The cheapest Buckingham Palace listing on GetYourGuide is the $24 Changing of the Guard walking tour, which does not include entry, and the most reviewed is a $25 tour with 4,891 reviews. Actual State Rooms entry starts at $51, and the official site sells it from 35 pounds in advance, only in summer (8 July to 26 September 2027). For a first visit in summer I’d book Buckingham Palace tickets with State Rooms entry and a guide.
Tour
From
Rating
Length
Free cancellation
Book
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience
I compared all 10 Buckingham Palace tickets and tours you can book on GetYourGuide right now. Only five of them include a State Rooms entrance. The other five are walking tours around the royal sights that show you the Changing of the Guard from the street, and they do not take you inside the palace. Prices are in US dollars from the listings, checked in November 2026. The links that open GetYourGuide are affiliate links (more on that on my about page).
There is one thing to know before you pick anything. Buckingham Palace is a working royal palace, and the Royal Collection Trust opens the State Rooms to visitors only in summer. In winter, tickets for the inside are scarce small-group tours, so the outside tours are what most people can book today.
Buckingham Palace Tickets at a Glance
This table puts every ticket type next to what the official site says, so you can see where the money goes on Buckingham Palace tickets.
What
Details
Ticket types
1 State Rooms ticket, 4 walking tours with State Rooms entry, 5 walking tours without entry
Price range
$24 (Changing of the Guard walking tour) to $99 (royal walking tour with entry)
Cheapest ticket that gets you inside
$51 State Rooms entry with an audio app (non-refundable)
Areas by type
State Rooms (19 rooms) on the entry tickets; the outside tours cover The Mall, St James’s Park, St James’s Palace and Westminster
Official ticket
State Rooms summer 2027: adult 35 pounds in advance, 39 pounds on the day (per rct.uk)
Official winter option
East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour, 100 pounds, 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 (per rct.uk)
Time to allow
About 2 hours for a State Rooms visit or a ceremony tour; 5 hours for the Westminster tour
Address
London SW1A 1AA (per Google Maps)
Google Maps hours
None listed for the palace; use the official dates below
The ceremony outside the gates is free to watch, so with a walking tour you pay for the guide, the viewing position and the route, not for the soldiers. The inside of the palace is where the price of Buckingham Palace tickets goes.
Buckingham Palace Admission Tickets
Buckingham Palace admission tickets are the top search on this topic, and it surprised me that the most reviewed listing under that name is not an admission ticket. The Empire Tours “Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience” costs $25, is rated 4.4 from 4,891 reviews, and lasts 2 hours. It lists a guide, a walking tour and the Changing of the Guard, and its exclusions say plainly “Buckingham Palace entry”. So it is a walking tour, not a way in, and it meets at 77 Piccadilly opposite Green Park station, not at the palace. It runs in French, German, Spanish and English, and you can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
UK Empire Tours and Productions Limited
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience
★4.4 (4,891 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The most reviewed Buckingham Palace listing, 4.4 from 4,891 reviews at $25, but it is a walking tour without palace entry.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Walking tour
✓ Guide
✓ Changing of the Guard (on select days, please check before purchasing tickets)
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Buckingham Palace entry
✕ Tips
✕ On Christmas Day and New Years Day, Changing of the Guard does not take place
Meeting point: IMPORTANT: We DO NOT meet at Buckingham Palace, please read the meeting location address very carefully. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time outside the front of Santander Bank, where your esteemed tour guide will be waiting for you. If arriving by tube, exit Green Park Station and turn left onto the main road where you will find the bank directly across. 77 Piccadilly, London W1J 8AY, UK
Languages: English, Spanish, German, French
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Joanne was our tour guide and she was very engaging and extremely helpful. She was very sweet and made the tour fun. The tour was definitely worth the money. Highly would recommend.” – GetYourGuide review
If you read that listing as an admission ticket you will be disappointed at the gate, so treat it as the cheap way to see the ceremony with a guide. It states that the Changing of the Guard is on select days and does not happen on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. For actual Buckingham Palace tickets that open the door, jump to the State Rooms options further down.
