Highlights

Usually there is a flag above Buckingham Palace - this means that the Queen is in the building. But at the end of summer, Elizabeth II leaves her home, and Buckingham Palace opens its doors to tourists. They can look at the luxury of the royal court with their own eyes. Gilded ceilings and silk-covered walls, exquisite furniture, antique vases and elegant candelabra - the halls are so splendid.

Formally, Buckingham Palace is the property of the royal family. But at the same time it is considered a tourist attraction and serves as an art gallery. This is the hallmark of Great Britain.

Miniature "town" in London

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, near Pall Mall. On the vast square nearby is a monument to Queen Victoria, made of snow-white marble and gilding. The residence itself was “sandwiched” between high-rise buildings and buildings in the Art Nouveau style. This is a real town, because outside the gates there is a swimming pool, a post office, a police department, a hospital and its own cinema. Together with the garden, the area of ​​the complex reaches 20 hectares. Visitors are strictly divided into two categories: some enter through the main entrance, and the rest through the side service entrance. The right to pass through the front doors belongs to the royal family, their retinue, courtiers and ladies-in-waiting, government representatives and dignitaries.

Buckingham Palace is huge, as it should be - there are about 700 rooms inside. The predominant colors are red and gold. Among them are fifty royal bedrooms, approximately 200 rooms for guests and staff, about a hundred offices and the queen’s study. Prince Philip, Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex also work in the building.

The Elegant Residence's Past

The history of the palace began in the 18th century. The architectural masterpiece Buckingham House was erected by order of the Duke of Buckingham. The owner was dissatisfied with the new house - he smelled mold everywhere, although the others did not notice this. Soon the Duke died, and the widowed wife could not live within the walls of the building - every object reminded her of her husband. She left and soon died of grief. The Duke's heir has put Buckingham Palace up for sale.

George III became interested in the pretty structure. He was looking for a new private residence - the previous one did not suit him with its size and decoration. In 1762, Buckingham House passed into the hands of the monarch, who began a large-scale restoration. At the same time, a large library was built and the rooms were decorated with paintings by Italian artists.

The residence changed its name - now it is called the “Queen’s House”. Most of the time, the monarch's wife, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was the hostess here, and George III visited occasionally. Frequent guests of Buckingham Palace were artists who painted portraits of all the royalty of England. Subsequently, famous architects “worked their magic” on the complex, creating three similar buildings and combining them into a common ensemble. In the center there is a spacious courtyard.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Buckingham Palace was officially declared the residence of British monarchs. Queen Victoria began to rule and paid a lot of attention to the masterpiece. The reconstruction affected the interior, an additional outbuilding was also created, and the location of the main entrance was changed. Gardens, waterfalls and lakes were built.

The people did not like this change. The restoration cost 700 thousand pounds sterling - a large sum by the standards of the 19th century. In difficult times for the country, this seemed like an unaffordable luxury. But the changes continued. In the 60s, the ballroom was completed and used for the first time for a reception in honor of the end of the Crimean War.

At first, the furnishings of the house were created in the Georgian style. During the reign of Edward VII, the decoration was changed to French Art Nouveau, and some of the premises were decorated in Chinese themes. Today, Buckingham Palace continues to serve the royal family - it hosts special events and receptions of national importance.

Visit the palace

Today, the royal residence is visited by a lot of tourists - about 30 thousand during the summer months. Guests are immediately struck by the powerful entrance gate and the calm appearance of the gray brick building. The original appearance of the structure has been preserved only on the western side, facing the garden. But the most famous is the eastern façade of Buckingham Palace. The lower floor is decorated with bas-reliefs of the Doric order, and the upper - Corinthian. The front side of the building is complemented by allegorical figures. The triangular part of the palace facade looks elegant thanks to the coat of arms. Above it are sculptures of Neptune, Navigation and Trade. The northern part of the building is occupied by private chambers. In the main building, facing St. James's Palace, there are State Rooms.

Even before entering Buckingham Palace, you can get a vivid impression - watch the changing of the guard. The ceremony is held daily from April to the end of summer, and every other day during the rest of the period. The spectacle attracts a crowd of tourists. The stage is the area in front of the balcony.

On a large table near the palace there is a schedule for the changing of the guard. If you want to photograph the spectacle without interference, you need to first take care of a place near the fence of Buckingham Palace. At 11:30 the “performance” begins - the guards from the Court Division show equanimity and impeccable training.

Until 1993, it was impossible for an ordinary tourist to get inside the building. Buckingham Palace is now open to visitors during the Queen's departure (August and September). The residence begins with a lobby decorated with marble columns. At the entrance there is a sculpture gallery uniting busts and statues of representatives of the dynasty of monarchs and statesmen. The atmosphere inside is reminiscent of a museum. The rooms are furnished with antique furniture that has survived more than one generation. Among the items is porcelain that belonged to Napoleon.

The “heart” of the building: State rooms

The pride of Buckingham Palace is the State Rooms, the Royal Gallery and the Mews. The elegance of the rooms has remained almost unchanged since the time of Queen Victoria. The “heart” of the palace is the State Halls. Exquisite furniture, unique Sevres porcelain, elegant sculptures - that's what you can see there. The premises are decorated with masterpieces by Rubens, Rembrandt, and Canaletto. The state rooms are available to visitors only two months a year - in August and September. The rest of the time, Elizabeth II and representatives of the royal family hold official events and receptions here.

In total, there are 19 State Rooms in Buckingham Palace: the white and green living rooms, the guard room, the Throne Room, the State Dining Room and several more rooms. They are arranged sequentially in one row, in enfilades - it feels as if the rooms are strung on a thread. Among them, the Green Living Room is considered central. A chest of drawers made of ebony and decorated with precious stones looks important. Antique vases made by the hands of famous craftsmen add solidity to the room. The walls of the Green Living Room are lined with silk, and the ceiling is decorated with gilding. The Green Drawing Room once served as Queen Charlotte's salon. Today invited guests are waiting to be received here.

