A Walking Guide to Royal London Attractions

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Even the most jaded American can’t resist the temptation to learn more about the British royals while in the UK’s capital city. London’s royal heart is best explored on foot, where every step links palaces, parks, monuments and museums centered near Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park and the Thames River where the world-famous Big Ben and Parliament reign.

Because this is also the seat of the British government, you can walk in the footsteps of leaders from Winston Churchill to today’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer. As I recently discovered in this compact, history-packed area of the City of Westminster in Greater London, no bus pass or Tube map is needed — just a good pair of shoes and curiosity.

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Admire the Splendor of Buckingham Palace, Outside and Inside

The most famous palace in the world, Buckingham Palace is London's top attraction, especially for the Changing of the Guard — Magnificent art, Changing of the Guard on display at Buckingham Palace. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Begin your visit at the iconic Buckingham Palace to watch the Changing of the Guard, a dazzling display of British pageantry typically at 11am on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and at 3pm on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Even if you don’t tour the State Rooms (open seasonally), the palace’s grand exterior, gilded gates and the Victoria Memorial are must-sees.

Buckingham Palace is open to the public each summer for self-guided tours that take about 90 minutes. Book well in advance. Even if the palace interior seems dated, faded and foreboding, the art collection alone in The Picture Gallery is worth the price of admission.
During the rest of the year, the Palace opens on selected dates for the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour.

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Don’t Miss These Exhibits, Part of the Palace

A hidden gem by Buckingham Palace is the impressive gold carriages at The Royal Mews. — Carriages fit for a King (or Queen) at the Royal Mews. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

The Royal Mews: Just behind the palace, this working stable houses the royal carriages and horses. The Gold State Coach is a highlight along with an array of carriages from past centuries.
The King’s Gallery: This purpose-built gallery displays a rotating selection of about 450 artworks from The Royal Collection, including paintings, drawings, rare furniture, decorative arts and photographs. It serves as a showcase for temporary exhibitions highlighting royal treasures such as the recent Edwardian era exhibit. This was once Queen Victoria’s private chapel.

SheBuysTravel Tip: When the Palace is open for tours, definitely purchase the Royal Day Out ticket, which grants access to the Palace and the two venues above.

Stroll Through a Royal Park

Within view of Buckingham Palace is St. James's Park where swans glide by and pelicans can often be viewed when they are fed daily. — The most Royal of the Royal Parks in the shadow of Buckingham Palace from St. James’s Park. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

From the palace, wander into St James’s Park, London’s oldest royal park.

Cross the distinctive Blue Bridge for postcard views of Buckingham Palace reflected in the lake.
Watch for the famous pelicans especially during their daily feeding between 2:30–3:00 PM near Storey’s Gate Café. If pelicans aren’t lolling around, go next door to the café for an update on their whereabouts. The pelicans have been a staple of the park since 1664 when a Russian ambassador gifted them to King Charles II.

Look Across Green Park to Where the Royals Truly Live

Member of the current royal family including Princess Anne call St. James's Palace their home when in London and can walk to nearby Buckingham Palace — Keep an eye out for Princess Anne at St. James’s Palace. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

With your back to the Palace, observe The Mall — the ceremonial avenue lined with Union Jacks – with the magnificent Admiralty Arch in the distance. Within sight of the Palace, you can find three famous structures.

St James’s Palace is the oldest royal palace in London and the official seat of the Royal Court. The palace has hosted historic events, including royal births and marriages. Friary Court, within the palace, is where new monarchs are formally proclaimed. When in London, Princess Anne, Charles’ older sister, along with Prince Andrew’s daughter, Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra’s, Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, live here.
- For the first time in 500 years, small guided tours were available in April and May and quickly sold out. For future tour opportunities, go to rct.uk and sign up for email updates.

Located on The Mall beside St James’s Palace, Clarence House is the official London residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla while Buckingham Palace is being renovated. Built in the 1820s, this Regency mansion is currently closed to visitors, but in previous years, it has been open to visitors for about one month each summer, usually in August.
- There is a cordoned-off entrance right off The Mall and the most likely place to glimpse the King in his car is along Pall Mall Street.

Spencer House, at 27 St James’s Place, is one of London’s grandest private residences. Open to the public on Sundays except in August for guided tours, it features exquisite neoclassical interiors and restored State Rooms. Tours last about one hour and must be booked in advance. Princess Diana was a direct descendant of the First Lord and Lady Spencer, who built the home.

