Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Tour from London
Our Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Tour from London includes a rare visit to the state apartments at Buckingham Palace and a viewing of the royal castle at Windsor. The tour is available during the summer of 2020 on selected dates when Buckingham Palace opens its doors to the public for a rare glimpse into the world of the Royal Family. Our visit includes a special timed entrance with a multimedia tour. In 2020, the visit to Buckingham Palace will also include a special exhibition looking at the Royal Family’s love of animals, with spectacular artwork on display from the Royal Collection.
Update: This tour will not be operating in 2020 since The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace will not open to the public this summer. However, you can see our other Windsor Castle tours.
Highlights: Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle:
The Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Tour
You will first enter inside Buckingham Palace, home of the British Royal Family, where the Queen lives for most of the year. During the summer months, the Queen does not live in Buckingham Palace which is why it is open for the public. On your multimedia tour, you’ll get to see the State Apartments, which the Queen uses to entertain her guests.
Highlights of State Rooms at Buckingham Palace:
- The Throne Room is used by the Queen for court ceremonies and official entertaining. The wedding photos of Prince William and Kate Middleton were taken in this room. The throne chairs were used in the coronation of the Queen back in 1953
- The Picture Gallery contains some of the best painting in the Royal Collection. It’s used for official entertaining and is where recipients of honour wait before entering the Ballroom to receive their honours or rank. There are works by Titian, Rembrandt and Rubens displayed on the walls
- The Ballroom is the largest of the State Rooms and is used for State Banquets. Kings, US Presidents and Heads of State from around the world have all been hosted in this grand room over the years. The room features two thrones which were made for the coronation ceremony of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902
- The Grand Staircase was designed by the architect John Nash. It’s lined with red carpets and is decorated with portraits of Queen Victoria’s family
- The Palace Gardens are also included as part of the tour. The Queen hosts her garden parties in this space, with a varied and exotic mixture of plants
- Special Exhibition in 2020: The Royal Animals exhibition looks at the relationship between the Royals and their animals. In particular, it explores the Queen’s knowledge of horses and her love of Corgis. It includes a range of artwork from the Royal Collection that explores the Royals love of animals in a new and unique experience for 2020.
Windsor Castle tour
St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle
The afternoon is spent at Windsor Castle, a royal castle that is used by the Queen as her weekend residence. This is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world that has been used by the royal family for hundreds of years. On your self-guided visit, you’ll have the chance to see key parts of the castle that are open to the public. A fire in 1992 destroyed 115 rooms and the castle has since been painstakingly restored.
Highlights of Windsor Castle Tour:
- St George’s Chapel is the place where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018. The wedding ceremony was viewed by millions of people worldwide, and you can see the exact spot where the couple tied the knot. The Chapel has seen many Royal weddings over the years and is the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter
- The Grand Reception Room is the main ballroom of the Castle and is decorated in a French style. You’ll find French bronzes, armour, and a series of tapestries from the Gobelins factory in Paris. It also contains the Malachite Urn, presented to Queen Victoria in 1839 by Tsar Nicholas I of Russia
- The Waterloo Chamber celebrates the defeat of Napolean at the Battle of Waterloo. Large portraits on the wall celebrate those monarchs, statesman and commanders who were involved in Napolean’s defeat. It includes an enormous portrait of the Duke of Wellington, as well as a portrait of Pope Pius VII. The room also contains the largest seamless carpet in the world
- Queen Mary’s Doll House is the largest and most famous doll’s house in the world. Built in the 1920s, it’s more luxurious than most people’s homes and includes running water, electric lights, working elevators and a flushing toilet! Over 1500 artists and craftsman made miniatures for the structure, including a miniature library with real works by Rudyard Kipling, Thomas Hardy, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It even includes a wine cellar and a Rolls Royce with a working engine!
- The Crimson Drawing Room is the main room of the Semi-State Apartments and contains portraits of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, which were painted at Windsor during the Second World War. The room is one of the most expensive interior decorations ever carried out in England
Itinerary:
- 09:15: Check-in at our Visitor’s Centre, 4 Fountain Square, 123-151 Buckingham Palace Road. From here, we’ll take you on the short 10-minute walk directly to Buckingham Palace
- 09:30-13:15: Enjoy a tour of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace. Explore the magnificent rooms and garden on a self-guided visit
- 13:30: Make your own way back to 4 Fountain Square, 123-151 Buckingham Palace Road, to arrive back at 13:30
- 13:45: Depart London in a comfortable coach for an extended visit of Windsor Castle. You’ll have the afternoon to explore the castle
- 18:30: Arrive back in London, with dropoff next to Gloucester Road Underground Station
More info:
Tour includes:
- Special timed entrance tickets & multimedia guide for Buckingham Palace
- Entrance tickets and audioguide for Windsor Castle
- Transportation to Windsor Castle
Tour excludes:
- A live guide (the tour is unguided)
- Food, drink, gratuities
Further info:
- St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is closed on Sundays
- Mobile phones & photography are not allowed inside Buckingham Palace
- Pushchairs are not allowed in the State Rooms for safety reasons. They can be stored and reclaimed at the exit. Baby carriers are available for loan.
- Clients that require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace
- This tour is non-refundable once booked
- This tour operates during the summer months
