Buckingham Palace, London

Buckingham Palace, London







Buckingham Palace’s 19 state rooms are open to visitors during August and
September while the Queen makes her annual visit to Balmoral.

The State rooms house some of the Royal family’s greatest treasures including
paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Poussin and Canaletto. They are also exquisitely
furnished with some of the finest French and English furniture.

Visit the spectacular Palace Ballroom and see the traditional horseshoe-shaped
table lavishly decorated for a State Banquet. On display you can see the silver
gilt from the Grand service, first used to celebrate the birthday of George III
in 1811 as well as jewelled cups, ivory tankards, chased dishes, sconces,
shields and basins.

The end of the tour takes you along the south side of the Palace’s gardens with
views of the west front of the Palace and the lake.

The Changing of the Guard takes place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at
11.30 every day in summer, every other day in winter, and lasts about 45
minutes.

The New Guard marches to the Palace from Wellington Barracks with a Guards band,
the Old Guard hands over in a ceremony during which the sentries are changed and
then returns to barracks. The New Guard then marches to St James's Palace
leaving the detachment at Buckingham Palace. The nearest tube stations are Green
Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner and St. James's Park.