Remember Princess Diana, the Best-Loved Royal

A quiet but remarking tribute to Princess Di is a series of markers such as this that take visitors through the city to site where Diana, Princess of Wales, often walked. — Tread in the footsteps of Princess Di along Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Walk

Continue walking toward the Admiralty Arch which used to house government offices and is undergoing a major renovation to convert it into a 100-room Waldorf Astoria hotel. In one short mile, you’ll pass through the elegant districts of Belgravia and St James’s, home to boutique shops, historic gentlemen’s clubs and grand townhouses.

The Diana, Princess of Wales, Memorial Walk is a 7-mile circular trail linking Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James’s Park, passing five sites closely associated with Princess Diane, including the nearby Spencer House. See the plaque inside the park by the “Mall crossing.” The route is marked by 90 plaques with a heraldic rose, celebrating Diana’s life and legacy.
A must-stop is the elegant King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Memorial, located about halfway between Buckingham Palace and Admiralty Arch. The memorial features two striking bronze statues: King George VI in his naval uniform, unveiled in 1955, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, sculpted by Philip Jackson and added in 2009. The statues face The Mall, with George’s statue positioned behind and slightly above Elizabeth’s.
Nearby stands the Duke of York statue atop the impressive Duke of York Column at Waterloo Place. This monument, unveiled in 1834, honors Prince Frederick, Duke of York, who was notable for his military leadership in the war against Napoleon.
Also located on The Mall is the rather compact ICA or Institute of Contemporary Art, a leading venue for contemporary art, film and performance. It offers cutting-edge exhibitions, independent cinema, talks and a café/bar—perfect for a modern art fix between royal sites.

Daily Pageant Rivalling Changing of the Guard

Soon after 10:30am each day be on the lookout for The King's Life Guard of five horses and horsemen start clomping along on The Mall in London on their way to Horse Guards Parade. In front and behind them are London police also on horses. — Rule, Britannia! as The King’s Life Guard march on The Mall. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Missed out on the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace? Then visit Horse Guards Parade – a large open space in front of Horse Guards, a building with a clock tower over an archway and the official entrance to St. James Park and Buckingham Palace from the West End.

In my opinion, this is a more splendid display of pageantry than at the palace.

Two mounted cavalry troopers of The King’s Life Guard are posted outside the building from 10am to 4pm daily with a ceremonial changing of the guard each day at 11am and 10am on Sundays. A New Guard rides from Hyde Park, passing through Hyde Park Corner, Constitution Hill and The Mall to reach Horse Guards Parade.
- Trumpeters sound a royal salute upon the arrival of the New Guard and departure of the Old Guard, with the clock chiming as part of the ritual.

The Household Cavalry Museum at Horse Guards Parade offers a behind-the-scenes look at the ceremonial and operational roles of the Household Cavalry. See the working stables, try on uniforms and watch troopers preparing for ceremonial duties.

See the Churchill War Rooms and 10 Downing Street

A man taking a photo of the entrance to the secret Churchill War Rooms, one of the best things to do near Buckingham Palace. — Explore the secrets of WWII Britain in The Churchill War Rooms, where Winston Churchill directed his country’s efforts during World War II. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

A short walk from Horse Guards Parade are two important government sites.

The Churchill War Rooms is where visitors can explore the secret underground headquarters of Winston Churchill when he directed WWII operations. It’s a favorite spot for families, kids and WWII devotees.
At 10 Downing Street is the Prime Minister’s modest residence. While you can’t walk on Downing Street, you can peer through the gates and imagine the decisions made within. The street can only be viewed from Whitehall Street. Look for guards and tourists.

World History Unfolds at Big Ben & Westminster

Big Ben, the clock at the Parliament Building, one of the don't-miss things to do near Buckingham Palace. — The most famous clock tower in the world, Big Ben. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Arriving at Parliament Square, you’re surrounded by some of London’s most iconic landmarks.

London’s most picturesque site is Big Ben & Houses of Parliament: Snap photos of the ornate clock tower and the seat of British democracy. The chimes of Big Ben are unmistakable. Guided and self-guided tours are available most Saturdays and during parliamentary recesses. Explore the historic Commons and Lords Chambers, Westminster Hall and the Central Lobby. Advance booking is highly recommended.

