Buckingham Palace, London

Buckingham Palace, London (must see)

The postcard-perfect face of the British monarchy, Buckingham Palace is possibly the world鈥檚 fanciest 鈥渙ffice.鈥� What began in 1703 as a cozy townhouse for the Duke of Buckingham (hence the name) ended up becoming royal property in 1761 when King George III bought it for his wife, Queen Charlotte. By 1837, Queen Victoria had officially moved in, setting up camp and turning it into the headquarters of royal business and the heart of Britain's ceremonial life ever since.

Today, the palace packs a whopping 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 78 bathrooms (because clearly, you never know when you鈥檒l need a backup loo), and countless other rooms fit for everything from crown-polishing to state banquets. While most of these royal spaces are strictly off-limits, commoners鈥攍ike us, the curious public鈥攃an sneak a peek during special visiting seasons, mainly August and September, plus select days in winter and spring.

Step inside the palace鈥檚 19 State Rooms and prepare to have your jaw royally dropped. Here, we鈥檙e talking chandeliers that could double as UFOs, lavish gold trim, and masterpieces by Rembrandt and Rubens just casually hanging around. You鈥檒l stroll through the Throne Room (cue the imaginary fanfare), the Ballroom where knighthoods are handed out like royal gold stars, the Grand Staircase, and a variety of drawing rooms, each with its own personality鈥攆rom the Blue Drawing Room鈥檚 stately charm to the Music Room鈥檚 lapis columns and the gleaming White Drawing Room. Don鈥檛 skip the State Dining Room either鈥攖his is where the portraits watch you more than you watch them.

Outside, the Changing of the Guard steals the show with its precision marching, bearskin hats, and musical flair. It鈥檚 essentially a military ballet, free of charge鈥攂ut do arrive early for the best view, as everyone and their selfie stick wants in.

Right next door, the Queen鈥檚 Gallery serves up rotating exhibits from the Royal Collection, including priceless paintings, sparkling jewels, and historic treasures galore. A few steps away, the Royal Mews stables show off the royal horses and carriages, because royalty of all people needs a stylish ride.

Tip:
Snag a timed-entry ticket (they鈥檙e released in 15-minute waves), and if you鈥檝e got time, tack on a garden tour for some fresh air and manicured perfection. Give yourself two hours鈥攎inimum鈥攂ecause once you step into Buckingham Palace, you鈥檒l want to soak up every royal second.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Buckingham Palace
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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