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5 Things To Know Before Visiting Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is easily one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Since becoming the official residence of the monarch of the United Kingdom during the reign of Queen Victoria, it has attracted visitors from far and wide who come to marvel at its splendid grandeur and history. If you’re planning your own trip to Buckingham Palace, here are five things you should know before you visit it.

1. It’s not actually one of The Crown’s filming locations

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That’s right, if you’re a fan of the hit Netflix series and hoping to get a look at some of the sumptuous palace interiors shown in the show, you may be disappointed. While Buckingham Palace is of course a central location in the series, it was unavailable to actually be filmed for it.

Instead, The Queen’s residence was carefully recreated on sets and in and around various stately homes in England. If you’re a die hard fan and have time on your trip, you might want to visit the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which was used as a stand-in for the Buckingham Palace exterior, or Wilton House, a grand Tudor estate in Salisbury whose rooms appear in almost every episode.

If you do buy tickets to visit and tour Buckingham Palace itself, you’ll most likely be seeing the real State Rooms which The Royal Family uses to meet and entertain visitors, as above. These are, of course, the real rooms where many of The Crown’s interactions occurred, so keep that incredible fact in mind as you marvel at these magnificent, opulent spaces.

2. Depending on the time of your visit, The Queen may not be in residence

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Despite it being her official home, The Queen does not live at Buckingham Palace for all twelve months of the year. During the winter months, The Queen lives at Sandringham House, her private estate in Norfolk. The Royal Family famously spend their Christmases here, and The Queen usually stays until the 6th of February, the anniversary of her father’s death.

During weekends and for a month around Easter, The Queen and Prince Philip typically stay in Windsor Castle, their official country residence. Located in Berkshire, the magnificent Castle is the largest occupied one in the world, and Windsor itself was the location for the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The Queen also has a residence in Scotland, Holyrood House, which she stays in every year for Royal Week. All of these lavish royal residences mean there is a good chance that The Queen may not be residing in Buckingham Palace on the day of your visit. If you’re not sure, check which flag is flying above the Palace. If it’s the Royal Standard, then The Queen is in residence. If it’s the Union Flag, then she is not.

3. It’s still a working palace, and there is always something happening

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Whether The Queen is in residence or not, there’s an awful lot going on at Buckingham Palace each and every day. Visitors and staff are entering and leaving at all times, so be alert in the area around the palace and look carefully before crossing any roads or gates.

Make sure you also keep an eye out for any especially grand looking cars in the area. You never know, it could just be someone famous and important on their way to meet The Queen!

The most famous regular event is, of course, the Changing of the Guard. This ceremony involves The Queen’s Guard handing over the responsibility for the protection of Buckingham Palace to the New Guard. With the tradition older than Buckingham Palace itself, dating back over 500 years, this is one of the best examples of the pomp and ceremony that Britain is famous for, with tourists from all over the world flocking to each and every one.

While you may be eager to see this spectacle for yourself, it is worth bearing in mind a few tips to make the experience as enjoyable and safe as possible, both for you and for all the other spectators. Make sure you keep well clear of the Guards and don’t try to nab any up-close selfies.

It is also advisable to prepare for the weather; bring a water bottle if it is hot and an umbrella if it’s raining. Lastly, the large crowds have been known to draw pickpockets, so keep an eye on your valuables at all times.

4. There’s a chance you could be walking above miles of secret tunnels

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London as a whole has always been the subject of rumours about secret tunnels. And it’s not surprising, particularly as it’s home to the London Underground, the world’s oldest underground metro system.

Because of this, one of the most popular rumours about Buckingham Palace is that it has it’s very own secret tunnel connecting it to the tube, possibly for a convenient transport link or extra security measure. After all, when you’re a member of The Royal Family, who needs to wait in traffic or buy a tube ticket?

Some journalists also claim to have discovered secret passages within Buckingham Palace itself, perhaps to provide The Queen with a quick getaway or just an easy way to avoid unwanted guests. Unfortunately, it’s debatable whether or not any of these rumours are true, as none have been proved so far. Luckily for you, however, no secret tunnel is needed to visit Buckingham Palace; you can get the tube to Green Park and be right there in no time!

5. There are all sorts of things to do on your visit

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Want to visit Buckingham Palace but not sure a tour of the State Rooms is your thing? Don’t worry, there’s so much more to see at the Palace, and there will undoubtedly be something to keep all the family entertained. If you’re an art lover, you can visit the Picture Gallery, home to key pieces of art in The Queen’s Royal Collection.

Here you’ll find works by artists from all over the world, including famous painters such as Titian and Rembrandt. If you and your little ones fancy getting some air after touring the Palace, you can also end your visit with a walk through the Palace Garden by booking a Garden Highlights Tour. The 16-hectare garden is the perfect escape from the opulence of the Palace, and is home to tennis courts and a rose garden, among other things.

For more information on the palace and to book tickets, visit .