tour of buckingham palace gardens

Visit the Magnificent Gardens at Buckingham Palace

T his summer, more than ever, it is important to spend more time outdoors when out and about. With this in mind, why not take a pleasant stroll and even a picnic around the magnificent gardens of Buckingham palace.

Now, for the first time ever, the public can get exclusive access to the gardens and uncover the gardens beauty with unseen views of Buckingham Palace as a backdrop.

Garden Highlights.

Visitors can walk without restrictions amongst the sizeable plot of 39 acres. There are around 325 different species of plants to take in as well as around 1000 trees. Some trees were even planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

The famous Herbaceous border which stretches out to over 155Meters is a sight to behold and do not miss the palace lake, complete with waterfall and secluded island with Beehives for the royal Bees.

In addition, you can purchase a guided tour of the gardens which also include the spectacular Rose Garden and charming Wildflower meadow.

During your meander around the magnificent gardens and sweeping lawns you are allowed to have your own picnic. Do not worry however if you did not bring some tasty cuisine as you can also buy delectable food and drink inside the gardens.

How to get there

Nearest Tube Stations: Green Park, Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, St James Park. By Bus: C1, C10, 211 & 11 all have stops on Buckingham Palace Road.

Entrance to the garden

Access to the Buckingham Palace gardens is via the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road. looking at the palace from the Victoria memorial, go down the left had side, passed the Queens Gallery and the Royal Mews entrance is on the right, opposite the Rubens Hotel.

The garden is open to the public from the 9th of July 2021 to the 19th of September 2021. It is open every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays only.

Check availability to visit the gardens at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

We tour the Buckingham Palace gardens and discover its secrets

We tour the expansive gardens found at Buckingham Palace, from the secret beehives to the impressive rosebeds

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The British Royal Family is famous for its love of gardening, so it is unsurprising that the Buckingham Palace gardens are some of the best in the world. 

Spanning a massive 42 acres, the Palace gardens in London are some of several expansive royal residence gardens cared for by a team of elite gardeners year-round. The garden fulfils many roles year-round, both as a private garden for the Royal Family and as a venue for royal events. The most famous of these were the late Queen's Garden Parties, which saw around 24,000 guests from around the world welcomed to the gardens each summer. 

Here, we take a look around the Buckingham Palace gardens for ourselves and discover some of the secrets of this immense space in the heart of London. 

Tour the Buckingham Palace Gardens

The starting point for many of the gardens tours, the herbaceous border spans a massive 511 feet. Far from standard low-maintenance garden border ideas , the garden borders feature a large proportion of the garden's plant varieties, including many humble cottage garden plants – a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II.

Despite the garden's urban surroundings, some plants in and around the border are some of the only of their variety in England, with rare flora and fauna making the garden a unique biodiverse habitat.

The borders are backed by trees dating back to the reign of Queen Victoria, and some were planted by the Queen and Prince Albert themselves.

One of the main features of the gardens is the three-and-a-half acre lake, complete with a waterfall and private island that provides a safe haven for the large array of wildlife that lives within the walls of the garden. 

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Wildlife conservation is a cause close to the hearts of many of the Royal Family, with King Charles III fostering a close relationship with the Word Wildlife Fund and nurturing his own garden at his private home, Highgrove House . 

The Buckingham Palace gardens continue to provide aspirational wildlife garden ideas with a collection of five bee hives added to the property in 2008. 

Overlooking the lake and the rose beds, the bee hives help to produce around 160 jars of honey per year to cater for the royal kitchens. 

The rose garden ideas are by far some of the most impressive beds in the royal collection. The garden itself contains 25 beds, each with 60 rose bushes of different varieties. 

The striking beauty of the rose beds comes from the fact that no two adjacent beds are planted with roses of the same color. Flowers were often cut from these bushes to present to the late Queen in seasonal posies each Monday when she was staying at the Palace. 

Once an extensive grass meadow designed for grazing cows and sheep, the Buckingham Palace garden meadows are now rich with wildflower garden ideas , encouraging the wild growth of native flora and a natural habitat for visiting wildlife.

The meadow, found in the southwest of the gardens, is home to over 320 different types of wildflowers and grasses, making it one of the most diverse meadows in England, and features a gorgeous summer house for private escapes.

Besides the flowers, the Buckingham Palace gardens are also home to over 1,000 species of tree including 98 plane trees, 85 different species of oak, and 40 different types of Mulberry tree, making the garden the official site of the National Collection of Mulberries in 2000. 

The trees in the Palace gardens are also some of the oldest additions to the garden, with the first Buckingham Palace mulberry tree having been planted in the gardens in 1608 by James I, for example. Other special trees include the named Victoria and Albert plane trees planted by the couple during their reign.

Trees have been continuously planted by each generation of royals throughout the long history of the Royal Family.

The Buckingham Palace garden is also a shining example of sustainable garden ideas . 

With the family's growing recognition and support of sustainable practices, such as King Charles' refusal of Buckingham Palace as his home on the grounds of its impractical and unsustainable running costs, it is unsurprising that their gardens follow a similar philosophy. 

In 1991, a sustainable recycling center was established in the gardens at the Queen's request. The facility now recycles 99% of all green waste produced by London's royal gardens. 

The result of this sustainable approach means that the gardens are now also a haven for wildlife, playing host to more than 50 species of birds each year, 30 of which are permanent residents. On a smaller scale, the gardens are home to over 300 types of beetle too, hinting at the immense amount of biodiversity hosted at this single site. 

Buckingham Palace: A Royal Garden available on Amazon

Buckingham Palace: A Royal Garden  provides unique insight into the activities of the Palace's gardening team, such as mulberry harvesting and creating winter bouquets for the Palace. Practical advice is accompanied by atmospheric photography, royal anecdotes, and an engaging and authoritative narrative from leading gardening author, Claire Masset.

Can you walk through Buckingham Palace gardens?

The Buckingham Palace gardens usually open between July and October each year, allowing visitors to explore areas of the Palace and the Palace gardens and take tours around the property. Dates may vary depending on events taking place in the Palace and booking is required. 

Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years, having started her journey in interior journalism as part of the graduate program. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips – many of which she tests and reviews herself in her home in Lancaster to ensure they will consistently deliver for her readers and dabbles in the latest design trends. She also has a first-class degree in Literature from Lancaster University.

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Buckingham Palace Gardens: How to Visit the Queen’s Garden

Until now, the only people allowed into Buckingham Palace Gardens were the Royal Family and those people lucky enough to have an invite to one of the Queen’s garden parties. But this summer, for the very first time, visitors can book tickets to visit the garden and have a picnic on the famous lawn.

So many people fancied walking round Buckingham Palace Gardens that tickets sold out within days of being released – but what’s it really like behind those high palace walls? Harry Brocklehurst  is here to tell you all…

The formal facade of Buckingham Palace is perhaps the most recognisable sight in Britain. The appearance of it rarely changes with its closed windows and curtains, gilded gates and uniformed Grenadier Guards. But the 39 acre garden that stretches behind the palace could not be more different. With its hundreds of trees and rare plants, the garden’s blooms put on an impressive show for each season.

Buckingham Palace is a residence built for formality but the gardens provide an escape for the Queen (and a jolly good walk for the corgis). On a guided tour, I was struck by just how personal the garden felt as the guide points out the Queen’s favourite bench and her summer house, complete with 1960s furniture and a wicker corgi.

For £16.50 visitors can wander around the main areas of the garden including the lawn where garden parties are held, the 3.5 acre lake that contains 2.5 million gallons of water and the 150 metre herbaceous border that is one of the longest in Britain. It is from this flower bed that the gardeners create a posy that is placed on the Queen’s desk each Monday so that she can view the garden’s progress through the seasons.

The Queen gave Pope Francis a pot of honey from these bees when she first visited him at the Vatican. The story goes that the Pope liked the honey so much that he asked his assistant to write to the Palace asking if he could have some more. Apparently his request was turned down.

These islands are rarely visited as they are mostly used as nesting areas for the many resident birds. The islands are so wild and dense in plants that eight years ago the white helleborine was discovered on the banks – these are very rare orchids that were last seen in London in 1900.

For an additional £6.50 visitors can join a guide for a tour of the more private areas of the garden. This tour is a must-see as without it you cannot see the famed rose garden (planted with 25 different rose beds), the Waterloo Vase (commissioned by Napoleon for his intended victory at Waterloo but later presented to King William IV), the Queen’s bench and the family tennis courts. The Queen’s father, King George VI, was a keen tennis player and competed at Wimbledon in the Mixed Doubles in 1926.

The gardens of Buckingham Palace act as a sort of living museum. Next to the North Terrace of the palace you’ll find two plane trees planted in 1840 to celebrate Victoria and Albert’s wedding. It’s not known who planted which one so they are both known as Victoria and Albert. Lining the lake are five willow trees dating from the 1880s. Although they are slowly dying off, the gardeners plant a new seedling for every dead tree to continue the garden’s rich diversity of plants.

Buckingham Palace is home to the largest private garden in London. It feels like an oasis in the middle of the city. You can still hear the noise of the traffic but the garden is hidden from the outside world. Our guide told us that the palace gardeners sometimes ride at the top of the number 52 bus which goes past the gardens to double check that the gardens can’t be seen from the top of a double decker. They plant fast growing trees wherever they see gaps.

Buckingham Palace is describing this summer’s opening as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity to explore the gardens. We hope that the gardens are opened up to the public more frequently particularly given the high demand to visit them. It is still possible to book tickets to visit the gardens this summer. If you keep checking the Royal Collection website you’ll find some dates still available although it might not be possible to book onto one of the private tours.

Top Tips for Visiting

• Buckingham Palace Gardens are open to visitors this summer from 9th July to 19th September.
• Tickets for Buckingham Palace Gardens cost £16.50 for adults and £9 for children aged 5 to 16.
• Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics to have on the lawn. You can bring your own food and drink or buy something from the café in the garden. Alcohol is not permitted.
• The Garden Highlights Tour is an absolute must as it will take you round the more private parts of the garden. You need to book tickets for this before you arrive and you will not be allowed to take photos in this part of Buckingham Palace Gardens. Tickets cost £6.50 per person.

Disclosure: We were very kindly given free admission to Buckingham Palace Gardens but all opinions are honest and my own.

If you’re inspired to visit more Royal palaces and gardens take a look through some of these:

The 8 Castles in London You Need to Visit

The Royal Guide to London: Everything You Need to Know about Visiting Royal Sights in London

Is Kensington Palace Worth Visiting?

The Best Castles Near London

The Tower of London With Kids

Visiting Windsor Castle With Kids

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It looks beautiful! The lake is especially nice. Glad you were able to look around and enjoy it.

We were really lucky, Lisa. I couldn’t believe how wild some of it felt, right in the middle of London.

What a wonderful opportunity! The photos are lovely.

Thanks Hilary. It was one of Harry’s summer highlights, that’s for sure!

Wow, so very beautiful. Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks so much for commenting, Patrick. Really glad you enjoyed the post.

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For the First Time in History, the Queen’s Buckingham Palace Gardens Are Open to Visitors

By Katie Nicholl

Visitors to Buckingham Palace this week have the opportunity to make history, as the Queen has opened up the palace gardens to the public for the very first time. While the Queen’s London home opens every summer for public tours of the state apartments and has been doing so since 1993, the Royal Collection Trust is now offering extended guided tours of the gardens.

