Buckingham Palace

The Georgian House Hotel is a great place to stay if you are planning a visit to Buckingham Palace.  It is only a ten minute walk away and very easy to find. 

The history of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was built in 1825 by John Nash. This has been a royal residence since 1837. Buckingham Palace is a working setting for the monarchy - with three hundred staff involved in tasks from running the household to organising banquets for visiting heads of state and arrangements for ambassadors. There are seventy-eight bathrooms at Buckingham Palace, unfortunately none of them are open to the public. From Buckingham Palace the Queen leaves on ceremonial duties.  Three times a year there are summer garden parties to celebrate public and private events.

Buckingham Palace opens to the public

The public have only been able to visit the state room of Buckingham Palace since August 1993, when the Queen decided to open up her London home to raise money for the restoration of Windsor Castle, which had earlier been badly damaged by fire.

Nowadays, however, Buckingham Palace is one of the major tourist attractions. Only 18 of the Buckingham Palace's 661 rooms are on show, but they include the grand halls used for state occasions.

Visitors to Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has approximately 8000 visitors every day when it opens for the public in early August till October. The visiting time is 9.30am - 16.30pm Monday to Sunday. Considering the amount of people trying to get to Buckingham Palace every day when it opens, it is advisable to book your tickets in advance, especially if you have a pre-arranged day for the visit.  The tickets for Buckingham Palace can be booked with your hotel concierge, at any London Tourist Information Office or at the ticket office in Green Park, which opens daily at 9.00am.
In the garden of Buckingham Palace there is a gift shop. The shop offers reproduction jewellery, silk scarves and ties, teas, biscuits, chocolates and a big selection of postcards with the view of Buckingham Palace and its state rooms and, of course, the royal family themselves.

Photography is not allowed inside Buckingham Palace and visitors will be asked to check their bags at the security screening room near the entrance; the bags will be transported to the garden exit while the visitors are making their tour.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

The main daily attraction at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes daily at 11.30am until August, when it becomes alternate days until the spring. It is cancelled in wet weather. The change takes 30 minutes. The Queen's Guard, accompanied by a military band, marches via Birdcage Walk to Buckingham Palace and changes inside the Palace gates. The Queen's Guard usually consists of foot guards in full-dress uniform of red tunics and bearskins. It is unbelievable that almost all the tourists in London come to Buckingham Palace at the same time and make such a huge crowd.

Outside Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace faces beautiful St. James Park. The park has a beautiful flora, lots of different kind of ducks and pelicans and brave squirrels which come to your hands to be fed with nuts and pop corn. This provides fun for little ones.

So, if you have not planned your day yet, for historical and cultural investigations and of course for some fun, visit Buckingham Palace.

Hotels near Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is located about 10min walk from Georgian House Hotel and about 10min walk from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
For more information visit www.royal.gov.uk.

Georgian House Hotel is ideally situated in a very central location, so visiting sights all over London is quick and easy. Why not book Georgian House Hotel when you plan your trip to Buckingham Palace? You can book online or email to make a reservation on reception@georgianhousehotel.co.uk, or telephone on 0044(0)207 834 1438.