What is the name of Queen Elizabeth's residence 2. The main "royal" places in Great Britain. Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, south central England

home(Buckingham Palace)

- the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II and all previous British monarchs in London. It is located opposite Pall Mall and Green Park, which contains a white marble gilded monument to Queen Victoria.

For many decades now, it has been the main palace of the country and the central headquarters of the monarchy, where the most important state events and official receptions of high-ranking officials take place.

But he wasn't always like this. Let's see where it all began.

History of Buckingham Palace

The main building of the current symbol of the monarchy was built in the 18th century for the Duke of Buckingham and was called Buckingham House.

After its appearance, people immediately called the building the most wonderful house in London. True, soon after its construction the Duke was overtaken by death. The wife could not survive this loss and soon died too.

Charles Sheffield took over the inheritance rights, but in 1762 he decided to sell the castle to King George III. This date is considered to be the time when the building came into possession of the dynasty of English monarchs. George III was the first to begin the transformation of Buckingham House and most notably renamed it "The Queen's House" because his wife Charlotte spent time here most

of its time. Further, on his orders, a large library was built, changes interior decoration palace In addition, the king decided to appeal to two famous architects

with the aim of constructing three more buildings near the existing house.

This idea was successfully brought to life, and since then the four buildings of Buckingham Palace form a square, inside which the luxurious royal court is located.

However, Queen Victoria is rightfully considered the symbol of Buckingham Palace, which the British and visitors admire to this day.

And despite all the protests from the common people that fell upon the royal person, Victoria was able to complete the reconstruction she had begun and handed over the palace to her heirs in a new, well-appointed form.

True, the transformation of the palace did not end there. King Edward VII introduced cream and gold tones from the French style, as well as elements of Chinese culture, into the former Georgian interior.

At his request, the artificial marble was replaced with real marble. Visitors to the palace have the opportunity to trace the entire history of the dynasty of monarchs through the interior.

Description of the palace inside

How many rooms are there in Buckingham Palace?

On this moment The queen's palace includes 755 rooms. Each of them is unique and inimitable, but certainly filled with luxury and wealth that reign throughout the residence.

However, the most important room in this building is not one of the beautiful halls, nor the eye-catching guest room.

The most important place here is the balcony. The balcony, where on major holidays the entire royal couple comes out to appear before the people. On such days, thousands of people gather in front of the palace gates to see the most famous family here.

When a tourist visits Buckingham Palace, he will certainly turn his attention to the majestic Throne Room, which is one of the favorite places for photo sessions.

And the “Green Living Room” displays unique exhibits, the value of which is estimated at millions of pounds. Among them is a collection of rare coins and Madame de Pompadour’s aroma holder. The walls here are covered with silk, and the ceiling is gilded.

Chic furniture from England and France fills the rooms of the palace. These include soft sofas, tables made of natural wood, and massive double doors. The walls of the State Dining Room are decorated with red silk, and the “White Living Room” with gold.

An amazing combination of styles, recreated by architects of different eras, was embodied in the building of Buckingham Palace. Here, Baroque, Rococo, and traditional English style harmoniously merged together, complemented by elements of the cultures of other peoples.

And the art gallery presented in the palace is worthy special attention. The walls of the residence are decorated with originals by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rembrandt, Canaletto, Rubens and other great artists.

Most of them are carefully stored in rooms closed from the eyes of visitors. And the preserved collection of sculptures of George IV delights guests of the palace.

Buckingham Palace Security

Buckingham Palace, as well as the entire surrounding area (including beautiful gardens), is guarded by one of the most professional units. And these are not just words, the security of Buckingham Palace is officially recognized as one of the best security guards in the world. The palace is controlled by helicopters, the royal couple is guarded by specially trained agents, and infantry and cavalry divisions of guards, called the Court Division, move around the palace grounds around the clock.

