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Thursday 31st July - Monday 29th September 2008
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen and serves as both home and office. For two months each summer when The Queen makes her annual visit to Scotland, the nineteen State Rooms of Buckingham Palace are open to the public.
Tickets can be purchased separately for the Summer Opening of the State Rooms or as part of a package deal including admission to the Royal Mews in addition to the State Rooms.
The State Rooms form the heart of the working palace and are lavishly furnished with some of the finest treasures from the Royal Collection - paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin and Canaletto; sculpture by Canova; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain, and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.
Today the State Rooms are used extensively by The Queen and Members of the Royal Family to receive and entertain their guests on State, ceremonial and official occasions.
Visitors can also enjoy a walk in the palace's 39-acre garden which is an oasis for wildlife and offers superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.
To celebrate The Queen's 80th birthday, the largest ever exhibition of Her Majesty's evening dresses and personal jewellery will go on display at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace this year. The 80 spectacular gowns, from the 1940s to the present day, have been worn by The Queen for both official engagements and private family events.
The exhibition shows the work of the leading British couturiers Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, and of those designers who have worked for Her Majesty in more recent years. Each has brought their distinctive style to The Queen's dress over seven decades. The selection of jewellery includes private gifts to The Queen from members of the Royal Family to mark special occasions, and some of the most famous and historic pieces in Her Majesty's collection, such as the Vladimir Tiara, the Cambridge Emerald Necklace and two brooches set with stones from the famous Cullinan Diamond.
For the first time ever, in 2008 visitors will be able to experience the spectacle of the Palace’s Ballroom set up for a State Banquet. The horseshoe-shaped table traditionally used on such occasions will be dressed with a dazzling display of silver-gilt from the magnificent Grand Service, first used to celebrate the birthday of George III in 1811. Lavish buffet arrangements of jewelled cups, ivory tankards and chased dishes, sconces, shields and basins will be arranged along each side of the room.
Address
Buckingham Palace
London
SW1A 1AA
Opening Times
9.30am until 6.30pm every day.
Buckingham Palace operates a timed-ticket system, with admission every 15 minutes throughout the day. Admission to the special exhibition is included in the general admission price. Last admission is at 4.15pm. A visit lasts between 2 and 2½ hours.
Visitors to the State Rooms should enter through the Ambassadors Entrance. Latecomers will not be admitted.
Travel
Nearest Tube: Green Park
Nearest Rail: Victoria
Bus Routes: 11, 211, 239, C1, C10
Access
Due to architectural limitations, it is not possible to admit wheelchair users through the main entrance. A separate entrance is provided for visitors requiring special access.
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Price Guide
Buckingham Palace State Rooms
• Adult - £15.50
• Child Under 17 - £8.75
• Concessions - £14.00
Combined State Rooms and Royal Mews Tickets
• Adult - £23.00
• Child Under 17 - £13.55
• Concessions - £20.75
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