The Royal London Experiences Actually Worth Your Time and Money

Whenever I think of London two things come to mind: the “Rule Britannia” song (you know the one that goes “dun dun dun dun”) and all things royal. Palaces! Crown jewels! Scandals! And of course, the Queen’s iconic royal wave. I visited London for the first time in 6th grade when the Spice Girls were at the height of their fame. All I cared about then was buying a pair of platform shoes at Harrods and finding Prince William. (You can probably guess which one was more successful.) Fast forward 20 years and six seasons of “The Crown” later and your priorities shift. In this guide, you’ll find the best royal things to do in London, including must-see royal palaces, historic landmarks, hidden gems and day trips just outside the city. And if you’re a diamond lover like myself, there are plenty of glittering crowns, sparkling tiaras and beautiful baubles to satisfy your inner magpie. Whether you’re a first-time visitor trying to hit the classics or someone who wants to go deeper than Buckingham Palace, there’s something here for every type of traveler.

Jump To:
The Best Royal Things to Do in London
Getting Around London
Must-Visit Royal Palaces
Historic Royal Landmarks
Royal Day Trips from London
Unique Royal Experiences
1-Day Royal London Itinerary
FAQs

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What Are the Best Royal Things to Do in London?

The best royal things to do in London include visiting iconic palaces, exploring historic landmarks and experiencing long-standing royal traditions.

Getting Around London: Closest Tube Stations for Royal Attractions

The London Underground or “Tube” map may look complicated, but it’s very easy to navigate. And it’s cheaper than taking a cab. You don’t need an Oyster Card to use the Tube; mobile or contactless payment is the way to go. Just tap your phone as you enter and exit the station.

Here’s a quick guide to the closest Tube stations for each royal London attraction. This will save you time and make planning your itinerary much easier.

• Buckingham Palace → Green Park / Victoria / St. James’s Park
• Tower of London → Tower Hill
• Kensington Palace → High Street Kensington / Queensway
• Westminster Abbey → Westminster
• Hampton Court Palace → Train from Waterloo Station
• Windsor Castle → Train via Paddington Station

💡 Royal London Tip: London is massive. Try to plan activities that are close in proximity to avoid spending all day going back and forth.

Must-Visit Royal Palaces in London

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to live like a king or queen, London is the best place to do it.

Buckingham Palace

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Nearest Tube Stations: Green Park, St. James’ Park, Victoria

Buckingham Palace is one of the most famous palaces in the world, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s #1 on the best royal things to do in London.

With over 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms, BP has served as the official London residence of UK sovereigns since 1837. However, King Charles III doesn’t live at Buckingham Palace. He and Camilla, the queen consort, live up the street at their longtime residence, Clarence House.

Keep in mind that thousands of tourists visit Buckingham Palace everyday. If you want to avoid the crowds, go early.

Can You Go Inside Buckingham Palace?

You can go inside Buckingham Palace, but only during certain times of the year. The State Rooms are open to the public in the summer, usually between July and late September. The self-guided tour of the 19 State Rooms, which includes the Throne Room and Picture Gallery, takes about 2-2.5 hours.

Because access is limited, tickets often sell out in advance, especially during peak travel months.

If you’re not visiting in the summer, don’t worry! Buckingham Palace occasionally opens the East Wing in the winter. Unlike the State Rooms tour, this 90-minute small group tour includes an expert tour guide. The crown jewel (pun intended) of the Buckingham Palace East Wing tour is the Centre Room. It’s where the famous balcony is located. For 2026, tickets went on sale through the Royal Collection Trust December 16, 2025, and they went fast.

When Is Buckingham Palace Open to Visitors?

Buckingham Palace is open to the public in the summer months, when the Royal Family is not at the residence. Limited tours of the East Wing are available in the winter.

The area outside Buckingham Palace, including the palace gates, the Victoria Memorial, the Mall and the public parks surrounding the area, are open year round.

Is It Worth Going Inside Buckingham Palace?

If you were an avid watcher of “The Crown” or just love seeing regal interiors surrounded by walls that are oozing with history (and a few hundred secrets), Buckingham Palace is worth seeing up close and personal. The East Wing tour is extra special because it’s a part of the palace most people don’t get to see.

Security at Buckingham Palace is very strict. You have to check your bag with security and you are not allowed to bring any personal items with you, including your phone.

