Whether or not you’re fascinated by Henry VIII or Harry and Meghan, are hoping to get a glimpse of the royals or let your youngsters stay out their knights and princesses fantasies, you’ll discover a string of royal locations in London to go to.
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From royal residences to palaces and castles, one of the best locations to find the UK’s royal historical past and traditions, royal strolling excursions of London and the one technique to assure seeing a member of the royal household (kind of), you’ll discover sufficient to theme a whole go to round royal London.
Better of all, should you’re planning to see these royal locations in London with youngsters, they’re household pleasant too.
Buckingham Palace
The place else must you begin than the monarch’s personal official residence? You will get a glimpse of the outside of Buckingham Palace year-round, in addition to the prospect to go indoors for just a few months of the 12 months.
Check out the flagpole to search out out whether or not the monarch is staying there throughout your go to: if it’s the Royal Commonplace, meaning the king is in residence, but when it’s the Union Flag, he’s residing elsewhere. There’s at all times extra probability of seeing the Royal Commonplace flying on a weekday slightly than a weekend.
For a peek inside, try my overview of a go to to the Buckingham Palace state rooms
The State Rooms are open from round mid July to late September (plus occasional unique excursions in the course of the winter and spring), and there’s a timed admission system while you e-book with slots each quarter-hour.
This isn’t someplace to race via, enable a few hours to soak all of it in, in addition to the stroll via the palace gardens on the finish. Whereas there are bogs and child altering on the finish of the go to, there’s nothing initially so that is one I’d keep away from with very younger youngsters: for older ones, there’s a multimedia information geared toward kids underneath 12, actions, crafts and trails.
Try the highlights of the Buckingham Palace State Rooms for teenagers from thrones to secret doorways.
Tickets value from £16.50 for teenagers, £33 for adults and under-fives are free, plus there are household tickets accessible. Should you get your ticket stamped on the finish of the go to, you may return free of charge over the following 12 months.
The Royal Day Out ticket provides admission to the Royal Mews and The King’s Gallery in addition to the State Rooms – scroll down for extra element about these royal sights
Altering of the Guard
The Family Troops have guarded Buckingham Palace since Queen Victoria took up residence in 1837, though they’ve guarded the monarch and royal palaces for hundreds of years earlier than then. And from 10.43am, the Outdated Guard arms over to the New Guard in a ceremony which takes round an hour.
The Altering of the Guard is considered one of London’s hottest free sights as they march of their well-known bearskin hats whereas a full army band performs, so get there early if you need a great spot.
Being too near Buckingham palace isn’t at all times ultimate, as you don’t essentially have one of the best view via the gates. As a substitute, head to St James’s Palace beforehand to observe them start their march.
Should you’re visiting London with youthful youngsters and need to keep away from the crowds, you can additionally get a style at Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Stroll beforehand, the place you may spot them forming up and listen to the music at round 10.15.
Or watch the King’s Life Guard change on Horse Guards Parade, which tends to be much less busy – 11am every day, besides on Sundays when it takes place at 10am.
The Altering of the Guard usually takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, every day in June and July, however could also be cancelled for main occasions in addition to significantly unhealthy climate – test it’s going forward earlier than you queue.
For extra concepts of free issues to do in London with youngsters, try this publish
Madame Tussauds London
If you wish to assure seeing the royal household, there’s just one technique to do it – and that’s heading to Madame Tussauds to see the waxworks on show inside.
You’ll spot a string of senior royals throughout your go to, together with the youthful members of the royal household and a recreation of the well-known balcony scene, plus the King.
Queen Elizabeth II holds the file of getting extra figures made than anybody else in Madame Tussauds’ historical past, beginning with the primary determine when the then princess was simply two, with the twenty third waxwork unveiled for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
Tickets value from £27 for adults, £24 for teenagers should you e-book on-line, together with free choice to reschedule, plus you can too purchase on-line from Get Your Information with free cancellation.
