Living in London, you can’t really ignore Buckingham Palace — it’s smack in the middle of the city with the kind of history most places only dream of. Locals see the palace as more than just a tourist spot; it’s where major city events, like the Changing of the Guard, unfold right alongside your morning rush hour. You might even catch royal processions on your way to work. Ever wondered why so many out-of-towners gather on The Mall with their phones out? There’s always the chance to spot someone from the royal family moving between those famous gates.
If you’re used to cutting through Green Park or cycling past Constitution Hill, it’s easy to take the palace for granted. But next time you’re waiting for a Number 11 bus on Buckingham Palace Road, remember: behind that iconic façade, hundreds of staff keep the place running like clockwork. The Queen (now King Charles III, but the tradition sticks) might not always be “at home”—you can actually tell by the flag that’s up. The Royal Standard means the monarch’s in; if it’s the Union Jack, they’re out, and it’s a good pub quiz fact to keep in your back pocket.
- Palace Life at the Centre of London
- Buckingham Palace Architecture and Design
- Events and Traditions You Can See
- Visiting Tips for Londoners
- The Palace in Modern London
Palace Life at the Centre of London
Most people in London have walked past Buckingham Palace, but not everyone realises it’s both a full-blown working office and an actual home. About 800 staff work behind those famous railings, handling everything from the Queen’s former correspondence to daily maintenance. If you ever wondered how official events run so smoothly, it's thanks to this massive team—there’s a specialist for everything, from state banquets to garden care.
The royal family doesn’t just visit during grand occasions. Buckingham Palace is their main base for regular business, like meetings with world leaders, weekly chats with the Prime Minister (yes, really), and hosting international guests. In 2023 alone, the palace hosted over 150 receptions and official events. If you hear helicopters flying low over St James’s Park, something major is probably happening inside.
Curious about what goes on inside? Check this out:
- There are 775 rooms, including 19 state rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms.
- The palace garden—London’s biggest private garden—hosts around 8,000 guests every summer for garden parties. Some Londoners have actually received invites as local volunteers, NHS staff, or charity leaders.
- The famous Changing of the Guard happens right outside and starts at 11:00 am—except in really bad weather or for major city events like the London Marathon.
If you're a Londoner living nearby, it's not weird to catch glimpses of life behind the gates: delivery vans lined up early, musicians hauling their kit in for state dinners, or horses being exercised before Trooping the Colour.
It’s all surprisingly down-to-earth sometimes—until you remember gold-plated post boxes and priceless paintings hide just inside those doors.
Buckingham Palace Architecture and Design
Walk past Buckingham Palace and it’s hard to picture that the place actually started as a townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. What you see today, with its massive stone frontage and balcony where royals wave after big events—most of that is the work of John Nash and Edward Blore, two architects who ramped up the grandeur in the 1800s. The palace officially became the monarch’s home in 1837, when Queen Victoria moved in. Since then, the outside and inside have had plenty of upgrades, but the famous look remains the same.
Ever noticed how the palace feels symmetrical from the outside? That’s on purpose. Nash loved neatness—his plans gave us the central balcony that’s now a must-see for Londoners during big moments, like Trooping the Colour or Royal Weddings. The East Front, the one facing The Mall, was actually added later by Blore, keeping everything in line with the classic style.
Inside, it’s a lot bigger than most people imagine—there are 775 rooms! This includes:
- 19 state rooms (open to visitors for a few months in the summer)
- 52 royal and guest bedrooms
- 188 staff bedrooms
- 92 offices
- 78 bathrooms (not bad for a city centre house!)
If you’ve been to a palace tour, you know the highlights. Locals especially like the Ballroom, where investitures and banquets happen, and the Throne Room, often snapped during TV specials. The state rooms show off everything from priceless Sèvres porcelain to paintings by Rembrandt and Vermeer. The Grand Staircase is a photo spot, without a doubt, and it’s hard to avoid the palace’s signature red carpets and chandeliers.
Heating and security for a landmark this size aren’t small jobs either. In 2024, the palace wrapped up one stage of its 10-year refit, updating the old wiring and plumbing with as little disruption as possible. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes work you don’t see, but it keeps the building safe and open for events.
| Feature | Number | Used For |
|---|---|---|
| State Rooms | 19 | Official events & tours |
| Bedrooms | 240 | Family, guests & staff |
| Bathrooms | 78 | Residential & public use |
| Staff | ~800 | Operations |
For Londoners, it’s a reminder that Buckingham Palace isn’t just a museum—it’s a working home and workplace right in the city centre. If you’re ever on a walking tour, ask your guide about the hidden tunnels under the palace; it’s not just a rumour—there really are secret passageways linking the palace to St. James’s Palace and Clarence House. No surprise that the place is practically a city within the city.
Events and Traditions You Can See
When people think of Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard usually tops the list. It’s not just for tourists—Londoners know traffic can slow to a crawl when the troops march in their bright red tunics and bearskin hats. The ceremony usually happens at 11:00 am on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, but timings can change, especially if there’s a special event. It’s free, and if you want a good spot, most locals aim to arrive 30-45 minutes early, especially during peak tourist months.
