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With our royal lineage spanning nearly 1,200 years and 62 monarchs, it will come as no surprise that Britain has an insatiable curiosity for all things royal. Luckily, it delivers - with anything from His Majesty’s favourite holiday spots to masses of royal homes, you’ll find a nation rammed with regal places and grand experiences.

For a unique insight into royal life, grab your map and discover grand palaces, historic castles and beautiful country retreats.

A right royal Britain

From exclusive private tours to accessing acres of royal gardens and parks - there’s a whole host of ways you can get your royal fix. Discover Buckingham Palace when it opens up its State Rooms to visitors for ten weeks each summer or wander through the Royal Parkland, gardens and house of the Sandringham Estate.

The King’s official residences

From the grandeur of London-based Buckingham Palace to the remote Scottish escape at Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family have called some of the nation’s most beautiful buildings their home. Dive into the lives of the royals and experience the opulence of these official residences that regularly open to the public.

On selected dates, Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors: your chance to explore the Royal Family’s iconic London home.

Discover Buckingham Palace

VisitBritain/Tom Weightman

Aerial display flying over crowds above palace
Buckingham Palace

Walk through 1,000 years of history at Windsor Castle, exploring its opulent state rooms and superb royal artefacts.

Book tickets to Windsor Castle

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2022

Visitors with ice cream, Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle

Tour over 20,000 acres of Norfolk’s country retreat.

Visit Sandringham House

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Sandringham Estate
Sandringham, Norfolk

The Scottish holiday residence of the British Royal Family. Tour the historic gardens and estate of picturesque Balmoral Castle.

Book tickets to Balmoral Castle

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Balmoral Castle and Estate
Balmoral Castle

Welcome to the previous home of Mary, Queen of Scots, offering guided tours, royal exhibitions and opulent afternoon teas.

Step inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse

VisitScotland

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence in Edinburgh, Scotland
The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Mile

Visit the official residence of the Royal Family in Northern Ireland.

Visit Hillsborough Castle and Garden

@historicroyalpalaces

Hillsborough Castle and garden
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

On selected dates, Buckingham Palace opens its doors to visitors: your chance to explore the Royal Family’s iconic London home.

Discover Buckingham Palace

VisitBritain/Tom Weightman

Aerial display flying over crowds above palace
Buckingham Palace

Walk through 1,000 years of history at Windsor Castle, exploring its opulent state rooms and superb royal artefacts.

Book tickets to Windsor Castle

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2022

Visitors with ice cream, Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle

Tour over 20,000 acres of Norfolk’s country retreat.

Visit Sandringham House

@nuriatravels

Sandringham Estate
Sandringham, Norfolk

The Scottish holiday residence of the British Royal Family. Tour the historic gardens and estate of picturesque Balmoral Castle.

Book tickets to Balmoral Castle

@pumpkin_the_pompom

Balmoral Castle and Estate
Balmoral Castle

Welcome to the previous home of Mary, Queen of Scots, offering guided tours, royal exhibitions and opulent afternoon teas.

Step inside the Palace of Holyroodhouse

VisitScotland

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence in Edinburgh, Scotland
The Palace of Holyroodhouse and the Royal Mile

Visit the official residence of the Royal Family in Northern Ireland.

Visit Hillsborough Castle and Garden

@historicroyalpalaces

Hillsborough Castle and garden
Hillsborough Castle and Gardens

More royal residences worth visiting

Get a sneak peek into the lives of the royals. Discover the royal holiday retreats, private residences and homes dotted all over Briton.
London

The home to many a royal, from Queen Victoria, William III, to Queen Anne.

Â? visitlondon.com/Jon Reid

Kensington Gardens
Tetbury

Explore the vast gardens of this regal house in rural England.

@highgrivegarden

Oak Pavilion at Highgrove Garden
London

Tour the previous home of Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh.

northbynorthbest

Clarence House
London

Get hands-on with history at this former palace and prison. It’s full of tales and treasures, including the Crown Jewels.

Visit Britain/George Johnson

Beefeater walking by the, Tower of London on a sunny day
Edinburgh, Scotland

Discover this dramatic fortress, perched on top of an extinct volcano at the top of Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.

VisitBritain/Steven Oates

Edinburgh

Green and red deck chairs laid out on grass in a park

Royal experiences

Open to the public, these historic homes make ideal day trips for royal fans everywhere. Choose to explore ornamental royal gardens, or step inside gold washed rooms - wherever you decide, you’ll be sure to gain insider knowledge of Britain’s royals.

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2022

Buckingham Palace Summer Opening 2011

Tour the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace

A particular highlight at Britain’s best known palace are the State Rooms. Opening their doors each summer from late July through to early October, you’ll see the rooms uses by our royals through generations. 

At the Royal Mews, discover the Gold State Coach used at every Coronation since George IV - open Thursday to Monday.

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2022

The Merry Wives of Windsor with Shakespeare's Globe and Bach to Baby

Discover Windsor Castle and Windsor Great Park

Windsor Castle is filled with regal experiences that’ll allow you to get insight into the lives and history of the royals. Explore the State Apartments, filled with golden grandeur, glistening chandeliers, paintings and carvings. Windsor Castle is open Thursday to Monday from 10am.

Don’t forget to explore the ancient woodlands at Windsor Great Park. For a unique way to tour the estate, hop on a horse-drawn carriage to glide through the greenery. The park is open year round and free to enter.

Visit Britain/George Johnson

Beefeater walking by the, Tower of London on a sunny day

See the glistening Crown Jewels at the Tower of London

Prepared to be dazzled: a colossal collection of over 23,000 gemstones awaits in the Jewel Tower in the Tower of London. Marvel at Queen Victoria’s sparkling Coronation Ring, the Sovereign’s Orb used at Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, and St Edward’s Crown, used at every royal Coronation since 1661. Opening times and days vary for the Tower of London and Jewel Tower.

michaelrhay

Two boy playing football

Explore Kensington Palace Gardens

Bursting with summertime blooms and dotted with graceful fountains, Kensington Palace Gardens is the perfect place to relax like a royal. But if you’re looking for an adventure, wander into Hyde Park to The Serpentine boating lake and hop aboard a pedalo or row boat. The gardens are open everyday from 6am with varying closing times, and Hyde Park is open from 5am to midnight all year round.

VisitScotland

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, a royal residence in Edinburgh, Scotland

Step back in time at the Palace of Holyroodhouse 

Explore Queen Mary’s chambers, located through a winding staircase in the oldest part of the palace, or join a guided tour of Holyrood Abbey and spy the Royal Vault, the final resting places of James V of Scotland. You can visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse year-round from 9.30am.

You are encouraged to always check individual attraction websites for the latest information, as events and details are subject to change.