In the heart of London is one of the most recognizable buildings in Britain. However, not everyone knows his story.

We don't just tell you about Buckingham Palace, but let's open it all secrets, which are basically just Interesting Facts his creation...

Buckingham Palace today- This is the official residence of local monarchs and the largest functioning royal palace. The Queen lives and works here. For a couple of months (August and September) she leaves her residence, and at this time the chambers are open to visitors (not all of course). This is the main attraction of London.

Thanks to the famous balcony, this is a place of national unity in the days of tragedies or national celebrations. Buckingham Palace designed for official ceremonies, banquets and receptions and is a favorite tourist attraction.

Once upon a time, meadows were green on the site of this luxurious palace. As a royal residence, the palace is quite young. Its ceremonial halls are no more than 200 years old. However, his story is much longer and more dramatic.

The objects that fill the halls of the palace reveal to us the characters of the kings and queens of the past. Here art and architecture come together to show Britain's global status. Many people think that the palace was built at a time when Britain was the most powerful empire on earth. But few people know that for the first kings it was a quiet nest. But everything is changing...

The wetlands were in no way suitable for royal lands, until one king decided otherwise ... and now you will find out how the Buckingham Palace project was born:

King Henry XIII, who ascended the throne in 1509, passionately loved to hunt. The swampy shores of this area were ideal for hunting. Once the king changed up to 8 horses per day. And so he decided to turn the land north of Westminster into a personal hunting ground. Having thrown out several landowners from there, he surrounded his new possessions brick wall. In 1535, Henry XIII drained the land under what is now Buckingham Palace and laid out a large deer park there.

But later, another king found another use for this park. Jacob I(eng. James, lat. Iacobus) loved rich clothes, especially the finest silks. And he realized that silk could bring him a lot of money. On the lands where the gardens of Buckingham Palace are now located, James I decided to establish an English silk production. In 1608 the king landed dozens mulberry trees and released silkworms on them. But he made a mistake with the tree. This is black mulberry and silkworms she was just not interested.

Only after 100 years, in 1708, a building was built on the site where the palace now stands. Today, all that remains of it is the name of its owner. The Duke of Buckingham was not well liked at court. He was even given the nickname "my lord proud." But he was rich, so having bought the royal lands, he built a luxurious mansion on them. Although today not a stone remains of him ...

By 1760 the house was up for sale. young king George III decided that this would be the best wedding present for his young wife. The aristocratic mansion became the home of the British monarchy. George III loved simple pleasures. He was modest and presented the palace to his wife as a quiet family retreat away from the maelstrom of court life.

For the taste of George III, Buckingham Palace was too pretentious. Therefore, he decided to remove the intricate gates, the fountain of Neptune, and even the statues on the roof ... Outwardly, the house became boring, discreet, but decent.

However, the interior made it clear that the king lives here. George III covered the walls with paintings from the royal art collection.

To rebuild Buckingham Palace began son of King George IV after the death of his father. John Nash was chosen as the architect. George IV begged Parliament to give him money to rebuild his childhood home. He was only able to get £150,000 for repairs and improvements. But the king was not going to save ...

George IV. and architect John Nash transformed the once quiet corner into the grandiose palace that everyone knows today as Buckingham Palace.

Buckingham Palace was officially declared the main residence of the British monarchs upon the accession to the throne of the young Queen Victoria in 1837. But even at that time, the palace was not fully equipped and not suitable for habitation (there were no carpets and there was very little furniture). However, the queen was delighted. During her reign late XIX- the beginning of the 20th century), the last major additions were made, including the current appearance of Buckingham Palace: the construction of another outbuilding and the transfer of the former main entrance, Marble Arch, to its current location near the Orators' Corner in Hyde Park. By 1853 a ballroom had been built. Later, the famous balcony appeared.

How many rooms are in Buckingham Palace

Currently, the palace occupies an area of ​​20 hectares, of which 17 hectares is a garden.

Today it is not just a palace, it is a real small town with its own post office, police, hospital, sports clubs, swimming pool, cinema and even a disco! In the main palace of the kingdom as many as 755 rooms, of which:

  • 72 bathrooms.
  • 188 bedrooms designed not only for guests, but also for service personnel, which has more than 700 people.
  • 92 offices.
  • 19 rooms of national importance.
  • 52 member bedrooms royal family.

Until 1993, tourists were not allowed into the main residence of the monarchs, but then the palace opened its doors to visitors for two whole months - in August and September.

The palace houses a huge art gallery with works by Rembrandt, Rubens and others. The collection also contains French porcelain, French and English furniture, but if you are interested in paintings, it is better to go straight to the National Gallery.