Want to take a look at the room where formal photo shoots take place at Buckingham Palace? Check out the Throne Room. This room was once used for balls with royal participation. The Throne Room contains majestic chairs with the initials of the royal family. From here you can get to the art gallery.

Treasures of British Monarchs

From the Main Throne Room, guests go to the Art Gallery. This part of the palace appeared in the 70s on the initiative of the Duke of Edinburgh. Previously, there were the ruins of a private chapel, which was destroyed during the Second World War. The Gallery is the main addition to Buckingham Palace over the past 150 years.

The art gallery is the largest room of the palace: length – 50 m, width – 8 m. Its size is comparable to two tennis courts. Walking leisurely around the room, you can look at paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck.

The Royal Gallery houses a large collection of drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and a Faberge egg. The exhibition is regularly updated - visitors are presented with exhibitions based on the collection of British monarchs. Bas-reliefs are placed on the fireplaces made of marble. You can recognize the features of famous artists in the sculptures.

Stately dining room

The state dining room at Buckingham Palace looks impressive: extravagant red color, huge mahogany table, image of George IV above the fireplace. The walls are decorated with portraits of royalty. The table is so long that 600 people can fit behind it.

The white living room is decorated in soft golden tones. A chic white chandelier, rich stucco, elegant sofas and armchairs - this is how it appears before visitors. The white and golden background is everywhere - in architectural details and furniture. A large collection of antique objects is not the only advantage of the living room. There is also a secret door leading to the Throne Room.

A carriage for the queen!

The Carriage House is also open to the public. Cars and carriages “live” inside, which are used for ceremonial and daily trips. In a separate room there is a huge Golden carriage. It is used in coronations and special occasions. The transparent carriage for royal brides also attracts the eye.

There are thoroughbred horses in the stalls. On the wall next to each there is an inscription with a name that the queen herself came up with. The stables only house horses for carriages. The stables are available to guests from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (open until 3:15 p.m.). Since 2011, you can visit the Carriage House all year round. However, it remains active. You can explore the stables on your own or join a group - the tour is in English. When visiting for the first time, the ticket must be stamped - it is valid for a year for repeat excursions. If the inspection is scheduled for Friday, it is advisable to check the museum’s opening hours. It may not work due to official events.

Walking through the halls of Buckingham Palace takes much longer due to the area. Tourists are advised to first get acquainted with the Royal Gallery and the Carriage House, and then go on a tour of the State Apartments.

Tea party in the royal palace

Smoothly and unexpectedly, from a spacious room with floor-to-ceiling glass doors, visitors enter a luxurious garden. It resembles Eden: a lake with islands, waterfalls, flowering trees, magnificent lawns and flower beds, pink flamingos. The territory is vast - 17 hectares. These are the largest private gardens in London. The solitude is disturbed only by the hum of helicopters that constantly fly over the residence.

Three times a year, a ceremonial tea party with the queen is held in the garden. The event is attended by approximately 10 thousand guests. There are no casual visitors at an informal meeting - everyone deserves to be present at a noble reception. Ordinary people feel free - for their sake, Elizabeth II abolished the dress code. Only black and bare shoulders were banned. Guests are treated to tea, miniature sandwiches with red caviar, chocolate cakes and biscuits.

Tourists can relax in the summer cafe, which is located right next to Buckingham Palace. Sitting at a table, you can drink a cup of tea or eat ice cream. Guests are allowed to stroll along the southern part of the garden, which offers views of the western part of the building and the lake.

Selection of souvenirs

Excursions are not complete without souvenirs - they are offered by a local store. Among the assortment are items from the “royal collection”. They are the same as the everyday items of Buckingham Palace: towels, kitchen utensils, various small things. You can buy sweets, cookies, jewelry, pens and key rings, and a napkin with the Queen’s monogram.

Path to Buckingham Palace

The road to the majestic building is simple: take the metro and get off at Piccadilly Circle, Victoria or St James's Park stations. Then the path goes through Green Park straight to Buckingham Palace.

Follow the signs to avoid getting lost. Tourists can visit the “Queen’s House” in August and September (from 9:45 to 18:00). But entry is allowed until 15:45. Tours for guests are offered every 15 minutes and last approximately two hours. Photography is prohibited inside. You have to pay for the pleasure of exploring a royal landmark. The cost is symbolic - £10.25 for guests under 17 years old, £16 for students, £18 for adults. The price has not changed since 1993, when tourists were given access to the complex. Children under 5 years old do not need a ticket.

Guests are offered several excursion options to choose from. You can only look at the premises of Buckingham Palace or buy a general ticket. Then you will visit not only the State Rooms, but also the royal stables and the art gallery. An audio guide in Russian will help you find your way. Don't want to crowd in a long line? Some tourists purchase tickets on the Buckingham Palace website in advance www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/the-state-rooms-buckingham-palace. When filling out the form, check the box next to the “Collect on Arrival” option - then you can pick up your order at the palace box office, otherwise the tickets will be sent by mail.

Buckingham Palace - this name is widely known outside the UK, even among those people who have never been to London. The official residence is known for its unparalleled splendor and luxury, which is even called oppressive. However, the queen herself liked her home and place of work: from the very day of her accession, she fell in love with the huge rooms, lush halls and rich galleries of the ancient mansion.

Buckingham Palace is located in the heart of London, close to Pall Mall, Constitution Hill and Sper Road. The mansion is surrounded on almost all sides by parks and gardens: in the south there is a spacious Green Park, in the west there is the personal royal park Buckingham Palace Gardens, and on the east side there is St. James Park.

Buckingham Palace is a complex of four buildings forming a square with a courtyard. Its central façade, facing a huge square with a monument to Queen Victoria, is particularly splendid. In the center of the composition is a huge balcony, where during holidays and special occasions the royal family gathers to address the public.

