The 19 State Rooms are the centrepiece of any visit to Buckingham Palace. These are working rooms, not museum recreations: the King receives foreign ambassadors here, holds investitures, and hosts State Banquets for visiting heads of state. They are only open to the public during the summer months, when the King is at Balmoral.
The self-guided tour takes you through the rooms on a set route, from the Grand Staircase to the gardens. A free multimedia guide, available in nine languages, is included with every ticket and gives detailed commentary on each room, the artworks, and the history. Most visitors spend two to two and a half hours inside.
State Rooms Tickets
The State Rooms are only open from mid-July to late September. Tickets are timed and sell out fast, so book ahead.
🏛️ State Rooms Admission with Audio Guide
Self-guided entry to all 19 State Rooms with a free multimedia guide in nine languages, plus access to the palace gardens.
⭐ Buckingham Palace Entry & Royal Walking Tour
State Rooms entry combined with a guided walking tour of royal Westminster.
Includes Westminster Abbey, The Royal Mews, and a Changing of the Guard tour. Pair it with a separate State Rooms ticket for a complete royal London visit.
ℹ️ Good to Know
- Open mid-July to late September only, when the King is away.
- Timed entry: book in advance, as slots sell out.
- Free multimedia guide in nine languages, included with every ticket.
- Access to the 39-acre palace gardens is included.
The Tour Route
The self-guided tour follows a set route through the State Rooms and finishes in the palace gardens. Here is what you will see, in order.
The Grand Staircase
The tour begins with one of the most theatrical entrances of any royal residence in Europe. The sweeping double-branched staircase is lined with rich crimson carpet and gilded balustrades, and full-length portraits of Queen Victoria’s relatives hang on the walls, setting the tone for the grandeur ahead.
It was designed by John Nash in the 1820s as part of his transformation of Buckingham House into a palace for George IV.
The Guard Room
The first room at the top of the staircase, containing white marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Roman costume. This room marks the beginning of the ceremonial route through the State Rooms.
The Green Drawing Room
The first of Nash’s State Rooms, serving as a grand anteroom to the Throne Room. Today it is used for the Diplomatic Reception, where the King welcomes over 500 ambassadors and high commissioners. It features green silk wall hangings, a magnificent ceiling, and fine examples of Sèvres porcelain.
The Throne Room
One of the most dramatic spaces in the palace, with vivid scarlet and gold décor, a theatrical proscenium arch designed by John Nash, and glittering chandeliers. The twin thrones commissioned for the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand alongside historic chairs used by Queen Victoria, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
The Throne Room is still used for investitures, where the King confers knighthoods and honours, as well as royal wedding photographs and formal group portraits.
The Picture Gallery
The largest and most impressive of the State Rooms on the route. This 47-metre top-lit gallery stretches along the west façade, with walls hung in rich crimson silk, and displays some of the greatest paintings in the Royal Collection, including works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Claude Lorrain, and Canaletto.
The selection is rehung each year, so repeat visitors may see different works. The glass-vaulted ceiling floods the gallery with natural light.
The Silk Tapestry Room
A smaller room connecting the Picture Gallery to the East Gallery, hung with fine silk tapestries. A transitional space, but worth pausing in for the craftsmanship of the wall hangings.
The East Gallery
Another gallery space displaying paintings and decorative arts from the Royal Collection, connecting to the cross gallery and offering a different perspective on the palace’s art holdings.
The Ball Supper Room
Originally used for suppers during balls held in the adjacent Ballroom. It has a vaulted ceiling and serves as a connecting space between the gallery rooms and the Ballroom.
The Ballroom
The largest room in the palace, completed in 1855 during Queen Victoria’s reign. It stretches over 33 metres in length, with six enormous chandeliers, a dramatic vaulted ceiling, and a majestic pipe organ installed during Victoria’s era.
The Ballroom is still used for State Banquets seating up to 170 guests, including banquets for visiting heads of state such as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan, as well as investitures and official celebrations.
The State Dining Room
Used for formal dining on State occasions, with a long dining table, elaborate ceiling decoration, and portraits of monarchs and consorts. It was closed for 18 months from 2015 due to dangerous ceiling conditions and has since been fully restored.
The Blue Drawing Room
One of the most striking rooms on the route, flanking the Music Room. The blue silk wall coverings, gilded ceiling, and elaborate furnishings make it one of Nash’s most cohesive interiors.