Buckingham Palace Entry Tickets
Buckingham Palace entry tickets that come with a ceremony are the City Wonders “Buckingham Palace Entry & Changing of the Guard Tour” at $96. It is rated 4.4 from 3,000 reviews and takes 2.5 hours. The guide meets you at the Duke of York Column on Waterloo Place, walks you to a viewing spot for the Changing of the Guard, and then you enter the State Rooms with a pre-reserved ticket and the official audio guide, available in nine languages. The listing says the guard is Foot Guards or Horse Guards depending on the official schedule. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours ahead.
City Wonders Ltd. UK
Buckingham Palace Entry & Changing of the Guard Tour
★4.4 (3,000 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: Ceremony and State Rooms entry in one booking, 4.4 from 3,000 reviews at $96; the only entry ticket that builds in the Changing of the Guard.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Expert English-speaking guide for the Changing of the Guard walking tour
✓ Prime viewing of the Changing of the Foot Guards (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) or Horse Guards (Tue/Thu/Sat), subject to the official schedule
✓ Pre-reserved entry to Buckingham Palace State Rooms
✓ Official Buckingham Palace audio guide (available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Brazilian Portuguese)
✓ Insider commentary on Britain's royal history and traditions
✓ Free time to explore Buckingham Palace at your own pace
Not included / not suitable
✕ Gratuities (optional)
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point: Meet by the Duke of York column on Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ. It's a tall column with a statue on top. Guides will have a City Wonders sign with the name of the tour at the meeting point for easy recognition.
Directions: Take the Underground to Piccadilly Circus. Take exit 3 to Regent Street/St James. Walk south down Regent Street towards St. James Park (do not walk towards Oxford Street). Waterloo Place is at the end of Regent Street. Alternatively, take the Underground to Charing Cross Station, and walk down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The statue is at the top of the stairs to your right after the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). Please note the meeting place is not at Buckingham Palace. (GPS Coordinates: 51.5063159, -0.1317662000000155) St. James's, London SW1Y 5AJ, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Our guide, Marilyn, was terrific. Knowledgeable and personable. My only disappointment was being unable to view the changing of the guard due to the thousands of visitors. (This tour was advertised as getting a favorable view.)” – GetYourGuide review
The honest caveat is crowds. One reviewer was very pleased with the guide but could not see the ceremony because of the numbers on the street.
“Our guide, Marilyn, was terrific. Knowledgeable and personable. My only disappointment was being unable to view the changing of the guard due to the thousands of visitors.”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
That fits what the Household Division says, which is that you should arrive early for the best view. I’d treat these Buckingham Palace entry tickets as a plan for the palace and a bonus for the ceremony, not the reverse.
Buckingham Palace Tour
A Buckingham Palace tour in the plain sense means a guide on the pavement, because the Royal Collection Trust says that guiding is not allowed inside the Palace and that visitors use a free multimedia guide instead. That is why even the tours that include entry hand you over to an audio guide once you are in the State Rooms. I compare every guided tour on my Buckingham Palace tours page. The cheapest guide-led option here is the Secret Chamber Tours “Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Tour” at $24, rated 4.5 from 2,694 reviews. It lasts 2 hours, runs in English only, and passes Westminster Abbey and 10 Downing Street. The exclusions list “Entry to attractions”, so there is no palace entry.
Secret Chamber Tours Ltd
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Tour
★4.5 (2,694 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The cheapest guided Buckingham Palace tour, 4.5 from 2,694 reviews at $24; a ceremony walk with no palace entry.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Guide
✓ Walking tour
Not included / not suitable
✕ Food and drinks
✕ Tips
✕ Entry to attractions
Meeting point: • Meet your guide at the Goddess Diana fountain at the Ritz Corner entrance of Green Park
• Enter Green Park via the entrance next to the Ritz Hotel and the fountain can be found just a few steps down the footpath, next to the Colicci refreshment stand. This is not the Diana Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park
• If taking the Underground, disembark at Green Park Station and take the Green Park/Buckingham Palace exit. This exit will lead you to the fountain Green Park (Stop H, London W1J 9DZ, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Alan was the best guide and we were grateful to have him get us to all the right places at the right times!” – GetYourGuide review
Reviewers keep praising the timing. One wrote that the guide got the group “in the right place at the right time”, which is the real product here: knowing where to stand and when to move. If you also want to go inside, add Buckingham Palace tickets for the State Rooms to a summer day, or pick one of the combined tours below.