Opening hours: from 09.30 to 18.00 (entrance closes at 15.45)

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and schedule

The procession of soldiers to the palace starts at 11.00 every day.
Changing of the guard at the palace takes place at 11:30 every day. Every day (from April to July) and every other day (in the remaining months) a changing of the guard of the royal guards (on foot) is arranged on Buckingham Square.

Where is Buckingham Palace

Nearest metro stations: St. James's Park, Victoria

SW1. Tel: 7839-1377 www.royal.gov.uk

It is possible to visit the palace only with excursion groups during the departure of the queen (watch the flag on the palace building - its absence indicates that visiting is allowed).

We will help you buy tickets to Buckingham Palace for you. The ticket price includes an audio guide in Russian.

Buckingham Palace is the official residence of British monarchs and the largest royal palace in the world. Orders and awards are presented at Buckingham Palace, and official events are held. True, the currently ruling Queen Elizabeth II does not always participate in ceremonies, and this duty is usually performed by crown prince Charles.

The building impresses with its huge size and is a symbol of the greatness and inviolability of royal power in England.

If the royal flag is raised above the palace, then the queen is in her residence. When the queen is absent, the flagpole flutters state flag United Kingdom (known to us as the "Union Jack").

Usually tourists can see Buckingham Palace only in August and September, when the Queen is resting in her country residence.

Buckingham Palace address

Address - Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1 AA.

How to get to Buckingham Palace

  • St James Park metro station is the most convenient, it is close to another historical building - St. James's Palace
  • You can also walk to the residence from Victoria and Green Park metro stations.

Buckingham Palace opening hours - summer 2019 (opening hours for visitors)

The palace is open to visitors only when the queen leaves for her summer residence and there are no official events. Usually there are only a few summer months. So if you come to London at this time, don't miss out. unique opportunity see the front rooms.

  • July 20 - August 31 daily from 9:30 to 19:30 (last entry at 17:15)
  • September 1 - 29 daily from 09:30 to 18:30 (last admission at 16:15)

Buckingham Palace Ticket Prices - Summer 2019

All tickets include an audio guide (including in Russian).

  • State Rooms of Buckingham Palace (The State Rooms)
    • Full ticket - 25 pounds
    • Children under 5 years old - free of charge
    • Children 5 to 17 years old - 14 pounds
    • Students and over 60s £22.80
  • Royal Day Out ticket including entry to the State Rooms, Royal Gallery and Royal Mews
    • Full ticket - 45 pounds
    • Children under 5 years old - free of charge
    • Children from 5 to 17 years - 24.50 pounds
    • Students and persons over 60 years old - 40 pounds

From the history

In the 10th century, King William the Conqueror of England gave the land on which Buckingham Palace is currently located to the monks of Westminster Abbey.

In the Middle Ages, King Henry VIII, famous for his acquisitiveness, bought these possessions for the royal family, and after about 100 years this territory passed to the Shefeld family.

John Sheffield, politician and poet, the first Duke of Buckingham, built a large Vacation home known as Buckingham House.

However, King Henry III believed that his old residence in St. James's Park had become cramped and therefore in 1751 he bought Buckingham House, along with the surrounding land, for himself and his wife Charlotte. Since that time, his estate was called Queen Charlotte's House.

Architects John Nash and Edward Blore erected three more buildings similar to Buckingham House over the next 75 years. Together they formed a square, in the middle of which was a huge courtyard.

Buckingham Palace became the main royal residence in London with the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. During her reign, another outbuilding was completed, and the main entrance in the form of the Marble Arch - Marble Arch was moved to its current location - in Hyde Park, not far from the famous Orators' Corner.

Buckingham Palace - description

Initially, the halls were decorated in the Georgian style and artificial marble was used as decoration, as well as blue and pink lapis lazuli.

Great changes were made under the eldest son of Victoria - King Edward VII at the beginning of the 20th century. Most of the halls were decorated in french style The Belle Époque is in gold and cream, while the small reception area is Chinese-style with furniture from Brighton royal palace, as well as from the palace of Carlton House.

Currently, Buckingham Palace covers an area of ​​20 hectares, including 17 hectares are gardens. In total, the building, which can accommodate up to 30,000 guests, has 775 rooms, among them:

  • 19 - state
  • 52 - royal and intended for distinguished guests
  • 72 - bathrooms
  • 188 - for staff
  • 92 - office space.

The building serves about 800 employees, whose tasks are to serve guests and guests, maintain perfect order and prepare the halls for award ceremonies, as well as for banquets for rulers and ambassadors.