The architecture of Buckingham Palace evokes mixed reviews: some consider it one of the most beautiful buildings in Great Britain, while others call it awkward and even ugly. However, the palace remains one of the most popular attractions. It seems amazing the number of visitors to Buckingham Palace per year is not several million, but only 30-50 thousand. This is explained by the fact that the inside of the building is only accessible to visitors during the Queen's official holiday, which takes place in August and September. During this time, he leaves his residence, allowing everyone to visit its interiors.

Admiring the magnificent decoration of the palace and not knowing its history is an unforgivable omission. It’s hard to imagine, but Buckingham Palace was once just the mansion of the Duke of Buckingham, who in 1703 built himself a residence in central London. These were the last years of the Duke: the illness that tormented him caused dissatisfaction with the palace, he constantly smelled mold in the halls of the building. After the Duke's death, his wife was inconsolable and soon followed him. Since then, rumors have circulated that Buckingham Palace actually smells of mold, but they are not confirmed by anything.

In 1762, the building was purchased by King George III, who was not satisfied with the royal residence at St. James's Palace. He hired two talented architects, Blore and Nash, to transform the Duke's mansion into a palace fit for kings. An additional outbuilding was built, the front entrance was moved, the interior rooms were reconstructed, and a courtyard was created. ABOUT A lot of money was spent on the reconstruction of the palace, which even caused discontent among the British. But Buckingham Palace acquired inimitable luxury. George III created in it a huge library with valuable and rare publications, an art gallery with works of art by many outstanding artists, magnificent halls, living rooms and state rooms, including a huge ballroom - the most expensive room in the palace.

Today, Buckingham Palace is not just the royal residence and place of work of Queen Elizabeth, it is a whole town in which its own life is in full swing. It has its own post office, stables, bars, police station, tennis courts, sports centers, hospital, cinema, swimming pool. Of the 775 rooms, as many as 188 are occupied by the palace staff - several hundred people work here. Some keep order, others organize banquets, others take care of the garden, there are even two people who devote a full day to ensuring that all the clocks in the palace are in good working order. And there are about three hundred of them!

When is Buckingham Palace open to the public? tourists are invited to explore several main halls with a rich history. The central place in the ceremonial premises of the palace is occupied by Green living room- this room has exquisite furniture, luxurious decorative items, and a unique collection of paintings. Excellent Sevres porcelain is kept here. The state rooms of the palace are valued for their collection of porcelain, which was collected by George IV. One of the best collections of our time includes a French dinner service used by Napoleon. Also in the Green Room is a unique aroma maker, made in the shape of a ship.

Adjacent to the Green Living Room Throne room, followed by a huge Picture gallery, repository of the palace's rich art collection. This space boasts a recent renovation and new finishes. The gallery presents several dozen paintings, including works by Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens and other great artists. But this is only part of the entire royal collection; the rest is also kept in Buckingham Palace, but is closed to the public.

State dining room The palace is also open to the public. It is a lavishly decorated room with a long mahogany table in the middle of it. It accommodates 600 people - such receptions are often held at Buckingham Palace. The dining room is decorated with a huge portrait of George IV and several smaller portraits of Queen Charlotte, George III, Princess Augusta and other members of the royal family.

You can also get to Royal Mews- these are not just working stables, they can be called part of the museum complex, since they display royal transport: a golden carriage intended for coronations, a transparent carriage for wedding ceremonies and other royal carriages. Sometimes you can see royal horses here.

The tour of Buckingham Palace ends with a visit to the south side garden, from where you can see the western façade of the building. The garden of Buckingham Palace has a large area - about 17 hectares. Near the picturesque lake live real pink flamingos - beautiful, intelligent and not shy birds that are accustomed to large numbers of people and constant helicopter flights.

Buckingham Palace is carefully guarded by the Household Division. Members of the royal guard keep order. Every morning from April to August and every other day during the winter months, a festival takes place near the palace, attracting the attention of tourists.

The money collected from tourists for viewing the palace goes towards the restoration of another royal residence - Windsor Castle, which was damaged by fire. But getting into the palace is not so easy: there are too many people willing, and time is limited. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance. Nearest metro station - St. James Park.

Entrance fees:
The cost of visiting the main halls (State Rooms), stables (Royal Mews) and Queen's Gallery is:
£35.6 per adult; students and people over 60 years old - 32.5 pounds; persons under 17 years of age and people with disabilities - 20 pounds.
A visit to the palace halls, stables and galleries available for viewing takes up to 4.5 hours.

Opening hours of the State Halls: August-September (in 2015: 01.08-27.09)
In August from 09:30 to 15:45;
In September from 09:30 to 14:45.

Opening hours of the Royal Mews in 2015: February 02 - November 29.
Entrance fees separately in the Royal Stables: children under 5 years old - free; under 17 years of age and people with disabilities - 5.4 pounds; 9 pounds - adult; students and people over 60 years of age - 8.3 pounds.

Opening hours of the Queen's Gallery: Almost throughout the year. It is better to check the visiting days in advance on the official website of Buckingham Palace.

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace occurs daily from April to July at 11:30, from August to March - every other day and depending on weather conditions. It is better to check the information in advance

This is a real symbol of Foggy Albion and the official residence of the monarchs of Great Britain.

The Queen and her family spend almost all their time here, leaving it only during their holidays and royal visits to other countries and cities in the UK.

Buckingham Palace in London

Official holidays for monarchs take place in August-September, and this is when Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors who want to touch history and see with their own eyes how monarchs live.

The palace attracts many people every year. During summer receptions in the royal garden alone, up to 30,000 people visit it!

Of course, it is almost impossible for mere mortals to get there, and they can only be content with two months to get a glimpse of the wealth and luxury of the royal palace.

