Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace began life in 1703 as Buckingham House, a comparatively modest townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham. George III bought it in 1761 as a private family retreat for Queen Charlotte, and it was only over the following decades, under architects John Nash and later Edward Blore, that it grew through successive expansions into the palace seen today.

It became the monarch's official London residence in 1837, when the newly crowned Queen Victoria moved in as the first sovereign to actually live there. The palace has remained the working headquarters of the monarchy ever since, and its famous balcony has served as the stage for royal appearances at coronations, weddings and jubilees for generations.

For all its ceremonial grandeur, Buckingham Palace is essentially a very large working building: 775 rooms in total, including offices, staff quarters and workrooms, of which only the nineteen State Rooms are ever open to the public. It functions as much as the administrative heart of the monarchy as it does a royal home.

Out front, the Changing the Guard has drawn crowds to the forecourt for well over a century, a ceremony of precision drill, brass bands and scarlet tunics as the King's Guard hands over duty from one regiment to the next.

The single most important thing to know before visiting: the State Rooms are only open to the public for around ten weeks each summer, roughly late July through September, while the King is away from London — not year-round, as many visitors assume. Book tickets ahead for the season, and expect to walk through rooms hung with Old Masters and Sèvres porcelain drawn from the Royal Collection.

The Changing the Guard is free to watch and takes place most mornings, but not every single day — the schedule varies with the season, so check the official calendar before you plan your visit. Arrive early and aim for a spot along the railings or near the Victoria Memorial for the best view.