What is the best time 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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I walked by it many times during my stay in London. I found the best time to visit to get pictures with few people in them was either early in the morning, or after 9:00 at night. The palace is beautifully lit at night, so it's worth stopping by in the evening to view the Palace.

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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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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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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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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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Of all of them, one is perhaps the most important: the 1844 Room. It's where Queen Elizabeth and the royal family often receive their most distinguished visitors, from the Obamas, to President Xi Jinping of China, to Angelina Jolie.

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The nearest Tube station to the palace is St James's Park, which is served by the Circle and District lines. A walk along Petty France and Buckingham Gate – which typically takes fewer than 10 minutes – leads to the palace on Constitution Hill.

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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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The monarch has a private indoor swimming pool at Buckingham Palace, which has long been a favourite spot for the entire royal family.

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How many toilets are there in Buckingham Palace? Buckingham Palace became the official London home to the Royal Family in 1837. Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms with 78 bathrooms. Therefore the number of toilets within Buckingham Palace will be at least 78.

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