It will be the first time members of the public will be allowed to bring picnics into the palace (or purchase them from various food stations on site) since the Big Lunch initiative to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

The royal palaces have suffered huge financial losses in the past year because of the pandemic-induced decline in tourists and visitors, and it is hoped that opening the splendid gardens will boost the number of visitors into the palace. Ticket holders will be able to explore the 39 acres of gardens and woodland which include a man-made lake. There is also a chance to see one of the Queen’s tea rooms complete with her very own furniture and a wicker Corgi. The gardens are home to birdlife including coots, moor hens, cranes and geese as well as a vast number of insects including Italian honey bees, which provide 200 jars of honey used in royal kitchens each year.

The gardens are also home to two resplendent plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at some point in the mid 1800s. A meticulous writer of journals, Victoria never made any record of planting the trees, so palace curators have not been able to ascertain which tree was planted by whom and exactly when.

The gardens are rich in history. The lawns and beds were first laid down by the Duke of Buckingham, who owned the palace before the Royal Family. Most famous for the Queen’s annual garden parties, which the palace hopes to resume next year, the verdant lawns are also used for official occasions including festivals and various royal engagements. Prince William met with members of the NHS in the palace gardens earlier this week.

While visitors won’t get to see a glimpse of the Queen, who is in residence at Windsor Castle and will shortly be heading to Balmoral for her annual summer holiday, the guided walk does allow visitors to walk past the private apartments and the palace swimming pool where Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge sometimes takes her children swimming.

The tour includes a walk around the colorful rose gardens, which include the Prince William rose planted to celebrate the future King’s birth and a bed of pink roses planted in honour of the late Queen Mother. Visitors can also take a seat in the Queen’s summer house and admire a great urn across the lawn which stands as tall as a double decker bus.

The tour follows camelia-lined walkways and there are various points of interest, including the sun dial that the Queen pointed out to David Attenborough in a 2018 TV special. There is also the Prince Albert Gate which leads to an island in the lake that forbids all visitors, in order to preserve rare grasses, plants and wildlife.

While the gardens are vast they are tended by a team of just eleven gardeners who work at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House, the Prince of Wales’ official London residence. Mark Lane, the head gardener, has been at the palace since the 1970s, and is so connected with the history of the palace gardens that one of the scuttle flies discovered in the gardens has been named Megaselia Marklanei.

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Buckingham Palace Gardens Visiting Guide

• Updated on September 26, 2022
• In Vacation

Royal gardens, a lake, and woodlands at Buckingham Palace total roughly 16 hectares. Buckingham Palace Gardens originated in the 1640s, the gardens underwent a redesign in the late 18th century, and further work was done on them in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The grounds of Buckingham Palace are where the gardens at Buckingham palace are. This is the current British monarch’s primary home. William Townsend Aiton’s 1826 design of an informal garden took the place of Henry Wise’s C18 formal garden. The majority of Aiton’s work has been modified for the C20 era.

History of Buckingham Palace

The location of Buckingham Palace in downtown London is around 500 meters ( hectares to meters = 0.05 hectare ) to the north of Victoria station and just next to St James’s Park . Constitution Hill, which divides the Palace from Green Park, borders the approximately 16-hectare land to the north (qv). The road around the Queen Victoria Memorial serves as the east border (listed grade I).

Place, Territory, Limits, Landform, and Environment

Lower Grosvenor Place serves as the border to the south, Buckingham Palace Road and Buckingham Gate Road as the boundary to the east, and Grosvenor Place as the boundary to the west. The mostly flat site rises in the northwest corner, matching the elevation in Constitution Hill, and is surrounded by tall brick walls that date from the C18 to the mid-C19.

Approaches and Entrances

East of the Palace courtyard is the primary entrance to Buckingham palace gardens, which are located to the north of the building. Sir Aston Webb created the forecourt railings, gate piers, gates, and lighting (listed grade I) between 1901 and 1911 as a component of his Victoria Memorial plan. A doorway in the colonnade screen (listed grade I), constructed as part of Nash’s construction program in the vicinity of 1830, serves as the entry to the Palace’s north side. 

Bath stone and cast-iron columns support the Greek Doric screen, which is adorned with royal arms. Grosvenor Gate, a small opening in the southern boundary wall, runs north from Grosvenor Place to the home and yard of the head gardener. A second small entry to the garden can be found to the south-east, where a pair of tall wooden gates known as the “Electricians Gate” is installed into the south-east boundary wall to give access from Buckingham Gate road.

Principal Structure

East of the location is where the grade I-listed Buckingham Palace is located. The structure is built around a square and has three stories with mezzanines on the ground and attic floors. Its east front faces the Victoria Memorial. The West Terrace, which stretches 100 meters north-south and dominates the west front, overlooks the main lawn. Coade stone balustrading and classical urns, both constructed of Coade stone, adorn the terrace. When John Nash (1752–1835) was commissioned in 1825 by his friend Prince Regent (later George IV) to produce designs for the reconstruction of Buckingham House as a royal home, the Palace mostly remained in the early C19 style. 

The Royal Mews , which are made up of the Mews and the Riding House, is located to the southwest of the Palace and face Buckingham Palace Road. Although the Riding House was constructed in 1764, its frieze and pediment were first added in 1859. Sometimes, a royal garden party at buckingham palace takes place here. The actual Mews was constructed in 1824-5, centered on a square with a huge doorway with paired Roman columns that were sometimes obstructed and was topped by a clock tower.

Gardens and Recreational Areas

The gardens and pleasure grounds are best observed from the West Terrace. Despite being shielded from the outer world by tall brick walls and mature trees (London plane being a prevalent species), they preserve an open look. The site’s plan, which is mostly based on William Townsend Aiton’s design from 1825, has branches that go around lawns, island beds, and other features. A rolling gravel road around the perimeter of the property. Here Buckingham palace gardens picnics also take place.

A gravel walk connects with the Broad Walk below the West Terrace after running beside Nash’s north range of the Palace from the main entrance. The main lawn (about 2 hectares) extends 150 m southwest from the Broad Walk to the lake. Helicopters may land on the main lawn, which hosts royal garden parties up to six times a year. 

Get an Essence of the Nature

From the northern end of the Broad Walk to the island shrub beds to the north of the main lawn, a short walk winds northwest and is bordered by Indian chestnut trees that were planted in the late 20th century. From the main entrance, the northern perimeter walk meanders west between the main lawn and a northern herbaceous border that is bordered by a grassy strip. In the late C20, an herbaceous border took the role of a border made of seasonal bedding plants.

To have an afternoon tea at Buckingham palace gardens, visit the basic wooden Tea House, built about 1939, which is located about 180 meters west of the main entrance and to the south of the perimeter walk. Rhododendrons are particularly prevalent on the island beds around the Tea House, which are mostly covered with bushes. The perimeter walk continues to the west, passing the Waterloo Vase after about 200 meters. 

The Waterloo Vase is located in the Arboretum and sits amid a glade of trees with views of the lake that is located in a depression to the south. The 4.5m-tall, grade I-listed Carrara marble vase has an acanthus-carved base and is placed on a paved pedestal. The vase, which Sir Richard Westmacott subsequently sculpted, was made in 1812 for Napoleon Bonaparte and given to the Prince Regent. 

Picnic in Buckingham Palace Gardens

It has a combat scene on one side and a person, most likely the Prince Regent , on the other. The vase was a gift from William IV to the National Gallery, but it was restored to Buckingham Palace in 1906 when King Edward VII received it from the gallery’s trustees.

The C20 rose garden is to the north, east, and west of the Waterloo Vase, while the Admiralty Temple is about 30 meters north of the Vase on the north side of the perimeter walk. 

The early C18 structure, which was used as a summerhouse in 2000 and is situated on the grass among island rose gardens, has a tripartite elevation and four free-standing supporting pillars or herms in the shape of tritons. The structure was transported from Spring Gardens in 1901. From the Admiralty Temple, the perimeter route travels west, reaching the Silver Garden after about 50 meters. 

There are also a lot of things to do near Buckingham and things to do in Buckingham.

The History of the Garden

The garden was created in 1972 to mark the Silver Wedding anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. It is located against the northern border wall. The terrain dips south away from the perimeter walk to the tennis courts to the west of the Silver Garden (made 1919). An area designated for recycling garden waste is located to the north of the tennis courts, mostly hidden by C20 plants (late C20).

The perimeter path continues south for approximately 150 meters until it reaches the lake from the garden’s north-west corner (southeast of Hyde Park Corner). The boundary wall to the west is largely hidden by trees and shrubs, and the lawn to the north-east is adorned with ornamental trees and shrubs. The roughly rectangular, two-hectare lake has a 150-meter-long serpentine water tail to the north-west. To the south-west of the lake’s main body is an oval island (about 0.5 hectares) and a much smaller island. 

The Decorations around the Surroundings

The Table, a tiny land outcropping, protrudes into the lake from the southeast side. By 1827 or 1828, the lake that was intended by Aiton had been dug. A little waterfall may be seen near the northwest corner. This waterfall, which was built in 1991 to enhance water quality, replaced a cascade that was built in 1961 and was located about 5 meters to the south.

A pair of decorative Japanese cranes may be seen on the north side of the lake, around 100 meters to the north-east of the waterfall. While visiting India in 1903, Edward VII received life-size bronze figurines. The lake’s west bank and the sizable island are connected by two bridges, one to the north and one to the south. The bridges were reportedly built in 1904 by Pulham & Son (Beresford 1996), however, the southern bridge has the year 1920 engraved close to its base, perhaps suggesting a later restoration.

The Western Border 

The western border route continues south for a further 150 meters among the bushes and trees that mostly conceal the western boundary wall until it reaches the Mound, where it splits into two branches that go to each side of the earthworks.

The Mound , created by Pulham and Sons in 1904, has a maximum height of 8.6 meters, sharply sloping sides, and is covered with vegetation such as grass, trees, and bushes (Beresford 1996). The linear construction projects begin in the east and go for 100 meters before curving to the north-east for another 200 meters and coming to a conclusion to the north of the Royal Mews. The Mound was built in 1827–1828, largely to block the Palace’s view of the stables. 

Although the two landforms are comparable in size and are assumed to have been formed in part by material dug from the lake, the Mound is much taller and deeper than the lake (c 1.5m). The trees and bushes that were first planted on the Mound have since been expanded upon and thinned. 

A gravel road was paved along the summit of the Mound in 1840 by order of Prince Albert; it has since been covered with grass. The Comus pavilion was built on the Mound in 1844 at the request of the royal couple. It was called after the images from Milton’s Comus that were used to adorn the inside and was built looking north-west across the lake, above the Table. The pavilion, which had remained abandoned after the First World War, was taken down in 1928.

The North Side

The route to the north of the Mound travels between it and the south-east end of the lake before swinging to the east and coming together with the Back Path flowing north from the south-east of the Mound after about 50 meters.

The southern Mound walk, which is a continuation of the western perimeter path, initially goes to the gardener’s yard, which is home to the head gardener’s residence, greenhouses, and other support facilities, before turning east to connect with the Grosvenor Gate Back Path. 

Before connecting the route leading north of the Mound at the north-east end of the mound, the Back Path continues along the south-eastern side of the mound, with the Royal Mews buildings to its south-eastern side. The perimeter route continues beyond the structures to the west of the Electricians Gate entry from here, where it connects with the southeast end of the Broad Walk after around 50 meters.

Things To Do In Buckingham: Know Before Visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens

You will instantly get a 12-month pass for free entrance to the palace if you buy your tickets directly from the Royal Collection Trust. Before leaving the palace, print your name on your ticket, sign it, and ask a staff member to stamp and authenticate it in order to get the yearly pass.

Other Options for visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens

If you don’t feel like seeing the palace inside, you can always take in the breathtaking views of the building from the outside. Just be sure to time your visit to Buckingham palace gardens with the daily 11:30 a.m. changing of the Guard ceremony. The ceremonial passes through Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, and Wellington Barracks, however, it is considered that the best place to see the spectacle is on the eastern side of the palace, close to the gates.

