Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837, and today is the Queen's official residence. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by the Queen, areas of Buckingham Palace are opened for a limited time only during the summer.

Lavishly furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection, within the State Rooms you can see paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Canaletto and Claude; sculpture by Canova and Chantrey; exquisite examples of Sevres porcelain; and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world.

Complimentary audio tour (available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese) provides an introduction to centuries of royal history, including interviews with royal household staff about the working palace and the magnificent works of art. There is also a family audio guide (English only) and accompanying activity trail, suitable for children 7 - 11 years.

The Palace's 39-acre garden is an oasis for wildlife in the middle of London, and visitors can enjoy a garden walk that offers superb views of the Garden Front of the Palace and the 19th-century lake.

As part of the 2007 opening of Buckingham Palace, a special exhibition will recreate the excitement of the royal wedding on 20 November 1947, which seized the publics imagination in the dark days after the 2nd World War. See Princess Elizabeth's magnificent wedding dress, dresses worn by other members of the wedding party, and jewelry worn shown in a dazzling display of diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and pearls.

After your Buckingham Palace tour, finsih your royal day with an optional afternoon tea at Grosvenor House in The Park Room.