Easy Royal Day Plan

Make the most of your visit by turning it into a full royal day:

Kensington Palace

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Nearest Tube Stations: High Street Kensington or Queensway

Just a short 45 minute walk from Buckingham Palace is Kensington Palace. It’s the childhood home of Queen Victoria, the former home of Princess Diana and the current home of Prince William and Princess Kate.

The audio tour takes you through the State Rooms, the King’s Gallery and King’s staircase, as well as the less grandiose Queen’s staircase. And for my fellow magpies and lovers of all things sparkly, you will absolutely love the Jewel Room. 

On display at Kensington Palace are three dazzling tiaras: Queen Victoria’s emerald and diamond tiara, the Fife Diamond Tiara and the Fife Fringe Tiara. You’ll also find it hard not to drool over the matching emerald and diamond necklace, earrings and brooch.

Outside the palace is where you’ll find the Sunken Garden and the Princess Diana memorial. You don’t need a ticket to Kensington Palace to visit this area.

While planning my London trip, I read a lot of reviews that Kensington Palace is not worth it. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. I absolutely loved Kensington Palace and think it’s one of the best royal things to do in London.

This is another place you want to go early. I arrived right after it opened at 10:00 a.m. and there were hardly any people. About an hour and a half later, there were a lot more people.

Historic Royal Landmarks You Can’t Miss

There’s a lot more to London than palaces. Some of the most notorious and historic events took place at these historic London landmarks.

Tower of London

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Nearest Tube Station: Tower Hill

You can’t go to London without visiting the iconic Tower of London. Known for its bloody history and high-profile executions, including three of Henry VIII’s wives. It’s also home to the Crown Jewels and some really cute (and slightly aggressive) crows.

There are two ways to experience the Tower of London: in the morning and at night. Many tour companies offer early access to the Tower of London so you can watch the opening ceremony. This is when the head Yeoman Warder is escorted by the military to officially open the gate. You will also get first access to the Crown Jewels. Afterwards you’ll get a more high-level tour of the grounds before having free time to explore the Bloody Tower and the White Tower.

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But if you want THE BEST Tower of London experience? Book a VIP after hours tour with a Beefeater to watch the Ceremony of the Keys. It’s happened every night, at the same exact time, for over 800 years, making it the longest-running tradition in London.

When I went, our small group of four people were the only ones inside the Tower of London. Our Yeoman Warder guide, Foxy, was the best. You could really tell he loved his job. He even took us into the room where the keys are stored. This tour is one of the more expensive tours I did in London, but I wouldn’t recommend it if it wasn’t worth it.

Also, don’t sleep on the Tower of London cafeteria. I had one of the best meals there: a vegan pie with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes.

Westminster Abbey

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Nearest Tube Stations: Westminster, St. James Park

From coronations to royal weddings and state funerals, Westminster Abbey is where some of the biggest moments in British history happened. Nearly every monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned here. And the place is so packed with the tombs of kings, queens, poets, and scientists that you’re basically walking amongst the biggest British icons. Even if you’re not a history buff or mingling with dead celebrities (and you know how much I love a famous burial site), the architecture alone is worth the trip.

The Royal Mews

Nearest Tube Stations: Victoria, Green Park, St. James’s Park and Hyde Park Corner

The Royal Mews is such an underrated London attraction. Similar to the Kaiserliche Wagenberg in Vienna, the Royal Mews is where you can see the royal family’s state vehicles and gilded carriages up close and personal. And because carriages need horses, it’s also a working stable and home to the Windsor Greys and Cleveland Bays. (You’ll probably smell them before you see them.)

Compared to other attractions in London, the Royal Mews is one of the more affordable royal things to do in London. And they also provide a free guided tour every hour.

Banqueting House, Whitehall

Nearest Tube Station: Westminster

Before Buckingham Palace there was the Palace of Whitehall. After a reconstruction and expansion by Henry VIII in 1530, Whitehall Palace became the main residence of English monarchs until most of it burned down in 1698. It’s also where King Charles I was executed in 1649. Today the only remaining part of Whitehall Palace is the Banqueting House, which houses the famous Rubens’ ceiling. Banqueting House is only open on select days and tickets go on sale through the official website two months in advance.

Royal London Day Trips

Not all of London’s best royal experiences are actually in London. These two palaces are well worth the short trip outside of town.

