Buckingham Palace: what's free, what isn't, and how long to allow
Most people get one thing wrong here — they assume the ticket covers the balcony, or they pay for something that costs nothing. Here's what's actually included.
Visitor information checked 20 September 2026 · prices and dates change
Prefer to watch? The video covers the verdict and the viewpoints. This page has the current numbers, which is what changes.
Worth it? Yes, if you're in London during the summer opening and the interiors interest you. Book direct, allow three hours door to door.
Any other time of year? Skip the Palace and do the Royal Mews instead — open far more of the year, cheaper, and the only way inside the site for most of the calendar. Changing the Guard is free either way.
Four mistakes people make here
- Assuming the ticket includes the balcony The East Wing, which is the balcony, is a separate tour. This is the single most common mix-up — check before you book.
- Paying to see Changing the Guard It happens outside the gates and costs nothing. No ticket exists for it.
- Turning up outside the summer opening The State Rooms open only a limited summer season. For most of the year the Royal Mews is the only way inside the site.
- Bringing a backpack or an umbrella Backpacks cannot be worn inside — you carry them at your side — and umbrellas must be checked in. A packable rain layer is more use.
What your ticket actually covers
| Highlight | Included? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Staircase, Throne Room, Picture Gallery, Blue & Green Drawing Rooms | Yes — standard ticket | The State Rooms, across two floors |
| Palace garden | Yes | You exit along a gravel path through it |
| East Wing (the balcony) | No — separate tour | The single most common mix-up. Check before booking |
| Changing the Guard | Free — no ticket | Outside the gates |
| The Royal Mews | No — separate ticket | Gold State Coach, Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Open far more of the year |
| The King's Gallery | No — separate ticket | Open daily |
Prices
2026 season. Booking in advance is cheaper than buying at the gate.
| State Rooms 2026 | In advance | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £33.00 | £37.00 |
| Young person (18–24) | £21.50 | £24.50 |
| Child (5–17) | £16.50 | £18.50 |
| Disabled visitor | £16.50 | £18.50 |
| Access companion · under 5 | Free | Free |
Royal Mews £18 adult · The King's Gallery £22 adult. £1 tickets are available for visitors on Universal Credit and other named UK benefits.
Practical details
Changing the Guard
Free, outside the gates, and nothing to do with a Palace ticket. It starts around 10:45 and runs about 45 minutes. Days and times shift, and it can be cancelled in bad weather at very short notice — check the official calendar the night before. It's a dense crowd, and the Household Division itself warns about pickpockets.
Best free viewpoint: the Blue Bridge in St James's Park, looking back across the lake. Same postcard shot, a fraction of the crowd.
Find it — map pins
Each link opens the exact spot in Google Maps. The Blue Bridge one is the viewpoint most visitors walk past.
- Buckingham Palace — the gatesSW1A 1AA
- ⭐ Blue Bridge, St James’s ParkLook back west across the lake — the postcard shot, a fraction of the crowd
- Victoria MemorialSteps give the head-on view of the facade
- Wellington BarracksWhere the New Guard forms up. Google names the pin after the Guards’ Chapel inside the barracks
- The Royal MewsSeparate ticket, open most of the year
- The King’s GallerySeparate ticket, open daily
What to take
The bag limit and the umbrella rule are the two things that catch people out. Our travel essentials page has what fits — day bags within the size limit, packable rain layers, walking shoes, chargers — and the rest of the kit we'd pack.
Nearby
Walking times are estimates from the Palace gates.
- The Royal MewsSame site · separate ticket
- St James's Park2 min · free · pelicans since 1664
- Churchill War Rooms15 min · £34 adult
- Westminster Abbey18 min
- Houses of Parliament & Big Ben20 min
Book direct
- Buckingham Palace — officialRoyal Collection Trust
- State Rooms — tickets and dates
- Changing the Guard — official calendarCheck before you travel
We link to official booking pages, never resellers.