Opening Hours and Ticket Pricing 

All the detailed information about Buckingham palace gardens tickets for you to visit Buckingham palace gardens are listed below. 

Buckingham Palace Gardens is open from:

Buckingham palace gardens tickets.

You must reserve a tour in advance if you want to visit Buckingham palace gardens, and there are three distinct tours you may choose from:

The cost of the Royal Day out Tour (which includes The State Rooms, The Queen’s Gallery, and the Royal Mews) varies depending on age: adults pay £37, children between the ages of five and 17 or individuals with disabilities pay £20.80, and seniors and students pay £33.80. Family tickets (two adults and three children) are also offered for £94.80.

• The cost of the State Rooms Tour is £19.60 for seniors and students, £21.50 for adults, and £12.30 for kids between the ages of five and 17. Tickets for families cost £55.30.
• The cost of the State Rooms and Garden Highlights Tour , which also includes a guided tour of the grounds of Buckingham Palace, is £30.50 for adults, £27.50 for pensioners and students, and £16.40 for children between the ages of five and 17 or for persons with disabilities.

For any of the trips, children under the age of five are admitted free of charge.

Buckingham Palace Address and Buckingham palace postcode to visit Buckingham Palace Garden 

London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom

Here’s the Map.  

Frequently Asked About Buckingham Palace

You must reserve a tour in advance if you want to visit Buckingham palace gardens, and there are three distinct tours you may choose from.

Buckingham palace gardens are 39-acre

Buckingham Palace Gardens are open to visitors this summer from 9th July to 19th September.

If you choose to disregard the clothing code, you would stand out like a sore thumb. Men are urged to wear morning suits or lounge clothes, while ladies are encouraged to wear afternoon dresses, often accessorized with hats or fascinators.

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Buckingham Palace & Garden Highlights Tour 2024

The 19 State Rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection and the Garden Highlights Tour includes the 39-acre garden - 'a walled oasis in the middle of London'. It boasts more than 350 types of wild flower, over 200 trees and a three-acre lake.

•  Detailed Overview
•  Pick-up Points
•  Departure Dates
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Buckingham Palace & The State Rooms and Garden Highlights Tour

Buckingham Palace is recognised around the world as the home and official residence of the King, the focus of national and royal celebrations, as well as the backdrop to the regular Changing the Guard ceremony.

Explore the magnificent State Rooms with a complimentary multimedia guide. Open to visitors for a limited number of weeks each summer. Dates for 2024 are Wednesday 11 July 2024 - Sunday 29 September.

The State Rooms are the public rooms in the Palace where The King and members of the Royal Family receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions. There are 19 State Rooms, which mainly reflect the taste of George IV, who commissioned the architect John Nash to transform Buckingham House into a grand palace in 1825. The State Rooms are furnished with many of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova, Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.

Many of the State Rooms have particular uses today. The Throne Room is used by The King for court ceremonies and official entertaining, and was the setting for the wedding photos of Prince and Princess of Wales. The White Drawing Room, perhaps the grandest of all the State Rooms, serves as a royal reception room for The King and members of the Royal Family to gather before official occasions.

At the end of your visit you can enjoy a walk through the 39 acres of gardens with splendid views of the Palace and the famous lake. 'A walled oasis in the middle of London'. It boasts more than 350 types of wild flower, over 200 trees and a three-acre lake.

Enjoy a summer’s day out at Buckingham Palace and combine a visit to the State Rooms with a guided walking tour of the famous Palace Garden. The Garden Highlights Tour explains the history of the Garden, taking you to the beautiful Herbaceous Border, the summer house and Rose Garden, the enormous Waterloo Vase and the Palace tennis court, where King George VI and Fred Perry played in the 1930s.

Between your self-guided multimedia tour of the State Rooms and guided tour of the Garden, the itinerary allows time for your group to take in the panoramic views of the lawn and the lake, enjoy tea and cakes from the Garden Café and to visit the Garden Shop.

Your Garden Highlights Tour will start 2 hours and 15 minutes after your State Rooms entry time and will last 45 minutes. Meet for the Garden Highlights tour at the bottom of the steps in to the Garden when you leave the State Rooms.

You should allow around 3-3.5 hours for the full experience at Buckingham Palace.

Access Information

The State Rooms are fully accessible and they welcome visitors with different access requirements. If you require Special Access tickets they must be pre-booked by Bakers Dolphin at the time of your booking. Wheelchair access and step-free access are available via a separate entrance at the front of the Palace.

Timed entry to the Gardens and Palace State Rooms is usually booked for 12.30 and 15.00.

Depart 17.30.

Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.

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Pick-up Point Times

To make a booking firstly select the correct number of passengers that will be travelling. This will perform an availability check to see that there is sufficient space on the tour. If the date you want is available select the Book Now button and you will be guided through the online booking process. If your date is unavailable you can use the Call Back facility to discuss further options.

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How To Visit Buckingham Palace In 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, And More

Eddie Saint-Jean Last Updated: January 18, 2024

Don’t just stand outside and look for the full-mast flag that means the monarch is home — go in! Buckingham Palace is the British Royal Family’s official residence and even you can visit. That said, it can be tricky and you’ll need to plan ahead. To help you out, I’ve put together this guide with info on tickets, tours, what to see, and the palace’s history. Here’s how to visit Buckingham Palace.

Pro Tip:  Planning what to do on your trip to London? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our  guide to London  for more planning resources, our best Buckingham Palace tours  for a memorable trip, and the top things to do in London .

Visiting Buckingham Palace: What We’ll Cover

Witnessing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic things you can do in London—after visiting the palace itself, of course.

As the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837, it is replete with all the opulence you would expect of kings and queens. If it’s on your bucket list, you’ll find out what you need to know about how to visit Buckingham Palace in this guide. Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Opening hours and tickets
• How much time to budget for your visit
• What to see in Buckingham Palace
• Guided tour options
• Facts and history of Buckingham Palace
• Places to eat nearby

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if London tours are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Opening Hours and Tickets

Opening Hours:

Visitors have access to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms and the Palace Garden for several weeks throughout the year. But for obvious security reasons, these can only be palace guided tours. Available dates vary based on the tours that the palace offers, but here’s what’s happening in 2023.

Palace-guided tours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from November to May. Tours usually start at 4:00 pm on Fridays, and 11:00 am through 2:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Summer tickets: July 14 – September 24, with State Rooms closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Tickets have a timed entry so you’ll want to book ahead , but the palace is open from 9:30 am to the last admission at 5:15 in July and August, and 4:15 in September.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony takes place outside the palace building but within its gates. The public can view this ceremony without a ticket around 10:40 to 11:00 am every day. This time is not exact and is also dependent on weather. The ceremony only happens everyday in June/July and on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for the rest of the year.

Tickets and Tours:

Tickets must be booked online or booked here for a guided tour that includes the area around Buckingham Palace.

Palace-guided tours in the winter and spring:

Adults: £90 Family guided tour: ages 5-17 is £49.50, under 5 is free

Summer Buckingham Palace tickets if purchased in advance:

Adults: £30 Young adults (18-24): £19.50 Child (5-17): £16.50 Disabled: £16.50 Under 5: Free Families: automatic discount for 1 adult and 2 children or up to 2 adults and 4 children

Pro Tip: Your tickets can be validated for up to a year if you ask a Warden to stamp it before leaving!

Address: Buckingham Palace

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our article on the best London tours to take and why .

How Long To Spend at Buckingham Palace

Short Answer: 2.5 hours for the State Rooms or 4.5 hours for the Royal Day Out

There are 19 State Rooms (the palace has a total of 775 rooms) so a meaningful visit will take a few hours. You’ll have access to several of the most ornately decorated rooms with treasures from the Royal Collection, paintings by old master artists, expensive sculptures, and elegant English and French furniture.

Also, you get to see the opulent and historic Throne Room. You might agree as I do that the White Drawing Room is even grander than the Throne Room. Find out for yourself!

What To See In Buckingham Palace

On your visit to the royal residence, make sure you see these incredible rooms and sights. There’s a lot of history and opulence to take in as you see Buckingham Palace. For a more detailed list with history, check out our article on the top things to see at the palace.

• The Changing Of The Guard
• The Throne Room
• The Queen’s Gallery
• The White Drawing Room 
• The Palace Garden
• Treasures Of The Palace
• The Ballroom
• The Gold State Coach
• The Diamond Jubilee State Coach
• The Grand Staircase

Buckingham Palace Tour Options

Guided tours to see Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and other important areas around this royal area are the best way to get to know this historic site. We offer several top-rated tours that you can choose to make your vacation in London the best ever.

The Buckingham Palace Royalty Tour (2.5 hours)

Anyone can take an audio-guided tour, but if you book this tour, you get the special attention of a tour guide who knows incredible stories you won’t hear on that audio guide. Plus, you’ll first explore the serene St. James Park where you’ll hear about it’s transformation from a swampland to a deer park and a quiet oasis.

You’ll feel like you know the royals even better after exploring the Mall where official processionals and the Changing of the Guard have happened for centuries. Rest assured that your guide will get you to the right door at Buckingham Palace after entertaining you with stories of what you’ll see inside.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard (3 hours)

Clients love our skip-the-line access to the famous Westminster Abbey where they can enjoy a few minutes of quiet time with their guide in the nave of the abbey before the public enters.

There’s more to see at Westminster than you think, so having a knowledgeable guide to lead you through the Quire, Poet’s Corner, and more, is extremely helpful. And if the Changing of the Guard happens on the day of your tour, they’ll be sure to help you see it from several vantage points.

London in a Day Tour with Westminster Abbey and Tower of London (7 hours)

Our top-selling London tour is a must-do when you’re traveling to the heart of the United Kingdom. Your local guides are highly qualified and can share an unreal amount of cool facts and stories about London’s iconic sites and history. Starting at Westminster Abbey, you’ll be amazed at just how much of London you can see on foot and on a Thames river cruise.

Your skip-the-line tickets help you maximize your time, and your guides know where the best spots to see the Changing of the Guard are found. Your final stop at the Tower of London brings London’s more grisly history to life. It’s the perfect place to end your busy day tour of London!

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if sightseeing tours in London are worth it .

Buckingham Palace Facts and History 

• The palace has a total of 775 rooms, 19 of which are state rooms open to the public. 
• There have been many properties on the site. From 1698, however, it was known as Buckingham House and was the home of the Duke of Buckingham, where it gets its name.
• In 1761, it became known as the Queen’s House after George III bought it for his wife Queen Charlotte.
• It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George IV had it lavishly restructured fit for a king.
• The royal family made it their official residence in 1837, and Queen Victoria was the first royal to officially live there as head of state.
• The palace entertains 50,000 invited guests a year. Also, it averages 578,000 paid visitors a year.
• The Changing of the Guard ceremony happens daily at 10.45 am. King Henry VII made them the official Royal Body Guard 500 years ago. 
• During World War II, the palace was repeatedly targeted but survived nine bombing raids. The Royal Family refused to move out despite concerns for their safety.
• The palace is heavily protected but in 1982 an intruder called Michael Fagan broke into the Queen’s bedroom while she was sleeping. When she awoke, they had a brief chat before she fled the room and raised the alarm.

Places To Eat Nearby

The good news is your dining options are plentiful, but you’ll need to choose wisely. You can dine like royalty on Buckingham Palace Road, very close to the palace. Or, on the same stretch of road, there are sandwich bars with a more laid-back atmosphere and casual dining.

Take your pick of traditional British fare or more exotic cuisines. Here are a few suggestions, but if you’d like more options, also check out our guide to the best restaurants near Buckingham Palace . 

