London: Buckingham Palace and Royal London Walking Tour

Buckingham Palace is the main event here, but the two-hour royal walk gives you useful context before you enter. You’ll follow streets tied to the monarchy, see St James’s Palace and Horse Guards, and hear about King Charles III, the coronation, royal traditions, and the shops that still hold Royal Warrants.

I like the way the tour links familiar sights to small details, such as where the Duke of Edinburgh gets his hair cut and where the Queen Mother bought cigarettes. I also like that your palace visit includes the State Rooms and garden, rather than stopping at the palace gates. The main drawback is the schedule: the walking portion moves through central London before a timed palace entry, so expect a long half-day on your feet and little room for delays.

Key points to know before you book

• A two-part royal experience: Start with a guided walk of about 100 minutes, then visit Buckingham Palace independently with a multimedia guide.
• The State Rooms are the star: See the throne room, ballroom, grand staircase, and works by Rubens, Canaletto, and Rembrandt.
• The walk covers classic royal London: Expect St James’s Palace, Horse Guards, Westminster, Jermyn Street, Fortnum and Mason, and royal warrant holders.
• The palace garden adds real breathing room: Walk beside the lake and see a private garden described as a walled oasis in central London.
• Timing matters: Arrive 15 minutes early, wear comfortable shoes, and allow the full five hours.
• Pack light: Bags larger than 45 by 20 by 30 centimeters, scooters, folding bikes, food, and most drinks cannot enter the palace.

Why this tour works as a royal London introduction

I see this experience as two connected tours rather than one continuous guided visit. The first part is a live English-language walk through Westminster and St James’s. The second part is your own visit inside Buckingham Palace, supported by an audio or multimedia guide.

That split suits you if you want both storytelling and freedom. During the walk, you can ask questions and get a sense of how royal London fits together. Inside the palace, you can set your own pace instead of being hurried from room to room by a guide.

The price is listed at $59.27 per person. That is reasonable if you plan to visit Buckingham Palace anyway, since palace admission and the multimedia guide are included, along with the walking tour. The value is weaker if you only want a quick palace visit, since the full experience takes around five hours and includes a substantial amount of walking.

The schedule operates from July 17 through September 24, Thursday to Monday. Starting times depend on the date you select. This is a seasonal activity, so it does not suit every London itinerary.

Starting near The King’s Gallery

The stated meeting point is the tourist bus stop outside The King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, on Buckingham Gate, postcode SW1A 1AA. Victoria and Green Park are the nearest Underground stations.

Arrive 15 minutes before departure. That is sensible advice in this part of London. Buckingham Palace sits near several major sights, busy roads, and large open spaces, and you do not want to begin by searching for the group.

The meeting information describes the walk as returning to Westminster Abbey, while the tour plan also indicates that the guide takes you to Buckingham Palace for your 12:30 PM entry. Read your confirmation carefully for the exact meeting and handoff instructions. The practical point is simple: do not assume the palace visit begins at the same place or at the same moment as the walk.

The tour is in English. No guide’s name is supplied, so you should not book this expecting a specific presenter. The guide’s role is to explain the royal connections along the route and get you to the palace entrance in time.

A 100-minute walk through royal London

The walking section lasts about two hours, with the listed route taking roughly 100 minutes. It is described as leisurely, but comfortable shoes still matter. You will be outdoors, moving between landmarks, churches, clubs, palaces, and streets linked to royal life.

The route includes a look at St James’s Palace, one of the most important royal buildings on the walk. It was associated with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and it gives you a useful contrast with Buckingham Palace. Buckingham is the grand public symbol. St James’s feels more tied to the older court district around St James’s Street and Jermyn Street.

You also pass Horse Guards and important parts of the Crown Estate. These stops help explain that royal London is not just a collection of palaces. It includes ceremonial spaces, businesses, institutions, and streets where the monarchy has long shaped daily life.

The guide also discusses the coronation of King Charles III. If current royal events are your main interest, this part should help connect the ceremony to the places around Westminster. The tour is centered on Charles III and the modern royal family, but it also uses older customs to show how the institution has changed over time.

Jermyn Street, Royal Warrants, and Fortnum and Mason

One of the more distinctive parts of the walk is Jermyn Street, known for its Royal Warrant holders. A Royal Warrant identifies a business that supplies goods or services to a member of the Royal Family. On this route, that detail turns an ordinary shopping street into a lesson in royal consumption and tradition.

You will also pass Fortnum and Mason, the famous department store associated with cream teas. The tour explains the background of this British custom, which gives the walk a lighter food and social angle without including a meal.

Do not expect tastings or refreshments. Food and drinks are not included, and food and most drinks cannot be taken into the palace. If you want something to eat, do it before the palace entry or use the outdoor areas and café when permitted.

The walk also includes odd royal details, such as where the Queen Mother bought cigarettes and where the Duke of Edinburgh gets his haircut. These facts may sound small, but they are useful on a walking tour. They make the royal family feel connected to real streets, shops, and routines rather than only portraits and ceremonies.

The handoff to Buckingham Palace

After the walking section, the guide takes you toward Buckingham Palace for the scheduled entry. The supplied timing indicates a 12:30 PM palace entrance after the morning walk.

This handoff is where you need to pay attention. The walking tour and palace visit are linked, but the interior visit is not presented as a fully guided room-by-room tour. Instead, you receive a multimedia guide and explore at your own pace.

That arrangement has a clear benefit. You can stop longer in rooms that interest you, move quickly through sections that do not, and listen to the guide without trying to keep up with a group. The tradeoff is that you will not have a live expert beside you to answer questions inside each State Room.