Tower of London
Considered one of my very own favorite locations to go to in London, the Tower of London oozes royal historical past – for starters, you may see the crown jewels in all their glittering glory, however it’s been each royal residence and royal jail since William the Conqueror first had the White Tower constructed within the eleventh century.
There’s a enjoyable Time Explorers sport for teenagers to attempt as you discover, in addition to an incredible guidebook, to not point out common particular actions throughout college holidays – up to now we’ve seen actors portraying the theft of the crown jewels and a breakout by one high-profile prisoner.
However you can too uncover extra in regards to the royal menagerie, the animals saved by the nation’s monarchs, in addition to seeing the memorial to Henry VIII’s two executed Queens (and others), plus the Traitor’s Gate that many entered via.
That’s solely the beginning, as you may wander via residences designed to look as they’d have carried out again within the 14th century, see fits of armour galore, check out some interactive displays and naturally spot the ravens hopping round, with legend saying that in the event that they go away, Britain will fall.
Tickets value from £37 for adults, £18.50 for teenagers, free should you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.
Should you e-book upfront, you can too see the traditional Ceremony of the Keys, because the Tower of London is locked up each evening – try my expertise of watching the Ceremony of the Keys with youngsters
Kensington Palace
Childhood dwelling of Queen Victoria, Kensington Palace is a slightly extra intimate royal residence than the Tower of London – initially bought by William and Mary as a rustic retreat, it was a favorite of George II and his courtroom, however has additionally been dwelling to Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince William and Harry.
For extra issues to do in South Kensington with youngsters, try my choose of one of the best
With altering displays, you may at the moment see shows from Queen Victoria’s early years, from her troublesome relations along with her mom to her first assembly with future husband Prince Albert, in addition to tracing her path from a princess no-one thought could be Queen to her coronation.
Elsewhere within the palace you may nonetheless play Georgian playing video games, spot a throne, marvel on the grand staircase and picture the balls held right here – plus the seedier facet of the royal courtroom with some horrible historical past certain to entertain youngsters.
Tickets value from £24.70 for adults, £12.40 for teenagers, free should you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.
Try my overview of a time out at Kensington Palace with youngsters
Westminster Abbey
In addition to seeing the place the royals stay – or lived – you can too go to their remaining resting place. Over 3,300 individuals have been buried or commemorated at Westminster Abbey, together with 16 separate British monarchs (or 17, should you consider the bones believed to be the Princes within the Tower are these of Edward V and his brother) plus lots of their consorts.
As you discover inside, you may see the tombs of Henry V and all of the Tudors besides Henry VIII, alongside early kings resembling Edward the Confessor, who died every week after the abbey was consecrated.
Plantagenet kings together with Henry III, who had the present abbey constructed within the thirteenth century, and his son Edward I, whereas Mary I and Elizabeth I share a tomb. The final King of England to be buried right here is George II.
Somewhat extra fortunately, the abbey has additionally seen 16 royal weddings, from Henry I in 1100 to most lately, the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011 (now the Prince and Princess of Wales).
And each king or queen of England has been topped right here, besides two – Edward V, who was deposed and presumed murdered earlier than his coronation, and Edward VIII who abdicated earlier than his may happen.
Prebooking tickets is beneficial – get discounted tickets should you e-book via my hyperlink utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS6.
The Palace of Westminster
Higher often known as the Homes of Parliament, the Palace of Westminster was initially constructed within the eleventh century as a royal residence – in the present day, after a number of fires together with one in 1834, just about the one half which survives in nearly its authentic type is Westminster Corridor.
And you may nonetheless go to this large corridor with its spectacular medieval hammerbeam roof, the place archaeologists discovered items of the King’s Excessive Desk, which might have been utilized by monarchs together with Henry V, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
The roof itself was commissioned by Richard II, whose emblem of the white hart seems together with statues of the kings from Edward the Confessor to Richard himself, plus shields with the royal arms. Though after this grand redecoration celebrating Richard’s regal lineage, the primary occasion which happened in Westminster Corridor was the choice to depose him…
There are official excursions of Parliament, together with Westminster Corridor, or UK residents can request free tickets from their MP for debates, which incorporates passing via the corridor.
