Buckingham Palace is a place where the royal family of Great Britain spends almost daily time. Of course, the probability of meeting someone from the monarchical system for an ordinary tourist is too small, however, sometimes people are allowed into the building even on days when the queen does not leave her residence. The interior decoration of the premises available for visiting impresses with its beauty, so you can touch the life of Queen Elizabeth II without her direct participation.
The history of the emergence of Buckingham Palace
The palace, famous all over the world today, was once the estate of John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham. Having assumed a new position, the statesman of England decided to build a small palace for his family, so in 1703 the future Buckingham House was founded. True, the built building did not like the duke, which is why he practically did not live in it.
Later, the estate and the entire territory adjacent to it were bought by George III, who in 1762 decided to complete the existing building and turn it into a palace worthy of the monarch's family. The ruler did not like the official residence, as he found it small and uncomfortable.
Edward Blore and John Nash were appointed architects. They proposed to preserve the existing building, while adding to it extensions similar in design, increasing the palace to the required size. It took 75 years for the workers to build a magnificent structure to match the monarch. As a result, Buckingham Palace received a square shape with a separate center, where the courtyard is located.
The palace became the official residence in 1837 with the accession to the throne of Queen Victoria. She also contributed to the restructuring, slightly changing the facade of the building. During this period, the main entrance was moved and decorated with the Marble Arch that adorns Hyde Park.
Only in 1853 was it possible to complete the most beautiful hall of Buckingham Palace, intended for balls, which is 36 m long and 18 m wide. Crimean War.
Features attractions England
Initially, the interior of the English palace was dominated by blue and pink shades, but today there are more creamy-gold tones in its design. Each room has a unique finish, including a Chinese style suite. Many are interested in how many rooms are inside such a majestic structure, because it occupies a fairly large area. In total, the building has 775 rooms, some of them are occupied by members of the royal family, the other part is in the use of service personnel. There are also utility rooms, government and guest rooms, halls for tourists.
The gardens of Buckingham Palace are worth a separate mention, as they are considered to be the largest in the capital. The foundation of this zone is the merit of Lancelot Brown, but later the appearance of the entire territory changed significantly. Now it is a huge park with a pond and waterfalls, bright flower beds and even lawns. The main inhabitants of these places are graceful flamingos, which are not afraid of the noise of the city and numerous tourists. The monument opposite the palace was erected in honor of Queen Victoria, as the people loved her, no matter what.
Accommodation available for tourists
For most of the year, the gates of the royal residence are closed to ordinary people. Officially, Buckingham Palace turns into a museum during Elizabeth II's vacation, which runs from August to October. But even at this time, it is not allowed to go around the entire building. There are 19 rooms available for tourists. The most striking of them are:
The first three rooms got their names due to the predominance of colors in their decoration. They fascinate with their beauty from the first seconds of being inside, but, in addition, you can see antiques and expensive collections in them. It is not worth describing what the Throne Room is famous for, because it can be called the main hall for ceremonies. Art lovers will certainly appreciate the gallery, which houses the originals of Rubens, Rembrandt and other famous artists.
Information for guests of the residence
The street on which Buckingham Palace is located is no secret to anyone. Its address is London, SW1A 1AA. You can get there by metro, bus or taxi. Even having said in Russian what sight you want to visit, any Englishman will explain how to get to the beloved palace.
Entrance to the territory of the residence is paid, while the price may vary depending on which places will be open to access and whether there will be a tour of the park. Tourist reports recommend strolling through the gardens as they provide a different perspective on the lives of monarchs. In addition, any report speaks of the great love of the British for landscaping.
We recommend looking at the Massandra Palace.
It is worth mentioning that taking photographs inside the palace is prohibited. You can buy pictures of the interior of famous rooms to keep these beauties in memory. But no less good pictures are obtained from the square, and during a walk it is allowed to capture the grace of the park area.
Interesting facts about Buckingham Palace
Of those who lived in the palace, there were those who constantly criticized the luxurious halls and way of life in London. For example, according to the stories of Edward VIII, the residence was so saturated with mold that its smell haunted him everywhere. And, despite the huge number of rooms and the presence of a picturesque park, it was difficult for the heir to feel in solitude.
It is difficult to imagine how many servants are required to maintain such a large room at the proper level. From the descriptions of life in the residence, it is known that more than 700 people work to ensure that the palace and the entire surrounding area do not fall into decay. Most of the staff reside in the palace to ensure the comfort of the royal family. It is not difficult to guess what the servant is doing, because it is necessary to cook, clean, hold official receptions, monitor the park and do dozens of other things, the secrets of which do not go beyond the walls of the palace.
The square in front of Buckingham Palace is famous for the curious sight - the changing of the guard. In the summer, the guards change daily until noon, and during the quiet period, the guards arrange a demonstration transfer of the patrol only every other day. However, the guards have such an expressive shape that tourists will certainly want to take a photo with the country's guards.
