London’s Royal Palaces - Mansions & Stately Homes

Albert Memorial

FreeLondon’s most impressive memorial was built by Queen Victoria in memory of her beloved husband Albert after his early death

Apsley House

From £16The former home of Arthur Wellesley, better known as the Duke of Wellington, the famous general who beat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo

Banqueting House

Under £15Banqueting House has a Rubens on its ceiling and it’s where Charles I stepped out onto a scaffold to be executed after the English Civil War

Buckingham Palace

From £37The King’s residence is open to the public during the summer when you can visit the Throne Room, Ballroom and drink tea on the veranda

Changing the Guard

FreeIf you don’t mind the crowd of thousands then try watching the Changing the Guard ceremony at the Buckingham Palace

Charterhouse

Only £15A 14th-century priory that happily survived Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries and is now one of London’s least-known treasures

Clarence House

-Best known as the former home of the Queen Mother, Clarence House was also the former residence of King Charles and Camilla

Hampton Court Palace

From £32Henry VIII’s Tudor palace contains the State Apartments of several kings and queens, and the spectacular Great Hall and Chapel Royal

Kensington Palace

From £24Best known as the royal residence of Victoria and Princess Diana, Kensington Palace was also the London home of Prince William and Catherine

Mansion House

Under £10Mansion House is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London. The Egyptian Hall is one of the grandest rooms in the whole of London

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

FreeDesigned like a stone river with water bubbling around it, this fountain can be found on the south side of the Serpentine

Queen’s House

FreeBuilt by the legendary architect Inigo Jones in the early 17th-century, Queen’s House once formed part of the Tudor palace at Greenwich

Royal Hospital

From £30Built by Christopher Wren in the late 17th-century, the Royal Hospital is best-known today as the home of the Chelsea Pensioners

Royal Mews

From £19See the Royal limos, coaches and Gold State Coach that are used on the monarch’s Coronation Day, and the horses that pull them along

St. James’s Palace

-Buckingham Palace is the monarch’s official residence in London, but St James’s Palace has seniority over it. It is closed to the public

Syon House

Under £15Built by Robert Adam on the site of the medieval Syon Abbey, Syon House and its 200-acre park are now owned by the Duke of Northumberland

Tower of London

From £37Started by William the Conqueror in 1066, the Tower has been dominating London for 1,000 years as a palace, fortress, prison and Royal mint

Trooping the Colour

-If you want to see some pomp and pageantry then try Trooping the Colour with its mounted soldiers, marching bands and flypast by the RAF

Windsor Castle

From £36Queen Elizabeth II’s favourite home was reportedly here, at Windsor Castle – the largest and longest-occupied castle in the world

Winchester Palace

FreeThe gable and rose window is all that’s left of the medieval palace of the powerful Bishop of Winchester who once ruled south of the river

Top 10 London landmarks

Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London are on the list, but what are the other eight landmarks that made my top ten favourites?

The Ultimate London Bucket List

Changing the Guard and Buckingham Palace are #2 and #3 in my big list of 25 attractions that I recommend every tourist should visit

Top 10 historic sites in London

Three of the places described on this page made it into my list of ten favourite historic sites that I recommend to tourists in London

Gun salutes in Green Park, Hyde Park & Tower of London

Free - 6 May, 13 Jun, 17 Jul, 8 Sep, 8 & 14 Nov 2026 Listen to a deafening gun salute to mark the monarch's birthday or accession to the throne      

Royal London: Saxons, Tudors & Stuarts Walking Tour

From £24 - Until 30 Dec 2027 Follow in the footsteps of kings and queens and 1,000 years of British history      

Windsor Castle & Stonehenge - Coach tour from London

From £69 - Until 27 Dec 2027 Fit two of the most popular excursions into a single day on a luxury air-conditioned coach      

Kensington Palace Gardens Walk & Royal High Tea

From £125 - Until 30 Dec 2027 Take a walk through Kensington Gardens and enjoy an afternoon tea in the elegant Orangery      

Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace

Free - Every Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun Changing the Guard at the palace is one of London's must-see sights      

Guided Tour: Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace

Under £15 - Every Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun Watch the soldiers marching after forming up outside St James's Palace