The Laughing Halibut : £ | Takeaway —Grab some old-school fish and chips to take away or take a seat inside. It’s a great place for a quick lunch with good reviews.

Bon Gusto : ££ | Italian Cuisine —Fancy a change from British grub? Try this Italian restaurant with a selection of meat, seafood, and pasta dishes. There are also soups and Mediterranean salads.  

The English Grill : ££££ | Traditional British Fare —This restaurant promises you’ll dine like royalty. Indeed, it is ornately decorated with regal furniture and furnishings. You can enjoy traditional afternoon tea in a garden overlooking the Royal Mews. Also, the range of steak, salad, and dessert dishes (to name a few) are product-sourced from the same Royal suppliers as Buckingham Palace.

Find the best places to stay

Where To Stay in London

Deciding where to stay at a great hotel in London can take some effort since it’s a massive city. Make your decision easier with our list of the best neighborhoods and hotels in London.

Reader Interactions

Comments (10).

June 30, 2022

We Want to visit inside Buckingham Palace either on 13th or 14th July. Can you help us tour and visit it?

July 5, 2022

We don’t currently offer Buckingham Palace tours, but we’d love to take you around London to see the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, plus even more great locations on our London in a Day tour and Westminster Abbey tour .

July 1, 2022

Will we be able to turn up at Buckingham Palace and buy a ticket on the day? Shanthi

[email protected]

Not necessarily. Since the royal family uses Buckingham Palace, schedules and public access are subject to changes at short notice. Additionally, tours are not available every day. It’s best to plan ahead and purchase tickets before you arrive to have the best chance of entering the palace.

September 19, 2022

It’s my 70th birthday august 21 2023 and I would like to bring my children/grandchildren to visit Buckingham Palace. There will be 2 x Oaps, 3 adults, 1 child aged 9 and 1 aged 4. What would you recommend and at what cost? Thank you for your help Best wishes

September 21, 2022

What a fun trip! You can check their website for tickets next season. The palace is only open for 10 weeks in the summer, and it’s closed early this year due to the queen’s death. You can also book a trip out to Windsor Castle and Stonehenge for fun day trip to another royal residence.

In your ‘blurb’ “It became a palace for the first time in the 1820s when George VI had it lavishly restructured to be fit for a king.” This is incorrect. In actual fact it was ‘King George IV’ who died in 1830 King George VI was Queen Elizabeth II father and died in 1952

Thanks for letting us know about that typo! It makes a difference of generations!

I purchased four Buckingham Palace tour tickets for Thursday, September 29. I do have my confirmation email, but I don’t have the actual ticket email. If I would email my customer and order numbers to an office or a person, is there some way I could please get the email with the actual tickets.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and assistance with this matter.

You’ll need to check with the company from whom you purchased your ticket as they’ll have the accurate information.

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The 5 best sightseeing tours of buckingham palace.

See one of Britain's top attractions on a walking, biking, bus or private taxi tour.

The Best Tours of Buckingham Palace

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A tour of Buckingham Palace is a must-do on your next London vacation.

On a visit to London , some of the top attractions are linked to the royal family. But nothing is quite as iconic as a visit to the one of the three official residences of the monarchy – Buckingham Palace . While it's only open to the public on select dates, you can relish in its beauty from the regal gates, snap a selfie and catch a Changing the Guard ceremony.

How to Tour Buckingham Palace

For about 10 weeks every summer (select dates from July 11 to Sept. 29, 2024), Buckingham Palace opens its elaborate gates, welcoming visitors to explore its lavish State Rooms, grounds and Royal Collection artworks. The Royal Mews is also open to visitors from March to October, showcasing the Royal Family's real working stables and ornate, historic carriages – including the Gold State Coach used for Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Coronation in 2022.

The Best Sightseeing Tours of Buckingham Palace

If you aren't here at the right time, fear not; this extravagant, 18th-century royal residence is just as impressive from the outside, making it worth a visit any time of year. Come on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Sunday morning to see the Changing the Guard ceremony – when the red-and-black-clad Royal Guard marches toward the palace, accompanied by striking military music – and see a tradition that's been running for more than 300 years. Combine it with explorations in the surrounding area of Westminster to see London at its most quintessential.

You can explore all of this independently, of course – but if you're looking to dig a little deeper, hear about the king's coronation and uncover local secrets, consider a guided London tour . Insider experts can point out the best photo spots, take you to the must-see sights and show you the ins and outs of the area while sharing  knowledge of the country's royal history along the way.

There are tons of options out there, so where do you start? Based on local knowledge and traveler review sites, here are some of the most highly rated tours.

Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

Price: From $13

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Standout perk: Witness the pomp of the iconic Changing the Guard ceremony.

Watch the Royal Guard march toward Buckingham Palace as you witness this historic, quintessentially British spectacle on a two-hour tour of Westminster's highlights. Accompanied by a military band, you'll see the Old Guard (soldiers on duty) switch to the New Guard as they arrive at the palace from Wellington Barracks. Your guide will explain which regiment is which, before taking you on a guided walking tour past other world-famous, attractions, including Big Ben, Clarence House, the Houses of Parliament , St James's Palace and Westminster Abbey .

Recent travelers gave high ratings to the tour, saying guides were able to take them to the best photo spots for the ceremony, while offering a wealth of historical and entertaining insight.

Tours leave at 10 a.m. and depart from the corner of Piccadilly and Arlington Street (between The Ritz and The Wolseley), ending at Parliament Square.

Local tip: Look at the Horse Guards Clock on the Horse Guards Parade – the official entrance to Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace – to see a dark stain above the 2 (II, in Roman numerals). It marks the time King Charles I was executed outside the Palace of Whitehall in 1649, after being charged with treason.

View & Book Tickets: Viator

Windsor Castle & Buckingham Palace Tour

Price: From $164

Duration: 8.5 hours

Standout perk: Get a rare chance to explore the State Rooms with Buckingham Palace tickets, and tick off two of the United Kingdom's grandest royal residences in one day.

This twin-castle tour offers the opportunity to enter Buckingham Palace and see its State Rooms, Royal Collection artwork and other treasures, with commentary from an audio guide. After you've toured the palace, you'll travel by coach about 25 miles west of London to Windsor Castle – the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, and the family home of the monarchy for more than 900 years. Explore the castle's lavish State Apartments and grounds, and visit St George's Chapel – the burial place of Queen Elizabeth II alongside many other monarchs, and the spot where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. Recent travelers said the tour was a great opportunity to see inside both palaces. Several commented on the extensive art collection at Buckingham Palace, and many enjoyed hearing insights from the guides, although some complained about long lines. The tour takes place from July through September on select Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and leaves from Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 a.m. Local tip: Windsor Castle has its own Changing the Guard ceremony, as well as its own extensive art collection – the ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. on select days of the week.

Full-day London with Changing of the Guard and Private Cruise

Price: From $158; with optional London Eye or Harrods cream tea for an additional fee

Duration: 9 hours

Standout perk: You'll see many of London's key attractions in one day, and enjoy a river cruise thrown in for good measure.

If you want to combine a visit to see Buckingham Palace's Changing the Guard ceremony with stops at several other London spots, this is a great choice. The full-day trip begins at the UNESCO listed Tower of London where you'll have the chance to see the crown jewels.

From here you'll visit Buckingham Palace to witness the famous pomp and pageantry of the ceremony, and get the chance to admire the palace's impressive architecture from the outside. The day includes a tour of the elaborate St. Paul's Cathedral (not available on Sundays), before embarking on a boat tour of the Thames, passing key attractions including Tower Bridge and Shakespeare's Globe. The day also includes a photo stop at Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Kate Middleton married in 2011, and a brief walking tour of Parliament Square. Travelers can choose to add a ride on the famous London Eye observation wheel (or opt for a quintessentially British cream tea at Harrods instead).

Recent travelers loved the tour and praised the guides as highly knowledgeable and entertaining. Many were impressed with how much they saw in a day and said it gave them a great introduction to London (although it's worth noting a few felt there was quite a bit of walking involved).

Tours leave from Victoria Coach Station at 7:45 a.m. and finish at the London Eye.

Local tip: If you fancy delving deeper into the Tower of London in your own time, book a ticket to see the Ceremony of the Keys. Dating back seven centuries, this nightly ceremony is when the castle gets locked up for the night, with a special exchange between the sentry and Yeoman Warder taking place at 9:30 p.m. between the atmospheric battlements – both eerie and magical.

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The London Essentials Bike Tour

Price: From $38

Duration: 3.5 hours

Standout perk: Get active on two wheels, and combine a Buckingham Palace stop with a visit to Kensington Palace and other royal sights.

This half-day guided cycling tour is a great option to get active on your London trip. You'll start at Kensington Gardens – the home of Kensington Palace, where Princess Diana lived with the now King Charles, and Queen Victoria's birthplace. From here, pedal to the Royal Albert Hall to check out this elaborate concert hall, opened by Queen Victoria in 1871. Afterward, cycle through Hyde Park and on to Green Park to reach Buckingham Palace, where your guide will regale you with little-known stories about the palace. Continue on to Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben as you take in some of the capital's key highlights, before returning to the Royal Parks.

Recent travelers raved about the tour and were really impressed by the knowledge of the guide. Many enjoyed the small group size and said the cycling was a good, leisurely pace, with plenty to see along the way, and iced tea and snacks included as a bonus.

The tour leaves from outside the main entrance at Hilton London Hyde Park. The recommended minimum age is 9 – you can pre-book junior bikes and child seats. While the bicycle and helmet for use during the tour are included, attraction entry fees are additional.

Local tip: If you've got time after the tour, it's well worth exploring Kensington Palace a bit more. Admire the elaborate, Georgian-era King's Staircase and the King's State Gallery with its fine art collection, see the Queen's State Apartments where Mary II would come to relax or welcome guests, and visit the Sunken Garden, once a favorite spot of Princess Diana's. After, enjoy afternoon tea or lunch at the Kensington Palace Pavilion amid the gardens.

View & Book Tickets: GetYourGuide

The Premier Classic London: Private 4-Hour Tour in a Black Cab

Price: From $461

Duration: 4 hours

Standout perk: You'll see many of London's must-see attractions, and as it's a private tour, you can tailor the trip to your liking.

If you're after a private tour, this half-day trip in a classic London black cab is just the ticket.

You can choose to align your visit to Buckingham Palace with a Changing the Guard ceremony, and you'll get expert commentary from your personal taxi driver, who's also a registered tour guide. Alongside the palace, you'll pass must-see points including the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, St James's Palace, the Tower of London, Piccadilly Circus, Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market and Covent Garden , with options to stop along the way.

Recent travelers loved the tour and said guides were able to tailor the trip, stopping at spots both on and off the tourist trail and offering plenty of historical insight.

Your driver-guide can pick you up and drop you off at your hotel; or a central London location.

Local tip: Make a stop at Borough Market to try some of the best food in the city, with more than 100 stalls offering everything from Persian to Italian, alongside plenty of fresh produce.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Laura French is an award-winning British travel writer based in London. She grew up just outside the city and worked around the corner from Buckingham Palace for several years. She loves exploring the surrounding area, and used her own experience alongside online research to compile the roundup.

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10 images of Buckingham Palace's gardens that prove just how immaculate they are

From the rose garden to the wildflowers, take a tour of the breathtaking outdoor space...

Written by garden writer Claire Masset, the book offers an insight into the garden's rich history and 39-acres of space. Combining images by award-winning photographer John Campbell and gardening tips from, Mark Lane , Head Gardener at Buckingham Palace, it reveals how the garden changes and develops over the course of a year.

