Image credit: The King’s Tour Artists exhibition in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust.
We are absolutely delighted to share that Buckingham Palace State Rooms and Gardens are now open for summer tours, alongside the opportunity to see The King’s Tour Artists, an exhibition showcasing 70 pieces of art commissioned over 40 years to document His Majesty’s royal visits.
The State Rooms and Gardens
For the past 32 years, Buckingham Palace has opened its doors to the public each summer for an exclusive opportunity to see areas of the Palace which are used for state occasions and ceremonial functions.
Nineteen rooms are available to view during the tour including the Throne Room, the Ballroom, the Music Room, the White Drawing Room, the Green Drawing Room, the Picture Gallery and the Grand Staircase.
Tours conclude at the 16-hectare Palace Gardens (the setting of the coveted royal garden parties) where you can take afternoon tea.
The King’s Tour Artists
This year, the Palace’s exhibition is The King’s Tour Artists. Privately commissioned by the King over the past 40 years, 42 artists have documented his royal visits with whatever has inspired them. 70 fascinating works are on display in the Ballroom. The Royal Collection Trust explains: “Reflecting His Majesty’s longstanding patronage of the arts, the initiative has provided an opportunity for both experienced and emerging artists to undertake a unique commission and a concentrated period of work in the country or countries visited. The works on display in the Palace’s Ballroom, chosen from a selection made by The King from his personal collection, will provide glimpses of life on a royal tour, capturing the tone, colours and atmosphere in ways that differ from a photographic record.”
The tours and exhibition will run until 28 September. Entry to the exhibition is included in the tour ticket.
Getting there
From 9 Hertford Street, Buckingham Palace is a scenic 10-minute walk through Green Park.