The palace is open to the public between 9 July to 27 September 2026.
The Picture Gallery has undergone a refurbishment.
View work by Caravaggio, Rubens and Zoffany.
Don’t just watch The Crown – visit The Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace.
Did you know that you can visit Buckingham Palace? Each summer, the public can step inside the royal residence. While you can’t have tea with King Charles III, you can admire iconic locations, from the Grand Staircase to the Throne Room. The Summer Opening of the State Rooms runs from 9 July to 27 September.
In 1703, Buckingham Palace was built as a townhouse. It wasn’t until the 19th century that it was redeveloped by the British architect John Nash, and became the construction we know today. Over the years, the building has served as the home of the monarch, as well as a symbol of national events. The palace was adorned with flowers when Princess Diana died, and well-wishers lined The Mall at William and Kate’s wedding.
The Summer Opening of the State Rooms is a grand affair, which takes you behind the gilded gates. The palace is home to state rooms, featuring treasures from the Royal Collection. The Picture Gallery has undergone a refurbishment, and the number of paintings have doubled from 63 to 120. On display are works from Caravaggio, Rubens and Zoffany.
Anna Reynolds, Surveyor of The King’s Pictures, said: ‘This re-hang is an exciting and rare opportunity to significantly increase the number of world-class paintings on display for visitors, in line with our charitable aim to share as much of the Royal Collection as possible. It continues the longstanding tradition of renovations and re-hangs in the Picture Gallery that have commonly taken place following a change of reign, and we are delighted to be able to share it with as many people as possible this summer.’
Step into British history.
Where: Buckingham Palace, London, SW1A 1AA
When: 9 July to 27 September 2026
Contact: www.rct.uk