London’s Top Attractions - Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal Family, and has been since 1837 when Queen Victoria came to the throne. Its located right in the very heart of London, bordered by Green Park on the north and St James’s Park on the east and is about half a mile from Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey.

Its one of the biggest tourist draws in the city and you’ll find crowds outside its gates or on the Victoria Memorial immediately in front of the Palace throughout the year, many of whom have come to see the daily changing of the guard ceremony.

The palace was first built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by King George III in 1762. Over the centuries it was steadily enlarged, including by the architect John Nash, and today comprises 775 rooms covering 828,818 sq.ft. It also has the largest private garden in London (about the size of neighbouring Green Park).

Buckingham Palace is the place where visiting Heads of State will stay and be entertained and where large crowds will gather on British national or commemorative occasions to see the Royal Family on the palace’s balcony. On the Queen’s official birthday they’ll be a big state procession from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade for the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The procession will return to the palace and they’ll be a low fly pass by military aircraft. Sporting events like the annual London Marathon and the 2007 Tour de France also finish on The Mall, the wide thoroughfare in front of the palace.

Visitors can tell whether the Queen is in residence during the year as the Royal Standard(left) will be flying above the palace, if she’s away the British Union Jack flag will be flying instead. Nowadays its possible for visitors to London to go inside Buckingham Palace when the State Rooms open to the public during August and September when the Queen is away on holiday. There are 19 rooms to see filled with art and treasures from the Royal Collection.

Buckingham Palace is located at the western end of The Mall and the bottom of Constitution Hill. The nearest Tubes are Hyde Park Corner, Green Park, St James’s Park or Westminster. Map