London is one of the few European capitals where monarchy is not just history but the present: King Charles III has his official residence here, and the royal palaces are at once places of power, ceremony and sightseeing. Here are the main ones, with tips for seeing them.
Buckingham Palace
The sovereign's official London residence since 1837, when Queen Victoria moved in, Buckingham Palace began as the town house of the Dukes of Buckingham in the early 18th century and was enlarged by George IV and Victoria. It has 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms and 78 bathrooms. When the Royal Standard flies on the roof, the King is in residence.
- The State Rooms open in summer, usually from July to September, when the sovereign is in Scotland: you see the Throne Room, the Ballroom and a picture gallery with works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer and Canaletto.
- The Changing of the Guard usually takes place in the late morning on several days a week, daily at some times in summer; check the official schedule and arrive well ahead to find a spot by the railings or the Victoria Memorial.
- The King's Gallery and the Royal Mews, the stables with the state coaches, are open for much of the year.
In front of the palace runs The Mall, the ceremonial avenue leading to Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square, flanked by St James's Park and Green Park.
Kensington Palace
In Kensington Gardens, Kensington Palace was the residence of William III and Mary II, the birthplace of Queen Victoria in 1819 and the home of Princess Diana. Today it houses the offices of the Prince and Princess of Wales and rooms open to the public with exhibitions on royal fashion, Victoria's youth and the baroque state apartments. The Sunken Garden and Diana's statue are among the most photographed spots.
Hampton Court Palace
South-west of the city, on the Thames, Hampton Court is the Tudor palace par excellence. Built by Cardinal Wolsey and taken over by Henry VIII, who spent five of his six honeymoons there, it was later extended in baroque style by Christopher Wren for William and Mary. Don't miss the great Tudor kitchens, the Great Hall, the Chapel Royal, the gardens and the famous hedge maze, the oldest surviving in England. It is about 35 minutes by train from Waterloo. See also Henry VIII and Thomas Wolsey.
The other palaces
- Banqueting House, Whitehall: the only surviving part of the Palace of Whitehall, designed by Inigo Jones, with a ceiling painted by Rubens. Charles I was beheaded in front of this building in 1649.
- St James's Palace: the formal seat of the court, where ambassadors are still accredited; not open to visitors.
- Clarence House: Charles III's residence when he was prince, open only on rare occasions.
- Kew Palace, in Kew Gardens, the smallest royal residence, linked to George III.
- The Tower of London, an ancient royal palace and today home of the Crown Jewels.
- Outside the city, Windsor Castle, the oldest occupied royal residence in the world.
Tips
The palaces are run by two different bodies: the Royal Collection, for Buckingham Palace and Windsor, and Historic Royal Palaces, for the Tower, Hampton Court, Kensington, Banqueting House and Kew Palace, which offers a good-value annual membership for those visiting more than one. For the history of the monarchy see the British monarchy; back to the London guide.