Buckingham Palace

Built in 1705 as Buckingham House for the duke of the same name, this palace has been the royal family’s London lodgings since 1837, when St James’s Palace was judged too old-fashioned and insufficiently impressive. It is dominated by the 25m-high Queen Victoria Memorial at the end of The Mall. Tickets for the palace are on sale from the Ticket Office at the Visitor Entrance, Buckingham Palace Rd. After a series of crises and embarrassing revelations in the early 1990s, the royal spin doctors cranked things up a gear to try to revive popular support, and it was decided to swing open the doors of Buck House to the public for the first time. Well, to 19 of the 661 rooms, at least. And only during August and September, when HRH is holidaying in Scotland. And for a veritable king’s ransom, but still, we mustn’t quibble – no price is too great for an opportunity to see the Windsors’ polaroids plastered all over the fridge door. The ‘working rooms’ are stripped down each summer for the arrival of the commoners, and the usual carpet is replaced with industrial-strength rugs, so the rooms don’t look all that lavish. The tour starts in the Guard Room (too small for the Ceremonial Guard, who actually use adjoining quarters); allows a peek inside the State Dining Room (all red damask and Regency furnishings); then moves on to the Blue Drawing Room, with a gorgeous fluted ceiling by John Nash; to the White Drawing Room, where foreign ambassadors are received; and to the Ballroom, where official receptions and state banquets are held. The Throne Room is pretty hilarious with kitschy his-and-hers pink chairs initialled ‘ER’ and ‘P’, sitting smugly under what looks like a theatre arch. The most interesting part of the tour (for all but royal sycophants) is the 76.5m-long Picture Gallery, featuring splendid works by artists such as Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Poussin, Canova and Vermeer, although the likes of these and much more are yours for free at the National Gallery. Wandering the gardens is another highlight here – it’s bound to give you a real royal feeling. Book in advance for disabled access.