History of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace was built not so long ago - only in the 18th century, for the Duke of Buckingham, hence its name.

However, the luxurious palace did not suit the taste of its owner. The Duke claimed that he could not live in it because of the smell of rot and mold that hung in all the rooms. It is worth noting that no one else felt it.

There are legends that the Duke simply felt his own death approaching, because he died just a few years after the completion of construction.

And after the death of the widowed Duchess, Buckingham Palace and the surrounding lands were inherited by Charles Sheffield. But he did not live in these luxurious apartments, but sold the estate to the English King George III in 1762.

The monarch did not want to “huddle” in St. James's Palace, the official residence of the kingdom in the 18th century, believing that his family deserved better. And Buckingham Palace was considered one of the most beautiful houses in London.

George III immediately began decorating the palace to his liking: the façade of the building was simplified, a huge library was built, and all the walls began to be decorated with magnificent paintings by famous artists. The best English artists of those times were invited to paint portraits of the royal family: Ramsay, West, Zoffney and Gainsborough.

George even changed the name of the new house, renaming it “Queen's House”, because it was here that Queen Charlotte and her children lived.

In subsequent years, Buckingham Palace and its grounds underwent constant changes and improvements. This was led by brilliant architects - John Nash and Edward Blore. They developed a project that required the construction of three more buildings similar to Buckingham Palace, so that the royal residence would form a square with a large courtyard.

But the heyday of Buckingham Palace dates back to the Victorian era. Queen Victoria carried out a global reconstruction of it, turning the already very beautiful house into a truly luxurious residence.

It was under Queen Victoria that Buckingham Palace received the status of the official residence of the British monarchy in 1837. Thanks to her efforts, new gardens with a lake and waterfalls, a luxurious ballroom appeared in 1853, as well as additional outbuildings and a new main entrance - the Marble Arch.

Queen Victoria Monument in the evening

Of course, such a reconstruction could not but cause indignation among British citizens, who believed that the grandiose luxurious apartments, which cost the crown £640,000, were not needed by the monarchy. “Let foreign countries do this, England has no use for it,” said British politician Joseph Hume.

King Edward VII also made changes to the decoration of the palace. Under him, artificial marble was replaced with real marble, and some rooms were furnished in Chinese style.

The bronze statue stands on a white stone pedestal...

But still, Queen Victoria was very much loved by her subjects. Many monuments have been erected to her and a huge number of great buildings are dedicated to her. One of the monuments is located just in front of Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace today

Today it is not just a house, it is a real small town with its own post office, police, hospital, sports clubs, swimming pool, cinema and even a disco! The main palace of the kingdom has as many as 755 rooms.

There are huge majestic halls, 93 offices, 52 royal bedrooms and 78 bathrooms. This “Town” is home to the royal family, and is served by 700 workers involved in maintaining the palace, cooking and organizing banquets for receptions.

The square in front of Buckingham Palace is a very visited place, because it is held here every day, gathering crowds of people.

Gateway to Buckingham Palace Square

Until 1993, tourists were not allowed into the main residence of the monarchs, but then the palace opened its doors to visitors for two whole months - August and September, when the queen is away.

Buckingham Palace rooms available for inspection

But it is worth remembering that only a few rooms are available for inspection: the guard room, the throne room, the green living room, the white living room, the formal dining room and several more halls. A total of 19.

Of course, this is not much, but these apartments are so luxurious that you can get an impression of the world the royal family lives in.

Photography inside is prohibited, therefore photos from inside the palace are presented as screenshots from a virtual tour from the official website - www.royal.gov.uk

In each room you can see a large number of paintings by famous artists. There are paintings here by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck.

A majestic and beautiful hall with the most expressive interior. All the attention of visitors is concentrated on the dais, where there are two thrones for the monarchs.

Green living room

The Green Drawing Room, upholstered in emerald silk, houses the most valuable items of Buckingham Palace. In addition to the beautiful interior, you can see a collection of ancient coins and several important historical items. For example, the aroma maker of the legendary beauty Madame de Pompadour.

Blue living room

Blue living room.

This room got its name because of the blue wallpaper on the walls.

This hall is designed in white and gold colors with beautiful gold patterns.

The chic garden located near Buckingham Palace also leaves an unforgettable impression. On an area of ​​17 hectares there is a lake inhabited by pink flamingos, many waterfalls, beautiful flower beds and lawns.

And many beautiful flowering trees.

Ticket prices for Buckingham Palace

*The ticket includes admission to the State Rooms and the Royal Gallery.

Buy tickets to Buckingham Palace in advance.

Exclusive tour of Buckingham Palace from December 12 to February 1, 2015

In 2014-2015, there was a unique opportunity to visit Buckingham Palace with a qualified guide not in the summer, but in the winter months - from December 12, 2014 to February 1, 2015.

It turns out that you can visit Buckingham Palace even in winter.

Excursions were conducted four times a day (not daily, please check on the website) at specific times: 13:30, 14:00, 16:00, 16:30. Tour duration is 2-2.5 hours.

This pleasure cost £75.00 per person. Tickets had to be booked in advance or purchased on the website (www.royalcollection.org.uk), as the number of seats is limited. There can be no more than 30 people in a group.

Royal gallery and palace ticket office.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how to get there?

It is simply impossible not to find Buckingham Palace. It is located in the center of London opposite Pall Mall and very close to

By metro: Victoria, Green Park and Hyde Park Corner stations.

By bus: 11, 211, C1 and C10 (Buckingham Palace Road stop)

Or you can get there in such a cute cab!

But to get on a tour of Buckingham Palace, the traveler will have to go to the embassy entrance, which is located on Buckingham Palace Road on the way to the Royal Gallery.

А вот чтобы попасть на экскурсию в Букингемский дворец, путешественнику придется отправиться к посольскому входу, который находится на Букингем-Пэлас-роуд по пути к Королевской Галерее.