Buckingham Palace Tickets Official Site
People searching for the Buckingham Palace tickets official site are looking for the Royal Collection Trust, which sells the State Rooms at rct.uk. For summer 2027 its prices are 35 pounds for an adult in advance and 39 pounds on the day, with 18 to 24 year olds at 23 and 26 pounds, ages 5 to 17 and disabled visitors at 17.50 and 19.50, and under 5s and access companions free. Opening times are 9:30 am with last admission at 5:30 pm in July and August, and 4:30 pm in September, per the same page. There are no official Buckingham Palace tickets for the State Rooms this winter, apart from the Exclusive Guided Tours.
What do resold Buckingham Palace tickets add? Mostly a guide and a route. The only GetYourGuide listing that gives you the official State Rooms and a longer walk is the Top Sights Tours “Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey & Big Ben Tour” at $91, which is rated 4.8 from 1,311 reviews and lasts 5 hours. It includes a pre-booked Westminster Abbey ticket, and its exclusions say “Entry to Buckingham Palace or Big Ben”. I’m featuring it because it is the best rated of the set, but it is a day of Westminster sights, not a palace ticket. It meets outside the Ritz hotel on Piccadilly.
Top Sights Tours LLC.
Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey & Big Ben Tour
★4.8 (1,311 reviews)
5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: Best rated at 4.8 from 1,311 reviews, $91, 5 hours with Westminster Abbey entry; it does not include palace entry.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Walking tour
✓ Local guide
✓ Westminster Abbey pre-booked entry ticket
Not included / not suitable
✕ Entry to Buckingham Palace or Big Ben
Meeting point: We meet outside of the Ritz hotel (150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR) next to 2 red telephone boxes and 2 souvenir stands, underneath one of the Ritz signs. The nearest tube station is Green Park Underground station. When you get to Green Park Underground station, take the left hand exit. You will see a set of stairs and a ramp leading out of the station. Take the stairs up and walk towards the Ritz Hotel. 150 Piccadilly, St. James's, London W1J 9BR, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“The tour provided a great introduction to the highlights of Westminster. We especially enjoyed our guide, Ash, who included interesting historic stories and kept us thoroughly engaged despite the bad weather!” – GetYourGuide review
The Buckingham Palace entry cost depends on how you go in. The official adult price for the 2027 summer opening is 35 pounds booked ahead and 39 pounds on the day, and a Royal Day Out that adds the Royal Mews and The King’s Gallery is 69.30 pounds in advance, per the Royal Collection Trust. The Changing of the Guard itself costs nothing to watch from the street. Buckingham Palace tickets and tours for the ceremony on GetYourGuide start at $24.
The best-priced of those for anyone who needs another language is the My tour London “2-Hour Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard Tour” at $27, rated 4.6 from 211 reviews. It runs in French, English, Italian and Spanish and meets by the Diana fountain outside Green Park station. This is a leftover pick for this section, not the lowest price in the set, which is the $24 tour above. The listing offers a full refund if the ceremony is cancelled for heavy rain, extreme heat or a private event, and that is worth having, because the Household Division says the ceremony can be changed or cancelled at short notice. A reviewer who felt the tour did not focus enough on the guard is the kind of comment to read before buying.
My tour London
2-Hour Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard Tour
★4.6 (211 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A leftover, not the cheapest: 4.6 from 211 reviews at $27, in four languages, with a refund if the ceremony is cancelled.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Heart of London Walking Tour
✓ Meeting Point: Green Park, Constance Fund Fountain of Diana.
✓ Discover London's royal history and iconic landmarks on a 2-hour guided walking tour with an expert local guide.
