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Buckingham Palace: the Changing of the Guard and the State Rooms

Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the sovereign since Queen Victoria moved in in 1837. Most visitors see it through the railings, with the guard changing in front of them, and that costs nothing.

What it is
Monument
Time to allow
1 to 2.5 hours
Cost
Free to watch
Best time
A guard-change morning, an hour early

London this week

    Why Buckingham Palace is worth it

    The palace began as a town house built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. George III bought it in 1761 for his queen, George IV had John Nash turn it into a palace, and Victoria was the first monarch to live in it. The front everyone knows, with the balcony, was added in white Portland stone in 1913. There are 775 rooms behind it.

    The Changing of the Guard is not a show put on for tourists, though it has become one. The soldiers are serving infantry of the Foot Guards, and the ceremony is the handing over of the duty of protecting the palace from one detachment to the next, with a regimental band playing.

    For about ten weeks in summer, while the King is away, the nineteen State Rooms are open: the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery with its Rembrandts and Vermeer, and the white and gold ballroom.

    What to see

    1. The Changing of the Guard

      The new guard marches from Wellington Barracks with a band and takes over in the forecourt in a ceremony of about forty-five minutes. It does not happen every day: check the Army's calendar.

    2. The Victoria Memorial

      The white marble monument in front of the gates, of 1911, with the queen facing down the Mall under a gilded figure of Victory. Its steps are the best place to watch from.

    3. The State Rooms

      Open in summer only, with a ticket. The route ends in the garden, the largest private garden in London.

    4. The Mall and St James's Park

      The red avenue that runs from the palace to Admiralty Arch, and beside it the oldest of the royal parks, with a lake, pelicans and the best view of the palace from its bridge.

    5. The Royal Mews

      The King's stables and coach houses, round the corner in Buckingham Palace Road. The Gold State Coach, used at every coronation since 1831, is kept here.

    6. The flag

      When the Royal Standard flies over the palace, the King is at home. When it is the Union Flag, he is not.

    How to do it well

    • The guard does not change every day, and the ceremony is called off in heavy rain. Look up the date before you plan a morning round it.
    • Be there an hour early for a place at the railings. The steps of the Victoria Memorial give a wider view and fill up later.
    • A guided walk follows the soldiers from the barracks and from St James's Palace, and shows you more than standing in one place does.
    • Tickets for the State Rooms in summer are timed and sell out. Book ahead.
    • It is a pleasant fifteen-minute walk across St James's Park to Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.

    Where it is

    Address

    At the western end of the Mall, between St James's Park and Green Park

    Nearest station

    Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria), St James's Park (District, Circle) or Victoria (Victoria, District, Circle)

    Museums and sights nearby

    Distances are in a straight line.

    Tickets and tours: Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard

    Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard: common questions

    What time is the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace?
    The ceremony in the forecourt begins in the late morning and lasts about forty-five minutes. It is not held every day, and the days change with the season, so check the Army's published calendar for your date.
    Can you go inside Buckingham Palace?
    In summer, yes. The State Rooms open to visitors for about ten weeks while the King is away, with a timed ticket. The Royal Mews and the King's Gallery are open for much more of the year.
    Is the Changing of the Guard free?
    Yes. Anyone can watch from the pavement, the railings or the Victoria Memorial. What is sold is a guided walk that follows the soldiers and explains what you are seeing.
    How much time do you need for Buckingham Palace?
    Allow 1 to 2.5 hours. That is this site's estimate for an unhurried visit.

    What visitors say about Buckingham Palace

    Rating from Google

    4.5

    196,187 ratings on Google

    Google's figures as read on 8 October 2026.

    Read every review on Google

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