Buckingham Palace: The Monarch's London Residence in the City of Westminster

Buckingham Palace is located in the **City of Westminster**, within **London, England**. It has served as the official London residence of the British monarch since 1837 (Queen Victoria).

Key Facts

• Address: Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AA, United Kingdom.
• Borough: City of Westminster (a London borough and city in its own right).
• Coordinates: 51.5014° N, 0.1419° W.
• Nearest Tube: Green Park (Jubilee, Piccadilly, Victoria lines), St. James's Park (District, Circle), Victoria (Victoria, District, Circle).
• History: Buckingham House (1703) → "Queen's House" (1761, George III) → Expanded by Nash (1820s) → Official palace (1837).
• Rooms: 775 (19 state rooms, 52 royal/guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 780 bathrooms).
• Grounds: 17 ha (42 acres) private garden (largest in London), lake, helicopter pad.

Public Access

• State Rooms: Open 10 weeks/year (summer) + selected winter/spring dates. Book tickets in advance.
• Royal Mews: Carriages, horses—open most of year.
• Queen's Gallery: Rotating art exhibitions from Royal Collection.
• Changing the Guard: Ceremony at 11:00 AM (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun—schedule varies). Free.

Neighborhood Context

Surrounded by **St. James's Park** (east), **Green Park** (north), **Victoria Memorial** (front), **The Mall** (ceremonial route to Trafalgar Square). Embassies, government buildings (Whitehall, Downing St.), clubs (Athenaeum, Carlton), and luxury hotels (The Goring, The Ritz) cluster nearby.

Buckingham Palace is not just a building—it's the administrative headquarters of the monarchy, a working palace, and a national symbol at the heart of constitutional London.