Visiting Buckingham Palace depends on the season: the State Rooms are open to the public only in summer, and the rest of the year the palace can only be visited on certain dates, on an exclusive guided tour. All year round, though, Changing the Guard can be watched for free from outside. From the official Royal Collection Trust website we took the ceremony times, the calendar of the winter guided tour of the East Wing and the access conditions, then calculated how many visit dates are possible each month.
Buckingham Palace is the King’s official residence in London and a working palace. To plan the rest of your stay, our guide to visiting London covers the areas and the other sights.
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Key facts: Buckingham Palace
- State Rooms: open « every summer »; the dates and prices for summer 2027 had not yet been published — checked on 16 October 2026 on rct.uk
- Winter 2026–2027: East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, departures between 10 am and 3:30 pm; £100 per person (price recorded on 16 October 2026, subject to change) — checked on 16 October 2026 on rct.uk
- Booking: compulsory for the guided tour (official ticket site rct.uk); groups of 15 or more by reservation
- Changing the Guard: free, outdoors, generally at 11 am (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), 3 pm (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) and 10 am (Sunday), weather permitting — checked on 16 October 2026 on rct.uk
- Suggested time: half a day with Changing the Guard and St James’s Park; the length of the guided tour is not given on the official page
Tickets: official vs resellers
The official ticket office is that of the Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk), the body that runs public opening of the royal palaces. This is where the State Rooms dates and the guided tour dates are published. The website says that £1 tickets for recipients of Universal Credit and other named UK benefits will go on sale in November for summer 2027, so the full summer calendar should be known by then. Sign up to the website’s newsletter if you are aiming for a specific date.
Reduced prices: the website lists reduced prices for visitors with disabilities, with a free companion ticket (to be booked by phone or email after buying the main ticket). Groups of 15 or more get a discount and must book in advance. Tours led by an outside guide are not allowed inside: a free multimedia guide is provided in nine languages.
Booking platforms sell « Buckingham tours »: check whether it is a real admission ticket to the palace or just a guided walk outside during Changing the Guard. Outside summer and the guided tours listed on rct.uk, no entry to the palace is sold.
Opening times and calendar
The palace follows two regimes. In summer the State Rooms are open to the public; the rest of the year, only guided tours for small groups are offered on selected dates. For winter 2026–2027, this is the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour, devoted to the East Wing, the one with the facade and the balcony. We counted the possible visit dates from the published calendar (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays):
| Month | Possible dates (Fri–Mon) |
|---|---|
| November 2026 | 16 |
| December 2026 | 16 |
| January 2027 | 19 |
The summer 2027 dates were not yet displayed. For summer 2026, the website no longer publishes the calendar. We therefore give no estimated summer opening date: check the official page from November. The website adds that in summer it can be very hot in the rooms.
Changing the Guard: days and times
During the ceremony (« Guard Mounting »), one detachment replaces the other. The New Guard marches from Wellington Barracks to the palace, with a band. Usual times published by the Royal Collection Trust:
| Day | Usual time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11 am |
| Tuesday | 3 pm |
| Wednesday | 11 am |
| Thursday | 3 pm |
| Friday | 11 am |
| Saturday | 3 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am |
How to read it: the ceremony alternates between morning (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) and afternoon (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). On Sundays it is earlier, at 10 am. If you have only one morning in London, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday are the days to aim for. The website refers visitors to the British Army website for the up-to-date calendar, including any cancellations: check it the day before.
Best time to visit
Changing the Guard takes place outdoors, and the palace facade looks east, towards the Mall. The table gives sunrise and sunset at the palace on the 15th of each month, with the London normals: it shows that in December a 3 pm ceremony takes place less than an hour before sunset.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Average high | Rainfall | 3 pm ceremony with 1 h+ of daylight? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:59 am | 4:20 pm | 8 h 21 min | 8.4 °C (47 °F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | yes |
| February | 7:14 am | 5:15 pm | 10 h 00 min | 9.0 °C (48 °F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) | yes |
| March | 6:15 am | 6:04 pm | 11 h 49 min | 11.7 °C (53 °F) | 39 mm (1.5 in) | yes |
| April | 6:05 am | 7:56 pm | 13 h 51 min | 15.0 °C (59 °F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | yes |
| May | 5:09 am | 8:45 pm | 15 h 36 min | 18.4 °C (65 °F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | yes |
| June | 4:42 am | 9:19 pm | 16 h 37 min | 21.6 °C (71 °F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | yes |
| July | 5:00 am | 9:11 pm | 16 h 11 min | 23.9 °C (75 °F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) | yes |
| August | 5:45 am | 8:23 pm | 14 h 38 min | 23.4 °C (74 °F) | 53 mm (2.1 in) | yes |
| September | 6:34 am | 7:15 pm | 12 h 41 min | 20.2 °C (68 °F) | 50 mm (2.0 in) | yes |
| October | 7:23 am | 6:07 pm | 10 h 44 min | 15.8 °C (60 °F) | 65 mm (2.6 in) | yes |
| November | 7:18 am | 4:11 pm | 8 h 54 min | 11.5 °C (53 °F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) | yes |
| December | 7:59 am | 3:51 pm | 7 h 52 min | 8.8 °C (48 °F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | under 1 h |
From November to January, prefer the morning ceremonies for the light. Summer, the State Rooms season, is also the season of the longest days (more than 16 hours of daylight in June) and the highest maximum temperatures, around 22 to 24 °C (72 to 75 °F). The official website publishes no crowd figures, so we give none. For the climate month by month, see the best time to visit London.
