Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of the British sovereign since 1837, and its imposing neoclassical facade, viewed across the broad sweep of The Mall, is one of the most recognizable images of the United Kingdom. The palace contains 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, and 78 bathrooms. During the summer opening, visitors can tour the lavishly decorated State Rooms where the monarch hosts state banquets, investitures, and official receptions. The Grand Staircase, the Throne Room with its elaborate proscenium arch, and the Picture Gallery displaying masterworks by Rembrandt, Rubens, and Vermeer are highlights of the tour.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony remains one of London’s great free spectacles. The New Guard, accompanied by a military band, marches from Wellington Barracks to the palace forecourt where they formally relieve the Old Guard in a ceremony steeped in precision and pageantry. The soldiers’ scarlet tunics and bearskin caps against the palace gates create the quintessential image of British pomp and tradition. Surrounding the palace, the 39 acres of Buckingham Palace Gardens, the largest private garden in London, are occasionally open for guided tours and feature a three-acre lake, a tennis court, and a helicopter landing pad.

Pro tip: For the Changing of the Guard, position yourself at the Victoria Memorial rather than pressed against the palace fence. The memorial’s elevated steps give you a better vantage point to see the full parade, including the military band. If the State Rooms are closed during your visit, the Royal Mews around the back, which houses the royal carriages including the Gold State Coach, is open most of the year and is far less crowded.