Buckingham Palace

Ladyleftfieldlover

WithNobsOnIt

Not a Royalist.

Did anybody see Cinderella in the Golden Coach?

Hope that scoundrel Andrew AWM does not try and sneak in for quick visit to see his Dad and borrow a few bob. Now that he his really down at heel.

I think you’ll find that Andrew MW’s dad is dead.

😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁

WithNobsOnIt

Not a Royalist.

Did anybody see Cinderella in the Golden Coach?

Hope that scoundrel Andrew AWM does not try and sneak in for quick visit to see his Dad and borrow a few bob. Now that he his really down at heel.

I think you’ll find that Andrew MW’s dad is dead.

My thoughts exactly, Witzend ! Outrageous.

Not a Royalist.

Did anybody see Cinderella in the Golden Coach?

Hope that scoundrel Andrew AWM does not try and sneak in for quick visit to see his Dad and borrow a few bob. Now that he his really down at heel.

Jaberwok

Highgrove is a garden well worth visiting. It's only about three miles down the road from us and I've a friend who is a volunteer gardener one day a week. She was able to advise on times and days it's open to the public. It was absolutely stunning.

She volunteers? Can Charles not afford to pay enough gardeners?

DrWatson
Thank you for all your helpful suggestions.

I'm going to look at those and some nearby hotels also. Probably the cost will be a bit daunting but it's a special trip.

We went to look around Highgrove gardens and also to a Christmas shopping event with afternoon tea.

Yes . Notlong after itopened to the public

Jaberwok I agree with you, Highgrove really is wonderful. The extensive gardens are so enjoyable. The guides are very knowledgeable.
Each time I have visited we had coffee followed by lunch in the restaurant.
I've visited Buckingham Palace too.
My visit was the second year of being open to the public. We were able to take as much time as we wanted in each room and I felt we were treated with great respect by the people on duty.

Highgrove is a garden well worth visiting. It's only about three miles down the road from us and I've a friend who is a volunteer gardener one day a week. She was able to advise on times and days it's open to the public. It was absolutely stunning.

For Millie -- and that "afternoon tea" -- Google something like "afternoon tea near Buckingham Palace" and you'll get some helpful results.

You could also look up "afternoon tea at X" where X = Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nicholls, Fortnum&Mason, Liberty, Peter Jones (& probably a few more!). All come recommended. The search told me that Fortnums won the 'Time Out' award for 'Best tea' (they mean the experience, not the cuppa) in 2025. And Peter Jones (Sloane Square - not such a well known name to some?) apparently has fantastic views.

Masses of posh hotels also do the 'tea experience' of course. I didn't look up the prices as I didn't want to put a nearby wallet on life support!

Yes ,I have I went on a organised coach trip ,where we went around and viewed, think its operating soon for those who want to walk around the part they say and the grounds at the back .
You go through a security check,which involves removing things like money related items and thing such as your keys ,before you proceeded to do your tour ,armed with a guide book at a price ,and shop area in the grounds selling items related to the palace.
The group i was with the organiser, did it as deal on the coach trip ,after the walk around the palace we went to a hotel in the Strand and had a carvery roast dinner after and some free time before getting back on the coach home .
Mick

I went when I was about 13. My grandfather got an MBE and we went with him. I remember the loos - awful, a bit like school.

I also went to a garden party at Buckingham Palace. The (old) queen was there but there were so many tall people around her, I only got a glimpse by standing on my toes. We were told to wear hats/fascinators, mine kept falling off.

The grounds were lovely and it was fun to leave by a front door pretending we were important as we walked past the tourists...

Went once under protest at lining the coffers of the royals. Thought it was rather tacky, the only thing that impressed me was an absolutely huge rug. have visited several palaces abroad and all were so much more impressive.

I went to a garden party at Buck House. It rained and we were ushered into one of the drawing rooms. Lots of lovely portraits, mostly by Winterhalter. Not terribly interesting gardens.

I quite liked the gardens.
They did look as if they were actual hobbyist ones, rather than for show.

We thought the gardens were a bit plain to put it kindly.
Maybe Buckingham Palace is more of an 'office' rather than their home.
The gardens can be a useful backdrop for official photos and for the garden parties but their real gardens are where they usually live.

but thought the gardens were rather boring.

I thought they were too!
But didnt like to add that to my above post.

I enjoyed Buckingham Palace but thought the gardens were rather boring.

It’s a shame the front of the palace looks so utilitarian when the older part is more attractive but not seen.

I particularly enjoyed seeing Clarence House and was surprised how shabby it was.
I now know my house is ‘shabby chic’ in an aristocratic sort of way…

DH and I have been twice. The 1st time we saw the Throne Room, the State Dining Room, with an interesting video of how the tables are dressed for State banquets, a long corridor with lots of portraits and an exhibition of the Queen Mother's and Queen Elizabeth II's outfits.

The room stewards were well informed and seemed to like being asked questions. I suppose it's a long shift if noone speaks to you.

We had sandwiches and scones in the tea area in the garden afterwards because when we checked the prices they were no more extortionate than many of the nearby food outlets and it was a nice way to finish the day.

The 2nd time was 3 years ago when I went as DH's plus 1 to a Garden Party.
We didn't go inside on that occasion, but had a lovely afternoon in the garden in spite of pouring rain.
The food in the afternoon tea tent was delicious!

I went there for a tour years ago, not long after they started opening to the public I think.

I don't remember a huge amount about it, either good or bad. I wouldn't pay to see a Royal residence nowadays - my opinions have changed over the years and I don't find them relevant or interesting any more.

I went to a garden party - gorgeous gardens and lovely afternoon tea.

I have been twice.
A few years ago.

I am one of the few who was mildly disappointed.
Maybe I have read too many Princess type books.
It seemed old[yes I know it is], but I mean old as in say the electrics.
And it was faded[again yes I know things fade].

It is wonderful to be allowed in though.
I never expected to be able to see inside parts of it.

I’ve been there a couple (3?) times, once as part of a tour of the State rooms, paintings and gardens with a group from the Arts Society, once when it opened to the public but most excitingly about 40 years ago for my father’s investiture. Exciting having the car boot checked by sniffer dogs having driven my parents and self down The Mall, borrowing DH’s car as it was considerably posher than my rust bucket! We had been lined up as I remember in some sort of (possibly alphabetical) order by the police and I remember people on the pavements peering into the car to see if there was anybody famous in it (there wasn’t)