Buckingham Palace

When you think of London’s royal heart, you’re thinking of Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837. Also known as the Queen’s London home, it’s not just a building—it’s where state affairs are handled, royal birthdays are celebrated, and the Changing of the Guard happens every morning. This isn’t a museum you walk through on a whim. It’s a working palace, with over 775 rooms, a royal family that still lives here, and traditions that haven’t changed in centuries.

Behind its iron gates, you’ll find the State Rooms used for royal receptions, the famous balcony where the Royal Family waves to crowds after major events, and the Royal Mews where the Queen’s carriages and horses are kept. The Changing of the Guard isn’t just a tourist show—it’s a 300-year-old military ceremony, done in full uniform with precision that’s hard to match anywhere else. You don’t need a ticket to see it—just show up early, stand near the railings, and watch the music, the marching, and the silence between steps. It’s one of those moments that makes London feel alive in a way no photo can capture.

Inside the palace, during summer months, you can tour the State Rooms, where priceless art, gilded furniture, and crystal chandeliers tell the story of Britain’s monarchy. The Throne Room, with its crimson velvet and gold leaf, is where coronation guests once waited. The Grand Staircase? It’s where royal weddings begin. And yes, the garden? At 39 acres, it’s the largest private garden in London—home to a lake, a helicopter pad, and a tennis court the Queen still plays on.

What most people miss is how quiet it gets after the crowds leave. On weekdays, when the palace isn’t open to the public, the streets around it turn calm. Locals walk their dogs past the gates. Cafes near St. James’s Park serve tea with a view of the palace’s front gates—no ticket needed. You can sit there, sip your drink, and watch the guards change. No one’s rushing you. No one’s selling you a postcard. Just the palace, the clock tower, and the sound of hooves on cobblestones.

Buckingham Palace doesn’t just sit in the middle of London—it connects to everything else. The nearby Green Park leads to St. James’s Palace, where the Royal Family still holds private ceremonies. Walk a few blocks and you’re at the National Gallery, where portraits of past monarchs hang beside modern art. Take the Tube to Westminster and you’re at Big Ben, where Parliament meets just across the river. This isn’t just a landmark. It’s the center of a web of history, politics, and daily life that’s been running for nearly 200 years.

And yet, it’s not frozen in time. The Royal Family still uses it. New monarchs move in. New traditions start. The palace has hosted state visits from presidents, birthday parties for babies, and even a surprise wedding when Prince William proposed to Kate in the garden. It’s not just a relic. It’s a living place, shaped by the people who live there—and the millions who come to see it.

What you’ll find below are real, practical guides on how to visit Buckingham Palace without the lines, where to get the best photos, what to see when the palace is closed, and how the surrounding areas—like St. James’s Park and the Mall—tie into the full royal experience. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works, when it works, and why it matters.