London Weekend Break

Buckingham Palace

London’s official royal residence is named after the man behind its commissioning, the Duke of Buckingham. It was built in the nineteenth century and whilst large and grand, is not the fairy tale castle some might imagine. Many consider it visually austere, but no one can question its impression of authority and dominance and no visitor ever fails to take a photograph.

Buckingham Palace has only been a full time royal home since Queen Victoria's reign and it has no less than 600 rooms and almost 300 royal employees working within it.

The palace also has sixteen hectares of gardens and a near rural location with St. James' Park, Kensington Park and Hyde Park all surrounding it. There is a lake with flamingos and tennis courts too.

More about the Planetarium below these links.

Links relating to the London and Buckingham Place

Buckingham palace now offers limited paid public access, but most of the state rooms and living quarters are "out of bounds". For those who do choose to take a tour they will see a visual demonstration of opulence and wealth and gain an insight into what it must be like to be a monarch.

The palace is always guarded by police officers and the massive crest emblazoned gates at the front of the building always catch every ones eye. When the Queen is in residence, the Royal standard is flown.

If you want a good photo of Buckingham palace, position yourself on the elevated walkway and road above St. James’ park, or go into the park and take a shot looking towards the palace over the lake.

Knightsbridge and High Street Kensington are the closest tube stations.