Buckingham Palace was built using the most expensive materials and therefore the cost of its construction was enormous. Despite this, the building is the largest in the world, there is no unequivocal opinion about its beauty, and, as some competent publications write, it is "one of the ugliest buildings in the world."

The largest hall in it is the Ballroom, built in 1853 and first received guests in 1856 on the occasion of the end of the Crimean War.

Buckingham Palace now

Until 1993, the palace was closed to tourists, and now, when the queen is absent - in August and September, access to the public is open to 19 rooms. During the tour you can learn about the history of the royal residence, visit the royal stables and see works of art, including paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, Van Dyck and other famous artists, as well as a collection of porcelain and furniture.

You can stroll through the palace garden and admire the magnificent waterfalls and the lake, along the banks of which pink flamingos calmly walk, not paying attention to the public or the helicopters that often circle here.

Tourists are constantly interested in the ceremony of changing the guard of the palace guards.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace - Summer 2019

On the square in front of the palace, a colorful changing of the guard of the royal guards takes place, which you can watch for free, the main thing is to take a comfortable place for observation.

  • Summer daily at 11:00
  • In spring, autumn and winter in case of good weather on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 11:00
  • Accurate schedule and detailed information can be viewed on the British Army website: www.householddivision.org.uk/changing-the-guard-calendar

Buckingham Palace official website

Buckingham Palace is one of the few functioning royal residences and an important attraction in London. In addition to Buckingham Palace, the Queen has two more official residences: Windsor Castle - Windsor Castle and Holyrood Palace - Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Currently, Queen Elizabeth II of England spends most of her time at Buckingham Palace, one of her official residences. Buckingham Palace is located opposite Pall Mall and Green Park at the end of the alley starting from the Admiralty Arch, which, as it were, separates the noisy and always crowded Trafalgar Square in London from the quiet and full dignity of the royal world.

When some celebrations take place, the alley becomes the site of royal parades that attract tourists and local residents. While the queen is here, everyone knows about it: the royal standard flutters over the roof of the residence.

History of Buckingham Palace

The territory on which Buckingham Palace is located was donated to the monks of Westminster Abbey by William the Conqueror in the 10th century. In the Middle Ages Henry VIII these lands were purchased for the royal family.

About 100 years later, King James ordered a mulberry garden to be planted here to produce silk, but the matter was not successful, and the area soon passed into the possession of the Sheffield family.

John Sheffield, the first Duke of Buckingham, built a building here in 1703, then called Buckingham House. King George III purchased the building and the surrounding land in 1762 for his future residence and the home of his wife Charlotte, because the official residence of that time - St. James's Palace - had become small and ugly for him.

Then the place was called - "Queen Charlotte's House". Then, for 75 years, architects D. Nash and E. Blore were engaged in the construction of three buildings similar to Buckingham House. All together they began to look like a square, in the center of which a huge courtyard was formed.

When Queen Victoria ascended the throne in 1837, Buckingham Palace was declared the main residence of the monarch in London. Under her rule, some additions were completed in the form of an outbuilding, and the main entrance - the Marble Arch - was moved to its current location.

In 1853, the largest room in the palace was completed - the ballroom, which was first used in honor of the end of the Crimean War in 1856.

Now in Buckingham Palace there are 775 rooms, 19 of them are state, 52 - royal and for distinguished guests, 72 - bathrooms, 188 - for staff, 92 - office space. Buckingham Palace occupies about 20 hectares of land, of which 17 hectares are gardens.

The residence gardens are the largest private gardens in London, originally created by L. Brown and later redesigned by W. Ailton and D. Nash. In 1828, a large artificial pond appeared on the territory of the garden.

The cost of building the palace turned out to be huge, the materials used were the most expensive, but this did not help it become one of the most beautiful buildings both in London and beyond. According to some competent publications, Buckingham Palace is "one of the ugliest buildings in the world."

Modern Buckingham Palace

Until 1993, the palace was closed to the general public. Now it is open to tourists only during the absence of the queen - in August and September.

During these two months, the palace has time to visit several tens of thousands of tourists who recognize all interesting information about the palace, take part in receptions and observe solemn ceremonies, for example, the parade changing of the guard of the palace guards.

Works from the royal collection are of great value in the palace. It is truly huge and is represented by paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck and other famous artists. The collection of paintings of the royal family is distributed among several residences, but most of the work that is presented here is hidden from the public eye.

In 1961, on the site of the royal chapel near Buckingham Palace, destroyed during the war, a small Queen's Gallery was built, which sometimes hosts exhibitions of paintings from the royal collection.

In the Guard room you can see a collection of sculptures from the 19th century. The large hall pleases with rich red-gold decoration.

