A visit to Buckingham Palace Gardens makes a royal morning or afternoon out for people of all ages. It doesn’t matter whether you enjoy the tranquil greenery in the sun or tucked under an umbrella. You won’t want to miss these spectacular Gardens.
Buckingham Palace, King Charles’ official London residence, forms a stunning backdrop for the Gardens. These gardens are full of manicured lawns and the infamous 155m herbaceous border.
Over the summer, this border grows so high the plants at the back appear to be on a slope. In the words of Country & Town House, the border ‘rises towards you like a colourful wave.’
There’s also a Palace lake to admire. The lake features a waterfall and an island with a beehive for the royal bees.
Here, we’ll help you plan your visit to Buckingham Palace Gardens in the city of Westminster. We’ll also explore the most popular train routes into Central London.
Planning your visit to Buckingham Palace Gardens
Royals have appreciated the magnificent landscapes at Buckingham Palace for centuries. Now, you can visit Buckingham Palace Gardens too.
Opening hours
The Gardens at Buckingham Palace are usually open to the public between July and September on Thursdays through to Mondays.
Buckingham Palace State Rooms
Every summer, Buckingham Palace opens its 19 State Rooms for 10 weeks. A tour of Buckingham Palace allows you to access the Gardens and the State Rooms together.
The prices for advance tickets are:
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£30 for adults
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£19.50 for 18-24-year-olds
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£16.50 for 5-17-year-olds
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£16.40 for people who have disabilities
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Free for under five-year-olds
Remember to book tickets online as on-the-door prices are higher.
If you visit Buckingham Palace Gardens with a group of 15 or more people, you can purchase discounted tickets. Keep in mind that the Palace only accepts group bookings ahead of time.
If summer isn’t the right time for your visit, you can book a guided tour in the winter or spring. Throughout the year, you can also catch exhibitions like ‘Style and Society: Dressing the Georgians’ and ‘Holbein at the Tudor Court.’
Most visitors spend around two and a half hours exploring the Gardens and State Rooms.
The Royal Mews
You may also like to pair your visit to the Gardens with a trip to the Royal Mews. The Royal Mews is one of the finest working stables, and it arranges all travel for the Royal Family.
You’ll be able to see the new Diamond Jubilee State Coach and the Gold State Coach. The Royal Family has used the Gold State Coach at every coronation since 1821. You’ll also get to meet some of the King’s horses that draw the carriages and coaches.
Food and drink
Enjoy a picnic amid the Gardens’ 325 plant species and 1,000 trees. Some of these were even planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. If you don’t want to take food and drink, you can buy provisions in the Gardens.
How to visit Buckingham Palace Gardens by train
It’s easy to visit Buckingham Palace Gardens by train. Avanti trains run from all over the UK to London stations. There are several stations in the city, and Euston is often the go-to for visitors.
Some of the most popular locations to travel to London Euston from include:
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Manchester Piccadilly: The shortest train journeys to Euston are just over two hours
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Birmingham New Street: The shortest train journeys to Euston are just over one and a half hours
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Liverpool Lime Street: The shortest train journeys to Euston are just under two and a half hours
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Glasgow Central: The shortest train journeys to Euston are just over four and a half hours
The nearest tube to Buckingham Palace Gardens
The nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace Gardens are Victoria, St James’ Park, Green Park, and Hyde Park Corner. These are the journey times when taking the tube from Euston:
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Victoria: Your journey will be six minutes on the tube, followed by a six-minute walk
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St James’ Park: Your journey will be eight minutes on the tube, followed by a nine-minute walk
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Green Park: Your journey will be four minutes on the tube, followed by a 16-minute walk
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Hyde Park Corner: Your journey will be 21 minutes on the tube, followed by a 16-minute walk
Entrance to the Gardens is via the Royal Mews on Buckingham Palace Road. When you can see the Palace from the Victoria Memorial, walk down the left-hand side (past the Queen’s Gallery).
You’ll see the Royal Mews entrance on the right, opposite the Rubens Hotel.
Visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens by train with Avanti
Visiting Buckingham Palace Gardens by train may be more cost-effective than you think. Here are six ways to save money on your London train tickets.
1. Book Advance Tickets
Book your train tickets as early as possible to take advantage of our great-value Advance Tickets. Sign up for Priority Ticket Alerts to find out when our cheapest advance tickets go on sale.
2. Opt for Off-Peak trains
Travel at Off-Peak times to get cheaper London train tickets. These trains are also likely to be quieter. Off-peak times are outside rush hour and weekends.
3. Buy Family Tickets
If you’re travelling with family, our Family Tickets can help you save on train tickets. These fares apply to family groups from one adult with one child to two adults with three children.
4. Save with a Railcard
You can also purchase a National Rail railcard with us to help save money on your train tickets. Each railcard allows you to save one-third on train ticket prices.
5. Use our Best Fare Finder
Use our Best Fare Finder to find the cheapest routes into London. The Fare Finder shows you whether it’s cheaper to buy two advance single tickets or one flexible return.
6. Sign up for Club Avanti
Sign up for Club Avanti to access free tickets, 10% off train food and beverages, and other member rewards. You’ll also get a free hot drink and 10% off your next journey.