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace

Tourists are also amazed by the changing of the guard ceremony, in summer time happening daily at 11:30. This interesting spectacle can be observed by everyone, even those who are not visitors to the palace: the ceremony takes place outside its territory.

And this action is not a mere formality, because, practically sacred for the British, the queen must be guarded around the clock.

The royal retinue is not only on the ground: many helicopters fly in the skies above the palace during Her Majesty's presence.

In order to make sure that the Queen is in the house, it is enough to see the standard of the monarchs of Great Britain flying over the residence.

And, of course, when the native Englishmen observe this picture, peace reigns in their souls from that sacred harmony for them, which has been recreated over many centuries.

Almost each of the emperors of the Habsburg dynasty contributed something of their own to. This monumental structure reflects different eras and styles. You can see with your own eyes how the history of the famous European empire unfolded over the centuries only here.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how to get there (address and location on the map)

Address: Buckingham Palace London SW1A 1 AA

The palace is located in London, not far from the lake in St. James's Park, and the so-called “Green Park” is also located nearby.

To get to the park, you can get off at the “St. James's park", "Victoria" and "Green park".

Working hours

Buckingham Palace is open to visitors in August and September: these months are the Queen's official holidays. Sometimes tourists are accepted in early June.

• Excursions start at 9.45
• The palace closes at 18.30
• Entrance for tourists is only open until 15.45

Prices for visiting

Prices for tickets to the palace can be called symbolic for such a stunning palace: a child ticket costs about 650 rubles, an adult ticket costs 1100.

The problem is the limited number of tickets distributed. There are only 30,000 to 50,000 of them produced, while the number of people wishing to visit this most interesting place goes for millions.

Therefore, when planning a holiday in the UK, you should book the required number of tickets in advance.

Find more detailed information information about excursions and other events, as well as ordering or buying tickets, can be found on the official royal website -

Buckingham Palace - this name is widely known outside the UK, even among those people who have never been to London. The official residence is known for its unparalleled splendor and luxury, which is even called oppressive. However, the queen herself liked her home and place of work: from the very day of her accession, she fell in love with the huge rooms, magnificent halls and rich galleries of the ancient mansion.

Buckingham Palace is located in the heart of London, close to Pall Mall, Constitution Hill and Sper Road. The mansion is surrounded on almost all sides by parks and gardens: in the south there is a spacious Green Park, in the west there is the private royal park Buckingham Palace Gardens, and on the east side there is St. James Park.

Buckingham Palace is a complex of four buildings forming a square with a courtyard.

Its central façade, facing a huge square with a monument to Queen Victoria, is particularly splendid. In the center of the composition is a huge balcony, where during holidays and special occasions the royal family gathers to address the public. The architecture of Buckingham Palace evokes mixed reviews: some consider it one of the most beautiful buildings in Great Britain, while others call it awkward and even ugly. However, the palace remains one of the most popular attractions. It seems amazing the number of visitors to Buckingham Palace per year is not several million, but only 30-50 thousand . This is explained by the fact that inner part

The building is only accessible to visitors during the Queen's official holiday, which takes place in August and September. During this time, he leaves his residence, allowing everyone to visit its interiors. Duke: the illness that tormented him caused dissatisfaction with the palace; he constantly smelled mold in the halls of the building. After the Duke's death, his wife was inconsolable and soon followed him. Since then, rumors have circulated that Buckingham Palace actually smells of mold, but they are not confirmed by anything.

In 1762, the building was purchased by King George III, who was not satisfied with the royal residence at St. James's Palace. He hired two talented architects, Blore and Nash, to transform the Duke's mansion into a palace fit for kings. An additional wing was built, the front entrance was moved, the interior was reconstructed, and a courtyard was created. ABOUT A lot of money was spent on the reconstruction of the palace, which even caused discontent among the British. But Buckingham Palace acquired inimitable luxury. George III created in it a huge library with valuable and rare publications, an art gallery with works of art by many outstanding artists, magnificent halls, living rooms and state rooms, including a huge ballroom - the most expensive room in the palace.