The Gothic arches of Westminster Abbey, England's most revered church and one of the things to do near Buckingham Palace. — Kings and queens have been crowned under the Gothic arches of Westminster Abbey, England’s most revered church. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Step inside Westminster Abbey to view a Gothic masterpiece where every British monarch has been crowned since 1066. Marvel at the stained glass, the Coronation Chair and the tombs of poets and kings. Book tickets ahead to avoid lines which often wrap around the building.

Along the River from Westminster to Tate Britain

A seascape painting by J.M.W. Turner at the Tate Britain art museum, one of the things to do near Buckingham Palace. — At the Tate Britain art museum, see the marvelous seascape paintings of J.M.W. Turner. They inspired the French Impressionists later in the 19th century. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

At Victoria Tower Gardens South take a moment to observe the Buxton Memorial Fountain and Rodin’s sculpture The Burghers of Calais. A bandstand has events throughout the summer. Visitors to the gardens can sit in deckchairs to relax.
Make a special effort to see Tate Britain, a remarkable art museum focusing entirely on British art. Unfortunately with the National Gallery of Art and the opening of the Tate Modern, this museum is often overlooked. Plus it’s not close to a Tube stop.
- However, there is no finer British artist than J.M.W. Turner, whose influence on the French impressionists is unmistakable. Don’t miss the Turner Galleries, the portraits by Gainsborough and Reynolds and contemporary art by Henry Moore, Francis Bacon and Barbara Hepworth.

Stop by Victoria Station and Nearby Attractions

The neo-Byzantice facade of the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral near Victoria Station, one of the things to do near Buckingham Palace. — Unexpectedly, the Westminster Cathedral, the mother church of the England’s Roman Catholic community has a fascinating neo-Byzantine architecture style with red brick and white stone constructed in intricate patterns. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

Step inside Victoria Station, one of the great railway stations of the world, and enjoy the cafe or shop. Although West End theaters are clustered around Covent Garden and Leicester Square, there are two major theaters here, including the Apollo Victoria Theatre where Wicked is showing and the Victoria Palace Theatre where you can see Hamilton. It’s an American invasion for sure.
Separate from Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral is a striking example of neo-Byzantine architecture, featuring a spacious, uninterrupted nave with domed vaulting and an unusual red brick exterior. The Cathedral serves as the mother church of the Roman Catholic community in England and Wales. It’s free to enter.
At The Other Palace, an off-West End theatre near Buckingham Palace, see up and coming theatrical productions at their 300-seat main stage and a smaller Studio Theatre.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Adjacent to these Royal London attractions are the Covent Garden theaters and other Leicester Square attractions. Want to learn more? Read our story here.

Where to Stay in Westminster’s Royal London

One of London’s most beautiful hotel entrances at St. Ermin’s Hotel near Buckingham Palace — Just as Winston Churchill and the late Prince Philip did, escape the hustle of London life at St. Ermin’s Hotel near Big Ben in the City of Westminster. Photo credit: R.C. Staab

St. Ermin’s Hotel: Centrally located in Westminster, St. Ermin’s Hotel offers an elegant stay just minutes from Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Park, and Victoria Station. Its refined rooms blend modern comfort with classic British charm, while many suites provide views of iconic government buildings. Guests enjoy proximity to royal ceremonies, Parliament and the city’s historic heart, making it ideal for visitors who want to immerse themselves in London’s political and cultural heritage.
Hotel 41: Directly opposite The Royal Mews and just steps from Buckingham Palace, Hotel 41 is an intimate, five-star boutique property with the feel of a private club. Featuring 28 individually styled rooms, exceptional personalized service and an opulent executive lounge, it’s perfect for those seeking luxury and discretion, a short walk from Victoria Station.
The Rubens at the Palace: Located next to Hotel 41 and facing Buckingham Palace, The Rubens combines Edwardian elegance with modern comfort. Alongside beautifully designed rooms, it offers refined dining at The English Grill, afternoon tea in the Palace Lounge and stunning views of the Royal Mews — all just a few minutes from St. James’s Park.
Comfort Inn London – Victoria: The hotel offers good value accommodation in a Georgian townhouse setting, with clean, comfortable rooms and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Premier Inn London Victoria, the Hub by Premier Inn London Westminster Abbey and the Hub by Premier Inn London Westminster, St. James’ Park: England’s largest hotel chain offers good value, comfort and consistent quality. The Hub brand offers smaller rooms than the Premier brand.