What to see and suggested route
The Royal Collection Trust highlights these rooms and spaces during the summer opening:
- The Grand Staircase: the ceremonial staircase, with family portraits of Queen Victoria.
- The Throne Room: where the official portraits of the King and Queen were unveiled.
- The Picture Gallery: the painting gallery, transformed by several generations of monarchs.
- The Blue Drawing Room and the Green Drawing Room: two state reception rooms.
- The garden: 16 hectares (40 acres), with a 150 m (492 ft) flower border, a rose garden and the huge Waterloo Vase; you see it during the summer opening, leaving by a long gravel path.
- Next door: The King’s Gallery (exhibitions, open every day according to rct.uk, currently « Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style ») and the Royal Mews (stables and carriages, open Thursday to Monday).
A morning route without a ticket: arrive 30 to 45 minutes before the ceremony for a spot near the railings or on the steps of the Victoria Memorial, watch the ceremony, then walk through St James’s Park towards Westminster. With a summer ticket, add the State Rooms and the exit through the garden.
Getting there
Buckingham Palace is at the end of the Mall, between St James’s Park and Green Park. The official website refers visitors to the Transport for London journey planner. From Big Ben, allow about 1.2 km (1 mi) as the crow flies, or roughly 21 minutes on foot through St James’s Park (Destination de Voyage calculation: straight-line distance between Wikidata coordinates, walking time estimated with a detour factor of 1.3 and a walking speed of 4.5 km (3 mi)/h). Coaches cannot park near the palace: they pick up their passengers on Grosvenor Place.
Accessibility
The standard State Rooms route is not step-free. Step-free access must be booked with the Specialist Sales team (+44 (0)303 123 7324), who can also arrange accessible parking, to be booked at least three working days ahead. Accessible toilets and a limited number of seats are provided, assistance dogs are welcome, and the multimedia guide is available in captioned British Sign Language (BSL) and in an audio-described version. An access guide with photos can be downloaded from rct.uk.
Common mistakes
- Coming in winter expecting to see the State Rooms: they open only in summer.
- Arriving right on time for Changing the Guard: the best spots are taken well before.
- Forgetting to check the calendar on the day: the ceremony can be cancelled (weather, events) and the calendar is set by the army.
- Planning a private guide inside: this is not allowed, a multimedia guide is provided.
- Booking a « Buckingham tour » from a reseller without checking that it includes entry to the palace.
What to see nearby
A few minutes’ walk away: Westminster Abbey and Big Ben and Parliament, then the London Eye across the Thames. Further east, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge combine into a single half day. For museums, the British Museum is free. All our ideas are collected in our guide to visiting London.
A short history of Buckingham Palace
The core of the palace is Buckingham House, a townhouse built in 1703 for John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. King George III bought it in 1762 to make it a private residence.
In the 19th century, the architects John Nash (for George IV) and then Edward Blore (under William IV) enlarged it with three wings around a square courtyard. The palace became the sovereign’s official residence when Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837.
Today it remains both the monarch’s office and a place for receptions: this is why the State Rooms are open only at certain times of year.
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit Buckingham Palace all year round?
No. The State Rooms open to the public in summer. The rest of the year, only exclusive guided tours are offered on certain dates: for winter 2026–2027, the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour, from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027, Friday to Monday (rct.uk, checked on 16 October 2026).
What time is Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace?
According to the Royal Collection Trust, generally at 11 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 3 pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and 10 am on Sunday, weather permitting. The calendar is set by the British Army and can change.
How much does it cost to visit Buckingham Palace?
The winter guided tour of the East Wing costs £100 per person (price recorded on 16 October 2026 on rct.uk). The price of the State Rooms for summer 2027 has not yet been published. Changing the Guard is free.
Where can you buy Buckingham Palace tickets?
On rct.uk, the website of the Royal Collection Trust, which runs visits to the palace. Be wary of reseller offers that include only a walk outside.
Who built Buckingham Palace?
The original building, Buckingham House, was built in 1703 for John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. Bought by George III in 1762, it was enlarged in the 19th century by John Nash and then Edward Blore, and became the sovereign’s official residence in 1837, with Queen Victoria.
Our sources
- Royal Collection Trust (rct.uk): Buckingham Palace page (tickets, accessibility, groups) and Highlights of Buckingham Palace page (Changing the Guard), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Met Office: 1991–2020 normals for London-Heathrow, taken from our page on the best time to visit London
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, IANA Europe/London time zone, Wikidata coordinates (Q42182)
- Wikipedia (French edition), article « Palais de Buckingham » (history: 1703, 1762, Nash, Blore, 1837), consulted on 16 October 2026
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026.