And if you pass by the palace in London, don’t forget to look to see if the royal standard is fluttering in the wind. И если будете в Лондоне проходить мимо дворца, не забудьте посмотреть - не развевается ли на ветру королевский штандарт. You may be very close to the Queen herself!

Может быть вы находитесь совсем рядом с самой Королевой!

Great Britain is a country that has a lot to be proud of. Великобритания - страна, которой есть чем гордиться. The Tower of London, Sherwood Forest, Piccadilly Circus, Stonehenge, Trafalgar Square and many other attractions remain in the hearts and memories of tourists for a long time. Лондонский Тауэр, Шервудский лес, улица Пикадилли, Стоунхендж, Трафальгарская площадь и многие другие достопримечательности надолго остаются в сердцах и памяти туристов. Not least on this list is Buckingham Palace in London.

The beginning of the 19th century was the start for the creation of a completely new royal palace. Even then, plans arose for this construction. But as soon as George IV, the heir of George III, took the throne, he refused to turn the fairy tale into reality. King George IV had already reached the age of 60, he was ill and also overweight. Life in the "Queen's House" reminded him of his childhood, and he wanted to turn the estate into his palace. John Nash was named as the official architect in charge of all the work. Five years were spent transforming the Queen's House into a massive U-shaped building. It began to bear the name Buckingham Palace.

John created a truly masterpiece. He made the facade of the house wider and added two wings that were directed to the east. Contemporaries unanimously claim that the architect did a tremendous job, but they also insist that Buckingham Palace in London was too expensive. By the end of the 20s of the 19th century, John spent 500 thousand pounds on the reconstruction of the building. When George IV died, the Duke of Wellington, the British Prime Minister, removed John Nash from his post, citing the builder's reckless waste of money. Edward Blore was appointed as the new professional. He made the eastern facade wider in one direction and the other, and on the southern side he built a new entrance, which was called the Entrance of Ambassadors. By the beginning of 1834, under the leadership of this man, the construction of the state rooms was completed.

New construction work

Eight years after her coronation, Queen Victoria realized that Buckingham Palace did not have enough space for relaxation and living. She reported this to Robert Peel, her Prime Minister. Edward Blore was commissioned to draw up plans for another wing on the east side. In 1846, the proceeds from the sale of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton (53 thousand pounds) financed construction work. On the main new facade, a central balcony was erected, which Prince Albert dreamed of. From here, Queen Victoria watched her troops march to the Crimean War. At the same place she greeted them when they returned.

19th and 20th centuries in the life of Buckingham Palace

In the early 50s of the 19th century, the architect James Pennethorne completed the design of those rooms that were connected by galleries with John Nash's state apartments in the southern part of the palace. The new premises were made in the Renaissance style.

In 1901, King Edward VII became king of England. During this period, the interior of Buckingham Palace began to be considered outdated and did not meet the standards of the time. In this regard, the monarch began a rapid restoration of the estate. Improvements affected the ventilation, heating and electric lighting systems. The main shades for the new design were gold and white. This interior still exists today in the Ballroom and many other state rooms.

Buckingham Palace, as it is known today, took on its appearance for ten years after Queen Victoria passed away. In 1911, the area in front of the building's façade was covered with gravel. A beautiful iron fence with gates made of bronze was installed around the entire structure. The statue of the queen was also given its place of honor. And in 1913, the eastern facade of the castle was completely redesigned. The material chosen for it was gray Portland stone.

Art gallery and rooms

The Duke of Edinburgh initiated the creation of a public gallery for the royal art exhibition. During the hostilities of World War II, the Private Chapel was turned into ruins. In its place a royal art gallery appeared. In 2002 it was completely updated and expanded.

With over 700 rooms, Buckingham Palace is a truly impressive building. There are 52 bedrooms for members of the royal family and their guests, 188 bedrooms for staff, 78 bathrooms and 52 office spaces. The most popular and world-famous room is the balcony, where the royal couple stays during festive and special events.

Buckingham Palace, whose address is Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1A 1AA, UK, receives from 30 to 50 thousand tourists every year. And this number is constantly increasing.

Guard at Buckingham Palace

There is another tradition that many people want to see. This is a theatrical action of indescribable beauty. The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace occurs daily in the summer and every other day in the winter. The action is rehearsed down to the smallest details, even such as turning the head. It all starts at 11.30 and lasts 45 minutes. The tradition of this ritual began in 1660, when it was decided that only the guards of the royal court had the right to stand guard near the palaces of English monarchs.

Sentinels from the guard

The royal guard is commanded by a captain. A lieutenant heads each department. The second lieutenant carries the battalion banner. One guard includes 36 soldiers and three officers. While in the Queen's palace, four sentries are stationed near the main entrance. In her absence, their number is reduced to two people. The guards are on duty for two hours. They are given twice as much time for rest. They do not stand in the same place for more than ten minutes, as they have the right to walk in front of the booth.

How it all happens

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace takes place between St James's and Buckingham Palaces and Wellington Barracks. At its core, the whole process is the replacement of old guards with new ones. At 11.00 the old guard is formed near St James's Palace, then passes along The Mall (at 11.15), at which time it is accompanied by the regimental band, and heads towards Buckingham Palace. In the square, which is located on the right side of the residence, Buckingham's old guard occupies its place. The guards of St. James's Palace enter through the south gate and stand on the left side of the square. At 11.10 the new guard begins the procession to Buckingham Palace from Wellington Barracks. It is also accompanied by its own orchestra.

At approximately half past eleven, a new guard enters the square through the northern gate and stands in a line in front of the old guard. Her captain, after performing all the ceremonies, hands over the keys to the Palace to the new captain. The old guard goes to the barracks to rest. The Buckingham Palace guards take their positions, and the guards of St. James's Palace go to the place of duty.