✓ Changing of the Guard: Experience the traditional Changing of the Guard ceremony or Horse Guards Parade. On days without the main ceremony, enjoy the smaller Changing of the Horse Guards. Please check the official schedule before booking.
✓ Main Stops:
✓ St. James's Park & St. James's Palace
Not included / not suitable
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
✕ Lunch
✕ Entry tickets
Meeting point: Meet your guide near the Constance Fund fountain of Diana: just outside Green Park tube station (south Piccadilly exit). On the left side, there is a wooden food stall. Green Park, Underground Ltd, Piccadilly, London W1J 9DZ, UK
Languages: French, English, Italian, Spanish
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Great tour with perfect weather. Barry was a fantastic and knowledgable guide and aided us in dodging the crowds and still seeing everything we'd hoped to!” – GetYourGuide review
Buckingham Palace tickets with a discount are limited. The official site has concession rates built in, and the group price applies from 15 people. Beyond that, the Royal Collection Trust lets you convert a ticket into a 1-Year Pass for free re-admission for a year. I found no promo code for Buckingham Palace tickets, and I would not trust a site that offers one.
The remaining product for this section is the Vox City Walks “Buckingham Palace State Rooms Entry & Royal London Audio App” at $51, rated 4.6 from 157 reviews. It is not a discount, since $51 is more than the official 35 pound advance ticket. What you get is a State Rooms entry and the official audio guide in nine languages, plus an app for the royal sights outside the palace. The listing is non-refundable, and you go straight to the ticket office on Buckingham Palace Road 15 minutes before your slot. If the cheaper official ticket is available for your date, I’d buy that one instead of these resold Buckingham Palace tickets.
Vox City Walks
Buckingham Palace State Rooms Entry & Royal London Audio App
★4.6 (157 reviews)
2 hours
My pick: A leftover pick, not a discount: the plain State Rooms ticket with an audio app at $51, 4.6 from 157 reviews, and non-refundable.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Buckingham Palace State Rooms entry ticket
✓ Buckingham Palace State Rooms audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Brazilian Portuguese
✓ Royal London’ audio guide app in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese
✓ Any applicable fees and taxes
Not included / not suitable
✕ Guided tour
✕ Headset and mobile device (for Royal London audio guide app)
Meeting point: Visitors can head directly to the Buckingham Palace Ticket Office, located at Buckingham Palace Road. Please arrive 15 minutes before your booked timeslot, and have your ticket downloaded and ready to show. GV25+G6X, London, UK
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: This activity is non-refundable
“It was a beautiful experience and very well put together on the audio speaker. I really enjoyed this and it was well worth the money. Don’t miss this one.” – GetYourGuide review
One reviewer liked how it ran, and the comment matches what I would expect from timed entry:
“Really great. Easy booking, instructions to get tickets. Very well organized and I like that there’s a limited amount of people to go through the rooms at a time.”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
Is Buckingham Palace Worth It? What Reviewers Say
Is Buckingham Palace worth it? My read of the reviews is that it depends on the season. The inside is open for about 11 weeks, and people who go love it. The tour below pairs the State Rooms with a guided walk. City Wonders sells the “Buckingham Palace Entry Ticket & Royal Walking Tour” at $92, rated 4.5 from 1,185 reviews, 2.5 hours. The guide leads a walk from the Duke of York Column along The Mall and through St James’s Park, then you enter alone with the official audio guide.
City Wonders Ltd. UK
Buckingham Palace Entry Ticket & Royal Walking Tour
★4.5 (1,185 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: Walk first, rooms second: 4.5 from 1,185 reviews at $92, with State Rooms entry and the official audio guide.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Expert tour guide for your Royal Walking Tour
✓ Entrance ticket to Buckingham Palace State Rooms
✓ Official Buckingham Palace audio guide (available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese)
✓ Free time inside Buckingham Palace — explore at your own pace
✓ Headsets (when required) to clearly hear your guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Tips
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point: Meet your guide at the Duke of York Column, this is the tall column with a statue on top.
