Buckingham Palace State Rooms Ticket with Royal Walking Tour London

The Duke of York Column and the Mall

The tour starts at the Duke of York Column, a tall granite column of the 1830s at the top of the steps between Waterloo Place and the Mall. From here the Mall runs in a straight line from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham Palace; it was redesigned in the early 1900s as a ceremonial route, and its red surface was laid to look like a giant red carpet leading to the palace.

Walking down the Mall with your guide you hear how processions, state visits and national celebrations use this road, and why the flags along it change for royal occasions. It is the classic approach to Buckingham Palace and one of the most photographed avenues in London, especially on a clear summer afternoon.

St James's Palace and Clarence House

St James's Palace was built in the 1530s and is still the most senior royal palace in the country: foreign ambassadors are formally accredited to the Court of St James's, and its red-brick Tudor gatehouse is one of the oldest royal buildings in London. Beside it stands Clarence House, a white stucco mansion of the 1820s that has served as the London residence of several members of the royal family.

Your guide stops outside both palaces to explain their history, the roles they still play in royal life and the guards you may see on duty. These are buildings most visitors pass without noticing; with a guide they become a highlight of the royal walking tour in London before you reach the park.

St James's Park

St James's Park is the oldest of London's Royal Parks, landscaped in its present form in the 1820s around a long lake with two small islands. Pelicans have lived here since the seventeenth century, when the first were given as a diplomatic gift, and you can often see them along the shore with ducks, geese and swans.

The walk through the park gives you one of the best views of Buckingham Palace from the Blue Bridge over the lake, with the towers of Whitehall behind you. It is a peaceful stretch between the busy streets, and your guide uses it to tell the story of the palace before you join your reserved entry.

Buckingham Palace State Rooms

Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the monarch since 1837 and is a working royal palace used for state banquets, investitures and official receptions. During the summer opening, usually from July to late September, visitors can enter the State Rooms, the grand ceremonial rooms where the royal family receives guests from around the world.

With the official audio guide you explore at your own pace, for about an hour and a half: the Grand Staircase, the Throne Room, the Ballroom and the Picture Gallery hung with paintings by great European masters, along with Sèvres porcelain, fine English and French furniture and gifts from heads of state. Photography is not allowed inside. If you are wondering whether Buckingham Palace tickets are worth it, this rare chance to see the interior is the reason.

Buckingham Palace Garden

Your visit ends with a walk along part of Buckingham Palace Garden, the largest private garden in London, with wide lawns, old plane trees and a view of the palace's west front and terrace, the side most visitors never see. The garden is where royal garden parties are held each summer.

Photography is allowed in the garden, so this is your chance for a picture of the palace from the lawn. Take your time here: you leave at your own pace, and the path passes the lake and some of the garden's old trees on the way out. From the exit you are close to Hyde Park Corner and Victoria, an easy place to continue your day in London.