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 Buckingham Palace, Belgravia, Co. Greater London
No visit to London would be complete without a trip to see Buckingham Palace, London’s most famous residence, and if the Royal Standard is flying, Her Majesty The Queen is at home.
 Buckingham Palace
The Palace was originally built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and was bought by King George III. From 1824 to 1830 architect John Nash was commissioned to transform the original mansion into the palatial building of today. Its first royal resident was Queen Victoria and has since been the London home of the ruling Monarch ever since.
In August and September, Buckingham Palace is open to the public and visitors can take a tour around several of the fabulous State Rooms including the Throne Room housing the coronation thrones of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the State Ballroom and the State Dining room. The State Rooms are lavishly decorated with some of the greatest art treasures from the Royal Collection, including works by Rembrandt, Canaletto and Rubens as well as some of the finest antique furnishings in the world.
Visitors are also privileged to walk around the Palace Gardens, the largest private gardens in the City, described as, ‘a walled oasis in the middle of London’. These splendid gardens are the venue for the Royal garden parties held in the summer, hosting over 9,000 guests.
 Buckingham Palace
On show at the Queen’s Gallery are royal treasures from the Royal collection one of the finest and most valuable in the world with items such as the famous Faberge collection, and paintings from masters like Leonardo and Vermeer.
At 11.30 each morning (alternate during winter) the forecourt of Buckingham Palace hosts the colourful changing of the guard, while the Trooping of the Colour , another colourful military spectacle is held here in June each year.
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