For travelers

A visit to Buckingham Palace is only possible when Her Royal Majesty is not there. This always happens during August and September. At this time, tourists can explore 19 rooms, including a ballroom and an art gallery. A ticket for the excursion will cost only 14 euros. The visit program includes a tour of the richly furnished royal halls and chambers. In the halls, even today, the queen receives top officials of different states; it is also possible to visit the music room, in which royal children are baptized with Jordan water.

The Queen's place in the palace and Great Britain

In 1837, Buckingham Palace was declared the official royal residence. Queen Victoria ascended the throne at this time. But today the royal person in Great Britain has virtually no power. She is simply a symbol of the state, its representative. But not a single person in England, Scotland or Ireland even imagines that the royal family should sink into oblivion. On the contrary, the queen and her enormous family must exist, sit on the throne, and the population of the country will serve her and pay taxes for the maintenance of the entire clan and palace. When Her Majesty is at Buckingham Castle, the royal flag is flown above it. She stays here ten months of the year, with the exception of August and September. But at any moment the lady can interrupt her vacation and return to Buckingham Palace.

Royal Mews

England (Buckingham Palace) is also famous for the stables belonging to the family of monarchs. They are located on the left side of the residence. The premises for them were built in 1825 by the same John Nash. Today you can see strollers, cars, carriages and equipment here. All this is actively used today. The stable contains the Glass Carriage and the main Golden Royal Carriage. Diana and the Prince of Wales rode down the aisle in a glass transport. The stables house approximately 30 horses of different breeds.

When visiting the British capital, be sure to look into the palace, where real kings have lived for centuries.

Buckingham Palace– the official London residence of British monarchs, currently Queen Elizabeth II. It is in this place that the queen spends most of her time, lives and works, and receives guests. But the palace is also a famous landmark of the British capital.

The history of the creation of Buckingham Palace

The basis of the palace building was the mansion of the Duke of Buckingham, built in 1703 under the direction of the architect William Winde. At that time it was one of the largest and most beautiful buildings in London, and we have the opportunity to see this thanks to an engraving of 1710 with its image. Looking ahead, it can be noted that the façade of the Duke's mansion is now the main entrance to the western interior of modern Buckingham Palace.

Land and early buildings on the site of the future residence

But the history of the building begins even earlier. In the Middle Ages, the place where the palace is now located changed owners many times. Among the owners of the site (then part of the Ebury estate) were such figures as Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror himself. The latter granted it to Geoffrey Mandeville, a Norman knight, who gave it to the monks of Westminster Abbey. Some 500 years later it was returned to the crown by Henry VIII with the purchase of the future St James's Palace, but was soon partially sold again by James I.

A house was erected on this land, called the Goring House, in honor of one of the owners. At some point, Sir Goring was unable to pay the rent and Henry Bennett, 1st Earl of Arlington, took over the property. Under his leadership, Goring's house burned down in 1674, and a new building was erected in its place, which received the name Arlington Mansion. It has survived to this day; it is now the southern wing of the palace.

In 1702, the estate changed its owner to the already mentioned Duke of Buckingham, whose title gave the name to the royal residence. His mansion was U-shaped, with a large three-story main part and two smaller wings, and became the core around which Buckingham Palace was built.

It is impossible to answer the question of who Buckingham Castle was built for, because it was originally built by the Duke as an estate. But the palace was completed and rebuilt by each new owner for personal use.

In 1761, a descendant of the Duke sold Buckingham House to King George III for 21 thousand pounds. This is where the story of the estate passing through the hands of different owners ends and the future palace, along with the land, finally returns to the ownership of the English crown.

The first stage of the existence of Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Hall did not immediately become the official residence of the English crown; George III acquired it as a personal country estate primarily for the comfortable residence of his wife, Queen Charlotte. The estate unofficially became known as the Queen's House, as she spent most of her time here and gave birth to 14 of her 15 children. And the functions of the official residence continued to be performed by St. James's Palace, located nearby.

But almost immediately, in 1762, reconstruction began in the mansion, which turned into an almost permanent improvement of the palace. George IV, after ascending the throne, appreciated the comfort of the estate and in 1820 started renovations with the same idea - to create a comfortable property for private living. But already in 1826 it was decided to remodel the mansion again with the participation of the court architect John Nash. He started a grandiose reconstruction, deciding to build three more buildings similar to Buckingham House.

Furniture for the new rooms of the palace was bought, including in France, immediately after the Great French Revolution. The deal must have been very profitable for the English side.

But Nash did not calculate the capabilities of the crown and indecently inflated the construction budget, so that already in 1829 the work was suspended, and he himself was removed from participation in the reconstruction. Soon George IV died, and his brother, King William IV, decided to complete the construction and hired Edward Blore, who built the well-known Vorontsov Palace in Crimea. While construction was underway on the Buckingham estate, the English Parliament, which moved from the Westminster Palace that burned down in 1834, also managed to work.

As a result, upon completion of all the work, the old duke's mansion with new similar buildings formed a square with a large and comfortable courtyard.

Official residence of the monarchs

In 1837, William IV dies, and Queen Victoria ascends the throne, designates Buckingham Palace as her official residence and moves to live here. It was under her that the last major changes in the design and appearance of the building took place.

The fact is that the palace was far from ideal. Despite the external beauty and size, only the rooms occupied by the queen were in good condition, painted and gilded, but the rest of the palace, especially the new buildings, were very far from this level. At the same time, there were serious problems with heating and ventilation; for some time they were even afraid to install gas lamps on the lower floors. There were also problems with the servants; they were poorly trained and lazy.

The problems began to be resolved in 1840 by the Queen's husband, Prince Albert. Within a year, he managed to reform the palace, eliminated many everyday problems, increased the level of staff, but even with him, construction work continued for ten years.

