Buckingham Palace opens East Wing tours on 6 November

Buckingham Palace and the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour return to the visitor calendar in London on 6 November 2026. The Royal Collection Trust programme gives visitors access to principal rooms of the East Wing during the winter period, when the palace is not usually open to the public.

East Wing tours begin at Buckingham Palace on 6 November

The first tour is scheduled for 6 November 2026, with further tours on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays until 31 January 2027. The programme excludes 20 November, 25 December and 26 December, while additional dates are listed for 22, 23, 29, 30 and 31 December.

Royal Collection Trust describes the experience as an expert-led visit through the principal rooms of the East Wing. The route includes works from the Royal Collection and the Centre Room, where visitors can view the palace balcony first used by Queen Victoria. The official East Wing tour programme says that the State Rooms are not part of this winter visit.

The winter route reveals a different side of the royal residence

The East Wing faces The Mall and contains the principal rooms reached by this seasonal route. Visitors enter through the palace front gates and cross the Forecourt, an arrival normally associated with official royal events rather than ordinary winter sightseeing.

The Royal Collection Trust identifies Buckingham Palace as the King’s official London residence and a working royal palace. Its State Rooms open to visitors each summer, while the rest of the year offers selected dates for exclusive guided tours. Queen Victoria became the first sovereign to live in the palace in 1837, placing the winter route within the building’s continuing role as a royal residence.

The programme also changes the practical meaning of the closed summer season. Instead of treating winter as a complete interruption to interior visits, travellers can use a limited guided route focused on the East Wing and its displayed works. A separate winter visitor guide likewise places the East Wing tours between the summer State Rooms programme and the separate attractions beside the palace.

Visiting Buckingham Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour begins on 6 November 2026 and continues on selected dates until 31 January 2027.
• The visit covers the East Wing, principal rooms, Royal Collection works and the Centre Room, but does not include the State Rooms.
• Entry is through the palace front gates and across the Forecourt. The guided tour is in English and tickets must be pre-booked.
• The standard route is not step-free. A step-free access route must be arranged in advance with the Royal Collection Trust.
• Buckingham Palace is in central London, with the route associated with the front of the palace facing The Mall.

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Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace

When does the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour begin?

The first listed date is 6 November 2026. Further tours run on selected Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays until 31 January 2027.

What does the winter tour include?

The route covers principal East Wing rooms, works from the Royal Collection and the Centre Room. It does not include the State Rooms.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how do you get there?

The palace is in London, with the tour entering through the front gates and crossing the Forecourt facing The Mall. The organiser requires visitors to pre-book their tour.