Because the entry is timed, plan conservatively. The walk is expected to finish around midday, but city traffic, crowds, and the pace of the group can affect the handoff. Keep your belongings simple and avoid scheduling another fixed activity immediately afterward.

Inside the 19 State Rooms

Buckingham Palace is both a residence and the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. The public route takes you through 19 State Rooms used by the Royal Family to receive and entertain guests.

The rooms are furnished with French and English antique furniture. You will see the royal ballroom, throne room, and golden staircase, along with works from the Royal Collection by artists including Rubens, Canaletto, and Rembrandt.

For me, the value of the palace visit comes from the combination of ceremony and working function. The throne room and ballroom show the palace’s public role. The furniture, art, and formal rooms also show how the building operates as a place for official receptions rather than merely a private home.

The multimedia guide is included in the ticket and is available in English. Use it to add structure to the rooms, since the walk’s live guide does not continue through the palace. If you prefer wandering quietly, you can treat the guide as optional background and focus on the architecture and collection.

Photography is not allowed inside the State Rooms. You can take personal photographs in the garden and outdoor areas. This rule matters if you normally document every stop, so prepare to enjoy the interior without taking out your phone.

The palace garden and lake walk

After the State Rooms, you continue into the Buckingham Palace Garden. It is described as the largest private garden in London and as a walled oasis in the middle of the capital.

The garden includes 30 species of birds and more than 350 types of wildflowers. You walk along the south side and see the famous lake. This outdoor section changes the mood of the visit. After formal rooms, gilded details, and royal ceremony, you get open space and a slower walk.

Food and drinks are allowed in the outdoor areas and café, although they are not allowed inside the palace apart from bottled water. That makes the garden a practical point for a break, especially after the morning walk and interior visit.

Do not treat the garden as a quick photo stop. It is part of the reason the experience lasts about five hours. If you want only the palace rooms, the garden route may feel like extra time. If you enjoy gardens and need a pause from central London’s traffic, it makes the visit more balanced.

What to bring, and what to leave behind

Wear comfortable shoes. The route includes the walking tour, the palace rooms, and the garden, so even a leisurely pace adds up.

Travel light. The palace does not accept luggage or large bags over 45 by 20 by 30 centimeters. Bicycles, folding bikes, scooters, roller-skates, and skateboards are also not allowed inside. You will need to store unsuitable items elsewhere, such as at Victoria Station.

Weapons, sharp objects, alcohol, drugs, and food are prohibited. Bottled water is the exception inside the palace. These rules are easy to manage if you arrive with a small bag and no picnic supplies.

The experience is not suitable for children under five. The walking distance, fixed palace entry, and restrictions on belongings make it better for older children and adults who can manage a long scheduled outing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity according to the booking terms, although another note gives a 72-hour cutoff. Because those details conflict, check the exact cancellation deadline shown when you reserve. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also provided.

Who will get the most from this experience

I would choose this tour if you are visiting London for the first time and want a clear royal theme for half a day. You see major landmarks, hear royal stories, and enter a palace that many visitors only view from the street.

It also suits you if you like small social and commercial details. The Royal Warrant stops, Fortnum and Mason, cream tea traditions, and the haircut and cigarette-shop stories give the walk more personality than a simple list of royal buildings.

History-minded visitors should appreciate the mix of Charles III’s coronation, older palace connections, royal ceremony, and the working role of Buckingham Palace. The multimedia guide then gives you enough structure to continue independently.

I would hesitate if you dislike walking, fixed entry times, or strict security rules. I would also think twice if you have already taken a detailed Westminster walking tour and only want palace admission. In that case, you may be paying for a second look at familiar streets.

The overall rating is 3.9 from 61 reviews, which suggests a solid but not flawless experience. That feels consistent with the format: the palace and the range of royal sights are strong, while the long duration, timing, and need to manage the transition may not suit everyone.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Buckingham Palace plus royal London context in one morning and early afternoon. The $59.27 price makes sense when you value both the palace entry and a live guided walk, especially if this is your main royal-themed outing in London.

Skip it if you want a short, flexible visit or if your schedule cannot absorb five hours. The best plan is to arrive early, wear walking shoes, bring a small bag, and keep the rest of your day open. For a first visit focused on the monarchy, this is a practical way to connect the streets, ceremonies, businesses, State Rooms, and garden that make royal London more than a palace façade.

FAQ

How long does the Buckingham Palace and Royal London tour last?

The full activity lasts about five hours. The Royal London walking section takes approximately two hours, followed by entry to Buckingham Palace, the State Rooms, and the garden.

Where does the walking tour start?

The meeting point is the tourist bus stop outside The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, on Buckingham Gate, SW1A 1AA. Victoria and Green Park are the nearest Underground stations.

Where does the walking tour finish?

The walking route is listed as ending at Westminster Abbey. The guide then takes you to Buckingham Palace for the scheduled palace entry, so check your booking confirmation for the exact handoff details.

Is a guide included inside Buckingham Palace?

A live guide leads the walking tour. Inside the palace, an English multimedia guide is included with your entry ticket.

Can I take photographs inside Buckingham Palace?

No. Photography is not allowed inside the State Rooms. Personal photography is allowed in the palace garden and outdoor areas.

What size bag can I take into Buckingham Palace?

Bags larger than 45 by 20 by 30 centimeters cannot enter. Luggage, bicycles, folding bikes, scooters, roller-skates, and skateboards are also not allowed inside.