If you are arriving by tube, take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and exit 3 onto Regent Street/St. James. Walk south down Regent Street towards St. James's Park (do not walk north toward Oxford Street). Waterloo Place is at the end of Regent Street. You will see the tall column with a statue on the top. You can also arrive via Charing Cross station. Walk down the Mall toward Buckingham Palace, and you will see the statue on your right at the top of some steps. The meeting point is not at Buckingham Palace. St. James's, London SW1Y 5AJ, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“There was bit of a mix up and delay in tbe start dye to too many people showing up and some earphones not working. After that the it was good. Guide was nice.” – GetYourGuide review
“I like the fact that he is not with us in the palace , but the tour starts outside and prepare us for the palace with interesting stories and things you will 100% miss in London.”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
The rooms are where the value of Buckingham Palace tickets is: the listing mentions the Throne Room, Sèvres porcelain and English and French furniture. Wikipedia puts the visitor count at 683,000 for the year to 31 March 2025, so you share them with a lot of people.
Is Buckingham Palace Worth Visiting
Whether Buckingham Palace is worth visiting comes down to what you want from the day. If you want the ceremony only, the street is enough and costs nothing. If you want to see the rooms where the King receives guests, you need a summer date and Buckingham Palace tickets that include the State Rooms. The Walks “Buckingham Palace State Rooms & Royal Walking Tour” at $92 is a 3 hour option rated 4.4 from 273 reviews. It starts at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the palace, passes Clarence House and St James’s Palace, and ends in the State Rooms with an audio guide. The listing says the interior is self-guided, and the included ticket is a pre-reserved one.
Walks - UK
Buckingham Palace State Rooms & Royal Walking Tour
★4.4 (273 reviews)
3 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A 3 hour walk then the State Rooms for $92, 4.4 from 273 reviews; meets in front of the palace.
Meeting point: Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a yellow WalksDevour sign. This tour meets at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace. London SW1A 1AA, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Great tour guide! The tour of the actual palace was still a self guided audio tour but we enjoyed starting with the guided walking tour of the area and then getting to skip the line to go in the palace.” – GetYourGuide review
“Great tour guide! The tour of the actual palace was still a self guided audio tour but we enjoyed starting with the guided walking tour of the area and then getting to skip the line to go in the palace.”
— GetYourGuide reviewer
Why Is Buckingham Palace Important
Buckingham Palace is important because it is the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the monarch, per Wikipedia, and the setting for state occasions. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there, in 1837, and the East Front, refaced in 1913, is the backdrop to the Victoria Memorial. The palace has 775 rooms, of which 19 are State Rooms, and Wikipedia says more than 700 people work there. The house on the site was built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham and bought by George III in 1761.
The tour that suits this question is The Tour Guy “Buckingham Palace Tickets with Royal Walking Tour” at $99, rated 4.7 from 187 reviews. It lasts 2.5 hours and meets by the William III statue in St James’s Square. It covers the royal history on the walk, with privileged entry and an audio guide inside, and its exclusions say there is no live guide inside the palace.
the tour guy
Buckingham Palace Tickets with Royal Walking Tour
★4.7 (187 reviews)
2.5 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: The best rated of the entry tours, 4.7 from 187 reviews at $99, for people who want the history before the rooms.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Expert English-speaking guide
✓ Guided royal walking tour of St. James’s Park and the Mall
✓ Privileged access entry ticket to Buckingham Palace
✓ Audio guide for interior palace tour
Not included / not suitable
✕ Live guide inside Buckingham Palace
✕ Guide tips
Meeting point: Meet your guide in front of the William III statue in St. James Square. They will be holding a sign that says The Tour Guy. When St. James Square is closed, please meet at the southwest gate of the square across from Kings Street. St. James's, London SW1Y 4JS, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“Well informed enthusiastic tour guide Jen. Good way about handling tourists. Friendly and helpful. Spoke clearly.” – GetYourGuide review
Buckingham Palace does not run like a business, but the visitor income is real. Wikipedia says the State Rooms have been open in summer since 1993 and that admission fees were originally directed to rebuilding Windsor Castle after the 1992 fire and now fund conservation of Royal Collection artwork. The Royal Collection Trust describes itself as a charity, and says income from your visit helps it care for the collection. Wikipedia also says a 10 year maintenance programme, estimated at 369 million pounds, is funded by a temporary increase in the Sovereign Grant, which is paid from Crown Estate income. That means Buckingham Palace tickets do not pay for the roof.