From its sweeping lawns to the wildflower meadows, the book aims to take readers on a tour of the garden's main features. It might be right in the heart of the city, but its a place that's home to a remarkable array of flora and fauna, including rare native plants seldom seen in London.

"Readers will learn about the seasonal posies created for Her Majesty The Queen every Monday when she is in residence and will discover the stories behind the commemorative trees planted by generations of the Royal Family, including the two plane trees introduced by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert," explains the Royal Collection Trust.

As well as this, the book will also wonderfully explore how the gardeners at the Palace balance the best horticultural practices with a nature-friendly, sustainable approach.

Tempted to take a peek? Take a little tour around the garden...

1. The waterfall

2. Beehives

3. Magnolia trees

4. Flowers from the garden

5. The Rose Garden

6. Plane trees

7. Herbaceous border

8. The lake

Buckingham Palace: A Royal Garden is published by Royal Collection Trust on 13th April 2021. It will be available at £14.95 from Royal Collection Trust shops and www.rct.uk/shop .

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RHS How to Create your Garden: Ideas and Advice for Transforming your Outdoor Space

Adam Frost's practical, no-nonsense approach will help you plan and build a garden that works for you. The Gardeners' World presenter takes you step by step through the whole process, from simple garden design ideas to a full garden makeover.

Modern Container Gardening: How to Create a Stylish Small-Space Garden Anywhere

Isabelle Palmer shows you how to make the most of every little space with a series of projects for small gardens, singular containers and window boxes, that can be completed in a day or weekend. Perfect for novice gardeners,  Modern Container Gardening offers beautiful photography and clear step-by-step instructions.

National Trust School of Gardening: Practical Advice from the Experts

The National Trust employs over 500 gardeners with an extraordinary wealth of expertise. And now, in this in-depth guide, they pass on their wisdom and provide the answers any new and seasoned gardener is looking for. This book is intended to give you inspiration and confidence to make the most of your garden, without being overwhelmed with unnecessary technical detail.

Veg in One Bed: How to Grow an Abundance of Food in One Raised Bed, Month by Month

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DK The Complete Gardener: A Practical, Imaginative Guide to Every Aspect of Gardening

Monty Don offers straightforward gardening advice in this book, revealing the secrets of growing vegetables, fruits, flowers, and herbs, while respecting the needs of the environment by gardening organically. You can also enjoy a tour of his Herefordshire garden, including his flower garden, herb garden, kitchen garden, and more.

DK RHS Practical House Plant Book

The Practical House Plant Book by the RHS contains a dozen step-by-step projects to help you assemble an eye-catching terrarium, create a floating kokedama 'string garden', or propagate succulents. Complete with 175 in-depth plant profiles, this is an essential practical guide for indoor gardeners.

Ten Speed Press Small Garden Style: A Design Guide for Outdoor Rooms and Containers

A small garden space – an urban patio, a tiny backyard, or even just a pot by your door – doesn't have to sacrifice style. In  Small Garden Style , garden designer Isa Hendry Eaton and lifestyle writer Jennifer Blaise Kramer show you how to use good design to create a joyful, elegant, and exciting yet compact outdoor living space.

No Dig Garden Charles Dowding's No Dig Gardening: From Weeds to Vegetables Easily and Quickly: Course 1

Charles Dowding, innovator of no dig, teaches you everything you need to know about this method of organic gardening. With 19 chapters, you'll learn how to use no dig on different soil types, recognise and massively reduce the different types of weeds, know the difference between soil and types of compost, and grow an abundance of vegetables using the no dig method. 

Kyle Books In Bloom: Growing, harvesting and arranging flowers all year round

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DK RHS Complete Gardener's Manual

The RHS'  Complete Gardener's Manual will help you choose plants that will thrive in your space, design a border for year-round colour, grasp different pruning techniques, discover how to protect your veg patch from pests, and make the best compost.

Bloomsbury Wildlife Wildlife Gardening: For Everyone and Everything

Do you want to attract more bees, birds, frogs and hedgehogs into your garden? In  Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything,  Kate Bradbury teams up with the Wildlife Trusts and the RHS to help you discover how you can make your garden, balcony, doorstep or patio a haven for garden wildlife. You'll find handy charts, practical projects and fact files. 

DK My House Plant Changed My Life: Green wellbeing for the great indoors

Gardener and TV presenter David Domoney is a firm believer that indoor plants can make 'a practical and emotional contribution to our wellbeing'. In this book, David explains the hard science behind the positive effect of the humble houseplant on wellness, and provides expert tips on how to keep your plants thriving, plus shares his top 50 life-enhancing houseplants.

DK RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design: Planning, Building and Planting Your Perfect Outdoor Space

If you're looking for new garden ideas, the  RHS Encyclopedia of Garden Design will guide you from planning to planting, such as choosing the correct materials for your structures and assessing your drainage, to laying patios, making ponds, and planting perennials.

Lorenz Books How to Create an Eco Garden: The practical guide to sustainable and greener gardening

This planet-friendly book is filled with ideas for creating your own eco garden on any scale, from a small courtyard to a large garden or allotment. Discover organic techniques that improve biodiversity, learn the value of using recycled and reclaimed materials for landscaping, and take on simple projects such as making a pond and a wildlife hotel.

DK RHS Encyclopedia Of Plants and Flowers

Drawing on expert advice from the RHS, this best-selling reference book – organised by colour, size, and type, rather than as an A-Z directory – will help you select the right varieties for your outdoor space.

Frances Lincoln Publishers Ltd Build a Better Vegetable Garden: 30 DIY Projects to Improve your Harvest

Joyce and Ben Russell have devised 30 kitchen garden projects, devised to either extend the season, protect crops from pests or improve yields. These projects transform your vegetable plot into somewhere more productive, more attractive and more secure.

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What You Need To Know Before Visiting Buckingham Palace (Yes, You Can Go Inside)

• Key Takeaways:
• Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a major renovation until 2027. Some areas may be closed during the renovation, so it is important to check the official website for updates.
• Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace and other royal palaces were closed to the public and are gradually reopening. The State Rooms of Buckingham Palace will be closed for the rest of the year.
• To visit Buckingham Palace, it is recommended to book in advance and arrive early to allow time for security checks. Certain items are prohibited inside the palace, and photography is only allowed in the garden. The Changing of the Guard ceremony is also worth watching.

One of the things that all Americans will most likely do when traveling to London is visiting Buckingham Palace. A far cry from some of the overrated tourist attractions in London , the palace is still a working royal residence and is definitely worth a visit. Keep reading to find out what you need to know before going.

For 70 years, Buckingham Palace was one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II - now, it is an official residence of King Charles III. The changing of the King's (formerly Queen's) Guard is one of the most iconic attractions in London and something visitors from around the world flock to see.

UPDATE: 2023/10/27 17:07 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Everything People Need To Know When Visiting Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace continues to be a global icon for tourists and English people alike. Although there is a renovation happening until 2027, there will be plenty of tours, photo-ops, and history once you enter the property. Have fun, and be safe!

Buckingham Palace Is Being Slowly Renovated

Because Buckingham Palace is so old, there have been efforts made to renovate the property. According to the Royal Family, the building's infrastructure is in urgent need of a complete overhaul to prevent long-term damage to the building and its contents. Of course, this should not result in anyone's trip being ruined, but it is worth it to check the official website now and then to ensure none of the Palace is closed.

Moreover, Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing major refurbishment works costing £369 million, expected to be completed in 2027. This will be one of the most significant renovations ever to the property, which is the country's way of preserving an iconic landmark. King Charles has been steadfast in his efforts to have this project completed as soon as possible, although such a large Palace can only be repaired so fast.

Visitors can expect certain areas to already be finished, with others closing periodically. Therefore, tours may be adjusted and altered to show more of one section over the other, so keep that in mind. Nobody ever said a renovation was easy!

• When Will Construction Be Done At Buckingham Palace?: Construction at Buckingham Palace is expected to finish in 2027.

These scenic train rides through England may offer something unique to visitors.

Notice Of Closures Following The Death Of The Queen

Following the passing of the much-loved Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Buckingham Palace (and the other royal palaces) were closed to the public. The official residences and palaces have been and will be reopening progressively to the public.

The Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and The Queen’s Gallery, Edinburgh reopened later in September. However, Buckingham Palace will not be fully reopening in 2022 as the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace will be closed for the rest of the year.

Ordinary Opening Hours For The State Rooms:

• July to August: 9.30 am to 7.30 pm
• September to October: 9.30 to 6.30 pm
• Closed: Tuesday and Wednesdays

One should check with the Royal Collection Trust for up-to-date information.

How To Get To Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is one of the prettiest destinations in London , and that’s just when looking at it from the outside. Centrally located, it’s super easy to get to and is close to three underground stations: Victoria, Green Park, and St. James’s Park, all of which are about 10 minutes away.

Many tourists choose to get off the Tube at St. James’s Park and then stroll through the luscious gardens in the park on their way to the palace. Alternatively, you could take a cab, but this can take a lot longer than the Tube due to traffic. If you don’t mind walking, the palace is within walking distance of several hotels in Westminster. It’s also one of the stops of the Hop on Hop off bus tour.

These are the cheapest spots to visit in England (outside of London, of course).

When You Can Go Inside

Many tourists are content to observe Buckingham Palace through the gates, but it is possible to go inside. The palace offers internal tours between July and October. It’s a self-guided tour where each participant is given an audio guide and allowed to travel through the rooms included on the tour at their own pace. If you’re touring the palace, you must always follow the designated route, and you won’t be allowed to return to another room you’ve already been to.

Entry Fees Buckingham Palace Only:

• Adult: £30.00 ($33)
• Young Person: £19.50 ($22) (Aged 18 to 24)
• Child: £16.50 ($18) (Aged 5 to 17)

Entry Fees Royal Day Out:

• Adult: £55.00 ($61)
• Young Person: £36.00 ($39) (Aged 18 to 24)
• Child: £30.00 ($33) (Aged 5 to 17)

The Royal Day Out includes access to the Royal Mews, The Queen's Galley, and Buckingham Palace. The tour offers access to 19 of the 775 rooms in the palace. You’ll get a chance to walk through the State Rooms where the Queen entertains guests for state affairs, including the Throne Room and the White Drawing Room. You’ll also get to see the Ballroom and walk through the garden on the way out. You also have the option to pay more for access to the Royal Mews and the Queen’s Gallery.

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Book In Advance And Be On Time

Because the palace is only open to visitors for four months every year, places fill up very quickly. Book in advance as far ahead as possible. When purchasing your tickets online, you’ll be able to choose an entrance time, and the sooner in advance you book your ticket, the better chance you’ll have of selecting a convenient time slot.

• Tip: Plan Ahead And Book Tickets Well In Advance

One of the things to know before your Buckingham Palace tour is that you should arrive at the palace between 15 and 30 minutes early. There is always a long queue to get through security, and if you’re too late, there’s a chance you will miss out on your tour.

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The Rules Of Entry

Understandably, there are a few rules of entry that all tour participants are required to follow when visiting the palace. Certain items are banned, including liquids, food, backpacks, scissors, penknives, and luggage. If you bring any of these items in, they will be confiscated. In some cases, they will be returned as you exit the palace. Those with large umbrellas are also asked to check them before embarking on the tour.

Photography is permitted in the garden but not in the staterooms. Mobile phones must also be switched off during the tour. Baby pushers are also not permitted in the staterooms.

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Other Things To Do At Buckingham Palace

If you don’t book a tour of Buckingham Palace, it’s still worth a visit. Many visitors are content to admire the palace from the outside, but there’s also the Changing of the Guard ceremony. In June and July, this generally takes place every day, although it is subject to change.

From August to May, you can catch the ceremony on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The official start time is 11 a.m. and there are several vantage points to watch the ceremony from, including the Buckingham Palace Gate and the Victoria Memorial.