Windsor Castle

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⏱️ Travel Time: 45-60 minutes by train
🚆 Train: Paddington Station to Windsor & Eton Central

If Hampton Court is where Henry VIII partied, Windsor Castle is where the royals actually live. Windsor is the world’s oldest and largest occupied castle, and walking through the State Rooms feels like stumbling into a real-life episode of “The Crown”. Don’t miss the jaw-dropping St. George’s Chapel, where no fewer than ten monarchs are buried, including Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI and Henry VIII.

Hampton Court

⏱️ Travel Time: ~35–45 minutes from central London
🚆 Train: Waterloo to Hampton Court Station (runs every 30 minutes)

If you have even the slightest interest in Tudor history (or you just really loved “The Tudors”), you need to add Hampton Court Palace to your royal things to do in London itinerary. Just a short train ride from central London, this is where Henry VIII lived his best life. The sprawling Tudor architecture, the stunning Chapel Royal, the famous hedge maze and 60 acres of gorgeous gardens make it a lovely day trip. And if you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see the ghost of Catherine Howard or Jane Seymour.

Unique Royal Experiences in London

If you really want to lean into the royal theme, these experiences are the ones to add to your London itinerary.

Watch the Changing of the Guard

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The Changing of the Guard is a formal military ceremony where the soldiers protecting Buckingham Palace are relieved by a fresh set of guards, and it’s one of the most iconic things you can witness in London.

The Changing of the Guard takes place Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:00 a.m. However, during June and July it occurs daily.

The best way to see the Changing of the Guard is to go on a guided tour that specifically includes the ceremony. Because the tour guides are experts, they’ll find you the best spot to watch it from, usually away from the crowds.

Take a Royal London Walking Tour

I love a good walk with a side of history, mostly because I don’t want to Google everything. The best way to do this in London is to go on a royal London walking tour. Stops usually include Buckingham Palace, as well as the other royal residences on the mall, like St. James’ Palace, Clarence House and Marlborough House.

Have A Cuppa Tea at Kensington Palace

If you’re going to do high tea in London, you might as well do it at Kensington Palace. (It’s about as close to having tea with royalty as you can get!) This guided experience starts with a stroll through the beautiful gardens Prince Albert designed for Queen Victoria, with a stop at Princess Diana’s statue in the Sunken Garden. Then you sit down to a full high tea spread: finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and your choice of tea. It’s quintessentially British, a little extra, and absolutely worth it.

1-Day Royal London Itinerary

Short on time? This one-day itinerary hits the best royal things to do in London without the overwhelm. Just make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes.

Tips for Visiting Royal London

Here are a few practical tips to help you make the most of your royal London visit without the stress.

Best Times to Avoid Crowds

Weekday mornings are your best bet, especially if you’re heading to popular spots like Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London. Aim to arrive right when they open and you’ll practically have the place to yourself.

Ticketed vs Free Attractions

Some of London’s best royal experiences don’t cost a thing. The Changing of the Guard, St. James’s Park and the exterior of Buckingham Palace are all free, so save your budget for the paid attractions that are truly worth it, like the Tower of London and Windsor Castle.

Seasonal Considerations

Like most places, summer is peak tourist season in London. If you can visit during shoulder season (April, May or September), you’ll get decent weather, manageable crowds and lower prices on accommodations. I went to London in March, and while it was chilly (think low 40s at night and low 60s during the day), it never felt crowded. Winter has its own charm too, just pack layers and prepare for shorter opening hours at some attractions.

FAQs About Royal Things to Do in London

Got questions about visiting London’s royal landmarks? Here are a few answers to help you plan your trip.

What is the best royal palace to visit in London?

It depends on what you’re looking for! Buckingham Palace is the classic choice, but if you want history, grandeur and a full day out, Windsor Castle is hard to beat.

Is the Tower of London worth it?

100% yes. The Crown Jewels alone are worth the price of admission, and the history within those walls is equal parts fascinating and dark. I’ve taken both the earl access tour and the VIP nighttime tour, and the were both fantastic. So if you have time, do both.

What is the best time of year to visit London?

Late spring and early summer (May through July) is ideal, with longer days, better weather and a packed royal calendar including Trooping the Colour in June. It’s also when the Buckingham Palace State Rooms are open. That said, London is a year-round destination and the crowds thin out considerably in the cooler months if you don’t mind layering up.

Right Then, London. Go Claim Your Crown!

There’s no shortage of royal things to do in London, and every experience on this list is worth both your time and your money. Consider yourself well and truly sorted.

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