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The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are the grand ceremonial spaces used by the Royal Family to host official receptions, state occasions, and distinguished guests. Open to visitors during the summer, the route takes you through lavishly decorated rooms including the Throne Room, Ballroom, White Drawing Room, and Picture Gallery. Along the way, you’ll see works from the Royal Collection, ornate furniture, gilded interiors, and historic portraits. The visit offers a glimpse into the palace’s formal side, where art, architecture, and royal ceremony come together.

Quick overview

  • Ticket: Separate ticket ( The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace ) required.
  • Starting price: From £33.
  • Combo available: Yes. Choose a Royal Walking Tour add-on or a Changing the Guard tour alongside your State Rooms entry.
  • Visit duration: 1.5–2.5 hours for the State Rooms alone; allow closer to 3 hours if you add a walking tour.
  • Best time: Early morning slots (around 10 am) on weekdays, before the Changing the Guard crowds build up.
  • Included in Buckingham Palace ticket: Yes. This ticket is your entry into Buckingham Palace — the State Rooms are part of the Palace itself, not a separate attraction.
Throne Room at Buckingham Palace with ornate chandeliers and red decor.

Things to know before booking State Rooms tickets

  • Separate ticket required: The State Rooms require a dedicated State Rooms ticket for entry. It's the primary interior tour offered to the public, and only for a limited period each year.
  • Timings differ from other Palace attractions: The State Rooms open for just 9 July–27 September 2026 — daily through July and August (9:30am–7:30pm), then Thursday to Monday in September (9:30am–6:30pm). This is far shorter than The King's Gallery and the Royal Mews, which run for most of the year. Entry is timed, so book the specific slot you want rather than just a date — mornings, right after the 9:30am opening, are consistently the quietest, while late morning through early afternoon gets crowded once Changing the Guard visitors spill over.
  • Combo tickets: Pairing your State Rooms entry with a Royal Walking Tour or a Changing the Guard tour adds guided context, and, in the Changing the Guard option, a planned viewing spot for the ceremony. These suit first-time visitors who want a structured morning rather than a self-paced visit.
  • Accessibility: The State Rooms are wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and rollators available to borrow free of charge. Step-free access must be arranged in advance with the Royal Collection Trust's Specialist Sales team, as it uses a separate entrance route.
  • One-way route, no backtracking: The visitor route runs one way through the Palace, so you won't be able to return to a room once you've moved on.
  • Book ahead in peak season: July and August dates, especially weekends, sell out well in advance. Daily ticket allocations are capped, so book your slot as early as possible if you're visiting during this window.

Is it worth it?

Standalone vs combo?

TicketBest for
State Rooms

Visitors who want to see inside the Palace at their own pace, without guided add-ons

Buckingham Palace exterior & Changing the Guard

Visitors on a tight budget or schedule who just want photos and the ceremony

Combo with Royal Walking Tour or Changing the Guard tour

First-time visitors who want guided context and a structured royal morning

Your ticket options explained

Access / FactorsState Rooms onlyState Rooms + Royal Walking TourState Rooms + Changing the Guard Tour

State Rooms access

Yes

Yes (skip-the-line)

Yes

Guided walking tour

No

Yes — past St James's Palace, the Mall, and St James's Park

Yes — focused on the Changing the Guard ceremony

Changing the Guard viewing

Not included

Not included

Yes — reserved viewing spot

Garden Café access

No

Yes

Yes

Audio/multimedia guide

Yes, self-guided

Yes, plus live English-speaking guide

Yes, plus English-speaking guide for the walking portion

Why go for it

Self-paced visit, no add-ons

Skip-the-line entry plus royal landmarks context

One ticket covers ceremony viewing and palace visit

Starting price

From £33

From £53.52

From £61

Cancellation

Non-refundable

Full refund up to 24 hours before

Full refund up to 72 hours before

How to best experience the State Rooms

Exploring inside the State Rooms

What makes the State Rooms genuinely distinct is that they're not a museum recreation — they're working rooms the King still uses for real ceremonies, banquets, and investitures between summer openings. The one detail that changes how you move through them: it's a strict one-way route, so decide what you want to linger over before you reach it, because there's no walking back.

Grand Staircase with ornate gold railings at Buckingham Palace, London.
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The Grand Staircase

Designed by John Nash, the Grand Staircase leads visitors into the State Rooms through portraits and elaborate architectural decoration. It has 47 steps. Look beyond the portraits to appreciate the staircase’s proportions, balustrades and decorative finish.

The Throne Room

The Throne Room contains the Chairs of Estate and is associated with royal ceremonies and official occasions. It has also been used for royal photographs. View the chairs from different angles to appreciate how the canopy and decorated interior shape the room’s ceremonial character.

The Picture Gallery

Approximately 50 metres long, the Picture Gallery displays paintings from the Royal Collection. Look for Johannes Vermeer’s The Music Lesson, alongside works by artists including Rembrandt and Van Dyck. Slow down to compare the paintings and examine details that are easy to miss.

The Ballroom

Completed in 1855 during Queen Victoria’s reign, the Ballroom is the largest state room. Designed by James Pennethorne, it includes a musicians’ gallery and an organ. State banquets have traditionally been held here since 1914. Stand near the centre to appreciate its scale.

The State Dining Room

The State Dining Room is arranged as a formal reception space, with a long dining table, elaborate decoration and portraits. Look at how the table, ceiling and walls work together to create its ceremonial character.

The Blue Drawing Room

The Blue Drawing Room is richly decorated and contains paintings, furniture and decorative objects from the Royal Collection. Look beyond the larger works to examine the smaller details, and follow the labels for information about the objects currently displayed.

The Music Room

The Music Room is recognisable by its bow-fronted design, domed ceiling and columns painted to resemble lapis lazuli. It has been used for royal christenings and other family occasions. Look up before turning towards the windows: the ceiling is central to the room’s design.

Note: Due to ongoing works as part of the Buckingham Palace Reservicing programme, the White Drawing Room will not be accessible to visitors during the 2026 Summer Opening. The Ballroom and parts of the Bow Room will be obscured by hoardings, though visitors will still pass through them.

Historical and cultural significance of the State Rooms

The State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are far more than just lavish interiors; they are the living canvas of the British monarchy and history. Since Queen Victoria's reign, these 19 rooms have been the backdrop for pivotal moments, from State Banquets hosting world leaders to Royal Christenings and Investitures. They symbolize the continuous role of the monarchy, symbolizing centuries of tradition, diplomatic relations, and cultural heritage. Their annual public opening allows visitors a rare personal connection to this institution.

Know before you go to the Buckingham Palace State Rooms

Frequently asked questions about the Buckingham Palace State Rooms

The State Rooms were designed by architect John Nash, whose theatrical background greatly influenced the rooms' dramatic style.

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