Earlier this month, we announced that from 9 July until 27 September, you’d be able to get a sneak peek behind the royal curtain, as Buckingham Palace were to open its doors to the public. This rare opportunity allows Londoners, tourists or royal enthusiasts alike to explore one of the most famous royal residences in the world.
Naturally, here at Secret London, we couldn’t help ourselves, so we headed down to the palace to see what all the fuss was about.
Inside the limited-time tours
Each summer, the palace opens its doors to its state rooms. But what exactly is a state room? They are simply rooms where the royals recieve and entertain guests. The rooms serve different purposes, which have changed over time.
Aside from the current opening, the only other time the public can get into the palace is on very selective dates on an exclusive guided tour, so now is the best chance to get yourself in.
When you arrive you’ll be given an audio guide which will give you more information about the rooms you walk through, with special attention paid to interesting objects and the historical moments that occured in the particular space you’re in.
The rooms you’ll see include:
- The Throne Room, which houses state portraits of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
- The Ballroom, where state banquets are now held
- The Green Drawing Room, the home of official occasion such as the diplomatic reception
- The Picture Gallery, which displays some of the greatest painting from the Royal Collection
A major transformation in the Picture Gallery
The Picture Gallery has recently undergone a major re-display where you can now see double the amount of paintings than before. Paintings from Rubens, Caravaggio and Zoffany are among 120
masterpieces that now hang in the gallery.
The rehang took 875 hours and the new green wall hangings and updated lighting make for a truly majestic sight.
The largest garden in London
Once you’ve completed the tour around the State Rooms, you’ll then get a chance to explore the palace garden, the largest in London. It’s a 16-hectare space, best known for hosting garden parties so unless you manage to bag yourself an invite this might be the only chance you get to roam around.
You can pop into The Garden Cafe and treat yourself to a sweet treat or tea or coffee, or if you’re feeling particualrly fancy you can buy a limited-edition afternoon tea tin. The tin includes a selection of finger sandwiches, cakes and Earl Grey scones and the option of tea or coffee, English sparkling wine or Buckingham Palace gin and tonic.
As a final treat as you head to the exit, you can make a final stop at the palace ice cream parlour. A perfect way to round off the day.
Find out more about the palace tours, on the official Buckingham Palace website.
