What is the best day to go to Buckingham Palace?

The best time to visit Buckingham Palace in terms of crowds is generally during the weekdays, as weekends tend to be more crowded. However, keep in mind that some events, such as the Changing of the Guard ceremony, only take place on specific days and times, so it's important to plan accordingly.



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Guided tours to see Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and other important areas around this royal area are the best way to get to know this historic site. We offer several top-rated tours that you can choose to make your vacation in London the best ever.

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You are advised to wear comfortable shoes, as the visitor route in summer includes a fairly long walk through the garden to the exit, along a gravel path. The path is approximately ½ kilometre (? mile) in length. There is no formal dress code required to enter the Palace.

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Buckingham Palace Summer Opening is now closed for 2023. Check back nearer the time for details of the Buckingham Palace Summer Opening in 2024.

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Though the Palace is generally not open to the public, during summer you can visit its State Apartments (admission charge) and see the Queen's large garden and collection of artwork. You can however see the Changing of the Guard for free at 11.30 am every morning during summer and every second morning during winter.

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Changing the Guard, or Guard Mounting as it is officially called, takes place outside Buckingham Palace every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10.45am and lasts around 45 minutes, with the actual 'handover' takes place at 11am. Want to see the Guards with less people around?

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Can you wear jeans to Buckingham Palace? Their guidelines state: “Smart attire for men includes the wearing of a jacket and tie, and for women a trouser or skirt suit. Those wearing jeans or trainers will not be admitted and casually dressed members of the media will be turned away. This also applies to technicians.”

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Eating and drinking aren't allowed inside the Palace, with the exception of bottled water. Toilets and baby-care facilities are available at the start and end of your tour. For safety reasons, pushchairs cannot be taken into the State Rooms.

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Windsor Castle is just 20 miles west of Buckingham Palace, and it is the largest (and longest occupied) castle in Europe.

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According to those in the know, the Queen stays at her London home Monday to Friday. Buckingham Palace is her administrative hub where all decisions are made, so it is considered to be her 'working residency'. She is of course joined by her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, and they stay in private quarters.

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Buckingham Palace, for example, features 188 “modest” staff bedrooms on site. At the same time “this is no standard housekeeping role” according to the ad for a live-in housekeeping assistant by the Royal Household. As Time wrote “That means you actually eat and sleep, full-time, at Buckingham Palace.

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