Apartments and holiday accommodation near Buckingham Palace, London

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Most tourists include Buckingham Palace on their itinerary.   Famous as the London residence of the Queen and the Royal family, it attracts not only people wanting to take photographs from the outside, but also a steady queue of visitors (in August and September) wishing to take the tour that allows entry to about 19 selected state rooms and their royal treasures.

The palace is surrounded by large London parks;  Green Park, St.  James' and Hyde Park, which provide pleasing greenery in the midst of the bustling city.  The Queen regularly entertains guests at special garden parties, during the summer, in the grounds of Buckingham Palace.  Television viewers worldwide watched the celebrations for the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 which were held in Buckingham Palace gardens and grounds. Both the classical and pop concerts were a great success  The pop concert,  followed by a spectacular firework and illumination display was truly memorable.

The gates and railings of Buckingham Palace are exquisitely made and another fine example can be seen across from the palace at the entrance to Green Park. The booking office for Buckingham Palace tours is located to the left of these gates. 

In addition to ornate gates and railings, you will come across numerous other fine specimens of street art as you walk around London.  The lamp posts on the Embankment, on bridges over the Thames and the main squares are all beautifully crafted and worthy of admiration. You may notice that many of the lights in London's parks are still operated by gas and rely on a clockwork mechanism for switching on and off.

There are many interesting memorials in London, including this amazing memorial to Queen Victoria, which can be found directly opposite the front of Buckingham Palace.  Almost every noteworthy event in Britain's history is recorded as a memorial in one form or another, except for that of the life of Princess Diana.  There is a play park and fountain for children dedicated to her but the continued absence of a grander gesture shows the lack of a royal or political will to honour her.  Perhaps we'll have to wait until William is king.

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