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King Charles to return to public duties while continuing cancer treatment

Monarch to resume public-facing engagements after palace says doctors ‘very encouraged’ by his progress

King Charles, who is being treated for cancer, is to return to public duties, with doctors pleased and “very encouraged” by his progress and “positive” about his continued recovery, Buckingham Palace has said.

Charles, who announced in early February he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, will continue treatment while resuming some public-facing engagements, though he will not undertake a full summer programme.

His first engagement will be to visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday accompanied by Queen Camilla , though it is not a centre directly involved in his medical care. There he will meet medical specialists and patients as patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

He will also host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.

A palace spokesperson said Charles was “greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise”.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty the King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

“To help mark this milestone, the king and queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.

“As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.”

The spokesperson said the king’s treatment programme would continue, “but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress so far that the king is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties”.

Engagements will be adapted to minimise any risks to his continued recovery. The spokesperson added it was too early to say how much longer Charles’s treatment would continue, but his medical team “are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the king’s continued recovery”.

“Any public-facing engagements will be announced nearer the time in the usual way, and will remain subject to doctors’ advice, but it will not be a full summer programme. His Majesty will of course continue with all official state business and selected audiences, as he has done throughout his period of treatment.”

Though Charles will now be able to meet people indoor and outdoors, each engagement will be carefully reviewed and managed to reduce any risk to his continued recovery.

His engagements will also be paced to prevent him overdoing it while continuing treatment. The “pacing” will be “carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team”, the spokesperson said.

The king’s summer programme would, under normal circumstances, include the Birthday Parade, D-Day commemorations, the annual Buckingham Palace garden parties, Royal Ascot and an autumn tour overseas.

“Planning continues for ways in which Their Majesties may attend such summer and autumn engagements, though nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage,” the spokesperson said,

Charles’s cancer was diagnosed after treatment for a benign enlarged prostate, though it is not prostate cancer. Buckingham Palace has said it has no plans to share further details of his specific condition or treatment plan at this stage.

The Princess of Wales revealed on 22 March that she had also been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer, and is undergoing preventive chemotherapy.

The king has been dividing his time between his Sandringham estate in Norfolk and London, where he is receiving qutreatment.

A new picture of the king and queen has been released to mark the anniversary of their coronation on 6 May. It was taken in the Buckingham Palace garden on 10 April, the day after the couple’s 19th wedding anniversary.

• King Charles III
• Queen Camilla

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Horses Run Loose Through Central London in Surreal Spectacle

A number of runaway army horses galloped through London on Wednesday morning, causing alarm and injuring pedestrians. All of the animals were eventually recovered.

By Mark Landler

Reporting from London

Several runaway military horses galloped through the streets of London on Wednesday morning, alarming pedestrians, sideswiping cars and buses, and turning an ordinary rush hour into a frightening, almost surreal spectacle.

Four people were treated for injuries, including a soldier who was thrown from one of the horses, according to the London Ambulance Service. The horses, which belong to the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, a unit that parades in royal pageants, are normally well-trained symbols of London’s regal past.

On Wednesday, however, they broke into a panicked stampede that had more in common with the Wild West. Galloping past some of London’s most famous sites — from Buckingham Palace to Tower Bridge — they left a trail of damaged vehicles and shocked pedestrians, some of whom had to dart out of their way.

By 10:30 a.m., the Metropolitan Police said that all the horses had been recovered and were back in their barracks in Hyde Park. But some had suffered injuries, including a white horse that had blood splashed on its neck, chest and forelimbs.

The drama began shortly after 8 a.m. when the horses, apparently spooked by the noise from a nearby construction site, threw off the military riders who were taking them out for routine exercises. Photographs showed one of the soldiers being treated while lying on the ground on Buckingham Palace Road.

Video footage captured a pair of riderless horses galloping in Aldwych, a stately area in central London. Their hooves clattered in the shadow of grand stone buildings as passers-by scattered, buses jerked to a stop and cars honked. The white horse, wearing a saddle and stirrups with its reins flying behind it, was caught on video later galloping in the vicinity of Tower Bridge.

Other pictures showed the result of unexpected encounters between animals and a busy urban landscape: a double-decker tour bus with a smashed windshield and a gray Mercedes van with a dented door and smashed rear windows.

As the incident unfolded, newspapers and broadcasters began carrying live coverage, briefly riveting much of the city. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement, “We are aware of a number of horses that are currently loose in central London and are working with colleagues, including the army, to locate them.”

Shortly before 10 a.m., the City of London police reported that its officers had corralled two of the horses near Limehouse, a neighborhood adjacent to the city’s docklands. That indicated they had made their way across Central London, from Westminster through Covent Garden and past the financial district.

“We’re waiting for an army horse box to collect the horses and transport them to veterinary care,” the city police said in a statement.

An army spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that horses had been recovered and returned to their camp, but he added, “A number of personnel and horses have been injured and are receiving the appropriate medical attention.”

The Household Cavalry — made up of the two most senior units in the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals — is a familiar sight in royal pageants. They trooped in the coronation of King Charles III last May and during the state funeral of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II , in September 2022.

The cavalry’s horses are trained to be comfortable in busy streets and around people, which made the incident on Wednesday extraordinarily unusual.

Tourists often pose for pictures next to the horses when they stand guard in front of Horse Guards Parade , a ceremonial parade ground on Whitehall, north of Downing Street. The soldiers astride them only occasionally scold the tourists for getting too close or otherwise disturbing the animals.

Mark Landler is the London bureau chief of The Times, covering the United Kingdom, as well as American foreign policy in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He has been a journalist for more than three decades. More about Mark Landler

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Unesco social media, kremlin and red square, moscow.

• Description

Inextricably linked to all the most important historical and political events in Russia since the 13th century, the Kremlin (built between the 14th and 17th centuries by outstanding Russian and foreign architects) was the residence of the Great Prince and also a religious centre. At the foot of its ramparts, on Red Square, St Basil's Basilica is one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox monuments.

Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

Le Kremlin et la place Rouge, Moscou

Indissolublement lié à tous les événements historiques et politiques les plus importants survenus en Russie depuis le XIII e siècle, le Kremlin a été construit entre le XIV e et le XVII e siècle par des architectes russes et étrangers exceptionnels. C'était la résidence du grand-prince ainsi qu'un centre religieux. Au pied de ses remparts, sur la place Rouge, s'élève la basilique Basile-le-Bienheureux, l'un des plus beaux monuments de l'art orthodoxe.

الكرملين والساحة الحمراء، موسكو

يرتبط الكرملين ارتباطاً وثيقاً بجميع الأحداث التاريخيّة والسياسيّة المهمّة التي توالت على روسيا منذ القرن الثالث عشر ولقد جرى تشييده بين القرنين الرابع والسابع عشر على يد مهندسين روس وأجانب استثنائيين. وكان الكرملين مقرّ الأمير الكبير كما كان مركزاً دينيّاً. عند أسفل أسواره في الساحة الحمراء شيدت بازيليك القديس بازيل وهي من أروع تحف الفنّ الأرثوذكسي.

source: UNESCO/CPE Description is available under license CC-BY-SA IGO 3.0

莫斯科克里姆林宫和红场

由俄罗斯和外国建筑家于14世纪至17世纪共同修建的克里姆林宫，作为沙皇的住宅和宗教中心，与13世纪以来俄罗斯所有最重要的历史事件和政治事件密不可分。在红场上防御城墙的脚下坐落的圣瓦西里教堂是俄罗斯传统艺术最漂亮的代表作之一。

El kremlin y la Plaza Roja de Moscú

Indisolublemente vinculado a los más trascendentales acontecimientos históricos y políticos de Rusia desde el siglo XIII, el kremlin de Moscú fue construido entre los siglos XIV y XVII por toda una serie de excelentes arquitectos rusos y extranjeros. Además de ser la residencia del Gran Príncipe, fue un importante centro religioso. Al pie de sus murallas, en la Plaza Roja, se alza la basílica de San Basilio el Bienaventurado, uno de los más hermosos monumentos de arte ortodoxo.

モスクワのクレムリンと赤の広場

source: NFUAJ

Kremlin en Rode Plein, Moskou

Het Kremlin is onlosmakelijk verbonden met alle belangrijke historische en politieke gebeurtenissen in Rusland sinds de 13e eeuw. Het werd door de Grote Prins Yuri van Kiev gesticht als residentie en religieus centrum. De bouw vond plaats tussen de 14e en 17e eeuw en het ontwerp was in handen van uitstekende Russische en buitenlandse architecten. Binnen de muren van het Kremlin vindt men een reeks meesterwerken qua architectuur, maar ook beeldende kunst en religieuze monumenten van uitzonderlijke schoonheid. Aan de voet van de stadsmuren, op het Rode Plein, bevindt zich een van de mooiste Russisch-orthodoxe monumenten, de Pokrovkathedraal ook wel Basiliuskathedraal genoemd.

Source: unesco.nl

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis

At the geographic and historic centre of Moscow, the Moscow Kremlin is the oldest part of the city. First mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle in 1147 as a fortification erected on the left bank of the Moskva river by Yuri Dolgoruki, Prince of Suzdal, the Kremlin developed and grew with settlements and suburbs which were further surrounded by new fortifications - Kitaigorodsky Wall, Bely Gorod, Zemlyanoy Gorod and others. This determined a radial and circular plan of the centre of Moscow typical of many other Old Russian cities.

In 13th century the Kremlin was the official residence of supreme power - the center of temporal and spiritual life of the state. The Kremlin of the late 15th – early 16th century is one of the major fortifications of Europe (the stone walls and towers of present day were erected in 1485–1516). It contains an ensemble of monuments of outstanding quality.

The most significant churches of the Moscow Kremlin are situated on the Cathedral Square; they are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki. Almost all of them were designed by invited Italian architects which is clearly seen in their architectural style. The five-domed Assumption Cathedral (1475–1479) was built by an Italian architect Aristotele Fiorvanti. Its interior is decorated with frescos and a five-tier iconostasis (15th–17th century). The cathedral became the major Russian Orthodox church; a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars and emperors as well as the shrine for metropolitans and patriarchs.

In the same square another Italian architect, Alevisio Novi, erected the five-domed Church of the Archangel in 1505-1508. From the 17th to 19th century, its interior was decorated by wonderful frescos and an iconostasis. In this church many great princes and tsars of Moscow are buried. Among them are Ivan I Kalita, Dmitri Donskoi, Ivan III, Ivan IV the Terrible, Mikhail Fedorovich and Alexei Mikhailovich Romanovs.

The Cathedral of the Dormition was built by Pskov architects in 1484–1489. Inside the cathedral some mural paintings of 16th–19th century have been preserved and the icons of Andrei Rublev and Theophanes the Greek are part of the iconostasis.

In 1505-1508 the bell tower of Ivan Veliki was built. Being 82 metres high it was the highest building in Russia which became the focal point of the Kremlin ensemble.

Among the oldest civil buildings of the Moscow Kremlin, the Palace of the Facets (1487–1491) is the most remarkable. Italian architects Marco Fryazin and Pietro Antonio Solario built it as a great hall for holding state ceremonies, celebrations and for receiving foreign ambassadors. The most noteworthy civil construction of the 17th century built by Russian masters is the Teremnoi Palace.

From the early 18th century, when the capital of Russia moved to St. Petersburg, the Kremlin mainly played a ceremonial role with religious functions. By the end of the century the architectural complex of the Kremlin expanded with the Arsenal reconstructed after the Fire of 1797 by Matvei Kazakov. The Senate was built in 1776–1787 according to the plans of the same architect as the home of the highest agency of State power of the Russian Empire - the Ruling Senate. Today it is the residence of the President of Russia.

