VERDICT: WE GAVE 4 OUT OF 5 TICKETS AND HERE’S WHY!
This guide forms part of our complete UK Travel Guide, featuring scenic road trips, iconic destinations, practical travel advice and honest first-hand travel experiences from across the United Kingdom.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and the most recognisable symbol of the UK’s constitutional monarchy. Located in the heart of London, the palace has served as the monarch’s principal residence since 1837, when Queen Victoria made it her home.
The palace contains 775 rooms, including grand State Rooms used for official ceremonies, receptions, and royal entertaining. These rooms are richly decorated with artworks from the Royal Collection, historic furniture, and ceremonial objects, offering visitors insight into the traditions and pageantry of the monarchy. During the summer months, when the monarch is not in residence, parts of the palace are opened to the public.
Outside, Buckingham Palace is best known for the Changing of the Guard, a formal ceremony showcasing military precision, tradition, and music. The palace balcony has also been the backdrop for major national moments, including royal weddings, jubilees, and celebrations marking historic events.
For visitors, Buckingham Palace represents living history, not a museum frozen in time, but a working centre of royal life. Whether viewed from the gates, experienced during a State Room tour, or witnessed during a ceremonial event, it remains an essential stop for anyone wanting to understand Britain’s monarchy, traditions, and global image.
🏰 Buckingham Palace – History & Exterior Walking Tour
📍 Overview
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and the most recognisable symbol of the UK’s constitutional monarchy. Although much of the palace interior is only accessible seasonally, the exterior walk reveals just as much about royal power, continuity, and tradition.
🕰️ A Brief History of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace began life in 1703 as Buckingham House, built for the Duke of Buckingham. It entered royal ownership in 1761, when George III purchased it as a private family residence for Queen Charlotte.
The palace became the official royal residence in 1837, under Queen Victoria, who oversaw major expansions. The iconic east-facing façade — the one seen on television and postcards — was completed in 1913.
Today, Buckingham Palace remains a working palace, hosting state visits, ceremonies, and official receptions under Charles III.
🚶♂️ Exterior Walking Tour (45–60 minutes)
🛑 Stop 1: The Victoria Memorial (10 minutes)
Begin at the Victoria Memorial, directly in front of the palace gates.
- Dedicated in 1911 to Queen Victoria
- Made of white Carrara marble
- Symbolises the height of the British Empire
From here, you get the classic frontal view of the palace, ideal for orientation and photographs.
🛑 Stop 2: The Palace Gates & Forecourt (10 minutes)
Move closer to the main gates.
- This is where the Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place
- Guards belong to regiments such as the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards
- The forecourt is used for formal arrivals of heads of state
This space represents the ceremonial face of monarchy, formal, controlled, and symbolic.
🛑 Stop 3: The East Front & Balcony (10 minutes)
Look up to the central balcony.
- Used for royal appearances since 1851
- Famous moments include VE Day (1945), jubilees, and royal weddings
- The balcony is where heirs to the throne are traditionally presented to the public
Recent appearances have included:
- King Charles III
- Camilla, Queen Consort
- Prince William, heir to the throne
- Catherine, Princess of Wales Catherine
- Prince George
- Princess Charlotte
- Prince Louis
- Princess Anne
🛑 Stop 4: The Palace Garden Wall (10 minutes)
Walk around toward the garden side of the palace (viewable from surrounding streets and Green Park edges).
- The palace gardens are the largest private gardens in London
- Used for royal garden parties attended by thousands each year
- A quieter, more private aspect of royal life
This side reminds visitors that the palace is also a home, not just a stage.
🛑 Stop 5: Green Park & Constitution Hill (10 minutes)
Finish your walk by entering Green Park or following Constitution Hill.
- This route links Buckingham Palace to ceremonial London
- Used during coronations, jubilees, and state processions
- Offers peaceful views back toward the palace
It’s the perfect contrast to the formality of the forecourt.
👑 Heirs to the Throne – Past & Present
Buckingham Palace has been home or workplace to successive monarchs and heirs:
- Edward VII: modernised royal public life
- George VI: led Britain through WWII
- Elizabeth II: longest-reigning monarch
- Charles III: current monarch
- Prince William: heir apparent
- Prince George: future heir
The palace has evolved with each generation while retaining its symbolic role.
🎯 Why the Exterior Tour Matters
You don’t need to step inside Buckingham Palace to understand it. Walking its perimeter tells a complete story:
- Power and ceremony at the front
- Privacy and family life at the back
- Parks and processional routes connecting monarchy to the public
For visitors, this walk delivers history, pageantry, and living tradition, all freely accessible and deeply London.
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