The Music Room
A room with a striking domed ceiling painted with scenes of music and dance, superb acoustics designed for intimate royal performances, and white-and-gold décor among the finest in the palace. Four royal christenings have taken place here, including those of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The White Drawing Room
Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful rooms in the palace, with French-inspired gilt and white décor and magnificent crystal chandeliers. It is used for private audiences and small receptions.
Its most famous feature is the concealed mirror door: a full-length mirror that secretly opens to reveal a hidden passage, used by the Royal Family for their entrance at State occasions. Look for it on the far wall.
The Ministers’ Staircase and Marble Hall
The final indoor rooms before the garden. The Marble Hall opens to the Bow Room, through which thousands of guests pass each year on their way to the garden parties.
The Palace Gardens
Your ticket includes access to the 39-acre palace gardens after the indoor tour. This is the largest private garden in London, home to more than 350 species of wildflower, a 156-metre herbaceous border, a rose garden, a lake, and a wisteria-clad summer house.
The garden walk gives you views of the West Front of the palace, the side most visitors never see. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. There is a seasonal café and ice cream kiosk during the summer opening.
Highlights of the Royal Collection
The State Rooms are furnished with masterpieces from the Royal Collection, one of the largest and most important art collections in the world. These are the standout works to look for.
Paintings. The Picture Gallery alone holds works by Rembrandt (including The Shipbuilder and his Wife), Van Dyck, Rubens, Claude Lorrain, and Canaletto. The selection changes each year, so what you see depends on when you visit.
Sculpture. Works by Antonio Canova are placed throughout the State Rooms, and the Guard Room contains striking marble statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Roman costume.
Furniture and decorative arts. Some of the finest English and French furniture in the world, much of it collected by George IV. Look for the Sèvres porcelain in the Green Drawing Room and the gilded furnishings throughout Nash’s interiors.
The thrones. The Throne Room displays thrones from different eras, including the twin thrones made for the 2023 Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, alongside chairs used by Queen Victoria, King George VI, and Queen Elizabeth II.
Practical Tips for the State Rooms Tour
These tips will help you get the most from your visit.
Book the earliest time slot
The 09:30 slots are the quietest. You will have more space in every room and shorter security queues. By late morning the rooms fill up significantly, especially on days when the Changing of the Guard brings crowds to the area.
Use the multimedia guide
The free guide is included with every ticket and is genuinely excellent. It covers every room on the route with historical context, art highlights, and stories about how the rooms are used today. Available in nine languages, with audio-described and subtitled options.
No photography inside
Photography and filming are not permitted inside the State Rooms. You can take photos in the palace gardens and from outside the building. Put your phone away once you step inside and focus on the experience.
Arrive 15 minutes before your slot
All visitors go through airport-style security screening. If you arrive right on your slot time, you may spend your window in the security queue, so give yourself a buffer.
Do not skip the gardens
Many visitors rush through the indoor tour and leave without exploring the 39-acre gardens. The West Front view, the herbaceous border, and the lake are all worth the extra 30 to 45 minutes.
Look for the hidden mirror door
In the White Drawing Room, look for the full-length mirror on the far wall. It is actually a concealed door used by the Royal Family for their entrance at State occasions, and one of the most talked-about features of the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many State Rooms are there?
There are 19 State Rooms open to visitors during the summer tour. The palace has 775 rooms in total, but only the State Rooms and gardens are open to the public.
How long does the State Rooms tour take?
Most visitors spend 2 to 2.5 hours, including the gardens. The indoor tour takes about 1.5 to 2 hours at a comfortable pace, with an extra 30 to 45 minutes for the gardens.
Can you take a guided tour of the State Rooms?
The standard summer visit is self-guided with a multimedia audio guide. Limited guided tours run on selected dates from October to May, outside the main summer opening. During summer, the Entry and Royal Walking Tour adds a guided element to the experience.
Which room is the most impressive?
Opinions vary, but the Picture Gallery (47 metres of masterpieces), the Throne Room (still used for investitures), and the White Drawing Room (with its concealed mirror door) are the most popular highlights.
Can I see the balcony?
The famous balcony faces east, overlooking The Mall. The tour route goes through the interior and exits to the gardens on the west side, so it does not pass through the balcony room. You can see the balcony from The Mall and the Victoria Memorial.
Are the State Rooms wheelchair accessible?
Yes, but step-free access must be arranged in advance by contacting the Royal Collection Trust’s Specialist Sales team. Wheelchairs are available to borrow free of charge with advance booking.