From 1839 to 1849 a Russian architect K.A. Thon erected the Great Kremlin Palace as a residence of the imperial family which combined ancient Kremlin buildings such as the Palace of the Facets, the Tsarina’s Golden Chamber, Master Chambers, the Teremnoi Palace and the Teremnoi churches. In the Armory Chamber built by K.A. Thon within the complex of the Great Kremlin Palace, there is a 16th century museum officially established by the order of Alexander I in 1806.

Red Square, closely associated with the Kremlin, lies beneath its east wall. At its south end is the famous Pokrovski Cathedral (Cathedral of St Basil the Blessed), one of the most beautiful monuments of Old Russian church architecture, erected in 1555–1560 to commemorate the victory of Ivan the Terrible over the Kazan Khanate. In the 17th century the cathedral gained its up-to-date appearance thanks to the decorative finishing of the domes and painting both inside and outside the cathedral. The construction of Red Square was finished by the late 19th century together with the erection of the Imperial Historic Museum (today the State Historical Museum), the Upper Trading Rows (GUM) and the Middle Trading Rows. In 1929, , Lenin’s Mausoleum, designed by A.V. Shchusev and an outstanding example of the Soviet monumental architecture, was finished.

Criterion (i) : The Kremlin contains within its walls a unique series of masterpieces of architecture and the plastic arts. There are religious monuments of exceptional beauty such as the Church of the Annunciation, the Cathedral of the Dormition, the Church of the Archangel and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki; there are palaces such as the Great Palace of the Kremlin, which comprises within its walls the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin and the Teremnoi Palace. On Red Square is Saint Basil the Blessed, still a major edifice of Russian Orthodox art.

Criterion (ii) : Throughout its history, Russian architecture has clearly been affected many times by influences emanating from the Kremlin. A particular example was the Italian Renaissance. The influence of the style was clearly felt when Rudolfo Aristotele Fioravanti built the Cathedral of the Dormition (1475-79) and grew stronger with the construction of the Granovitaya Palace (Hall of the Facets, 1487-91) by Marco Fryazin and Pietro Antonio Solario. Italian Renaissance also influenced the towers of the fortified enceinte, built during the same period by Solario, using principles established by Milanese engineers (the Nikolskaya and the Spasskaya Towers both date from 1491). The Renaissance expression was even more present in the classic capitals and shells of the Church of the Archangel, reconstructed from 1505 to 1509 by Alevisio Novi.

Criterion (iv) : With its triangular enceinte pierced by four gates and reinforced with 20 towers, the Moscow Kremlin preserves the memory of the wooden fortifications erected by Yuri Dolgoruki around 1156 on the hill at the confluence of the Moskova and Neglinnaya rivers (the Alexander Garden now covers the latter). By its layout and its history of transformations (in the 14th century Dimitri Donskoi had an enceinte of logs built, then the first stone wall), the Moscow Kremlin is the prototype of a Kremlin - the citadel at the centre of Old Russian towns such as Pskov, Tula, Kazan or Smolensk.

Criterion (vi) : From the 13th century to the founding of St Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin was directly and tangibly associated with every major event in Russian history. A 200-year period of obscurity ended in 1918 when it became the seat of government again. The Mausoleum of Lenin on Red Square is the Soviet Union’s prime example of symbolic monumental architecture. To proclaim the universal significance of the Russian revolution, the funerary urns of heroes of the revolution were incorporated into the Kremlin’s walls between the Nikolskaya and Spasskaya towers. The site thus combines in an exceptional manner the preserved vestiges of bygone days with present-day signs of one of the greatest events in modern history.

From the date of including the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square on the World Heritage List all the components representing the Outstanding Universal Value of the property are within its boundaries. The territory and the integrity of the World Heritage property have also remained unchanged. Within its boundaries the property still comprises all the elements that it contained at the date of nomination. The biggest threat, however, is unregulated commercial development of the adjacent areas.

Authenticity

The history of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square is reflected in the archival documents of 12th–19th century, for example in medieval chronicles, cadastral surveys, estimated construction books, painted lists, inventories, foreign notes and in graphic matters such as manuscripts, chronicles, plans, drafts, engravings, lithographs, sketches of foreign travelers, paintings and photographs. These documents are exceptionally valuable information sources. Comparison of the data received from archival documents and those obtained in the process of field study gives the idea of authenticity of  the property and its different elements. This comparison also serves as the basis for project development and for the choice of the appropriate methods of restoration that may preserve the monuments’ authenticity.

On the border of the ensemble a number of monuments destroyed in the 1930s were reconstructed according to measured plans.

Protection and management requirements

The statutory and institutional framework of an effective protection, management and improvement of the World Heritage property “Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow” has been established by laws and regulations of the Russian Federation and the city of Moscow.

According to the decree of the President of RSFSR of 18 December 1991 № 294, the Moscow Kremlin was included among especially protected cultural properties of nations of Russia - the highest conservation status for cultural and historical monuments in Russian legislation.

“Kremlin and Red Square, Moscow” is a Cultural Heritage Site of federal importance. State protection and management of federal sites is provided by Federal Law of 25.06.2002 № 73-FZ “On cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of nations of the Russian Federation”. The federal executive body responsible for protection of the cultural property is the Department for Control, Supervision and Licensing in the Cultural Heritage Sphere of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.It is in charge of all methodological and control functions concerning restoration, usage and support of cultural heritage sites and the territories connected.

The World Heritage property is situated in the urban environment of Moscow. The city policy regarding cultural heritage protection and town-planning regulation is the responsibility of Moscow City Government, represented by the Department of Cultural Heritage, the Department of Urban Development and the Committee for Urban Development and Architecture of Moscow. In 1997 the boundaries of the protective (buffer) zone were approved in order to preserve the property, and to maintain and restore the historical architectural environment as well as the integral visual perception of the property.. There is a need to ensure the creation of an appropriate buffer zone and to develop close liaison between all stakeholders, including the Moscow City authorities, to ensure that constructions around the property do not impact adversely on its Outstanding Universal Value.

The World Heritage property is used by the following organizations: FGBUK (Federal Government Budgetary Institution of Culture), the State Historical and Cultural Museum-preserve “The Moscow Kremlin”, the Administrative Department of the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Guard Service of the Russian Federation and OJSC “GUM Department Store”.

• Official site of 'The Moscow Kremlin' State Historical and Cultural Museum and Heritage Site
• Moscow Kremlin Museums Telegram Group (in Russian only)
• Moscow Kremlin Museums VKontakte Page (in Russian only)
• Moscow Kremlin Museums Dzen Page (in Russian only)
• State Historical Museum VKontakte Group (in Russian only)
• Msk Guide Page (in Russian only)
• Official site of the State Department Store
• State Historical Museum (in Russian only)

State of Conservation (SOC)

Come with me on my travels, as you plan yours

A Moscow Free Walking Tour of the Iconic Red Square

Updated March 10th, 2020

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No visit to Moscow, Russia is complete unless you take a walk around the famous Red Square and see the iconic sights of the city. One of the best ways to see all the famous landmarks in Moscow and learn a little something about them too is on a free Moscow walking tour through the Red Square.

Continue reading for a sneak peek at what you will see on your free tour in Moscow and for tips on both the tour and visiting the sights. Make sure to save some time during your trip to go inside of the magnificent buildings because you will not be going in the buildings during the tour.

The State Historical Museum

The Moscow free walking tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum . You can’t miss this massive red building. The museum’s interior is almost as spectacular as the artifacts you can see within. Read my post dedicated to the museum here to find out more on what you can see and tips for visiting. Admission is free with the Moscow City Pass .

The Kremlin

Behind the walls of the Kremlin lie the working offices of Russian’s government and president. When visiting the Kremlin you can see the Armory Chamber, Cathedral Square, the Patriach’s Palace and many more cathedrals. You definitely want to buy tickets ahead of time so you avoid the long-lines. You can get free admission with the Moscow City Pass . It’s also worth it to take a guided tour if you don’t speak Russian so you have more of an understanding of what you are seeing.

St. Basil’s Cathedral

If asked to conquer up an image of Moscow, St. Basil’s Cathedral might just be the most likely image you picture. The cathedral has a museum that you can visit at a later time. You can buy tickets at the ticket kiosk outside the cathedral or receive free admission with the Moscow City Pass .

Moskva River

Next up on the tour is the Moskva River which runs through the center of Moscow. A cruise on the Moskva River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective.

GUM Shopping Mall

Who would think a mall would be one of Moscow’s most well-known attractions? GUM shopping mall across from the Kremlin makes up one of the four sides of the Red Square. The stores might be a bit too pricey for shopping, but the gorgeous interior is worth a visit. If that doesn’t convince you, the mall has some of the best ice cream! GUM is the only building you go inside during the free walking tour. There are pay bathrooms you can use while you have a few minutes of free time.

Kazan Cathedral

Located on the northeast corner of the Red Square, the Kazan Cathedral is another impressive dome-shaped building in Moscow that is also an active place of worship. Entering the cathedral is allowed, but remember to be respectful if people are worshipping.

Bolshoi Theater

Contrary to the previous buildings, the Bolshoi Theater isn’t along one of the four sides of the Red Square. Located a few minutes away, the theater is one of the best theaters in the world. Make sure to come back for a guided tour of the inside or make reservations far ahead of time to attend a ballet or opera.

Alexander Gardens

The tour ends near the Alexander Gardens , a free public park located along the western Kremlin walls. The garden’s green lawns, sculptures and water fountains offer a nice place to take a stroll or relax a bit after some busy sightseeing.

You can visit all these sites on your own, but the best part of doing the Moscow free tour is that you learn more information and have the potential to meet new people!

During my tour I started to talk to a woman from Malaysia and she invited me to join her and her friends for a Russian meal afterwards. It’s these little impromptu meetings and opportunities that I love most about traveling and add more to the sightseeing experience. While I was a little hesitant about going to the tour myself I told myself it would be a great opportunity to possibly meet new people. I love when things work out like that!

If you have already seen the iconic sights of the Red Square and are looking for other things to do in Moscow check out my What to Do in Moscow post that gives more off-the beaten track things to do in Moscow!

Moscow Free Walking Tour Visiting Information

Moscow Free Walking Tours

How to Get There

The Moscow Free Walking Tour begins at the Marshal Zhukov monument in front of the State Historical Museum (a large red building). The website shows a map with the exact meeting point.

To get to the red square area you can take the blue 3 metro line to the Ploshchad Revolyutsii stop, or the green 2 line to the Teatralnaya station or the red 1 line to the Okhotny Ryad station. For more on how to use the metro read my Moscow Metro Guide .

Tours every day at 10:30am – 1pm in English

If you need a toilet before the start of the tour the Okhotny Ryad and GUM shopping malls are both close to the start of the tour. You will need to pay to use the toilets. There is a quick break mid-way through the tour at the GUM shopping mall where you can use the toilet if needed.

During the mid-way break in the tour you can buy some ice cream at the GUM shopping mall. There aren’t many other options or time for anything else. After the tour there are a lot of restaurants in the area. There are a couple of Varenichnaya №1 locations nearby if you would like some authentic Russian food. Their speciality is Russian dumplings. Another classic choice nearby is Grand Cafe Dr. Jhivago. While you can try traditional Russian foods like borscht and Olivier Salad, you may need a reservation. GUM has several restaurants, including a couple of buffets upstairs.

Recommendations

While I would start off your visit to Moscow with a tour of the Red Square, make sure to come back to each place to tour the inside. If you are visiting several sights consider buying the Moscow City Pass  to save money on admissions.

