What the State Rooms are
The State Rooms are the formal rooms of Buckingham Palace. They are used for state receptions and official events, so they are rooms for ceremony and not private living space. George IV and the architect John Nash shaped much of the architecture and decoration.
You see them on a self-guided visit with a multimedia guide, which is available in German as well as English. The visit has a timed entry slot in summer. Plan about 2 to 2.5 hours, and the way out leads through the palace garden, a walk of about half a kilometre.
This site is an independent guide. The Royal Collection Trust runs the visit and sells the tickets. The State Rooms are one of three separate visitor products at the palace, next to the King's Gallery and the Royal Mews, and a ticket for one does not admit you to the others.
What you see on the route
The rooms the visit is built around.
Grand Staircase
The ceremonial staircase is part of the palace visit and sets the scale for the rooms.
Throne Room
One of the best-known interiors of the visit and part of the described palace route.
Blue Drawing Room
A formal drawing room that belongs to the palace visit alongside the Throne Room.
Ballroom
Finished in 1855 and still used for investitures and state banquets.
Art and objects
The rooms hold paintings by artists such as Van Dyck and Canaletto, sculpture by Canova and Sèvres porcelain. Individual works can move, so do not plan a visit around a single piece.
Route changes in 2026
The White Drawing Room was closed to visitors in summer 2026. The Ballroom and parts of the Music Room and the Bow Room were affected by construction hoardings, although a way through stayed open. Do not expect the classic full route to be identical every season.
If a particular room matters to you, check the current route before you buy. Rooms can differ again in the next season.
Our picks: State Rooms tickets
Three ways in: audio guide only, with a guided London walk, or with a royal walking tour.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in British pounds (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
State Rooms tickets with a guided London walk
Pre-booked State Rooms tickets, a local English-speaking guide for a walk through royal London, and the palace audio guide. The rooms are open in the summer season only.
Check availability →
Royal walking tour with State Rooms entry
A guide for the royal walking tour, then State Rooms entry with the official audio guide and free time inside. The rooms are open in the summer season only.
Check availability →
State Rooms entry with audio guide and app
State Rooms entry with the palace audio guide and a Royal London audio app, without a live guide. You bring your own headphones and phone for the app; the rooms are open in the summer season only.
Check availability →Buckingham Palace tours and tickets
Palace visits, walking tours and day trips around royal London, with live prices and availability.
State Rooms prices, summer 2026
Per person, 9 July to 27 September 2026. Advance tickets cost less than tickets bought on the day.
| Category | Advance | On the day |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £33 | £37 |
| Young adult, 18–24 | £21.50 | £24.50 |
| Child, 5–17 | £16.50 | £18.50 |
| Disabled visitor | £16.50 | £18.50 |
| Access companion | £0 | £0 |
| Under 5 | £0 | £0 |
These are summer 2026 prices, not a price for the months outside the season. Prices for the next summer come with the new season dates, so check them before you plan. Ticket types and the 1-year pass are covered on the tickets page.
Rules and comfort on the day
The visit has airport-style security.
Security and bags
People and bags are screened. Bags larger than 45 × 20 × 30 cm are not allowed. Carry a small bag at your side, not a backpack on your back. Water bottles are allowed.
No photos inside
Photos and filming are not allowed in the rooms. Smoking and vaping are banned in the palace and the garden, and drones may not be brought.
Prams and toilets
Prams must be handed in. Toilets are at the end of the route. There is no formal dress code for the summer visit.
Access
The standard route is not step-free. An accessible route can be booked in advance with the specialist sales team. Assistance animals are welcome, other animals are not. Accessible parking depends on availability and needs a request at least 3 full working days ahead.
Arrival time
For the standard summer visit, arrive at the time printed on the ticket. For guided tours, arrive 15 minutes before.
Plan the rest of your visit
Where the State Rooms fit.
Buckingham Palace tickets
Prices, ticket types and the 1-year pass.
Opening times
Summer dates, hours and last entry.
Garden Highlights Tour
The guided garden walk added to a State Rooms visit.
Tours
Guided options and what they include.
If you also want to see Parliament, tours of the Houses of Parliament have their own guide.
State Rooms: frequently asked questions
Are the State Rooms open all year?
No. They open in summer only. In 2026 the season ran from 9 July to 27 September, and the palace was closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in September. Check the dates for the next season before you plan.
How long does a visit take?
Plan 2 to 2.5 hours, including the walk of about half a kilometre through the garden on the way out.
Can I take photos inside?
No. Photography and filming are not allowed inside the palace. Bags above 45 × 20 × 30 cm are also not allowed.
Is a State Rooms ticket also valid for the King's Gallery or the Royal Mews?
No. The State Rooms, the King's Gallery and the Royal Mews are separate visits with separate tickets.
Can I visit the State Rooms in winter?
The normal summer visit is not available outside the season. Special guided tours of other parts of the palace run at other times and have their own tickets, so read what a tour includes before you book.