Buckingham Palace London – Top Tips for a Day Out

Buckingham Palace London is on every visitor’s list but many will leave disappointed.  As you cannot enter Buckingham Palace in the Winter, without a plan your visit may involve staring at a set of ornate black and gilded gates with a couple of guards wearing furry hats. Here are tips for avoiding a humdrum, box ticking day to one that will give you an adrenalin high.

Buckingham Palace London Requires a Detailed Plan

With a bit of forethought  a day at Buckingham Palace London could be amazing.

In this plan we suggest the following:

• Watching the Changing of the Guards Ceremony
• Visiting the Buckingham Palace State Rooms
• Viewing the processional carriages and vehicles in the Royal Mews
• Seeing the priceless art in the Queen’s Gallery
• Having a picnic in St James’s Park or taking afternoon tea at the Goring or the Ritz
• Visiting shops which have Royal Warrants on Piccadilly, Jermyn Street and St James’s.
• Seeing a Show at the Theatre Royal

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is where one guard regiment takes over from another. This is accompanied by a marching brass band. And best of all, it is free to watch.

The ceremony takes place at 11.00 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday in Winter (weather permitting) and daily in the summer. Check the British Army website for a detailed schedule.

Get to Buckingham Palace before 10am to bag a prime spot for the Changing of the Guard

Significance of The Royal Standard Flying Over Buckingham Palace London

Did you know that if you see the Royal Standard flying from the Palace roof top it means that the King is in residence? On all other days there is a Union Jack flying.

Buckingham Palace London Summer Opening Hours

From July to October, Buckingham Palace is open to the public. You can marvel at:

• The White Drawing Room
• The Throne Room
• The State Banqueting Room
• The Grand Staircase
• The Picture Gallery

And while you may not be invited to a Royal garden party, your entrance ticket does include Buckingham Palace gardens.

When I was there, I saw Kate Middleton’s wedding dress and a replica of her iced wedding cake.

As tickets sell out months in advance buy tickets early.

Do you love London so much that you would think of moving here? Find out what makes this the perfect city to live in.

The Royal Mews

Don’t miss the Royal Mews with its impressive collection of carriages and processional vehicles.

The Official Buckingham Palace London Gift Shop

At 7 Buckingham Palace Road, there is the Royal Collections official palace gift shop selling tasteful homeware, china, clothing and jewellery.

Compared with the tacky, cheaply made fridge magnets and phone covers that are on sale elsewhere, you’ll find carefully curated, elegant and useful items.  These are precious reminders of  your Royal day out.

Who doesn’t want a furry corgi key ring or a silk scarf? And you can impress that special person in your life with a monogrammed bath hat.

 

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The Queen’s Gallery

Behind Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s Gallery.  This is one of  the most famous art collections in the world featuring old master paintings, rare furniture and photos.

Currently, on display is Johannes Vermeer Lady at the Virginals with a Gentleman. You will also find paintings by Titian, Guercino, Guido Reni, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Rubens, Jan Steen, Claude and Canaletto.

Places Near Buckingham Palace London for Refreshments

The Goring Hotel

By now you will be feeling tired and hungry. Staying with our Royal theme visit the Goring Hotel, a luxurious 5 star hotel. It used to house many guests from Buckingham Palace before the palace installed ensuite bathrooms!

This was where Kate Middleton stayed the night before she got married. Make a reservation in advance for afternoon tea.

St James’s Park

Alternatively, you could buy a packed lunch from one of the many shops in  Victoria Place and picnic in St James’s Park.

The Ritz

Or walk through Green Park and have tea in the famous Palm Court at the Ritz.

The Ritz was opened in 1906 and is considered to be one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. It has hosted the Aga Khan, Jean Paul Getty, Winston Churchill and Jackie Onassis.

Margaret Thatcher checked into the Ritz in the final months of her life. The only time I saw Margaret Thatcher was when she was invited to the centenary celebrations of the Goring Hotel. She was accompanied by two assistants and despite her obvious frailty she absolutely worked the room – pumping everyone’s hand. It’s strange to think that she took a suite here instead of a nursing home! A woman of style!

The Queen Mother knew a lot about the high life. She dined regularly at the Ritz. The pianist would play her favourite song ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’.

Afternoon Tea is served daily at:

• 11.30am
• 1.30pm
• 3.30pm
• 5.30pm,
• 7.30pm

Note that like most luxury London hotels there is a dress code.  The Ritz does not permit shorts, trainers and sportswear in any of the hotel’s restaurants or bars.

An Afternoon Walk  in St James’s

To work off the tea time calories, take a walk around nearby St James’s. This matrix of small streets behind St James’s Palace is home to a large number of Royal Warrant holding shops. Royal Warrants are often awarded to small artisan establishments which make the “best of the best” of British.

Notably, there is Lock & Co Hatters which is the oldest hat shop in the word. It was established in 1676. You can buy iconic trilbys, fedoras, berets and bakerboy caps…for the gents, you can even find a top hat or a bowler hat.

If you are not in the market for a hat, what about cheese? Paxton and Whitfield has been selling cheese to the aristocracy for over 200 years. I have a treasured Laguiole cheese knife which I bought from Paxton’s and it has been in regular use for decades.

If you are visiting and don’t want a hotel room full of smelly cheese you could browse in the Queen’s Grocer Fortnum and Mason on Piccadilly for English teas and preserves

or find a book to read at the nearby Royal Warrant holding Hatchards bookstore.

Evening Entertainment Near Buckingham Palace London

By now it must be dusk and you will be thinking of evening entertainment.

You could walk down to the end of Jermyn Street and cross Piccadilly to see what is on at the Theatre Royal in Haymarket.

The Theatre Royal was established in 1720. It is the third oldest playhouse in London. This beautiful intimate theatre  seats just 888 people and is owned by the Crown. Being owned by the reigning monarch means its revenue goes to the Treasury. Sometimes you can get lucky and pick up a ticket on the day at the Box Office. Or you could do the sensible thing and book in advance!

If you plan properly instead of a fleeting glimpse of a Coldstream Guard  behind the railings of Buckingham Palace London you can have a magical day filled with art, carriages, theatre, splendour, cakes, tea, hats and cheese that you will remember forever.

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