How you see the palace garden
The garden lies behind the palace, away from the front with the Victoria Memorial. You see it as part of a State Rooms visit. In summer, the normal route ends with a walk of about half a kilometre through the garden to the exit.
The Garden Highlights Tour is something else. It is a guided garden walk that you add to the State Rooms visit. The exit walk is not the same service, so check which one your ticket includes.
This site is an independent guide. The Royal Collection Trust runs the visit and sells the tickets.
Prices for the 2026 combined visit
State Rooms plus Garden Highlights Tour, per person, 11 July to 27 September 2026.
| Category | State Rooms plus Garden Highlights Tour | State Rooms only, advance |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £48 | £33 |
| Young adult, 18–24 | £31.20 | £21.50 |
| Child, 5–17 | £24 | £16.50 |
| Disabled visitor | £24 | £16.50 |
| Access companion | £0 | £0 |
| Under 5 | £0 | £0 |
The right column is the summer 2026 advance price for the State Rooms alone, shown for comparison. Prices for the next summer come with the new season dates, so check them before you plan.
Buckingham Palace tours and tickets
Palace visits, walking tours and day trips around royal London, with live prices and availability.
What the tour is, and what it is not
The tour adds a guided walk through the garden to the State Rooms visit. It is not the same as the ordinary exit through the garden, which every State Rooms visitor takes.
Photography is not allowed on the guided Garden Highlights Tour, so enjoy it without a camera. Inside the palace, photos and filming are not allowed either.
Check the length and the meeting point when you book, and do not plan a tight schedule around the tour.
Rules that apply in the garden
The same visitor rules as in the palace.
No smoking or vaping
Smoking and vaping are banned in the palace and in the garden. Drones may not be brought.
Bags
Bags larger than 45 × 20 × 30 cm are not allowed. Carry a small bag at your side, not a backpack on your back.
Security
People and bags are screened before you enter, much as at an airport. Water bottles are allowed.
Heritage status
The garden is registered as a Grade II* historic park and garden, and the building itself as Grade I. That is a heritage label, not a nature reserve with special distance rules for visitors.
Access
The standard State Rooms route is not step-free. Book an accessible route in advance with the specialist sales team, and ask about accessible parking at least 3 full working days ahead.
Plan the rest of your visit
Where the garden fits.
A few things to know before you plan
The basics in one place.
The tour is an add-on
The Garden Highlights Tour is sold together with a State Rooms visit. Check which service your ticket includes before you buy.
The dates
In 2026 the combined visit ran from 11 July to 27 September. Dates for the next season come with the new season announcement.
Bags and security
Bring a small bag, because bags larger than 45 × 20 × 30 cm are not allowed. You may bring water bottles.
Families and young visitors
The combined visit cost £24 for children aged 5 to 17 in 2026. Children under 5 and access companions paid nothing.
Palace garden: frequently asked questions
Can I tour the Buckingham Palace garden?
In 2026 the State Rooms plus Garden Highlights Tour ran from 11 July to 27 September. It is a guided garden walk added to a State Rooms visit.
How much does the garden tour cost?
The combined visit cost £48 for adults in 2026, £31.20 for ages 18 to 24, and £24 for ages 5 to 17 and for disabled visitors. Under-5s and access companions were free.
Can I take photos on the garden tour?
No. Photography is not allowed on the guided Garden Highlights Tour.
Is the exit walk through the garden the same thing?
No. The standard visit leads you through the garden on a walk of about half a kilometre on the way out. The guided tour is an extra service.
Is smoking allowed in the garden?
No. Smoking and vaping are banned in the palace and the garden.