In 1847, the royal couple decided that the palace was too small for them and a decision was made to complete the construction of another wing, and the work was entrusted to the same Blore. The new building, which we know as TheMall, is adjacent to the front of the building and is now the public façade of the palace. It is on it that the very balcony is located, from where the royal couple now greets the assembled subjects during the holidays. At Victoria's request, the Marble Arch, which at one time was the main entrance to the palace, was moved.

Victoria was also involved in the interior decoration of the residence; the richest and largest room was built during her tenure - the ballroom of Buckingham Palace. But the costs of the palace were truly enormous, which caused discontent among the British, who believed that England was not France, their palaces should be distinguished not by wealth, but by asceticism.

The palace was nearly ruined by Victoria's mourning for her husband Albert. After his death, she left Buckingham Palace and lived mainly at Windsor Castle and some other residences. Public pressure forced the Queen to return to London, but she took every opportunity to leave the palace, so that most of the time it still stood dark and empty, falling into disrepair.

Residence of the British Crown in the 20th century

Edward VII and his wife Alexandra breathed new life into Buckingham Palace. They moved into the residence, but by the beginning of the 20th century the interiors of the premises were already outdated and reconstruction began. The color scheme has changed - now gold and white colors began to predominate in the design of the palace, and some of the rooms were decorated in the Chinese style that was fashionable for that time. Not only external but also technical modernization was carried out: electric light was installed, ventilation and heating were improved, finally solving all domestic problems.

Fun returned to the palace. Even under Albert, the royal couple loved holidays - the prince invited famous musicians, including Mendelssohn and Strauss, and Victoria loved costume balls. These traditions were revived under Edward VII and his son, George V, and the ballroom often featured live music, sometimes performed by legends such as Louis Armstrong.

The final changes to the architecture of the palace complex were made in the 10s of the 20th century under the leadership of Aston Webb. Changes were made to the main façade, which was clad in Portland stone to serve as a backdrop to the large memorial statue to Queen Victoria erected in 1911.

Although some changes were made after that. In 1938, the conservatory was converted into a swimming pool, and an art gallery was built on the site of the chapel destroyed by an air bomb in 1940 (opened in 1962).

The last important milestone in the history of Buckingham Palace was the opening of some of the rooms to visitors, this happened in 1993.

It is interesting that the access of tourists to the royal residence was organized not out of the kindness of the latter, but out of necessity. The fact is that in 1992, Windsor Castle burned down and money was needed for its reconstruction.

Residence information

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II, where she lives and works. Some rooms of the castle are private apartments of the queen and other representatives of the dynasty, some of the premises are guest rooms, offices, and meeting rooms. A large number of premises are also allocated for servants' accommodation. But the main thing in the palace is, of course, the throne room and other state premises where various ceremonies take place, such as coronation or knighting.

The front part of the castle faces northeast. The façade overlooks the Queen Victoria Memorial, located at the junction of three streets: Constitution Hall, The Mall and Spur Road. This is also the balcony where representatives of the ruling dynasty go out on various public holidays. To the north of the palace, across the Constitution, is Green Park, and to the east, along the Mall, is St. James's Park. On the western side is Buckingham Palace Gardens, the third park surrounding the palace.

The main part of the castle is considered to be the inner, southwestern wing. The main entrance is located here, it opens into the courtyard. Having crossed its threshold, the visitor finds himself in the lobby, on the side of which there is a main staircase to the second floor, and behind it is the Marble Hall, passing across it one can get to the Audience Hall, where the exit to the garden is located.

It is officially stated that although Buckingham Palace houses many priceless works of art, it is neither a museum nor a gallery. This is nothing more than an official residence, some of the rooms of which are open to tourists.

Climbing the grand staircase, visitors find themselves on the second floor, where almost all the state rooms of the palace are located: the Throne Room, the Ballroom, the Green, Blue, and White Drawing Rooms, the State Dining Room and the Banquet Hall, as well as the Art Gallery and the Tapestry Room. It is these premises of Buckingham that are available for visiting, which will be discussed below.

The second floor is considered the main floor in the palace; in the wing to the right of the entrance, the main working rooms are located, including rooms for receiving officials and the queen’s office.

And the third floor is traditionally residential. It is on it that the bedrooms are located in the same right wing. Not only the queen lives in the palace, but also some of her relatives: the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke of York, the Earl and Countess of Essex, etc.

What's inside the palace

The official website of the British monarchy says that there are 775 rooms in the palace, of which:

• 19 front rooms;
• 52 royal and guest bedrooms;
• 188 bedrooms for palace workers;
• 92 work offices;
• 78 restrooms.

From the official list it becomes clear that not all the premises of Buckingham Palace are classified, and we can only guess what is in them and how they are used. But the general public knows about all the main premises of the palace. These are halls and dining rooms, decorated in different styles, art galleries, ordinary offices, bedrooms.

It is not known who and when counted the number of light bulbs or doors in the palace, but similar information about the royal residence is known.

• Dimensions of the palace: 108 by 120 meters, 24 meters in height;
• Area: 77,000 square meters;
• How many rooms: 775;
• How many windows: 760;
• How many doors: 1514;
• Number of light bulbs: 40,000;
• How many hours: 350;
• Largest room: Ballroom - 36.6 meters long, 18 wide, 13.5 high;
• More than 50,000 people visit the palace as guests of the Queen, not counting tourists.

Other palace buildings

On the territory of the palace there are several separate buildings worthy of attention. The first one is Royal Mews. An exquisite building to match the residence itself acts both as working stables and as a garage for carriages and cars. Moreover, tourists can visit the stables almost all year round.

Another building is called Royal Gallery. It was opened in 1962 on the site of a destroyed chapel. It constantly displays various works of art - both those belonging to the crown and temporary exhibitions. The gallery, similar to the stables, is accessible to the public almost all the time.