In the Throne Room there are two chairs on which the initials of the royal family are engraved.

In the Green Living Room you can see some examples of paintings, original artistic furniture, decor items, as well as a collection of Sevres porcelain, which was collected by George IV.

Visitors can see the Ceremonial Dining Room, which is decorated with ceremonial portraits of monks. About 600 people can be seated at one long table in this dining room.

Also, visitors can visit the White Living Room, which is completely decorated in white and gold tones, and several more ceremonial halls of the palace. In total, 19 halls out of almost 800 rooms are open.

Buckingham Palace is considered to be some kind of mini-state in London: it has its own police station, its own post office, bar, disco, cinema, swimming pool, sports clubs.

The maintenance staff here is represented by 700 employees. Their tasks are the maintenance of the palace and the preparation of banquets for the rulers and ambassadors of states and award ceremonies.

For tourists, there is a choice of excursions to Buckingham Palace: you can visit only the palace itself (its accessible premises) or visit both the palace and the royal stables (carriages and cars for ceremonial and everyday trips), and a collection of works of art.

The palace garden is also available for visiting, where you can admire waterfalls, a lake and calm flamingo birds.

"London is the capital of Great Britain”- every person knows this phrase from the school bench. And as it should be the capital of the state, London is rich in a variety of attractions - cathedrals, gardens, palaces, galleries and museums, street objects and art. Yes, just the British walking the streets of London are themselves a living attraction. As in any big famous city world, the tourist in London has a program of must-see places. In the UK, this includes the Tower of London, Stonehenge, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and, of course, Buckingham Palace. The current residence of the queen - it is impossible not to tell more about this. Interesting Facts, photo, description of Buckingham Palace - today we will talk about it.

Data

IN modern world Buckingham Palace serves as the main residence of the monarchs of Great Britain, located in London, opposite Pall Mall. The year of foundation is considered to be 1703, and the architect in history is William Wilde. But Buckingham Palace did not immediately become the residence of queens and kings, but only from 1837. The complex is considered one of the main attractions not only of the capital, but of the whole country. We can say that Buckingham Palace has become a symbol of Foggy Albion. And few dare to argue with this fact.

A young palace, but an adult in value

In the photo of Buckingham Palace from the inside, you can see the luxurious royal decoration of the rooms and the interior. The palace is considered relatively young compared to other famous historical buildings in Great Britain, but nevertheless it is of paramount importance for the country. However, Buckingham Palace as the residence of monarchs, despite all its significance and rich design, is not one of the most visited tourist sites Foggy Albion. When ranked based on the number of tourists who visit must-see sites each year, Buckingham Palace will modestly lose top spot to the Ferris wheel. london eye"or the Tower. However, for every Briton, it is the most important object of the country's capital.

Stable 30,000 people

This is the number of people who visit Buckingham Palace in London every year. This number does not change from year to year. The royal residence delights almost every tourist, because, in fact, Buckingham Palace is like the Vatican: it has its own post office, swimming pool and even a large cinema. Receptions of noble persons and official delegations from all over the world are held in the palace. One of the conditions under which it is possible to visit the residence of the monarchs is the absence of royal persons and their guests. If the flag is lowered at the palace, then the queen is not in Buckingham Palace.

Construction and history

There are several historical facts. Buckingham Palace was originally built not for kings and queens, but only for the Duke of Buckingham (hence the name). He met his death almost immediately, as soon as the construction was completed. The new house did not bring joy to the owner - he often told his surroundings that here he felt a constant rotten and moldy smell. The most amazing thing is that, apart from him, no one else felt these "aromas". After the death of the duke, his widow did not live long in the palace. Everything there reminded her of her beloved wife. She wanted to leave home, but died from nervous experiences.

New owner

In 1762, the building was purchased by King George III of England. He believed that he urgently needed a new residence, since the old one did not correspond to the status and royal grandeur. After Buckingham Palace came into the possession of the king, he subjected to great changes to its interior. He built a large library, and portraits by famous artists began to appear on the walls of the house. The palace eventually acquired a new name - "Queen's House", because most of the time the wife of George the Third lived there with their children. For 80 years after the king bought Buckingham Palace, they worked on it brilliant architects of that era - Edward Blore and John Nash.

The reign of the legend - Queen Victoria

Buckingham Palace acquired its familiar appearance during the reign of Queen Victoria. At one time, the residence of the monarchs underwent a huge reconstruction. The interior spaces were given even more luxury, broken a large number of new gardens, artificial lakes and waterfalls were constructed. After all the work was completed, the palace became the official residence of all the royals of Great Britain. At first, the transformation of Buckingham Palace caused indignation among the stiff English, as they believed that the queen could not live in luxury. Another reason for the indignation was the decent amount for that time spent on reconstruction. Public opinion was such that the palace of kings and queens should not be distinguished by luxury, as it was in France, but, on the contrary, by simplicity. The protests did not stop during the reign, which also had a hand in the changes in the palace. He ordered that some of the artificial marble be replaced with real, and some of the bedrooms were redone in styles unusual for that time, such as Chinese.

