Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the King in London and an incredible place to visit to catch a glimpse of the past, present, and future of the British monarchy. It has the honor of being one of the largest royal palaces in the world, a list topped by the Royal Palace of Caserta in Naples, Italy.

The origin of its name lies with John Sheffield, a man who leased the house occupying the current site of the palace in 1698 and later became the Duke of Buckingham. If you want to know more facts and curiosities about this iconic building, as well as the tours in London that can take you to visit it, pay attention because we will tell you all about it here.

Buckingham Palace, a Symbol of the United Kingdom

 

Few monuments in London are as iconic as Buckingham Palace. It is one of the must-visit sites in London that every tourist should know, sharing this honor with a few others, like the intersection of Piccadilly Circus with its colorful billboards, or the Soho district in London with its eccentric restaurants and lively pubs.

It has served as the administrative headquarters of the royal family and the site of many ceremonies, events, and state visits since it became the official residence of the monarchy in 1837. Similarly, it has become a gathering point for Britons in times of celebration, joy, crisis, and misfortune, who often gather around the Queen Victoria Memorial located right in front.

Visiting Buckingham Palace

From the royal stables and the Queen’s Gallery to the state rooms, the grand staircase, and the beautiful gardens, there is much more to this palace than meets the eye.

The main visiting period to see the inside of Buckingham Palace is between July and September during the summer season. Visiting the palace is a must and should be part of your itinerary in London. To get a closer look, we recommend taking this full-day tour in London.

With a duration of 8.5 hours, in addition to seeing the main sights of the British capital with a guide—such as the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels, Tower Bridge, and St. Paul’s Cathedral—it makes a stop at the palace to see the changing of the royal guard.

See the Changing of the Royal Guard at Buckingham Palace

 

The Changing of the Guard in London is a formal ceremony in which a group of soldiers from the British royal guard, dressed in their distinctive red uniforms and black bearskin hats, are relieved of their duties by a new group of soldiers. It is one of the most traditional things to do in London.

It takes place every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday starting at 10:45 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes.

While you can see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace on your own, in a city as large and with so much to offer as London, it is always good to leave this type of experience in the hands of professionals who can help you cover as many activities as possible in the shortest time. You wouldn’t want to leave the city wishing you had seen more, would you?

Curiosities of the Palace

 

Learn more about this emblem of the British monarchy with these fascinating facts that you probably didn’t know. Here are 7 curiosities about Buckingham Palace that will surprise you:

 

● King George VI and Queen Elizabeth refused to leave the palace during World War II, despite the building being the target of 9 German bombing attacks, which it survived.

● Michael Fagan is the name of one of the intruders who managed to break into Buckingham Palace twice. On one occasion, he even entered Queen Elizabeth II’s bedroom and sat on the corner of her bed to talk with her.

● The trust and ownership of Buckingham Palace are actually in the hands of The Crown Estate, a property portfolio of the Crown that manages its lands, properties, and art collections.

● If you were wondering how many rooms the royal palace has, it boasts a fascinating total of 775, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 19 state rooms, and 78 bathrooms.

● Continuing with the incredible numbers, Buckingham Palace contains 760 windows, 1,514 doors, and a whopping 40,000 light bulbs! Hats off to the person who counted them one by one.

● Queen Victoria was the first to live in Buckingham Palace, followed by Edward VII, George V, Edward VIII, George VI, and Elizabeth II, who was the last monarch to reside in the royal palace.

● The current King, Charles III, has decided to continue living with his wife Camilla, Queen Consort, at Clarence House, a royal residence in London that has been their home since 2003.

 

The Changing of the Guard in London is an activity you cannot miss

 

If you don’t have much time and want to see many places in the city quickly and comfortably, the panoramic tour of London lasts 3 hours and includes transportation and a guide in Spanish. Of course, it makes a stop at Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard (as long as it is operational).

 

If you want to learn about all the tours and activities in Spanish that we offer in London, check out our page and be amazed by the British charm.