The third building is a separate building of the Buckingham Palace complex - Clarence House. It is adjacent to St. James's Palace, but administratively belongs to Buckingham. Previously, the Queen Mother lived here, and since 2003 Clarence House has become the residence of Prince Charles. In addition to them, it was used as an official residence by Princes William and Charles. It can be visited, but not all year round, but usually during two or three summer months.

Gardens

The Buckingham Palace complex occupies 20 hectares of land, of which 17 hectares are Buckingham Palace Gardens. They are located southwest of the main building, just behind the main far wing. The Royal Gardens are the largest private gardens in London and the word “private” is used here for a reason - access to the general public is limited.

The garden was planted in 1760 as a decoration for a small canal flowing in this area. The park's founder was landscape designer Lancelot Brown, but the garden was soon redesigned by William Ayton and, of course, John Nash. A noticeable improvement to the garden was the construction of an artificial lake in 1828.

The garden contains trees of many species, including swamp cypress, Indian chestnuts, etc. And in the south-west corner there is an interesting exhibit - a mulberry from the mulberry garden founded by James I. The garden is looked after by about eight full-time gardeners and several visiting assistants .

There is a funny story connected with the mulberry garden that James I planted. The king chose the wrong type of tree where silkworms did not live. This is how the attempt to create silk in England failed.

There are 2.5 miles of gravel paths throughout the garden, leading to the royal helipad, tennis courts, gazebo, Napoleon's Vase and pond. From the side of the palace, the park abuts the main building, the royal stables and the gallery.

Tourists are usually not allowed into the park, but part of it can be visited during traditional excursions to the palace; it is in the garden that the tour ends and in a specially installed tent you can buy souvenirs and royal ice cream.

But sometimes the park hosts entertainment events, the first of which took place in 2002. Back then, several thousand tickets were sold to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and the guitarist of the band Quenn played for the guests. There was also a big celebration for children in the garden.

One cannot fail to mention two other parks located near Buckingham Palace - Green Park and St. James's Park. Unlike the royal one, they are open from sunset to dawn, and anyone can visit them. St James's Park is also a landmark, as it is London's oldest garden. And the royal park in the north is adjacent to the famous Hyde Park.

Guardsmen

A unique landmark throughout Great Britain is the Royal Guard. This is the personal security of the monarch, serving in official residences, including Buckingham Palace. Their image is well known to us, mainly thanks to their red uniforms and huge hats made of bear fur, despite all the efforts of the “greens” - natural. At the same time, officer’s hats are distinguished by their appearance, since they are made from the fur of male bears. And they are inherited from one guardsman to another, so the bear population does not suffer too much.

The Queen's personal guard includes 5 infantry regiments and 2 cavalry regiments. Although they perform mostly ceremonial functions - they carry an honor guard at the royal residence - these are real soldiers who train along with the rest of the British army (dressing in camouflage, of course) and may well take part in real military operations.

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

This ceremony, performed by the guards, attracts many spectators from all over the world. In general, the changing of the guard takes place both at Windsor Castle and at St. James's Palace, but the main spectacle is, of course, performed by the Buckingham Guard.

At Buckingham Palace, the guards change at 11:30 every day from May to July and every other day the rest of the time. You can watch the ceremony completely free of charge; the main thing is to reserve your seats in advance, as there are always plenty of people willing to watch.

During the ceremony, the new guard leaves the barracks at St. James's Castle, accompanied by the band, and marches along the Mall to the entrance to Buckingham Palace, where the formal transfer of responsibility takes place. The old shift also marches to the barracks along the same route.

But on certain dates you can see an even more solemn ceremony with the participation of guards, including cavalry regiments. For example, on each Queen's birthday, the guards solemnly display state standards.

Visit to the palace

The last important question many tourists ask is how and when to visit Buckingham Palace. Most people come to the palace just to take a photo in front of it; this can be done all year round without wasting time, because Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, within walking distance of many other attractions - Big Ben, Hyde Park, the Albert and Victoria Museum, etc. etc. At the same time, you will most likely be able to visit the gallery and stables, as well as watch the changing of the guard.

One cannot help but recall another interesting tradition - if the queen is in the palace, the state flag is always raised above it. If the queen is not in the palace, then the flag is removed.

But when the Queen goes on vacation to Windsor Castle, everyone can see the state rooms, including the Throne Room, as well as part of the park. This usually happens in August and September, but you need to find out the exact dates on the official website.

Information for visitors

Opening hours

Admission of tourists to the palace in 2015:

• July 25 – August 31 from 9:30 to 19:30 (last entry at 17:15);
• September 1–27 from 9:30 to 18:30 (last entry at 16:15).

The average visit time is from two to two and a half hours.

Gallery opening hours:

• From 10:00 or 9:30 (depending on the season) to 17:30 (last entry at 16:15).

The average visit time is an hour or an hour and a half.

Royal stables:

• Open from 10:00 to 16:00 or 17:00.

Please note that the stables are closed from December to February and on some public holidays, check this information on the website before visiting.

Ticket prices in 2015:

• General ticket (palace, stables, gallery) – £35.6;
• Palace state rooms only – £20.5;
• Stables – £9;
• Gallery – £10.

Prices are indicated for standard adult tickets; many categories of citizens (students, pensioners, disabled people, children) are given discounts. You can also save money by purchasing a family or group ticket.

Website, address, how to get there

Official website: royalcollection.org.uk – we recommend that you find out all the information about opening hours and prices here before planning your trip.

Palace address: London, SW1A 1AA

Nearest metro stations: Victoria, Green Park, St James's Park, Hyde Park Corner - but they are all located some distance from the palace, within a 5-10 minute walk.

Bus stops: Wilton Street, Buckingham Palace Royal Mews, Hyde Park Corner - similar to metro stations, you will have to walk a bit. The Pall Mall St James's Palace stop is a little further than the others, but near St James's Palace.

Buckingham Palace on the map

Photos from outside

Photo inside the palace