The Summer Opening
Each year, Buckingham Palace opens its State Rooms to the public during a summer window that typically runs from late July through September. This period coincides with the time when the monarch is traditionally not in residence, usually spending the summer at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.
The opening dates vary slightly each year, and tickets go on sale several months in advance. The summer opening has been running since 1993, when it was first introduced to help fund the restoration of Windsor Castle after a devastating fire the previous year. It proved so popular that it became an annual event and has continued ever since.
What You See Inside
The tour route passes through 19 of the palace's 775 rooms, which represent some of the most lavishly decorated interiors in Britain. These are the rooms used for official entertaining, state banquets, investitures and receptions.
The route typically begins in the Grand Hall and Grand Staircase before moving through the Green Drawing Room, the Throne Room, the Picture Gallery, the Ballroom and the State Dining Room. Each room contains significant works of art, furniture and decorative objects from the Royal Collection.
The Throne Room features the chairs used during coronations, set beneath a theatrical canopy. The Picture Gallery, one of the longest rooms in the palace, displays works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer and Canaletto among others. The Ballroom, the largest room in the palace at 36 metres long, is where state banquets and investitures take place.
What You Cannot See
The 19 rooms on the tour represent a small fraction of the palace's 775 total rooms. The private apartments of the royal family, the staff quarters, the offices, kitchens and service areas are all off-limits. The tour route is carefully managed to show the ceremonial heart of the palace while keeping the working and private areas completely separate.
Visitors cannot wander freely. The route is one-way, and attendants are stationed throughout to answer questions and ensure that visitors keep moving at a steady pace. Photography policies vary by year, so it is worth checking before your visit.
The Garden
After completing the State Rooms tour, visitors exit into the palace garden, a 39-acre private green space that is normally invisible to the public. The garden features a lake, a tennis court, a helicopter landing pad and borders that are home to over 350 species of wildflower. It is one of the few genuinely private outdoor spaces in central London and feels remarkably peaceful given its location.
Other Areas Open at Different Times
Beyond the summer State Rooms opening, two other areas of the Buckingham Palace complex are open to visitors at various times of the year.
The Queen's Gallery hosts rotating exhibitions of items from the Royal Collection. It operates on its own schedule, independent of the summer opening, and displays everything from Old Master paintings to Faberge eggs and historic photographs.
The Royal Mews, located to the south of the palace, houses the royal carriages, coaches and cars. The Gold State Coach, used at coronations, is the centrepiece. The Mews also has working stables where the Windsor Grey horses used in ceremonial processions are kept.
Planning Your Visit
The summer opening is the only time the State Rooms are accessible to general visitors. Demand is high and time slots can fill up, particularly in August. Arriving early in the opening window, during late July, tends to mean smaller crowds and a more relaxed experience.