The last tour in my set is the Z-Ocean Tours “Buckingham Palace & Westminster Guided Walking Tour” at $80, rated 4.8 from 118 reviews, 2 hours. Its exclusions list “Entry to attractions”. It is a leftover for this section and a walking tour, not a ticket.
Z-Ocean Tours LLC
Buckingham Palace & Westminster Guided Walking Tour
★4.8 (118 reviews)
2 hours
Free cancellation
My pick: A leftover pick: a 2 hour Westminster walk, 4.8 from 118 reviews at $80, with no palace entry.
What you get, where you meet, what reviewers say
Included
✓ Walking tour
✓ Guide
Not included / not suitable
✕ Entry to attractions
✕ Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point: The guide will meet you at the Fountain - Statue of Goddess Diana
Look for a noticeboard or a tablet which will be mentioning the company name that is Z-Ocean Tours GV45+P3H, London, UK
Languages: English
Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
“This tour hit all the expected highlights plus a whole lot more. Our guide, Matt, was excellent. Very knowledgeable, friendly and funny, super entertaining. Excellent value for money” – GetYourGuide review
Buckingham Palace tickets are timed to the summer opening, when the State Rooms open at 9:30 am, from 8 July to 26 September 2027, with last admission at 5:30 pm in July and August and 4:30 pm in September (per rct.uk). Green Park and St James’s Park stations are about 10 minutes away on foot, my estimate. The full table, closing days and the Changing of the Guard schedule are in my Buckingham Palace opening hours guide.
Which Ticket Fits You
Choosing among Buckingham Palace tickets and tours comes down to whether you want to go inside and when. This table is built from the listings. Four of the ten include State Rooms entry, one is a plain State Rooms ticket, and the sections above hold the detail for each row.
Ticket
Kind
Price from
Duration
Areas
Best for
Changing of the Guard Tour (Secret Chamber)
walking tour
$24
2 hours
Outside: Green Park, Westminster
Cheapest guide
Changing of the Guard Experience (Empire)
walking tour
$25
2 hours
Outside: St James’s Palace, Westminster Abbey
Most reviewed
2-Hour Changing of the Guard Tour
walking tour
$27
2 hours
Outside: St James’s Park, Parliament
Other languages
Westminster Guided Walking Tour
walking tour
$80
2 hours
Outside: Westminster
Small budget
State Rooms Entry and Audio App
ticket
$51
2 hours
19 State Rooms
Entry only
Westminster Abbey and Big Ben Tour
walking tour
$91
5 hours
Westminster Abbey entry; palace outside
Best rated
Entry Ticket and Royal Walking Tour
tour with entry
$92
2.5 hours
State Rooms plus The Mall
Walk and rooms
State Rooms and Royal Walking Tour
tour with entry
$92
3 hours
State Rooms plus Clarence House
Longer walk
Entry and Changing of the Guard Tour
tour with entry
$96
2.5 hours
Ceremony plus State Rooms
Ceremony and rooms
Tickets with Royal Walking Tour
tour with entry
$99
2.5 hours
State Rooms plus St James’s Park
History first
Near Buckingham Palace
The sights below are in central London, and the times are my estimates from straight-line distance multiplied by 1.3 at 4.8 km/h. Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster are about 1.2 km away, roughly 20 minutes on foot along St James’s Park and Whitehall, and Trafalgar Square is about the same. The London Eye is about 1.6 km, around 25 minutes, so most people take the Tube. The British Museum is 2.3 km, around 37 minutes. St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and the Tower of London are 3.3 to 4.6 km away, which is an hour or more on foot, so I’d take the Underground. The Sky Garden is in the City of London, not far from the Tower. Those are farther afield, not neighbours, and none of them is part of Buckingham Palace tickets, though several tours here end in Westminster.
