Buckingham Palace
The Duke of Buckingham had the Palace built in 1702 as his home in London. The Palace has undergone many renovations and alterations since then and the French Neo Classical style was tha main influence in the design.
Queen Victoria was the first monarch to take up residence in Buckingham Palace in 1837. Once again extensive changes took place, one of these was to have the huge arched gateway moved to Tyburn and it is now known as Marble Arch. Today the Palace is used not only as the home of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, but also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in the State Apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains invited guests. The view of the Palace from the Mall is really the 'back door' as the Palace faces on to the 40 acre garden.
Buckingham Palace was first opened to the public in 1993. Entry to the Palace is via Ambassador's Court on Buckingham Palace Road. In its picture gallery are wonderful art treasures by Rubens, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Vermeer, and many others. This is a selection from the Royal Collection held in trust by the Queen for her successors and the nation and is regarded as Britain's National Heritage.
The State Rooms are only open for two months each summer and you will need to check the specific dates in advance for the following year. There are no guided tours, you are free to wander at your own pace. You should allow at least two hours. Tickets are available from the ticket office in Green Park which is open between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.
Changing of the Guards
During the summer, the Changing of the Guard takes place at the front of the Palace. Weather permitting, the Guard Change takes place at 11:30 a.m. daily from April until the end of June and on alternate days for the rest of the year.
2005 Opening Times |
| State Rooms: |
Open Daily 30th July - 27th September 2005 |
A timed-ticket system is operated, with admission every 15 minutes. 9.30am - last admission 4.15pm.
|
Admission Charges 2005 |
| Adult |
£13.50 |
| Senior Citizen/Student (with valid ID) |
£11.50 |
| Under 17yrs |
£7.00 |
| Family (2 adults, 3 under 17 yrs) |
£34.00 |
| Under 5yrs |
Free |
| Tickets may be purchased from the Ticket Office at Canada Gate in Green Park |
9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. |
Buying a ticket in advance (A booking fee of £1.00 per ticket applies) |
tel: (+44) (0) 20 7766 7300 |
| How to get there from Holiday Villa London... |
 |
From Bayswater take the Circle Line towards High Street Kensington to St. James's Park (15 min.) Then walk to Buckingham Palace (12 min.) |
Interchange: |
None |
Total travelling time: |
27 minutes (depending on the time of day) |