Inside the Buckingham Palace, with 775 rooms, including 200 bedrooms and 92 offices
If you're unable to visit the palace, here's an immersive peek inside the most iconic royal residence in the world.
With 775 rooms, including 200 bedrooms and 92 offices, Buckingham Palace is a kingdom unto itself. But access is limited.
The entrance for visitors? Gate C at Buckingham Gate, not the East Front flooded with cameras and hopeful tourists.
Once past airport-style security and with your complimentary audio guide in hand, the experience begins at The Quadrangle. It's only when you pass into the Grand Entrance, however, that the real magic begins.
The Grand Staircase, climbed by presidents and monarchs alike, leads you into opulent rooms:
Don't forget to check out the chandeliers, the ceilings—everything is decked out in red and gold.
Next, you'll pass the Picture Gallery, with artworks by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Dutch masters. For art lovers, it's a dream.
The Ball Supper Room, currently exhibiting the Queen's personal jewellery, including the Diamond Diadem seen on stamps and currency, is a dazzling display. But the real showstopper is the Grand Ballroom, where state banquets and knighting ceremonies take place.
From there, you explore the 1844 Room, the Blue Drawing Room, the Music Room (home to royal christenings), and the White Drawing Room, where VIPs like the US President meet the Queen, who may just appear via a hidden 'secret' door behind a bureau.
Outside, the Palace Gardens offer a quieter experience, where the Queen prefers wildlife over humans. The tennis court and swimming pool are off-limits, but you can partake in afternoon tea made by the Palace's own caterers.
For true royal enthusiasts, a visit to The Queen's Gallery and The Royal Mews is essential. The former showcases ever-changing royal art exhibitions, like Japanese artefacts gifted to the monarch. The latter is home to Her Majesty's carriages and horses, including the Gold State Coach.
Tours of the State Rooms and Palace Gardens are open during the Queen's absence—mainly late July to September. Tickets can be booked via http://www.rct.uk.
Nearest Tube stations are Green Park and St. James' Park, each just five minutes away. Avoid driving, parking is a nightmare, of course. And don't forget: no photos inside the State Rooms!
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