Morning Visit To Buckingham Palace and More London Fun
Palaces and Famous London Places
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This full day in London is our last. We scheduled a morning visit to Buckingham Palace as the main itinerary item. And afterward, we squeeze in a hunt for places connected to London celebrities during the afternoon.
So, this post is not the definitive guide to anything or any place. We won’t tell you the 30 things you need to know about Buckingham Palace. We won’t dive into a street-by-street listing of the famous blue plaques of London. We will share with you what a typical tourist day is for us. This random day in London was wonderful – with a morning visit to Buckingham Palace and an afternoon filled with planned and surprise adventures. And it’s a preview of what you can expect if you’re willing to mix a bit of fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants experiences with your pre-planned must-do travel itineraries.
Planning Our Morning Visit To Buckingham Palace
We wanted to experience the grandeur of Buckingham Palace during our London visit. Located in the heart of the city, this magnificent palace has been home to Britain’s royal family since 1837. It is a must-see attraction for anyone looking to explore London’s rich history.
From strolling through the stunning State Rooms and galleries to admiring the impeccably maintained gardens, there’s something for everyone at Buckingham Palace. There are several guided tours, and we selected from the available options for our day. We were excited to learn about the royal family’s long history and looked forward to admiring the palace’s beautiful architecture.
Book a Tour of Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace Overview
Home to the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace is one of London’s most iconic landmarks. Located in the City of Westminster, this grand palace has been at the centre of state occasions and royal hospitality for centuries. From national rejoicing to mourning, it has been a focal point for the British people throughout history.
Originally a large townhouse belonging to the Duke of Buckingham, Buckingham House was built in 1703. It wasn’t until 1761, when King George III acquired it as a private residence for Queen Charlotte, that the building became known as The Queen’s House. When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Buckingham House officially became the London residence of the British monarch, and it’s been known as Buckingham Palace ever since.
Queen Victoria’s Palace was transformed during her 63-year reign, thanks to support and encouragement from Prince Albert. The palace housed Queen Victoria’s nine children and forty-two grandchildren, from a royal residence to a family home. Today, Buckingham Palace stands tall as a testament to Queen Victoria’s vision of modernizing the building into what it is today.
Morning Visit To Buckingham Palace
We bought tickets in advance while in the States for a tour of the staterooms and a separate garden tour. At Buckingham Palace, there is no getting in early. If your ticket says 10:15 am, don’t try walking in earlier. The protocol is particular here, and we have experienced the tightest entrance security since we entered the UK. It’s also the first place we ran into heavily armed guards.
Visiting St. James Park Before Our Entry
St. James Park in London is a beautiful, tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located just west of Buckingham Palace, St. James Park has it all: gorgeous gardens, picturesque lakes, elegant fountains, and lush greenery. It’s a beautiful spot for an afternoon stroll or even a picnic lunch.
The park is full of history and charm, with many historical monuments. The lake area has plenty of wildlife to observe – including ducks, swans, and geese. There’s even a café on site for snacks and refreshments after a stroll through the park.
The park is known for its resident pelicans, who live thousands of miles from their usual habitat. These birds were introduced to the park way back in 1664 as a gift from a Russian Ambassador. In 2013, three Eastern White pelicans arrived as gifts from the City of Prague. Mid afternoon is the best time to spot the pelicans. This is when the park rangers feed them fish. And being used to humans, don’t be surprised if one sits on a bench next to you.
St. James Park is a great place to visit before heading to Buckingham Palace, as we did. With its picturesque surroundings, historical monuments, and abundant wildlife, St. James Park is an excellent place near Buckingham Palace.
State Room Tour at Buckingham Palace
Every summer, the public can get an exclusive view of Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms as the reigning monarch opens them to visitors. These grand rooms are where the Royal Family receives and entertains guests for state, ceremonial and other official occasions.
With 19 State Rooms, they reflect the taste of King George IV who commissioned John Nash to transform Buckingham House into a Palace in 1825. You can find some of the Royal Collection’s greatest treasures, such as paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova and Sèvres porcelain, along with some of the finest English and French furniture, adorning these spaces.
The State Room Tour at Buckingham Palace is a must-see attraction. This guided tour takes you through the palace’s stunning State Rooms and galleries, offering an insight into centuries of British history. We experienced first-hand the grandeur of these rooms, from the Throne Room, where members of the royal family are crowned, to the White Drawing Room and its ornate furnishings.
We also enjoyed exploring the magnificent art collection, including works by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Reynolds. The paintings and sculptures were museum-quality works of art.
The State Room tour showed off the opulent palace residence of the royal family. There was no photography permitted here.
This palace was transformed into the present-day residence by Queen Victoria during her 63-year reign. Overall we get to see the palatial building, which impresses us during a tour of just about one hour.
An audio guide was provided to aid in understanding what we viewed during our tour. We completed the State Room Tour in one hour.
Inside the Palace
If you’ve ever wanted to explore the inside of Buckingham Palace, here’s what you can expect. The grand building measures 108 meters long across the front, 120 meters deep (including the central quadrangle), and 24 meters high. Inside, it boasts an incredible 775 rooms, including 19 Staterooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. Whether you’re a history buff or just curious to know what the inside of Buckingham Palace looks like, this grand building is a marvelous example of architecture for the monarchy.