Cheapest Buckingham Palace tickets for the ceremony: watch the Changing of the Guard from the street for free, or take the $24 Secret Chamber tour with a guide.
Buckingham Palace entry tickets for the inside: the $51 State Rooms entry with an audio app, but only on a summer date, and the official 35 pound advance ticket is cheaper.
Ceremony and rooms in one morning: the City Wonders entry and Changing of the Guard tour at $96.
Buckingham Palace tickets with a guide first: the City Wonders royal walking tour at $92, or The Tour Guy at $99 if you want the 4.7 rating.
Other languages: the My tour London walk at $27 (French, English, Italian, Spanish) or the Empire tour at $25 (also German).
A full Westminster day: the $91 Top Sights tour at 4.8 stars, with Westminster Abbey entry.
Winter visit: book the official East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour at 100 pounds if dates are open, or pick an outside walking tour.
Frequently asked questions
How much is it to visit Buckingham Palace?+
The official Royal Collection Trust site lists the State Rooms at 35 pounds for an adult booked in advance and 39 pounds on the day for summer 2027, with ages 5 to 17 at 17.50 and 19.50, and under 5s free. On GetYourGuide the State Rooms entry ticket with an audio app is $51, and the walking tours that include entry run $92 to $99.
What is the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace?+
It is a formal handover between the Old Guard on duty and the New Guard arriving from Wellington Barracks, with a band. The Household Division says the ceremony lasts about 45 minutes, and the King's Guard changes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Watching from the street is free, and the walking tours on this page help you find a spot and explain what you see.
What is the best tour to do of Buckingham Palace?+
If you want to go inside, I'd pick a tour that includes State Rooms entry, such as the City Wonders entry and Changing of the Guard tour at $96, rated 4.4 from 3,000 reviews. If you only want the ceremony and the royal sights outside, the $24 Secret Chamber tour is 4.5 from 2,694 reviews, but it does not include palace entry.
Can you wear jeans to tour Buckingham Palace?+
Yes. The Royal Collection Trust says there is no formal dress code to enter the Palace. It does advise comfortable shoes, because the summer route ends with a gravel path of about half a kilometre through the garden.
How long does a Buckingham Palace tour take?+
The walking tours I compared run 2 to 3 hours, and the State Rooms entry ticket is listed at 2 hours. The Changing the Guard walking tours usually take 2 hours, while the five hour Westminster tour covers far more ground. In winter the official Exclusive Guided Tours last around 1 hour 30 minutes.
What happens at 11am at Buckingham Palace?+
The Household Division lists Changing the Guard at 11am, with the ceremony in front of the palace from 10:45 and soldiers gathering at St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks from 10:00. The King's Guard changes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It can be altered or cancelled at short notice, especially in wet weather.
Is a Buckingham Palace tour worth it?+
For the State Rooms I think so, if you go in summer: the official ticket is 35 pounds in advance and the rooms include the Throne Room and the Picture Gallery. A walking tour is worth it if you want the ceremony explained and a good viewing position, but check whether it includes entry, because many do not.
Are Buckingham Palace tickets available right now?+
Not for the State Rooms. The Royal Collection Trust opens them each summer, and for 2027 the dates are 8 July to 26 September. Between October and May the palace only opens on selected dates for small Exclusive Guided Tours, and the East Wing tour is listed at 100 pounds from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027.
Every Buckingham Palace ticket and tour I compared
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience★ 4.4
Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Tour★ 4.5
Buckingham Palace Entry & Changing of the Guard Tour★ 4.4
Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey & Big Ben Tour★ 4.8
Buckingham Palace Entry Ticket & Royal Walking Tour★ 4.5
Buckingham Palace State Rooms & Royal Walking Tour★ 4.4
2-Hour Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guard Tour★ 4.6
Buckingham Palace Tickets with Royal Walking Tour★ 4.7
Buckingham Palace State Rooms Entry & Royal London Audio App★ 4.6