For those hanging around in London during the summer, keep an eye out for the annual Garden Parties. The palace invites around 8,000 guests (yes, 8,000!) out to the gardens for tea and sandwiches. Most invitations go to regular people for community or charity work, so it actually draws folks from all across the UK.
Another big one: Trooping the Colour, the official celebration of the monarch’s birthday, which takes over The Mall with a military parade every June. Local families make it a tradition to head down and catch the flypast by the Royal Air Force—especially when the Red Arrows streak the sky red, white, and blue.
- State Visits: Spotting foreign dignitaries and the royal carriage, plus the army regiments in all their finery.
- Royal births and weddings: The famous easel pops up in the forecourt announcing new royal babies—locals crowd the gates and the media moves in fast.
- The Queen’s Christmas message: OK, so you watch this on telly, but it’s all filmed right inside those walls, and plenty of Londoners make it part of the Big Day routine.
The pageantry isn’t just for the cameras. If you’re on your lunch break and catch bells ringing across St James’s, it might be marking a royal anniversary or an important diplomatic moment. Buckingham Palace has a knack for turning even quiet days in the city into mini history lessons. If you want to keep tabs on what’s happening, the official Royal Family website posts up-to-date schedules for everything open to the public.
Visiting Tips for Londoners
If you’ve never stepped inside Buckingham Palace, don’t wait for a special occasion. Unlike visitors flying in from abroad, locals have easier access and fewer excuses. The State Rooms open to the public each summer, but booking early is smart—they usually sell out fast. Londontown locals can sometimes sneak in on last-minute slots, but weekend spots are snapped up first, especially during half-term and school holidays.
Want to avoid crowds? Go for the weekday tickets, preferably right after lunch. It gets less packed, especially if the weather’s grey. If you’re after photos without hundreds in the background, try the late afternoon times. And here’s a pro tip: bring your own bottle of water—café prices inside make Pret look cheap.
To save a few quid, check for local discounts. London Pass holders get a deal, and some borough libraries—like Westminster—announce brief promo codes for residents. You’ll need photo ID with a local postcode to use these perks.
- Getting there: Hop on the Victoria, District, or Circle lines to Green Park or Victoria stations—both are a quick stroll away. Avoid trying to park nearby; there’s barely any legal street parking unless you want a Westminster parking ticket decorating your windscreen.
- Bags: Go light. The security check is stricter than most airports, and there’s nowhere to store luggage.
- Accessibility: Wheelchair access is decent if you book ahead. They’ll arrange help from the side entrance.
- Guided tours: If you want the real inside scoop, book a guided tour—local guides know all the quirky details, like which room was once used for secret Queen’s meetings and where the corgis eat.
Inside, photography rules are strict (no indoor snaps!), but you can get your selfie fix in the gardens outside or along the Palace railings. Look out for the gift shop too; it’s the only place you’ll find tea towels with the Queen’s mug next to novelty London buses.
| Best Months to Visit | Typical Opening Dates |
|---|---|
| July - September | Usually 9 weeks, late July to late September |
Don’t forget, London weather has a mind of its own. Bring an umbrella; nothing ruins wandering the gardens like classic city drizzle. If you’ve got out-of-town friends coming, group bookings sometimes get you priority entry—handy if you’re skipping long lines outside the gates.
The Palace in Modern London
Ask anyone in London and they’ll tell you: Buckingham Palace isn’t just a piece of old royal kit. It’s still right at the heart of city life, from massive public celebrations to the regular buzz of tourists snapping photos on the Victoria Memorial. Every year, the palace hosts events that are televised across the world—think Trooping the Colour, except with thousands of excited Londoners watching from The Mall. And when the Queen’s Baton Relay passes through during the Commonwealth Games, the city feels like one massive street party.
Plenty of Londoners work in and around the palace. Around 800 staff handle everything from maintenance to the Royal Mews’ carriages (and yes, the palace actually has its own post office, doctor, and even a cinema for staff). Businesses like Pret near St James’s Park, or pubs like The Old Star, see a regular flow thanks to crowds drawn by the palace.
The impact of Buckingham Palace on local tourism is huge. In a normal year, more than 500,000 people take the official palace tour between July and September. That keeps dozens of jobs going—everything from Blue Badge guides to sandwich shops along Birdcage Walk. Plus, it’s a big win for charities like the Royal Collection Trust, which relies on ticket sales to fund art conservation projects in the city.
| Key Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Palace Staff | 800 (approx.) |
| Annual Tourists (pre-pandemic) | 500,000+ |
| Number of Rooms | 775 |
| Events & Receptions per Year | Over 50,000 guests hosted |
The palace still plays its part during national emergencies and moments of remembrance. During COVID-19, those royal video calls you saw? Most were made right from inside palace walls. On Remembrance Sunday, the royal family always appears on the balcony—something Londoners get used to seeing on BBC News every November.
What really keeps the palace relevant? It adapts to city life. Bike lanes have been built to reroute traffic during major events, and bus routes (like the 11, 16, and 148) get temporarily shifted during big days. The palace’s gardens also add real green space right in the middle of Westminster, backing onto places where Londoners actually walk their dogs or run before work.
