In such a cosmopolitan city as London, it can be hard to get a sense of tradition and local culture, but there are a few standout experiences that every visitor should have – experiences that are uniquely British. Guaranteed Timed Entry to Buckingham Palace offers you a chance to escape the bustle of modern life to explore the age-old traditions, unchanged for hundreds of years.
We start our journey with one show in London that you really shouldn’t miss. The Changing of the Guard, either at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade, is an event that every visitor should be lining up to see. Dressed in their traditional uniform of red jackets and tall, fluffy back hats, the Palace Guards march alongside the Palace Band, with perfectly trained horses leading the charge. With an expert local guide on hand, you’ll secure the best spot possible from which to witness this event and get some background that will help you to appreciate this strange custom.
Then it’s on to the highlight of the day – Buckingham Palace. Open to the public for only two months a year (and the busiest two months for visitors at that), Buckingham Palace tours are very much in demand, with tickets selling out far in advance. Not to worry, we’ve pre-booked tickets, so you don’t risk disappointment or waste time waiting in long ticket lines.
Inside the Palace, you’ll use the official audio guide to explore the State Rooms, decorated in the sumptuous Belle Époque style of creams, reds, and golds so popular in the late 19th century. Some parts of the Palace date from long before this, as far back as the early 1700s, but as a living, breathing home for Britain’s monarchy, Buckingham Palace has grown and adapted over the centuries. You’ll get a sense of this as you explore, seeing a mixture of the old and the new. The sections of Buckingham Palace that open to the public during the summer months, and which you’ll have a chance to explore, are the State Rooms, used for entertaining.
Every year one of the State Rooms hosts a special exhibition. Previous exhibitions have included the Queen’s wedding dress, the Queen’s evening gowns and jewels, and a room fully prepared for an official Royal banquet, complete with endless tables and extravagant place settings.
With heads full of coronations, Royal weddings, and banquets, we’ll leave Buckingham Palace for a short walk to a nearby venue – one of the most prestigious in London. You’ll still have your expert guide on hand so you’ll hear more tales about the monarchy as you travel, from the tragic story of Princess Diana to the much-celebrated wedding of her son Prince William.
We’ll round off our afternoon of British traditions with a delicious afternoon tea. Soak up the elegant surroundings while you sip on English tea and enjoy a full serving of freshly baked scones with cream and jam and traditional finger sandwiches. Your local guide will take this chance to teach you a little more about local culture, to answer any questions you may have and to provide you with some advice and recommendations for the rest of your visit.
Small group sizes of only 25 people or fewer mean that your afternoon of traditional British indulgence will be relaxed and your guide easy to interact with. Meanwhile, we’ve taken the hassle out of one of London’s most popular visitor experiences. So you can rest assured that on our Buckingham Palace tour, you really are getting the royal treatment.
