Back in the early 1600s the royal residence was the much smaller St James' Palace (which still stands to the side of Buckingham Palace between The Mall and Mayfair), and the ground on which Buckingham Place now stands was used by King James I as a plantation of mulberries in order to rear silkworms (who would have thought!). It is clear from historical records that a large house already existed there at the time, and it had many owners until, in 1698, it was let to one John Sheffield, who later became the Duke of Buckingham.
In 1762 King George III acquired ‘Buckingham House' and used it as a private family residence for his wife, Queen Charlotte, and their children. It was transformed into the structure we see today when King George IV commissioned the renowned architect John Nash to transform the house into his palace, and many changes have been made since - often resulting in tensions between the royals and the government!
The palace's 19 ‘state rooms' are the grand reception rooms used by the Royal Family for official events and ceremonies; each state room is lavishly decorated with chandeliers, beautifully-crafted furniture and fine art, and they largely reflect the tastes of King George IV. The state rooms house some of the finest treasures of the Royal Collection, including paintings by Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculptures by Canova, Sèvres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. Visitors who tour the State Rooms also have access to a part of the extensive gardens which include the beautifully maintained grounds, lake, wildflower meadows, and the royal family's famous summerhouse.
The Royal Mews houses the royal collection of historic carriages and coaches, including the Gold State Coach which is used during coronations. Here visitors can also learn about the horses and staff that manage royal travel.
The Queen's Gallery is a public art gallery attached to Buckingham Palace which exhibits works from the Royal Collection. It was built in 1962 from the bombed ruins of the palace's former Private Chapel, then completely refurbished and expanded in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. Exhibitions change throughout the year, but it always exhibits some of the finest pieces in the Royal Collection, including paintings, decorative arts, and other historical artefacts.
Guided tours of Buckingham Palace booked in advance during the summer months (April - September) cost £32 for adults and £16, and last admissions are at 5.15pm. During the winter months there are less tours, and they are given at selected times; an Exclusive Guided Tour costs £100 per person, and a Family Tour costs £65 per person (and under-5s go free).
Details
- Address:
- Buckingham Palace
- SW1A 1AA
- Contact:
- https://www.rct.uk/
- 0303 123 7300
- Transport:
- Victoria Station or Hyde Park Corner tube station