Today, Buckingham Palace is not just the royal residence and place of work of Queen Elizabeth, it is a whole town in which its own life is in full swing. It has its own post office, stables, bars, police station, tennis courts, sports centers, hospital, cinema, swimming pool. Of the 775 rooms, as many as 188 are occupied by the palace staff - several hundred people work here. Some keep order, others organize banquets, others take care of the garden, there are even two people who devote a full day to ensuring that all the clocks in the palace are in good working order. And there are about three hundred of them!

When is Buckingham Palace open to the public? tourists are invited to explore several main halls with a rich history. The central place in the ceremonial premises of the palace is occupied by Green living room- this room has exquisite furniture, luxurious decorative items, and a unique collection of paintings. Excellent Sevres porcelain is kept here. The state rooms of the palace are valued for their collection of porcelain, which was collected by George IV. One of best collections of our time includes the French service used by Napoleon. Also in the Green Room is a unique aroma maker, made in the shape of a ship.

Adjacent to the Green Living Room Throne room, followed by a huge Art Gallery, repository of the palace's rich art collection. This space boasts a recent renovation and new finishes. The gallery presents several dozen paintings, including works by Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens and other great artists. But this is only part of the entire royal collection; the rest is also kept in Buckingham Palace, but is closed to the public.

State dining room The palace is also open to the public. It is a lavishly decorated room with a long mahogany table in the middle of it. It accommodates 600 people - such receptions are often held at Buckingham Palace. The dining room is decorated with a huge portrait of George IV and several smaller portraits of Queen Charlotte, George III, Princess Augusta and other members royal family.

You can also get to Royal Mews- these are not just working stables, they can be called part museum complex, as they feature royal transport: a golden carriage intended for coronations, a transparent carriage for wedding ceremonies and other royal carriages. Sometimes you can see royal horses here.

The tour of Buckingham Palace ends with a visit to the south side garden, from where you can see the western façade of the building. The garden of Buckingham Palace has a large area - about 17 hectares. Near the picturesque lake live real pink flamingos - beautiful, intelligent and not shy birds that are accustomed to large numbers of people and constant helicopter flights.

Buckingham Palace is carefully guarded by the Household Division. Members of the royal guard keep order. Every morning from April to August and every other day in winter months there is a parade near the palace that attracts the attention of tourists.

The money collected from tourists for viewing the palace goes towards the restoration of another royal residence - Windsor Castle, which was damaged by fire. But getting into the palace is not so easy: there are too many people willing, and time is limited. It is advisable to buy tickets in advance. Nearest metro station - St. James Park.

Entry tickets:
The cost of visiting the main halls (State Rooms), stables (Royal Mews) and Queen's Gallery is:
£35.6 per adult; students and people over 60 years old - 32.5 pounds; persons under 17 years of age and people with disabilities- 20 pounds.
A visit to the palace halls, stables and galleries available for viewing takes up to 4.5 hours.

Opening hours of the State Halls: August-September (in 2015: 01.08-27.09)
In August from 09:30 to 15:45;
In September from 09:30 to 14:45.

Opening hours of the Royal Mews in 2015: February 02 - November 29.
Entry tickets separately in the Royal Stables: children under 5 years old - free; under 17 years of age and people with disabilities - 5.4 pounds; 9 pounds - adult; students and people over 60 years of age - 8.3 pounds.

Opening hours of the Queen's Gallery: Almost throughout the year. It is better to check the visiting days in advance on the official website of Buckingham Palace.

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace occurs daily from April to July at 11:30, from August to March - every other day and depending on weather conditions. It is better to check the information in advance

Buckingham Palace in London ( English name Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the British monarchs (currently Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II).

The palace is located opposite Green Park and Pall Mall streets in close proximity to the monument to Queen Victoria.

