How much does it cost to go inside Buckingham Palace?

The State Rooms cost from £33 per adult and are the only part of the interior open to visitors. They open for roughly ten weeks each summer, usually late July to early October. Outside that window you cannot go inside at any price.

Is the Changing of the Guard free?

Yes. The Changing of the Guard takes place outside the Palace gates and is completely free to watch. Arrive by around 10.15am for a good viewing spot against the railings or on the Victoria Memorial.

Can you visit Buckingham Palace all year round?

The State Rooms only open in summer. However, the free Changing of the Guard runs for much of the year, and the neighbouring Royal Mews and The King's Gallery open for far more of the calendar than the State Rooms.

Is Buckingham Palace worth it compared to other London attractions?

The free ceremony is worth seeing for everyone. The paid State Rooms are best for royal-history enthusiasts visiting in summer. If your budget is tight, the all-year Tower of London (£37) or Westminster Abbey (£27) often deliver more for the money.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Buckingham Palace in 2026?

Quick answer

Buckingham Palace State Rooms entry starts from £33, rated 4.6 from 8,051 reviews. Westminster Abbey from £27 is the cheaper royal alternative and opens year round, while the exterior and the Changing of the Guard cost nothing at all.

Updated: 7 August 2026

Top pick

Best for going inside

Buckingham Palace

State Rooms entry, opens seasonally. Rated 4.6 from 8,051 reviews, from £33.

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Best for a cheaper royal alternative

Westminster Abbey

Open year round and £6 less. Rated 4.6 from 13,289 reviews, from £27.

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Best for seeing it from outside

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

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Quick Comparison: Which to Book

Quick verdict: Buckingham Palace State Rooms entry starts from £33, rated 4.6 from 8,051 reviews. Westminster Abbey from £27 is the cheaper royal alternative and opens year round, while the exterior and the Changing of the Guard cost nothing at all.

The palace only opens to visitors for part of the year, so the alternatives matter more than usual.

Option	Best For	Price	Duration	Traveller rating	Book
Buckingham Palace	State Rooms entry, opens seasonally	From £33	2.5 hours	4.6 (8,051 reviews)	Book now →
Westminster Abbey	Open year round and £6 less	From £27	2 hours	4.6 (13,289 reviews)	Book now →
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus	Passes the palace, no timed ticket needed	From £25	Full day	4.3 (8,190 reviews)	Book now →

Prices and ratings are live GetYourGuide figures checked in August 2026. Most options include free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and all are mobile tickets.

The Honest Cost Breakdown

Visiting Buckingham Palace is cheaper than most people expect, because the single most famous experience, the Changing of the Guard, costs nothing at all. The confusion comes from the fact that the Palace has several separate paid attractions, and only one of them opens to the public. Here is the reality for 2026. The State Rooms cost from £33 per adult and are the only part of the Palace interior you can book. The Changing of the Guard ceremony outside the gates is free. The Royal Mews and The King's Gallery are separate paid sites next to the Palace. So your total spend ranges from zero, if you only watch the ceremony, to roughly £33 to £70 if you want to go inside and add one of the neighbouring attractions.

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The State Rooms Ticket: What You Actually Pay For

The State Rooms are the 19 grand rooms the Royal Family uses to receive and entertain guests, including the Throne Room, the White Drawing Room, and the Picture Gallery with its Rembrandts and Canalettos. Tickets start from £33 per adult and include a multimedia guide and a walk through part of the Palace garden at the end. The catch is timing: the State Rooms only open for about ten weeks each year, roughly late July to early October, while the King is at Balmoral. Outside that window there is no way to go inside, at any price. If your trip falls in the summer opening, book ahead, because dated timed-entry slots sell out on the busiest days.

The Free Option: Changing of the Guard

If you are visiting outside summer, or you simply do not want to pay, the Changing of the Guard delivers the classic Buckingham Palace experience for free. The ceremony features the Foot Guards in their red tunics and bearskin hats, a full military band, and about 45 minutes of drill and music. It usually runs on set mornings through the week and daily in peak summer, starting around 11am, though the schedule changes with weather and events, so check the official timetable the day before. Arrive by 10.15am to claim a spot against the railings or on the Victoria Memorial steps, which give the best view over the forecourt. It costs nothing and is the single most photographed thing most visitors do here.

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The Royal Mews and The King's Gallery

Two smaller paid attractions sit right beside the Palace and open for far more of the year than the State Rooms. The Royal Mews is the working stables, home to the Gold State Coach and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, and it is a genuine hit with families and anyone interested in the ceremonial side of the monarchy. The King's Gallery shows rotating exhibitions drawn from the Royal Collection. Each is a modest add-on rather than a full-day cost, and both are useful alternatives if you visit when the State Rooms are closed. If your main interest is walking through the Palace itself, though, neither replaces the State Rooms tour.

Is It Worth the Money?

For most first-time visitors, the honest answer is that the free Changing of the Guard is unmissable and the paid State Rooms are a worthwhile splurge only if you are genuinely interested in royal interiors and happen to be in London during the short summer opening. At £33, the State Rooms are priced above Westminster Abbey at £27 and below the Tower of London at £37, both of which are open all year and, for many people, deliver more history per pound. If you have limited time and budget, watch the ceremony for free and put your ticket money toward the Tower of London or Westminster Abbey instead.

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How to Book and Save

Book the State Rooms in advance for the summer window, choosing the earliest morning slot for the quietest rooms and the best light in the garden. Combine your visit with the free Changing of the Guard by arriving mid-morning, watching the ceremony, then entering the State Rooms afterwards. A hop-on hop-off bus pass from £25 is a practical way to reach the Palace and link it with Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London in one day without paying multiple single Tube fares. Whatever you do, do not pay a tout or a third-party reseller a premium: the Palace uses simple dated tickets, and the free ceremony never requires a ticket of any kind.

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