Buckingham Palace Tourist Guide - London

Since 1837 Buckingham Palace in London, England, has served as the official residence of the British Monarchy, and today is one of the capital city's most visited and well known tourist attractions. Once a town house owned by the Dukes of Buckingham, the palace boasts nearly eight hundred rooms, and in recent years a variety of areas within the palace have become open to the public for tours and visits.

When you visit Buckingham Palace you will be able to admire the ornate and exquisite state rooms, where you will find beautiful furnishings and an array of Royal treasures such as world famous paintings, the finest furnishings, and beautiful collections of porcelain. Buckingham Palace enjoys a long and rich history, and the first monarch to take up residence in the palace was Queen Victoria. Much of the palace has been renovated or remodeled over the years, and of course the original building has been added to in order to create the ornate and huge palace that stands today.

Buckingham Palace is not just the official London residence of the monarchy, but also a working building where the administration for the Royal Family takes place. You will find some fabulous treasures and artistic pieces when you visit the parts of the palace that are open to the public, and although this is not a museum or a gallery it does make for a fascinating day out for those that enjoy exploring history, culture, and the arts.

Buckingham Palace, or Buck Palace as it is often referred to, is used by the Royals for an array of functions, such as banquets, garden parties, receptions, and more. Around fifty thousand people each year visit the palace in order to attend such functions. The Grand Staircase of the palace has an array of portraits set into the walls, which officials visitors can admire as they climb the winding staircase. The Throne Room is a magnificent room, now used by the Queen for special occasions such as jubilees, and also as a setting for Royal wedding photographs.

Buckingham Palace forms one of the most distinctive landmarks in the capital city, and visitors to London will find scores of visitors from all around the world gathered outside the gates of the palace with their camcorders and cameras. Since parts of the palace became open to the public, Buck Palace has become an even more popular tourist attractions amongst visitors to London, and is a place that most visitors from overseas are keen to visit because of its rich history and its world famous reputation.

And, of course, amongst the most famous sights associated with Buckingham Palace are the armed sentries with their distinctive red uniforms and their bearskin hats, who not only provide a ceremonial function but also act as security for the palace. There is even a specialist police station located onsite. Security at the palace is tight, but this does not mean that breaches of security have not taken place over the years, and a number of renowned incidents - including one man that managed to gain access to the Queen's bedroom whilst she was asleep - have taken place over the years.