Buckingham Palace and Garden tour: summer opening 2021

Book Buckingham Palace Garden tickets to visit the beautiful gardens, which are open to the public to explore freely for the first time.

You can also book a guided tour of Buckingham Palace to visit the lavishly furnished State Rooms of one of the world's few remaining working royal palaces and see some of the Royal Collection's greatest treasures.

Note: Tickets to the State Rooms must be booked directly with Royal Collection and are not included in the garden tour.

What does my garden ticket include?

Your garden ticket includes entry to the magnificent Buckingham Palace Garden, where you can explore the plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert; a 156-metre-long (511 ft) Herbaceous Border; a view of the Royal beehives, and more. This is also where the Queen's famous garden parties, which welcome thousands of guests each summer, take place.

You'll find more than 1,000 trees, 30 bird species and 325 wild plant species in the garden, which is London's biggest private garden. Refreshments are available to buy, or you can bring your own picnic.

Tickets for Buckingham Palace Garden are selling fast. If you can't find your preferred date, check out combination packages, such as a hop-on hop-off bus package and London by Night tour.

Your garden ticket doesn't include entry to the State Rooms.

For more in-depth guided tours of the garden grounds, including a wander around the Rose Garden, summer house and wildflower meadow you can purchase a garden highlights tour from the Royal Collection Trust website.

Buckingham Palace tour tickets

To see inside Buckingham Palace, tickets are available to purchase online from the Royal Collection Trust website. This year's summer opening includes a guided tour of the State Rooms.

If you're looking for an alternative to Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle is a royal residence close to London which is open all year round. See Windsor castle tickets and tours (including coach tours).

What's inside Buckingham Palace? 

Buckingham Palace is a grand royal residence with 775 magnificent rooms. Highlights of the Buckingham Palace summer opening include:

• The 19 beautifully decorated State Rooms, used for receiving guests and official functions.
• The Throne Room – often used as a backdrop for royal wedding photos.
• The magnificent Grand Staircase.
• Pieces of fine art, including works by Canaletto, Rembrandt and Vermeer.
• A multimedia tour introduced by Prince Charles.

Please note: In 2021 some of the above areas may not form part of the Buckingham Palace tour.

Does the Queen live at Buckingham Palace?

Yes, Buckingham Palace is the Queen's residence in London. She has other residences, including Windsor Castle (which you can also visit), Sandringham House and Balmoral.

Is Buckingham Palace open to the public? 

Buckingham Palace is open to the public during the summer months, when the Queen is not in residence.

When can I visit Buckingham Palace?

Buckingham Palace tours, and garden tours, are taking place between 9 July and 19 September this year. If you're not able to visit during this time, take a look at London's other royal attractions.

How long does it take to tour Buckingham Palace? 

It usually takes between two hours and two hours and 30 minutes to explore Buckingham Palace. Guided tour times may differ.

Where is Buckingham Palace?

Buckingham Palace is located in central London. The closest Tube stations are Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner. Several buses also stop nearby. If you are arriving by coach, Victoria Coach Station is only a 10-minute walk away.

Are the Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery part of Buckingham Palace?

Both the Royal Mews and The Queen’s Gallery are part of the Buckingham Palace site, but have their own visitor entrances and so can be visited separately, or as part of a combined ticket. Both venues are open for most of the year, including when the palace itself is closed.