The Jewel Tower
The one different part of the Palace of Westminster to outlive the fireplace of 1834 is the Jewel Tower, in-built 1365 – much less well-known than the clock tower housing Huge Ben, it’s an interesting little piece of historical past that’s usually neglected.
Created to deal with Edward III’s treasures, it was often known as the King’s Privy Wardrobe, and you may nonetheless enterprise inside to go searching in the present day, now an English heritage web site..
There’s a mannequin of the medieval palace of Westminster, because the kings who lived there would have recognized it, in addition to a 14th century ribbed vault with ornate ceiling carvings to discover.
You may as well see areas set as they’d have been when it was utilized by clerks within the 18th century and the historical past of weights and measures.
Tickets value from £9 for adults, £4.50 for teenagers should you e-book on-line upfront, or free to English Heritage members. You may as well get abroad customer passes for English Heritage, ultimate should you’re planning to go to a number of websites.
Banqueting Home
As soon as the Palace of Whitehall was the royal coronary heart of London – standing within the space the place you’ll discover the road known as Whitehall in the present day, Henry VIII moved his courtroom right here after a hearth on the Palace of Westminster.
Initially the medieval London dwelling of the Archbishops of York, often known as York Place, it had belonged to Cardinal Wolsey, taken from him by the King when he fell out of favour. Renamed Whitehall, the magnificent courtroom housed a sequence of Tudor and Stuart monarchs till 1698 when it too burned down.
The Banqueting Home survived: the third one to be constructed within the palace, it was designed for James I by Inigo Jones, with 9 work by Rubens later added to the ceiling in 1636, commissioned by Charles I.
13 years later, that king walked underneath the fantastic artworks for the ultimate time, on the way in which to his execution at a specifically constructed scaffold outdoors the Banqueting Home.
Entry is restricted to open days and summer season opening, so it’s price checking upfront/ Tickets value from £7.50 for adults on open days, £10 for summer season opening, and it’s free for teenagers or should you’re a Historic Royal Palaces member.
Royal Mews
Should you’ve ever questioned the place the monarch retains all these fabulous gilded carriages once they’re not transporting the royal household to weddings and ceremonies, you’ll want to head to the Royal Mews.
House to historic royal carriages and to a working stables, you’ll see the brown Cleveland Bays and white Windsor Gray horses, named by the royal household, in addition to the gold state coach, miniature carriages designed to be pulled by small animals together with canines, and a sleigh.
There’s a 45-minute multimedia tour that can assist you discover, together with a household model geared toward youngsters aged 7-11, telling them the whole lot from what it’s like to coach the horses to the way it feels to experience in a type of fairytale carriages or drive a Rolls Royce.
For youthful ones, the Little Trekkers exercise path is designed for underneath fives to find the treasures of the Royal Mews, different exercise packs can be found to obtain, and you may climb right into a mannequin landau, impressed by what’s considered Queen Victoria’s favorite carriage.
The Mews is often closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, besides throughout July and August. Tickets value from £18 for adults, £9 for teenagers if booked upfront.
King’s Gallery
There’s at all times one thing fantastic to see on the King’s Gallery, with exhibitions that includes works taken from the Royal Assortment, together with work by Outdated Masters but additionally photographs, uncommon furnishings and ornamental arts.
On show in a room designed for George IV by John Nash – created to show his personal assortment of Dutch, Flemish and Italian works – you can see artists from Vermeer, Rembrandt and van Dyck to Titian and Canaletto.
That is one place which is finest to discover with older youngsters, should you’re visiting as a household, as there aren’t any particular actions for kids. There’s a multimedia information which lasts round an hour to assist guests discover.
