Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace

Since 1837 Buckingham Palace has been the official London residence of the sovereign of the UK. It is also on most itineraries for a trip to London! While there are times when you can purchase a ticket to tour the Palace for around $30/adult, most people just get a peak through the fences and that is what we did!

Regal Gates of Buckingham Palace

Crown Details on the Gates of Buckingham Palace

I can't say I would love it if crowds of people hung around outside of my house all the time... then again, my house is considerably smaller than the Buckingham Palace. lol!


At any rate, besides observing the building and the guards dutifully standing and marching back and forth, take time to admire some of the details.


The gate has some elaborate and very regal elements. Depending on the crowds, you may be able to get some creative pictures of these elements, looking through the bars, or even other angles like through a keyhole!

Take Unique Pictures of Buckingham Palace -- Framed through a keyhole in the gate ;-)

​As it happened, we arrived in time for the changing of the guard! This was purely a happy coincidence! It was really quite a spectacle as parades of uniforms marched out in step to their self-provided music. They came in multiple waves and I loved the Irish bunch and the music that accompanied. The schedule for the changing of the guards can be viewed online where it will be updated if it happens to be canceled on any occasion. Some people say to skip this and that there are too many people, but I quite enjoyed seeing the theatrics and formality of it all on my first trip to London. I think your first trip to any destination it is great to see some of the standard tourist things mixed in with some wandering and finding the local spots. Then when you come back, you'll have ticked those major sights off your list already and you can explore something new !
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