Attraction · London
Buckingham Palace (State Rooms): free entry days, tickets & hours
The monarch's London residence; its State Rooms open to visitors only in summer, with expert-led East Wing tours on selected winter dates.
Independent guide, not the official Buckingham Palace website. Official links are under Sources.
Buckingham Palace is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: Children under 5 go free during the summer opening; access companion ticket for disabled visitors.
- Otherwise: standard admission, adult, booked in advance (summer 2026) — £33.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- Free access companion ticket for disabled visitors: Companion ticket bookable online for summer admission.
- Watching Changing the Guard outside the Palace is free; see the separate Changing of the Guard page.
- The State Rooms are open only in summer; summer 2027 £1 tickets (for Universal Credit and other named benefits) are released in November.
- Guiding is not allowed inside; a free multimedia tour in nine languages is included.
- The standard route is not step-free: step-free access must be pre-booked with Specialist Sales.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free forChildren under 5 go free during the summer opening | children under 5 | Applies to standard summer admission (and Garden Highlights / Royal Mews combined tickets). The State Rooms are closed outside the summer opening. | No |
| Free forFree access companion ticket for disabled visitors | carers of visitors with disabilities | The disabled visitor pays the concession rate. For the winter East Wing tour, book the disabled ticket online, then the companion ticket by phone (+44 303 123 7324) or email. | Yes |
Official prices
Buckingham Palace ticket prices
| Standard admission, adult, booked in advance (summer 2026) — Summer 2026 prices: £37 on the day; young person 18-24 £21.50 (£24.50); child 5-17 and disabled person £16.50 (£18.50). Includes multimedia tour. Summer 2027 prices not yet published. | £33 |
| East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour (winter, selected dates) — The only way inside in winter: small-group expert-led tour of the East Wing. | £100 |
| State Rooms + Garden Highlights Tour, adult (summer 2026) | £48 |
| State Rooms + Royal Mews combined ticket, adult in advance (summer 2026) | £45.90 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (standard admission, adult, booked in advance (summer 2026)). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Buckingham Palace
Ticket & extrasLondon: Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience★★★★☆ 4.4 · 4.8k reviews2 hoursfrom £19
Guided tourChanging of the Guard Tour at Buckingham Palace★★★★★ 4.5 · 1.7k reviewsfrom £14
Guided tourBuckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Full-Day Tour★★★★★ 4.5 · 1.4k reviewsfrom £133
Guided tourWestminster Abbey, Big Ben & Buckingham Palace Guided Tour★★★★★ 4.7 · 637 reviewsfrom £54.46
Ticket & extrasThe Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace★★★★★ 4.5 · 183 reviews1 hoursfrom £18
Guided tourChanging of the Guard: Guided Tour★★★★★ 4.5 · 138 reviews2 hoursfrom £14
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
State Rooms open in summer only: 9 July-27 September in 2026; 2027 dates not yet announced. The rest of the year the Palace opens only for East Wing Exclusive Guided Tours on selected dates (6 Nov 2026-31 Jan 2027, Fri-Mon, tours 10:00-15:30).
Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Buckingham Palace: common questions
Is Buckingham Palace free?
Buckingham Palace has no free entry for everyone. Also free: Children under 5 go free during the summer opening; access companion ticket for disabled visitors. Otherwise the official ticket costs £33.
Who gets free entry to Buckingham Palace?
Children under 5 — applies to standard summer admission (and Garden Highlights / Royal Mews combined tickets). The State Rooms are closed outside the summer opening.. Carers of visitors with disabilities — the disabled visitor pays the concession rate. For the winter East Wing tour, book the disabled ticket online, then the companion ticket by phone (+44 303 123 7324) or email..
Do I need to book for free entry to Buckingham Palace?
Companion ticket bookable online for summer admission.
How much is a ticket to Buckingham Palace?
Standard admission, adult, booked in advance (summer 2026) costs £33 on the official site.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Buckingham Palace
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Sources
Where this comes from
- rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace · checked Wednesday, 28 October 2026
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.