Returning to the present, it must be said that all indignations and disputes are a thing of the past, and today Buckingham Palace is a symbol of the monarchy. The space in front of the main palace gate now adorns the monument to Queen Victoria. To visit the royal residence is available only in August and September. At the same time, you need to sign up for a tour in advance; without this, access to the palace is closed. The standard scheme "bought a ticket - went in - looked like and looked - left" does not work here. The number of visitors that can visit the palace per day is also limited. In addition, please note: even if you are still lucky enough to get on the tour, you will not get into all the rooms. Fact: Buckingham Palace has 755 rooms. A garden of 17 hectares is laid out on the territory adjacent to the palace. One of the highlights and most memorable moments when visiting the complex is the changing of the guard. It takes place every day at 11:30 from April to August.

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One of the few functioning royal palaces in the modern world is Buckingham Palace. This is the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen in London. The area of ​​​​the palace with a garden is about 20 hectares, it has its own police station, two post offices, a hospital, a swimming pool, a bar - in fact, this whole city. There are 775 rooms in the palace itself, among them is the Queen's official study.

The staff of the palace staff consists of about 700 people.

Initially, the palace was built for the Duke of Buckingham, in 1762 it was acquired by King George III, completed and, upon accession to the throne of Queen Victoria in 1837, it was declared the main residence of the British monarchs. But the most spacious and richly decorated room - the ballroom - was completed only in 1853. After that, the interiors of the palace changed several times, remaining invariably luxurious.

The changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognizable ceremonies in the world - many tourists gather to watch this spectacle: the Guardsmen from the Court Division demonstrate impeccable training and absolute equanimity.

What to see

Not all the inhabitants of this palace were happy, but their way of life and habits have always aroused the interest of tourists. During August and September, when the Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, it becomes available to visitors. And there is something to see here! Luxurious clocks and candelabra, antique vases, skillfully made furniture, one of the world's finest porcelain collections, magnificent art collections belonging to the British Queen - all this can be seen during a tour of the palace. Of particular interest are the Royal Stables, which since 2011 have been open to visitors all year round, but are still operational. The Royal Stables carry out the tasks of arranging all travel arrangements for the Queen and members of the Royal Family. The exposition presents royal views transport, incl. a golden carriage for coronations and a transparent carriage for brides, not always, but in the stable you can find the royal horses. Entrance 9 GBP, up to 5 years free. At the first visit, the ticket can be asked to be stamped, and then it will be valid for repeat visits for one year.

There is a shop in the palace that specializes in selling goods from the so-called "Royal Collection". These goods are identical to those household items that are used in Everyday life palace: accessories, towels, kitchen utensils, various small items. It is not cheap, but it can be a wonderful souvenir from London.

Buckingham Palace

Changing of the Guard

And the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the most recognizable ceremonies in the world, taking place daily at 11.30 am from April to August, and every other day the rest of the year. Many tourists gather to watch this spectacle: the guardsmen from the Court Division demonstrate impeccable training and absolute equanimity, which turns the event into a real spectacle.

The schedule is posted on a large sign outside the palace. Those wishing to photograph the ceremony without interference should take a seat at the palace fence in advance.

Queen's Gallery

Admission: GBP 7.20, reduced (students and people over 60): GBP 6.60, disabled and under 17s: GBP 3.60, children under 5: free.

Personal collection of Her Majesty: works by Michelangelo, Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, Vermeer, as well as Faberge eggs and a large collection of drawings by Leonardo.

Royal Day (grand halls, Royal Mews and Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace): 39.5 GBP, concessionary (students and people over 60): 36.2 GBP, disabled people and people under 17: 22 GBP, children under 5 years: free, family ticket (2 adults and 3 children under 17): 100 GBP.

State Rooms & Buckingham Palace: GBP 18.20, reduced (students and over 60s): GBP 17, disabled and under 17s: GBP 10.30, children under 5: free, family ticket (2 adults and 3 children under 17): 60 GBP.

State Rooms, Buckingham Palace and Garden: GBP 23, reduced (students and over 60s): GBP 20.70, disabled and under 17s: GBP 14, children under 5: free, family ticket (2 adults and 3 children under 17): 60 GBP.

Prices on the page are for September 2018.