The King’s Gallery is usually closed on Tuesdays and generally on different days. Tickets value from £22 for adults, £11 for teenagers.
Queen’s Home, Greenwich
Greenwich has loads of royal hyperlinks – the traditional Greenwich palace was the birthplace of Elizabeth I and Henry VIII earlier than it was demolished by Charles II. Right now the Outdated Royal Naval School, with its fabulous Painted Corridor, stands on the positioning of the palace, however you may nonetheless go to the Queen’s Home.
Initially commissioned by James I for his spouse, Anne of Denmark – supposedly a present to apologise for swearing in entrance of her (after she had killed considered one of his favorite canines throughout a hunt) – she died earlier than it may very well be completed.
Later Charles I gave Greenwich to his spouse, and the Queen’s Home was accomplished round 1636, the primary absolutely Classical constructing in England. Whereas the queen didn’t get lengthy to get pleasure from it earlier than Charles I used to be executed and he or she went into exile, it was utilized by members of the royal household till 1805.
Right now it’s dwelling to a famend artwork assortment, lately exhibiting the Armada portraits displaying Elizabeth I, and the fabulous spiral Tulip Staircase. It’s free to enter, though reserving free tickets is beneficial.
Head into Greenwich Park as properly, the oldest of the royal parks, and you will discover Queen Elizabeth’s Oak, an historical tree relationship again to the twelfth century the place the Tudor Queen supposedly performed as a baby.
For extra issues to do in Greenwich with youngsters, try this publish
Clarence Home
Beforehand the official residence of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (now King Charles III and Queen Camilla), Clarence Home has been dwelling to varied different members of the royal household through the years, initially constructed nearly 200 years in the past by John Nash.
Typically open to the general public throughout August, when you may take a 45-minute guided tour of 5 rooms on the bottom ground, it’s at the moment closed.
Ticket costs and any opening dates for 2026 are to be confirmed. There aren’t any bathroom or babychanging services.
Somerset Home
As soon as the positioning of a Tudor Palace belonging to the Duke of Somerset, the uncle to Edward VI, Somerset Home has been the residence of the then Princess Elizabeth, who lived there earlier than changing into Queen in 1558, in addition to a number of Stuart Queen consorts – the final one being Catherine of Braganza, spouse to Charles II.
Demolished in 1775, the Neoclassical constructing you may see in the present day has an extended historical past of the humanities – beforehand the house of the Royal Academy of the Arts, in addition to the Royal Society, there are nonetheless exhibitions and different inventive tasks going down right here.
In summer season, youngsters can play within the fountains within the grand courtyard, which is reworked into an ice rink for winter within the run-up to Christmas.
Admission is free, though there’s a cost for some exhibitions and occasions.
Family Cavalry museum
In case your youngsters are fascinated by the King’s guards – and as a enjoyable further should you’re planning to observe the Altering of the Guard – head into the Family Cavalry Museum simply off Horse Guards Parade.
It celebrates the historical past of the Family Cavalry, with an opportunity to peek behind the scenes at what work goes on to create the ceremonial shows, plus the prospect to decorate like a cavalryman, watch the guards and sentries change, and peek into the stables.
There are additionally usually household occasions and actions throughout college holidays and half-terms.
Open every day (other than closures on some dates throughout Might and June for ceremonial occasions), tickets have to be prebooked, priced £8 for kids aged 5-16, £11 for adults. Household tickets are additionally accessible.
Go to one of many Royal parks
There are eight royal parks scattered throughout the capital, from Greenwich Park with Queen Elizabeth’s Oak on one facet to Richmond Park with King Henry’s Mound on the opposite – the place he supposedly stood to see the sign that Anne Boleyn had been executed. Nearly definitely unfaithful, however it’s nonetheless a great story!
However should you’re staying in and round central London, it’s simple to go to a few the opposite royal parks and uncover their very own hyperlinks to Britain’s monarchs.
