. The palace has 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, which are used for official events and ceremonies.
- Royal Mews: The Royal Mews are next to Buckingham Palace and houses the royal collection of coaches, carriages, and cars. Tourists can explore the collection and see the vehicles used by the royal family for official events.
- Explore the Gardens: Buckingham Palace has several beautiful gardens that cover 39 acres where you will find a beautiful lake, several fountains and a very large collection of rare and exotic plants. The gardens are open to the public in the summertime only.
- The History: Buckingham Palace visitors can learn about its past through a variety of exhibits and tours.
Tips For Visiting Buckingham Palace
- Book well in advance: Buckingham Palace is a very popular tourist attraction, so buy your tickets months in advance to avoid long lines. You can buy tickets online or at the palace’s ticket office. We recommend spending a little extra for the “skip-the-line” tours.
- Check the schedule: The palace is open to tourists during the summer, typically from late July to early October. Be sure to check the palace’s website or call ahead to confirm the opening hours and tour schedules.
- Arrive early: Buckingham Palace is a popular! So arrive early to beat the crowds. It opens at 9:30 am, you should arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled entry time.
- Dress code: While there is no formal dress code to visit Buckingham Palace, we recommend that you dress appropriately. You can’t wear flip-flops, shorts or ripped jeans. Wear comfortable shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking.
- Respect the rules: Buckingham Palace is a royal residence so there are rules you have to follow while you are there. So this means no photography inside the palace, Don’t eat or drink inside the palace and do not touch or lean on any of the artifacts.
- Changing of the Guard: The ceremony is every day during the summer and every other day in the winter. It’s very popular so arrive early to get a good view.
- Allow plenty of time: There’s a lot to see and do at Buckingham Palace. We recommend that taking two to three hours to explore the palace and its grounds.
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The Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace is our Editors Choice for the best tour of Buckingham Palace