Garden Tour at Buckingham Palace
After our morning visit to Buckingham Palace, we have time to kill before the garden tour. So we grab a light snack at the palace cafe. At 12:30, we get a personally guided tour of the gardens. At 39.5 acres, this is the largest private garden in London. And it takes a team of 11 managers to maintain the grounds.
Exploring the beautiful grounds of Buckingham Palace on a guided garden tour was so enjoyable. Featuring over 4,000 trees and more than 350 different species of flowers, this iconic palace is home to some of the most magnificent gardens in Britain. The garden tour takes you through these stunning grounds, offering an insight into centuries-old horticultural practices and modern updates. We admired the lush green lawns, explored the impressive rockeries, and viewed the tranquil water features.
Developed on a serpentine path, the walk reveals new plants and landscapes around every turn. We enjoyed the garden tour very much, perhaps more than the inside of the palace. If you’re planning a trip to Buckingham Palace, consider adding the Garden Tour for your visit. For us, it did not disappoint!
Fun Fact – Is the Monarch Present at the Palace?
There is a way to tell if the monarch is home at Buckingham Palace. If you’re passing by and wish to know whether the monarch is in, you’re in luck. There’s a super-secret code that provides the answer. It’s so secret and is coded with a flag. If the Union Flag is flying over the palace, you’re out of luck – no monarch is inside the palace. However, if a royal standard flag is, the answer is yes – the reigning monarch is present. It is quite a masterful piece of secret deception. However, don’t tell anybody we told you this information because it’s a brilliant secret.
Experience Buckingham Palace With A Guided Tour
Check out top tours of Buckingham Palace
Find Lodging Near Buckingham Palace
Listen to our Buckingham Palace Podcast
Searching Famous English People & Places
Abbey Road Studios
Our afternoon becomes a search of places related to London celebrities. Our first stop is Abbey Road Studios, where the nearby street crossing made for the infamous cover of the Beatles album Abbey Road. At this very popular crossing, cars are having difficulty getting through the intersection as today’s gathered crowd determines getting their photo shots is more important. We also took a trip back in time tome join in this gaat this iconic spot.
The famous Abbey Road crosswalk, located just outside of Abbey Road Studios, attracts fans and tourists anxious to recreate the famous album cover photograph Iain Macmillan took in 1969. With its vibrant street art and iconic zebra crossing, Abbey Road Crossing is a must-see destination for any fan of the Fab Four – that includes us.
A Splendid Afternoon Tea at Muffin Man
Before the next search, we grab a proper English tea in the Kensington area at The Muffin Man which turns out to be an unexpected early dinner. An excellent selection of sandwiches accompanied our late afternoon meal.
Blue Plaques and Residences of London’s Famous Folks
Then the blue plaque search continues. Our next stop is outside 1 Logan Place, the former residence of Queen’s Freddie Mercury.
Then we learned about the fascinating history of London’s buildings when we started to spot the city’s iconic blue plaques! Since 1866, these distinctive blue markers have commemorated significant figures and moments in London’s history. From famous authors and musicians, to scientists and politicians – there are over 900 different blue plaques dotted around the city!
We venture to 153 Cromwell Street, where Alfred Hitchcock once lived.
We spy a former residence of famed classical composer Benjamin Britten. What a fun afternoon – hunting for blue plaques. It may not float your boat, but we enjoyed this random adventure.
Where Did The Wild Green Parrots Come From?
En route to the next stop in Hyde Park, we spy wild green parrots, and Julie joins in the feeding.
These colorful birds can be seen along the city’s waterways, such as the River Thames and Hyde Park. In recent years they have become an increasingly common sight in inner-city parks and gardens.
Peter Pan in Hyde Park
We heard about the iconic Peter Pan statue in Hyde Park and ventured to find it. This beautiful bronze sculpture, created by Sir George Frampton in 1912, stands proudly amongst the trees and flower beds of the park. It depicts the beloved character from J.M Barrie’s 1904 novel and is said to be one of London’s most cherished artworks. The statue is a favorite amongst young and old visitors and is the perfect spot for a photo opportunity!
We made our way to the exact spot in Hyde Park where the novel Peter Pan notes this literary character makes his first appearance.
This wraps up our five days in London. We enjoyed our morning visit to Buckingham Palace and an afternoon of fun adventures. The city exceeded our expectations. Off to another experience tomorrow.
More London Travel Tips
- Abide with printed ticket times for Buckingham Palace. You won’t get in early, and being late will cause another set of problems.
- Search out stops of residences where English people of note that you are interested in once lived – this can make for an enjoyable alternative adventure (hint: look for the round blue markers on residences).
- Recommended Reading of London celebrities and more:
Plan Your UK Adventure
Here’s a few recommended travel books you can use to plan your United Kingdom travel adventures.
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Check Out More of Our Adventures From London
London Tourist Day – Exploring Churchill War Rooms and Westminster Abbey
Osterley House and Richmond Palace – Walking in the footsteps of Boleslaw Dobrucki
Our One Day Tower of London Visit
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