London Attractions - Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain 's sovereigns since 1837. It evolved from a town house that was owned from the beginning of the eighteenth century by the Dukes of Buckingham.

It is the largest private house in London - it has more than 660 rooms. The palace is actually back-to-front: the side you look at from the Mall is the back of the building.

The London home of Her Majesty the Queen, Buckingham Palace opens its doors in August and September every year. Visitors may tour the State Rooms, including the Throne Room, Picture Gallery and State Dining Room which form the backdrop to the pageantry of court ceremonials and official entertaining.

They are all opulently decorated with some of the finest pictures, tapestries and works of art from the Royal Collection. Paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sèvres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world can be spotted inside the Buckingham Palace . 

Parts of the gardens have also been opened as part of the tour. Visits to Buckingham Palace can be combined with visits to The Queen's Gallery, which reopened in May 2002.

The changing of the guard is a tourist attraction that you must see. See the Queen's horse and stables in the Mews and walk the fascinating grounds. This is where it all happens in the home of the royals.

For more information about the Buckingham Palace visit:
http://www.royal.gov.uk

For nearest available accommodation visit: www.comfortinnbuckinghampalacerd.co.uk www.hamiltonhousehotel.com
www.edwardhousehotel.co.uk