I'll be in London in a couple of weeks and have never done the Buckingham Palace tour. I was wondering if I'd be missing anything wonderful if I didn't do it as I have a very busy schedule while I'm there. (you can respond directly to my personal email address) Thanks!

Been to London but not Buckingham- found a website for you --www.orchardhotel.demon.co.uk/bucks.htm--this site says you most request a reservation (1 per family) by writing to: The Vistor Office (2), Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1AZ. Tours are from Aug 8 to Oct 5 daily and then will close down. From this website you can click on a link that takes you to Princess Diana website with condolence book, message from the queen and info on her funeral and burial spot- which I didn't know is on an island that will be open to the public for several weeks each year-but they don't know when yet.

Gabi. You should definitely try to go to Buckingham
Palace which has now reopened after the death of
Princess Diana. There is no need to request a ticket
in advance as there are plenty of tickets on sale
each day at the ticket office which is situated at
the top of the Mall. Just get there early - about
9 am. The trip is well worth doing, as you get to
see the Throne Room, the Picture Galler and many
of the state rooms. There are also lots of souvenirs.

Maybe this can help you, Madam.

I bought my ticket to Buckingham Palace on the same day I went. I bought the ticket around 9:30 a.m. for an ASSIGNED time. Tickets are in limited blocks for certain periods throughout the day. This is infinitely better, as the Palace rooms (not all are open) are not overrun with people. You queue up 30 minutes prior to your arrival time and an attendant checks your ticket to see that you are appropriately there for your alloted hour. You are not rushed through and several docents are there to answer inquiries. Buy you tickets that morning. It is well worth it. Time is running out, as Her Majesty is away (in Scotland) during the summer and when she returns, the Palace is closed to tourists (execepting the galleries and gift shop----a large portable gift shop is opened under a huge white tent on a lawn as you exit during the summer season). Also, keep in mind that the Palace was opened to pay for the damage to Windsor Castle some years ago, as well as some other projects. HM the Queen could end these tours at any time. If you miss it, you might not have a chance in future years, or so it has been reported.

This year the gardens at the Palace have been opened up to the public for the first time and are included in the tour.

<BR>Toured B. Palace in August, 1995, and very much enjoyed it. <BR> <BR>In the group of people touring the palace at the same assigned time as us, a good half were older British ladies. Overhearing their comments to each other made the experience even better. These ladies spoke of the Queen as though they knew her personally, having read about her, and having seen her on the telly all those years. And the ladies were quite knowledgeable about the momentous events that had taken place in the various rooms of the palace. <BR> <BR>They were so cute! I would have enjoyed listening to those OAP ladies talk all day! About anything! <BR> <BR>I realize my story has little to do with the original question asked (back in '97), but the title brought back a great memory from my very first visit to London. Just couldn't resist! <BR> <BR>

I, too, realize this is an old post from '97, but if anyone is headed to London this month, I highly recommend the Buckingham Palace tour! We were there two weeks ago and it was my favorite activity out of our two weeks in London and Paris. You get to see the entire ground floor of the palace, and walk through at your own pace. You must buy the guidebook because it explains the details and history of all the rooms. It's definitely worth the 5 GBP or so that it costs. We bought our tickets in advance over the Internet, but we heard some people say they bought them the day of the tour and walked right in. The palace is gorgeous, as you'd expect. Much more opulent than the White House, and you see so much more -- including the gardens. We loved it!