In St James’s Park, there have been pelicans since 1664, when the Russian ambassador introduced a pair to Charles II – preserve an eye fixed out too for the Diana Princess of Wales memorial stroll which runs via this and three different royal parks, in addition to passing three palaces and two mansions linked to Princess Diana.
In Hyde Park, you can too discover the Diana Memorial Fountain made with 545 items of granite, with three bridges crossing the water and taking you to the center of the fountain.
Much more excitingly for teenagers, in Kensington Gardens, not removed from the palace the place the Princess of Wales made her dwelling, is the Diana Memorial Playground, centered round an enormous ship. EDIT: The playground is now closed till summer season 2026 (date tbc) for refurbishment
For some extra of one of the best playgrounds in London, try my high picks
Take a royal strolling tour
In addition to the self-guided Diana Princess of Wales memorial stroll, there are numerous completely different royal strolling excursions to take across the capital.
Stroll London has a free self-guided strolling tour from Westminster to Kensington, sticking to footpaths via parkland or gardens as you cross royal palaces. Enable not less than three hours (take a picnic to have within the park with youngsters, or attempt doing it in a number of sections).
The Royal London guided strolling tour – from £15 for 2 hours – passes three palaces, in addition to sharing different strange tales of London.
Should you’re assured biking, there’s additionally this half-day Royal London bike tour, appropriate for all ages – you can too get bikes with child seats.
Kew Palace
Set within the stunning Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, Kew Palace is the smallest of the royal palaces – initially constructed as a mansion for a rich silk service provider. However George II and his Queen determined it could make an ideal dwelling for his or her eldest daughters, which led to Georgian royalty utilizing the palace as their peaceable weekend retreat.
An escape from ceremony and the world’s gaze, it grew to become someplace the royal household may calm down and revel in a life as a household. Later, it was hoped this peaceable spot would assist George III get better from his psychological sickness.
By the early nineteenth century, it had begun to fall from favour, though two of George III’s sons married right here within the race to supply an inheritor – together with the mother and father of the long run Queen Victoria.
Subsequent door are the Georgian Royal Kitchens, saved preserved as they’d have been greater than 200 years in the past, trapped in time on February 6 1789 when George III recovered from his first episode of psychological sickness.
Together with rooms the place bread was baked, fish and meat was saved, greens have been washed and a lead-lined sink within the scullery, there’s additionally a small kitchen backyard plus the spectacular royal kitchens themselves with an enormous vary, grill and oven.
To go to the Historic Royal Palaces property, you want a timed entry ticket to Kew Gardens. Tickets value from £17 for adults, £2 for teenagers off peak dates booked on-line upfront – you can too purchase tickets with free cancellation right here, and entry to Kew Palace is included.
Hampton Courtroom Palace
Buckingham Palace is likely to be the official royal residence, however should you’re hoping to discover a palace, it’s laborious to beat Hampton Courtroom – a brief prepare journey from Waterloo, on the sting of the Thames, Henry VIII ‘acquired’ this from Cardinal Wolsey as properly.
And it’s a improbable place to get a style of how the royal courtroom lived, from the sprawling kitchens catering to the inhabitants to a sequence of rooms embellished from completely different time intervals, together with grand Tudor ceilings and Georgian residences, courtyards and thrones underneath canopies, in addition to the gorgeous chapel royal.
As you stroll alongside the Haunted Gallery, it’s stated that Catherine Howard’s ghost can nonetheless be heard pleading for mercy.
Exterior, there’s as a lot to see within the gardens. House to the well-known maze, the Magic Backyard kids’s playground is one other favorite with youngsters plus there are common household actions throughout college holidays – something from Tudor sports activities to Easter hunts.
Cease by the true tennis courtroom as properly to see should you can catch a show of Henry VIII’s favorite sport as properly.
