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The London home of the Royal Family, BUCKINGHAM PALACE was built in the early 1700's. It was renovated by John Nash in the late 18th century and became a grand state palace during Queen Victoria's reign. The Palace is closed to the public, as is the Royal Mews, a working stable that houses the state vehicles. Leave a Comment Directions: Green Park tube
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Anyone can say they saw the changing of the guards, but has everyone seen a guard trip and fall. I have! But i didnt get a picture of it. I know its mean, but it was pretty cool and funny. He was ok though.
The palace wasnt all i expected it to be, but it still is pretty neato.
If you are going to see the changing of the gaurd. Be aware that its not always daily, except during the summer. On some months its every even day, and some its odd days. To enter the palace it will cost 13.50 (pounds). For more info on visiting the palace check the following link to their homepage. Buckingham Palace
Have a good time!
* Please feel free to rate this tip, or any of my other tips,. I am always looking to make improvements. Thank you... Leave a Comment Phone: +44 20 7321 2233Directions: Nearest tube is Green Park or Victory station. Tube Map. The palace is located at the end of the road called "The Mall". Its also between Green Park and St. James Park.Website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/
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Changing of the guard is a must see in London, even though you have to be lucky to get close to the fence and actually see something, because every time an amazing crowd gets together for this event.
It's supposed to happen on these days, but check in advance for exact dates:
- Daily at 11.30am from April - July
- Odd days during August & November (1, 3, 5 etc)
- Even days during September & October (2, 4, 6 etc)
Alternate days for the rest of the year.
Actually to stand/sit at the statue in front of the main entrance is not better either...you will miss (or see from distance only) the changing, but to compensate you will see them marching out at least...:) Leave a Comment Directions: Green Park tube
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Britain's monarchs have changed their official residences throughout the centuries from The Tower of London to Westminster to Whitehall to Kensington and St. James's, and finally to Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace is now the official London residence of the reigning monarch. The royal residences or palaces were individually tailored to suit each monarch consequently subjecting the buildings to virtually incessant remodelling, rebuilding and repairs.
The palace is surrounded on three sides by parks, St. James' Park, Green Park and Hyde Park. There are also 40 acres of gardens on palace grounds, complete with statuary, pool and fountain. Queen Elizabeth's own private suites overlook Green Park, a lovely, tree-lined preserve virtually overflowing with daffodils in the spring.
Between St. James' Park, the oldest of the nine royal parks, and Green Park lies The Mall. The Mall begins at the gates of Buckingham Palace and ends at Trafalgar Square. It is the route most commonly taken by royal processions on state occasions.
The royal family lives here at the palace when in London. They are: Their Majesties the Queen, Elizabeth II and her husband/consort, Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh; their daughter, Princess Anne; their eldest son, Prince Charles of Wales; their second son, Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and their youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Princess Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex. The second in line for the throne, Prince William of Windsor, is the first son of the late Princess Diana of Wales and her ex-husband Prince Charles of Wales. The other son of the couple is Prince Harry. Leave a Comment Phone: 020 7321 2233
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Having come across this ceremony only by accident and not being a big fan of all this royal stuff, it still is a bit of a puzzler to me why the changing of the guard is considered one of the top tourist attractions of London. But anyway, the following internet link will help you to find out whether it is happening during your visit and what it's all about. Leave a Comment
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Buckingham Palace is located in the City of Westminster between Green Park and St James Park. The palace is reached from Trafalgar square by the Mall which is a large road sometimes lined by British Flags for special occasions.
When the queen is at home her coat of arms is displayed as a huge flag on the top of the palace (this goes for any of the royal residences in the uk) and if you knock on the door she'll sometimes invite you in for tea... yeah ok i'm only kidding about that but she does make appearances every now and again.
The Trooping the Colour is one of the special events that takes place during the early summer. The Royal Guards parade on horsback and foot complete with bear skins (thats the funny looking furry hats) whilst the Queen and the Royal Family are driven in carriages (Queen Elizabeth II used to ride on horseback but hasn't done for the past few years) around to wave at the crowds. The procession begins and ends at Buckinham Palace with a fly by of the Royal airforce incuding the Red Arrows Pictured
The event is attended by thousands of people every year so get there early and is composed of more than 1400 troops. If you do one touristy thing whilst you're in the UK in June make it this.
During August Buckingham Palace is open for public tours but tickets should be bought in advance. Just google "Buckingham Palace" and you'll see a whole host of sites offering tickets for sale. Leave a Comment
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Changing of the guard is a must see in London, even though you have to be lucky to get close to the fence and actually see something, because every time a huge crowd gets together for this event (see picture :).
It's supposed to happen on these days, but check in advance for exact dates:
- Daily at 11.30am from April - July
- Odd days during August & November (1, 3, 5 etc)
- Even days during September & October (2, 4, 6 etc)
Alternate days for the rest of the year. Leave a Comment Directions: Green Park tube
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When we were here in 1950, we saw the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. We went up and stood near the guards with their tall bearskin hats in the sentry boxes. We were told that they would never change expression.
My dad was really into photography. He took 16mm movies at a time when most people didn't take more than 8 mm if they took any movies at all. He took a movie of my sister standing next to the guard at Buckingham. After she thought the movie was over, my sister turns and looks up carefully at the guards face - I think she's trying to see if he is breathing.
We did not actually go to Buckingham Palace on the 2002 trip. In 2007, my grandson wanted to see Buckingham palace, so we took a taxi from the hotel because it didn't look like the Original Bus was going to come anytime that morning.
NOTE: There is a separate VT Buckingham Palace page
Open: State Rooms: 09:30 - last admission at 16:15, every day 6 August - 28 September. Note: Buckingham Palace operates a timed-ticket system, admission every 15 minutes throughout the day. Tickets go on sale at 9.00 am at the ticket office on Constitution Hill, to avoid queues book in advance by phone or online www.the-royal-collection.org.uk
The Guard Change: 11:30 daily from Apr-Jun, and on alternate days for the rest of the year, weather permitting. For September 2003 this is odd days of the month Leave a Comment
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This is like the number one place of must-see in London for any first timer. To start outside the gates like pilgrims to see the change of guards and then finally catching the sight of the Queen in the flesh as she drives off in her horse carriage waving to all citizens and tourists from all over the world.
As you need to be there at the right time for this daily event, I find that the nearby St. James Park is a nice place to spend waiting time. There are ponds, trees and ducks to feed.
The Changing of Guards ceremony is at 11:30am daily during summer (April tp July) and every other day during winter. Last for 45 minutes.
The Guards are drawn from the British Army: the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards.
If the Queen is staying at Buckingham Palace, there are four sentries at the front of the building. When she is away there are two.
The State Rooms of the Palace are open to visitors during August and September through organized tours.
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The changing of the guard in front of Buckingham Palace only takes place every other day, if memory serves, so be sure to plan accordingly. We were lucky to go on a day when a dignitary (from India, we think) was coming in to the Palace, so there was more than the usual pomp and circumstance! Leave a Comment Directions: Green Park tube
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Destinations near London- Buckingham Palace, 1.16 km / 0.72 miles
- Holborn, 1.84 km / 1.15 miles
- Saint Marylebone, 2.31 km / 1.44 miles
- Spitalfields, 2.95 km / 1.83 miles
- Bermondsey, 3.46 km / 2.15 miles
- Brixton, 3.89 km / 2.41 miles
- Shoreditch, 4.36 km / 2.71 miles
- Paddington, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Hyde Park, 4.61 km / 2.87 miles
- Bethnal Green, 4.96 km / 3.08 miles
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