Other Tour Options

Another company  Moscow Free Tour  does a similar free walking tour in the Red Square. Check the site for the details on the starting point and times. If you prefer a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to St. Basil’s Cathedral included check out this tour . For a private paid tour with a hotel pick-up and a visit to the Kremlin included you may want to take this tour or this one . Even if you don’t typically take tours, I would recommend taking tours as much as possible in Moscow. Many people do not speak English and most information is not in English either.

Where to Stay in Moscow

Find somewhere to stay in Moscow near the Red Square so you are convenient to all the sights!

More About Russia

• Moscow Things to Do:  Unique Things to Do ,   Spartak Stadium
• Moscow Markets:  Izmailovsky Market ,   Danilovsky Market
• Moscow Museums:  Moscow City Museum ,  Victory Museum ,  Museum of the Patriotic War in 1812 ,  State Historical Museum ,
• Moscow Life:  Malls ,  Christmas in Moscow ,  Metro ,  Learning Spanish ,  My Russian Apartment ,   What is Life Really Like in Russia ,  FiFa World Cup ,  Russian Winters , and more posts about  life abroad in Russia .
• St Petersburg:  City Guide ,  The Hermitage Museum ,  Kayaking the Rivers & Canals ,   Peterhof Palace

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22 comments.

The Kremlin looks rather imposing. It would be great to explore the history in Moscow.

There is a lot of history in Moscow to explore!

What a handy guide to get the most of Moscow’s red square! I’ve always wanted to try a walking tour and this looks like the perfect place to start!

I really enjoy walking tours, I think they are a great way to get to know a new place!

You have highlighted all the main sights around and in the Red Square indeed! I have visited Moscow in winter and the atmosphere was magical…even though it was cold 🙂 I’m looking forward to visiting in summer too!

Yes, there is a magical feel during the winter. I have to say I prefer the warmer, brighter summers though 🙂

Follow My Anchor

I am planning to go to Moscow and St. Petersburg this year so reading this was very helpful. I would love to do the walking tour! What time of year did you do it? I am planning to go in August as I really can’t stand the cold 😀 Do you think August might be a good time to visit Moscow? Thank you so much for your information!

I did the walking tour in September. July and August are the best times to visit Moscow in my opinion, so you are going at a great time! I lived in Moscow for a year so I have a lot of posts about Moscow and a couple for St. Petersburg too. Please check out my other posts as you are planning your trip and feel free to send any questions my way!

I’m a huge fan of taking free walking tours whenever my husband and I travel. We learn more about the history from the local’s perspective. Your walking tour in Moscow looks fun. The St. Basil’s Cathedral is beautiful and would love to see it. Thanks for sharing the must-see places in Moscow!

I’m a big fan of free walking tours too! I completely agree that you get a good perspective and introduction to the history of the city.

I would love to take the walking tour to get a good coverage of the area! The tip about paying for the bathrooms is great. That’s something I didn’t realize when I went to Europe for the first time from the US.

I always find it annoying paying for bathrooms in Europe!

I visited Moscow in June this year for the World Cup and I loved it. St. Basil’s Cathedral was the highlight for me, it’s such an impressive piece of architecture. I would’ve liked to visit more of Russia but maybe next time!

I really enjoyed Moscow during the World Cup too. The city was much livelier than usual!

I have been to St. Petersburg but never to Moscow. I think that these kind of tours are very useful to gather many information but I second your suggestion to visit the palaces inside as they have stunning interior decor and art treasures.

Yes, I think both going on tours and getting an overview and touring the inside of places are good to do.

Shreya Saha

St. Basil’s cathedral is definitely a beautiful place to visit. I would also love to stroll by the Alexander gardens and maybe spend some time in the shopping mall call mom maybe visit the theater, also I would love to visit Kremlin and the State Historical Museum. That’s a great list you have managed to provide here.

Never been to Russia, but the country’s history and culture has always fascinated me. Great list of things to do in Moscow’s Red Square. Kremlin is definitely on top of my list!

Russia does have a fascinating history and culture!

The architecture here always looks so beautiful. I would love to go to Russia. Some helpful tips here that would really help me navigate a future trip. I love the Russian ballet so a trip to the theater would be a must for me.

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Your 48-hour tour guide of Moscow this winter!

9 am – Visit the Red Square 

Christmas market on Red Square

The first thing that every tourist should do by default is visit the very heart of Moscow – it’s main and most beautiful (which ‘krasnaya’ actually meant in Old Russian) square! 

There are several ways to explore it:

• Take a selfie with Spasskaya Tower
• Have a warm drink at the Christmas market (which lasts until mid-January)
• Visit Lenin’s Mausoleum
• Shop in the gorgeous adjacent GUM department store
• Visit St. Basil’s Cathedral (and learn that it’s actually several churches under one roof).           

11 am – It’s Kremlin time! 

Inside the Moscow Kremlin

Entering the Kremlin is, actually, a bit of a quest, as it’s a presidential facility with no general access. You need to buy a ticket or, better still, book a guided tour. Inside the Kremlin’s walls, you will find ancient cathedrals, in which Russian tsars used to be crowned and buried, as well as explore the magnificent architecture of the Kremlin that reflects the rich history of the country. And, finally, you could also make a quick visit to the Moscow Kremlin Museums and admire artifacts from various Russian tsarist eras: carriages, thrones, crowns and the most incredible armory and jewelry. 

For more information, visit the official website of the Kremlin . It’s open from 10 am to 5 pm (and it’s closed on Thursdays) in winter.

2 pm – Watch the changing of the Guard

The honor guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

A very spectacular (and free) thing to do is watch how the honor guard does their ceremonial change at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Eternal Flame, situated in Alexander Garden, right next to the Kremlin wall. Every hour, from 8 am to 8 pm, the 1st Company of the Kremlin (Presidential) Regiment performs this rather old and beautiful tradition. But, be warned, it's often overcrowded. 

3 pm – Enjoy a green oasis just in the center

Florarium in Zaryadye

Just a few steps from the Red Square, you will find the fabulous Zaryadye park. Opened in 2017, it is designed by renowned American architect bureau ‘Diller Scofidio + Renfro’. You can walk among the very cozy botanical decorations and explore Russia’s climate zones, as each of them is represented in dedicated areas, complete with flora from those zones.

The floating bridge in Zaryadye Park

The park also has an underground museum, an “ice cave” and a 3D cinema, where you can take part in a virtual adventure – a flight over Moscow! However, the piece de resistance is a floating boomerang bridge over the Moskva River, one of the best places to take a selfie.

You can also grab a quick lunch or relax with a cup of coffee or tea in the park.

7 pm – Arrange a ballet night

The Bolshoi Theater

Of course, the most fancy way to finish your day in Moscow would be to go to the ballet at the Bolshoi Theater (in a perfect world, to see ‘The Nutcracker’!). However, getting tickets to the Bolshoi is not an easy task and should be done well in advance of your visit. 

But, don’t be upset if you don’t manage to get tickets to the Bolshoi. Moscow has dozens of other options to see a ballet (or opera). No less brilliant performances can be seen in the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Music Theater or in The State Kremlin Palace (by the way, this is another way to get a quick glimpse inside the Kremlin!).

10:30 pm – Have a late dinner in a fancy restaurant

Dr Zhivago restaurant

There are not so many other cities with such a big choice of restaurants in a range of tastes and styles. In 2021, the authoritative Michelin guide announced their pick of the best of Moscow’s restaurants. And here’s our guide to all the places with Russian cuisine for any budget. But, if you happen to be in the area of the Bolshoi or Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, then ‘Dr. Zhivago’ would definitely be a nice option (and it’s open around the clock).

DAY 2 

9 am – grab a moscow coffee.

Winter festivities mood in Moscow

Moscow is definitely a coffee city! You can find coffee shops on every corner and they all offer a huge range of drinks. Try a ‘raf’ coffee, a sweet, creamy drink that was created in Russia, or dare to pick one of the very unusual offers, like cheese coffee or a Soviet candy style one (check out our coffee guide here ).

10 am – Take a river cruise

Winter boating along the Moskva River

Another exciting way to explore Moscow is to observe it from the water. Boats cruise along the Moskva River all year round. Most begin their route from the Hotel Ukraine, one of Stalin's ‘Seven Sister’ skyscrapers, and will bring you back to the same spot after passing the medieval Novodevichy Convent, Moscow State University and Luzhniki Stadium, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and giant monument to Peter the Great and many other sightseeings. 

It’s always at optimum temperature inside the boat, which also has huge panoramic windows. Select boats also offer a full dining experience, so it is also a nice place to have breakfast or lunch.

If you are not a water person, then discover other, unusual sides of Moscow – pick one of the activities we’ve prepared for you here ! 

1 pm – Visit ‘Russia’ Expo and taste a bunch of Russian regional cuisines

Russia Expo at VDNKh

Until April 2024, the Soviet-era VDNKh exhibition park is hosting the huge ‘Russia’ expo, with tons of activities and expositions devoted to Russia, its culture, science and nature. Check out our special guide on what to do there!  

An entire ‘House of Russian Cuisine’ has been opened at the expo. You will find 15 food stands with flagship dishes from Kamchatka, Siberia, Karelia and other regions of Russia. Imagine trying a range of cuisines and dishes in one place without even having to travel anywhere, be it Altai pelmeni, Tula kalach or Caucasian pies! A perfect place to grab some lunch.

House of Russian cuisines at VDNKh

The VDNKh exhibition park is a great place to visit, in general! Its pavilions are the perfect example of Stalinit Empire style architecture and you can almost feel as if you’ve traveled back in time! You will also find several interesting museums in the park – devoted to space exploration, Russian history and even a ‘Special Purpose Garage’, which showcases the various vehicles used by the country’s leaders. 

'Sun of Moscow' wheel

And, finally, you can ride Europe's tallest panoramic wheel – ‘Sun of Moscow’ – that will give you panoramic views of the city – from a height of 140 meters!

5 pm – Ice skate with view & mulled wine

Ice skating rink on Red Square (GUM department store on the background)

Ice skating is one of the most popular and affordable activities in Moscow. There are several great ice skating rinks in picturesque locations that are open all winter long. One of the biggest rinks in Europe is also at the aforementioned VDNKh or you can visit the one in Gorky Park, another very popular Moscow spot, or the small, but fancy rink – right on Red Square! 

All the parks offer ice skate rental, so the only things you need are warm clothes, a charged phone to record your memories and a good mood!  Moscow also gets dark at 4:30 pm in winter and hundreds of lights are switched on, turning the city into a giant fairy tale! 

A mulled wine with a view

And, if you are not a sports person, we’ve picked several other unusual activities that you could do in Moscow instead. For example, did you know that there is an entire district of dacha (countryside) houses, just 10 minutes from the center, surrounded by giant new highrises? How about taking a stroll there and feeling the early Soviet atmosphere?

8 pm – Warm up & laugh out loud

After all these outdoor activities, what could be better than a warm cozy bar with a hot drink and nice company? Moscow is a city full of entertainment for all tastes. So, if you know the Russian language or want to practice it, go to a theater or catch a stand-up comedy show. Moscow even has comedy shows in English, where you can hear both Russians speaking fluent English or foreigners (including Brits and Americans) who live in Russia speaking in broken or heavily-accented Russian (Check their show dates on the ‘ Moscow English Comedy ’ Telegram channel)!

11 pm – Finish by partying the night away!

Propaganda club in Moscow

Moscow never sleeps, as you might have heard. Which means there are plenty of bars and nightclubs where you can have a drink (or two or three; be sure to check out how Russians make Black Russian and White Russian cocktails) and chat with incredibly different people. Have fun and don’t miss your flight (or miss it and stay longer in the best city in the world!)!

That's it! See you soon in Moscow

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