Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the headquarters of the British Monarchy and is used as both a home and office.

Soon after George IV took the throne, he ordered that Buckingham House, the London home of his parents, be destroyed and a new, more suitable residence be built. However, as Parliament was not willing to advance the £500,000 that George estimated would be necessary to construct an entirely new building, it was decided that Buckingham House should be renovated, instead.

John Nash was chosen to be the mastermind of the renovation, and eventhough the budget was fixed by Parliament at around £200,000, the project quickly expanded beyond anything provided for in the original estimate. The design called for a three-sided court with an opening on the eastern side, where Marble Arch would stand, acting as a gate (the arch was moved to its present location at Hyde Park Corner in 1851).

By 1828, the expenditures for the ever-grander royal residence exceeded £700,000. The new Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, when asked by Nash for more funds to pull down and rebuild the wings, as they didn't meet with the king's approval, replied, "If you expect me to put my hand to any additional expense, I'll be damned if I will." Nash was dismissed from the project in 1830, and the responsibilities were assumed by architect, Edward Blore, who enclosed the open side of the building, giving it the appearance we see, today, and made badly needed repairs to the faulty plumbing and ventilation facilities inside.

In 1837 Queen Victoria became the first Monarch to live in the six-hundred room Buckingham Palace. Today, the palace is one of England's most popular landmarks and the site of "The Changing of the Guard" ceremony. The Palace also boasts a 42-acre garden which is an oasis for wildlife offers superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.

Opening Hours
The State Rooms are open daily from 26 July until 24 September from 9.45am until 5.30pm.

Changing of the Guard
The Guard Change takes place at 11:30 daily from April until the end of July and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting.

Location
Buckingham Palace
The Mall
Victoria
SW1

Location Map

Telephone
+44 (0)20 7321 2233

Nearest Tube / Rail Station
Victoria

Bus Routes
7, 11, 211, 139, C1, C10

Access
A separate entrance is provided for visitors requiring special access. Wheelchair users are asked to book through the Ticket Sales and Information Office.