Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Tour from London
Our Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Tour from London includes a rare visit to the state rooms at Buckingham Palace and a viewing of the royal castle at Windsor. The tour is available every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday between 10 July and 28 September, 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. The tour ends in Buckingham Palace, which allows you free time to explore at your leisure.
Windsor Castle tour
The morning is spent at Windsor Castle, a royal castle located 25 miles west of London. This is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and the royal family has used it for over 900 years. King Charles III stays here at weekends and for official visits by world leaders.
On your self-guided visit, with an excellent audio guide included, you’ll have the chance to see key parts of the castle that are open to the public, including the magnificent staterooms.
These include:
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 Grand Reception Room
- The Waterloo Chamber celebrates the defeat of Napolean at the Battle of Waterloo. Large portraits on the wall commemorate those monarchs, statesmen 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
- The Crimson Drawing Room is the main room of the Semi-State Apartments and contains portraits of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II, 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.
Included in the tour is St George’s Chapel located in the grounds of the castle. This historic building is really a small cathedral and is where Kings and Queens of England have been married and laid to rest. It is the final resting place of Queen Elizabeth II.
Lunch, not included, can be enjoyed in one of the many cafes and historic pubs in the pretty town of Windsor adjacent to the castle.
Buckingham Palace Tour
The Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace
The afternoon is spent back in central London, at Buckingham Palace, home of the British Royal Family. On your multimedia tour, you’ll get to see the opulent State Apartments, which the King uses to entertain his guests.
Highlights of State Rooms at Buckingham Palace:
- The Throne Room is used by the King 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 Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and King Charles III in 2023.
- The Picture Gallery contains some of the finest paintings in the Royal Collection. It’s used for official entertainment and is where recipients of awards wait before entering the Ballroom to receive their honors from the King or other high-ranking members of the royal family. 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 rearview of Buckingham Palace from the Palace Gardens
More info:
Tour includes:
- Special timed entrance tickets & multimedia guide for Buckingham Palace
- Entrance tickets and audioguide for Windsor Castle
- Transportation in a luxury air-conditioned coach
- Professional guide
Tour excludes:
- Food, drink, gratuities
Further info:
- This tour departs from Victoria Coach Station, Gate 19, at 7:45am (Boarding starts at 7:30am)
- Arrive in Windsor at approximately 9.30am and depart Windsor at approximately 1.00pm.
- Arrive at Buckingham Palace at approximately 2.15pm.
- The tour ends on arrival at Buckingham Palace which you can then explore at your own pace.
- Amendments and cancellations must be made at least 24 hours before departure.
- St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle is closed on Sundays
- Clients that require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace
Aerial view of Buckingham Palace
