Buckingham Palace was originally known as Buckingham House, the building which forms the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. It was enlarged over the next 100 years, principally by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, forming three wings around a central courtyard.

Buckingham Palace became the official royal palace of the British monarch after the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. The palace chapel was destroyed by a German bomb in World War II and the Queen's Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection.

The original early 19th-century interior designs, many of which still survive, included widespread use of scagliola and blue and pink lapis, King Edward VII oversaw a partial redecoration in a Belle epoque cream and gold colour scheme.

The Buckingham Palace Garden is the largest private garden in London, originally landscaped by Capability Brown, the artificial lake was completed in 1828 and is supplied with water from the Serpentine, the river which runs through Hyde Park.

The state rooms form the nucleus of the working Palace and are used regularly by Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family for official and state entertaining.

With your back to the palace head into St. James's Park which is on the right side of The Mall. Passing over the lake head up to Horseguards Parade, site of the annual ceremony of 'Trooping the Colour' marking the monarch's official birthday. Head south to your right and you will arrive at King Charles Street, entrance to the.

Cabinet War Rooms, a recent attraction opened in 2003, these subterranean rooms were used by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet during World War II.

The Cabinet War Rooms became operational in 1939 and originally covered three acres (12,000 m²) housing a staff of over 500 people. Facilities included a canteen, hospital, shooting range and dormitories. At the heart of the site is the Cabinet Room, where the War Cabinet met (unlike other Cabinets, War Cabinets were multi-party, with representatives from different political leanings). The Map Room is where the course of the war was directed, with much of it still in the same condition as when it was abandoned. The bunker contained a telephone scrambling system that allowed Churchill to securely speak with President Roosevelt in the White House. The unit was concealed as the Prime Minister's lavatory.

The Churchill Museum opened in 2005 and is a chronological exhibition telling the story of Churchill's public and private life, using original objects, multimedia displays and authentic models. It contains the world's largest interactive display called 'The Lifeline' which covers the events and activities that took place over the course of Churchill's 90 year life. Entry to both the museum and the cabinet war rooms is via one ticket.

Heading east leads onto Whitehall, take a right (south) and it's a short walk to.

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, which is the seat of Government comprising the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons).

The building mainly dates from the 19th century. Remaining elements of the original historic buildings include Westminster Hall, and The Jewel Tower, which survived the fire that destroyed the original palace.

Buckingham Palace, SW1A 1AA.

St. James's Park, Green Park or Victoria.


Open:     Mon-Sun: 9.30am-6pm (last admission 1 hour before closing)
Admission:    Adult: £12.95, Concessions: £10.40, Children (U16): Free.

Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum, Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ.

Westminster Tube.

Call:    020 7930 6961


The Palace of Westminster, SW1A 0AA.

Westminster Tube.

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