Self-Guided Buckingham Palace & Windsor Castle Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Buckingham Palace's opulent State Rooms
- Discover Windsor Castle's rich history and architecture
- Enjoy a leisurely coach ride through the English countryside
- Experience the Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace
- Visit the Queen Mary's Dolls' House at Windsor Castle
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Self-guided audio tour of Buckingham Palace
- Self-guided audio tour of Windsor Castle
- Round-trip coach transportation from London
- Admission tickets to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle
Itinerary
Meet your tour representative in Victoria, London. They will escort you to Buckingham Palace (10 min walk), special timed entry ensures a breath-taking visit to the official residence of Britain’s sovereigns since 1837. Open for just 8 weeks a year, viewing the State rooms is an opportunity not to be missed! Marvel at the splendour of the rooms, used on official occasions by The King to entertain her guests. Be dazzled by the beautiful ballroom and throne room, before ending your royal tour with a walk through the stunning South Garden. At 1:30pm make your own way to the original meeting point in Victoria for the Windsor Castle tour departing at 1:45pm.
Departing from Central London, your driver will take you straight to Windsor Castle for an extended visit. Upon arrival at Windsor Castle audio guides are available in different languages. Steeped in history, Windsor Castle perches proudly on a lush wooded hill overlooking the Thames. Dating back to Norman times, with sweeping landscaped gardens and turreted Round Tower, it’s easy to see why it’s the King’s favourite weekend residence. Enjoy a fascinating through–the–keyhole peek at the lavish State Apartments, home to priceless artworks by Rembrandt and Leonardo da Vinci, and visit St. George’s Chapel, the atmospheric final resting place of former monarchs including Henry VIII. You can visit Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a truly incredible structure complete with working lifts, running water, electricity, and wine bottles, all in miniature! This tour finishes at approximately 5:30pm in Kensington. Please note: this tour is unescorted
Visit St. George’s Chapel, the atmospheric final resting place of former monarchs including Henry VIII. You can visit Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, a truly incredible structure complete with working lifts, running water, electricity, and wine bottles, all in miniature! Please note: St. George’s Chapel is closed for visitors on Sundays.
Meeting point
Start Location
Golden Tours, Bulleid Way Departure Point, Stop 1, Bulleid Way, London SW1W 9SR, UK
Important information
Know before you book
- Admission tickets to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle are not included and must be purchased separately
- The tour operates rain or shine; plan accordingly
- Audio guides are available in multiple languages; select your preferred language during booking
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for extensive exploration
- Bring a fully charged smartphone or audio device for the self-guided tour
- Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Once booked, this tour cannot be cancelled
- You must meet the Golden Tours representative outside King's Gallery to be able to enter Buckingham Palace.
- To join the Windsor Castle tour you must go to Bus Stop 1 Bulleid Way in Victoria.
- St. George’s Chapel is also closed to visitors on Sundays as services are held throughout the day. Worshippers are welcome to attend the services.
- During peak periods, additional vehicles without Wi-Fi may be used.
- Buckingham Palace tickets purchased from Golden Tours cannot be converted into a 1-Year Pass.
- For safety reasons, pushchairs are not permitted in the State Rooms. They must be checked in and reclaimed at the exit. Baby-carriers are available for loan.
- A one-way system operates along the entire visitor route for safety reasons.
- Please note: the tour itinerary and order may change.
- Clients that require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace on (+44) (0)303 123 7324
- Use of mobile phones are permitted in the Palace garden. Mobile phones must be switched off elsewhere on the visitor route.
- 25 and 26 December – Castle completely closed.
- Photography is not permitted inside Buckingham Palace.
- Clients that require mobility access must book directly with Buckingham Palace.
- Our vehicles are modern, comfortable, and kept to the highest standards of cleanliness, including a deep clean every day.
- Windsor Castle is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A walking tour of the town will take place instead
Traveler reviews
Tour
Great experience on the tour, The guide Armando is good and entertained us all
Tour of London
I had a wonderful time on this tour. Tish was an exceptional guide…knowledgeable, engaging, and very personable. The tour was both informative and enjoyable, and I would gladly take it again on my next visit to London.
Never again
Disorganized. Guide late. Uninformed. Poor guidance to second part. Missed it entirely. Could not find meeting point. Don’t bother with this group. Just go on your own buying tickets upon arrival. Book your own transportation. It was a waste of good money. Their service is rated zero in my book. Advise against using them.
An experience that could have been wonderful spoiled by details and a totally inadequate driver in the role
The visits themselves went well, were the q expected, maybe the castle of Windsor larger and better q the expected. The problem was with the driver who took us and brought us from Windsor, arrived in Windsor and literally unleashed running from the truck park to the entrance of the castle with everyone trying to follow him to not get lost, a group of several old people and a lady in a wheelchair! And hundreds of people on the street blocking us through... Did not give us the only truly important information: that the chapel of St George closes 45m before the royal rooms and House of dolls. When I made him this observation said q also didn't know. Extraordinary. The duration of the visit (less than 3h since it would be from 14-17 but there is still q count on the routes to and from the truck park) is very short to see the 3 attractions (exterior castle and royal accommodation, doll house and chapel) and there is q make choices even more q there is always a line for the House of the dolls. I chose to see the chapel at the expense of the doll house and when I got to the entrance it was already closed. With the time I lost to confirm this fact, plus the journey time up there and in line, I would no longer have time for the House of the Dolls. I ended up not seeing the two, and I could have seen one of them, or go first to the chapel or have seen the doll house immediately before or after the royal rooms. A waste for total lack of training of the escort to Windsor. I know they will tell me that the visit was not accompanied but this basic information could be given during the London Windsor route without any problem and the lack of preparation of the driver to accompany the group to the castle cries to the skies.
Guided tour with Marc
Absolutely impressive what our guide Marc knew all about on our Changing of the Guard tour at Buckingham Palace. We were in the right place at all times and so we were able to watch the entire spectacle several times. Thank you very much and gladly again!