Enable an entire day to discover. Ticket costs fluctuate, from £29 for adults, £14.50 for kids or get a reduction should you e-book by way of Tiqets utilizing my hyperlink and code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Try my overview of our most up-to-date household time out at Hampton Courtroom Palace
Eltham Palace
As soon as an incredible medieval palace, Eltham is within the borough of Greenwich, in south east London (though realistically, enable loads of time to get there by public transport, should you’re not travelling by automotive).
House to Henry VIII as a prince, in addition to his sisters Margaret and Mary – later Queen of Scotland and France respectively – it was considered one of solely six residences large enough to deal with and feed the whole Tudor courtroom of round 800 individuals. The medieval corridor constructed for Edward IV is over 30 metres lengthy, one of many nation’s largest together with Westminster Corridor.
A go to in the present day seems to be slightly completely different than the Tudors would keep in mind it although: purchased by the rich Courtaulds within the Thirties, the Nice Corridor was repaired however a brand new home added, designed in fantastic Artwork Deco fashion, together with stunning gardens from the identical date.
Tickets value from £17 for adults, £8.50 for teenagers, and free for English Heritage members.
Extra royal locations close to London
Windsor Fortress
The oldest and largest occupied citadel on the earth, Windsor remains to be a ‘working’ citadel – based by William the Conqueror within the eleventh century, it has been dwelling to 39 monarchs and was a favorite weekend retreat for Queen Elizabeth II.
For extra issues to do in Windsor with youngsters, try my high picks
You’ll be able to see the whole lot from a spectacular royal doll’s home to Henry VIII’s plus-size armour in addition to the spectacular state residences, and climb the spherical tower at Windsor Fortress (so long as you’re over 1.3 metres tall).
Except you’re visiting on a Sunday, you can too go into St George’s chapel, relationship again to 1475. The positioning of a lot of royal weddings, together with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, it additionally homes the tombs of 10 monarchs together with Edward IV, Henry VI and VIII, Charles I, Edward VII and George V.
There’s additionally one other alternative to see the altering of the guard right here at sure instances. And between the royal treasures and tales of kings and queens galore who’ve spent a part of their lives at Windsor, youngsters may gown up and there’s a kids’s audioguide as you discover.
Tickets value from £32 for adults, £16 for teenagers if booked upfront, or get a reduction should you e-book via Tiqets utilizing my hyperlink and code MUMMYTRAVELS6. You may as well e-book a half-day tour from London, together with entry to the citadel.
Try the Treasure Map Trails of Windsor and Eton for a enjoyable technique to discover the historic city and surrounding space with youngsters, recognizing a few of the quirky sights – get 10% off utilizing code MUMMYTRAVELS
Hatfield Home
To the north of London in Hertfordshire, the royal palace of Hatfield as soon as stood on the positioning occupied by Hatfield Home – the childhood dwelling and favorite resident of Elizabeth I.
It was right here that the princess was sitting in 1558, underneath an oak tree within the park, when she discovered that she had develop into queen.
A part of the unique palace, which dates again to 1497, nonetheless exists and you may go to (though as it’s usually used as a marriage venue and for occasions, and closes for a lot of the 12 months, it’s price checking upfront that it will likely be open on the day you go to).
You may as well nonetheless see gadgets with hyperlinks to the Queen on the present-day home, in-built 1611 in the course of the reign of James I – look out for the silk stockings that are believed to have been the primary in England. James himself stayed right here, and there’s a lifesize statue within the drawing room, itself named after the king.
James I used to be removed from the final monarch to go to although; Queen Victoria additionally hung out at Hatfield.
Tickets value from £27 for adults, £13.50 for teenagers for entry to the home and grounds, £17 for adults, £8.50 for teenagers for gardens and park entry solely.
For extra uncommon issues to do in London with youngsters, try my choose of one of the best
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Foremost picture, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Park copyright MummyTravels, Altering of the Guard courtesy Adobe Inventory, all others courtesy Depositphotos
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