Buckingham Palace has three separate venues, each with its own opening schedule. The State Rooms open only in summer, while The King’s Gallery and the Royal Mews are open for more of the year. Every visit needs an advance, timed ticket.
Opening Hours
Opening times vary by venue and season, and the State Rooms are the most restricted, open for roughly 10 weeks each summer. Exact dates and hours shift slightly from year to year, so always confirm on the official Royal Collection Trust site before you book.
State Rooms
| Period | Days | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-July to end of August | Daily | 9:30 – 19:30 | Around 17:30 |
| September | Thursday to Monday | 9:30 – 18:30 | Around 16:30 |
| October to June | Closed to the public | – | – |
The King’s Gallery
| Period | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Year-round, daily | 10:00 – 17:30 | 16:15 |
The Royal Mews
| Period | Opening hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|
| Early March to late October | 10:00 – 17:00 | 16:00 |
| Late October to early November | 10:00 – 16:00 | 15:00 |
| November to early March | Closed | – |
Changing of the Guard
| Schedule | Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (varies seasonally) | 11:00 | About 45 minutes |
Planning your visit? See our complete tickets guide for every ticket option, or compare Buckingham Palace tours if you want a guided experience.
Best Times to Visit
When you visit makes a real difference to your experience. Here is what to aim for.
- Early morning (09:30 opening): your best option. Mornings are the quietest, with shorter security queues and the most space in the State Rooms. Book the first available slot.
- Late afternoon: the second-best window, once the morning crowds and Changing of the Guard visitors have thinned. Keep an eye on the last-admission time so you are not caught short.
- Avoid late morning to early afternoon: this is peak time. The 11:00 Changing of the Guard draws crowds to the whole area, and the State Rooms are busiest just after.
- Tuesday to Thursday: midweek mornings are consistently the quietest, especially in July and August when the State Rooms open daily.
- September (Thursday to Monday): in September the State Rooms open Thursday to Monday only, so a Thursday or Friday morning is your calmest bet.
- Avoid weekends and the opening week: Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest, as is the first week when tickets have just gone on sale.
- Mid-July (opening): the State Rooms have just opened and there is a buzz, but the first week is busy with eager early visitors.
- August (peak): the warmest weather and the biggest crowds. Book well ahead and aim for the earliest slot.
- September (quietest): the calmest stretch of the summer opening, with cooler weather and fewer visitors, though open Thursday to Monday only.
- October to June (off-season): the State Rooms are closed, but The King’s Gallery and the Royal Mews stay open, so there is still plenty to see year-round.
How Long to Spend
How much time you need depends on which venues you plan to see.
- State Rooms and gardens: 2 to 2.5 hours, including 30 to 45 minutes in the garden and time for security
- The King’s Gallery: about 1 hour
- The Royal Mews: about 1 hour
- Royal Day Out (all three venues): 4 to 5 hours, or spread across separate visits within the season
- Changing of the Guard: about 2 hours, allowing 60 to 90 minutes to claim a good viewing spot
A free multimedia guide is included with State Rooms admission, and most visitors who use it spend the upper end of that range. If you want to see all three venues, the Royal Day Out ticket lets you split them across separate visits rather than cramming everything into one day.
Insider Tips
Practical advice for timing your visit.
Book as soon as tickets are released. State Rooms tickets go on sale months before the summer opening. Popular dates (weekends, the first week) sell out within days of release. Set a reminder to check the Royal Collection Trust website when tickets are announced.
Arrive 15 minutes before your time slot. Security screening takes time, especially on busy days. If you arrive right at your slot time, you may spend your window in the security queue. Arriving 15 minutes early gives you a comfortable buffer.
Do not plan the State Rooms and Changing of the Guard on the same morning. The ceremony starts at 11:00 and the best viewing requires arriving by 09:30, which conflicts with most State Rooms time slots. Do them on separate days, or visit the State Rooms in the morning and watch the ceremony on a different date.
September weekdays are the sweet spot. Lower crowds, shorter queues, and still warm enough for the garden walk. The trade-off is reduced opening days (Thursday to Monday only) and slightly shorter hours. If your dates are flexible, this is the best time.
The King’s Gallery and Royal Mews are good rainy-day alternatives. If the weather turns, these indoor venues are less weather-dependent than the garden walk. They are also open outside the summer window, making them useful if you are visiting London at other times of year.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Buckingham Palace open?
The State Rooms open from mid-July to late September each year. The King’s Gallery is open year-round, and the Royal Mews is open from March to early November. Exact dates and hours shift each year, so check the schedules above and confirm on the official site.
Is Buckingham Palace open every day?
In July and August the State Rooms open daily. In September they open Thursday to Monday only (closed Tuesday and Wednesday). The King’s Gallery is open daily year-round, and the Royal Mews is open daily through its March to November season.
What time does Buckingham Palace open?
The State Rooms open at 09:30. The King’s Gallery and the Royal Mews both open at 10:00.
Can you visit Buckingham Palace in winter?
The State Rooms are closed in winter, but The King’s Gallery is open year-round, and selected guided tours of the State Rooms run on certain dates from October to May. The Royal Mews closes in November and reopens in March.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as possible for the State Rooms, as popular dates sell out months ahead. For The King’s Gallery and Royal Mews, a few days to a week ahead is usually enough, except during school holidays.