During the monarch's stay in the palace, the royal standard always flutters above the roof.

History of the palace

Buckingham Palace in London was originally known as Buckingham House and was built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703. However, already in 1762 it was purchased by King George III for the future private residence of the monarch (St. James's Palace, in which the king's apartments were located, ceased to satisfy him with its decoration and size).

Over the next 75 years, architects Edward Blore and John Nash(the creators of the Alupka Palace), taking Buckingham House as a basis, erected several more similar buildings. Together they form a square, in the center of which there is a large courtyard.

In 1837, at the time of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne, the palace was officially declared the main residence of British monarchs.

Under Victoria's reign, final additions to the palace's infrastructure were made, namely: the addition of another wing and the removal of the former main entrance of Marble Arch to its current location near the Oratory's Corner in Hyde Park.

In front of the main gate of the palace there is a monument in honor of the great Queen Victoria. The total cost of construction, which exceeded 700 thousand pounds sterling, was primarily due to the use of such excesses as 500 blocks of veined Carrara marble.

By the beginning of 1853, work was completed on the interior decoration of the most spacious and expensive room of the palace - the ballroom, the total length of which is 36 meters and the width is 18 meters.

The hall was built by order of Queen Victoria and already in 1856 it received the first official guests in honor of the end of the Crimean War.

In 1841, the heir to the British throne, Victoria's son Edward VII, was born in this palace, and he died here in 1910.

Despite the luxurious apartments of Buckingham Palace in London, where most of the empire's family jewels are kept, not all the monarchs who lived here were happy.

In his memoirs, the Duke of Windsor wrote that the huge palace “with its endless corridors and great halls seemed filled with a musty smell, which was constantly felt every time you entered it.”

Features and interior of the palace

Initially, the interior of the palace was Georgian, with the presence large quantity artificial marble, made in blue and pink lapis.

Under the reign of King Edward VII, the Georgian interior of the palace was replaced by the French Belle Epoque style, which was done in gold and cream tones. Some of the small reception rooms were furnished in Chinese style with furniture from Carlton House and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

Currently, Buckingham Palace in London includes only 775 rooms. Of these, 52 are royal and guest rooms, 19 are state rooms, 188 are intended for staff, 92 offices, and 72 bathrooms. The palace occupies the territory with total area 20 hectares, of which 17 hectares are a garden.

The palace gardens are considered the largest private gardens in London, originally laid out by the great Lancelot Brown, but later divided by John Nash and William Ailton. The creation of a large artificial lake was completed in 1828.

It should be noted that the palace houses royal collections with works by Rubens, Rembrandt and other greatest artists. The collection also includes Sevres porcelain, French and English furniture.

The palace has a post office, a swimming pool, and its own cinema. For two months (August and September) the Queen is absent from Buckingham Palace. During this period of time, the palace chambers are open to visitors.

The Palace as a London tourist attraction

The palace is guarded by the Household Division, consisting of the Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Infantry Regiment. Every day at 11:30 from April to August (every other day in other months) a colorful changing of the guard ceremony takes place. This is perhaps the most famous and breathtaking ceremony in London and attracts the attention of many tourists.

During the summer, the palace is visited by approximately 50,000 guests, who take part in intimate receptions in the royal gardens, which feature waterfalls and a pond. Picture natural nature complemented by flamingo birds, whose peace is not disturbed even by the royal helicopters that ensure Her Majesty’s air safety.

Buckingham Palace in London is considered one of the main classical attractions of the British capital, which is definitely worth a visit.

Working hours: from 09:45 to 18:30;

Changing of the Guard: for free;

Metro: The nearest stations are Victoria, Hyde Park Corner, Green Park and St. James's Park;

Location: Buckingham Palace Rd, London SW1A 1AA;

Official website: www.royal.gov.uk

In the heart of London lies one of Britain's most recognizable buildings. However, not everyone knows his story.

We won't just tell you in detail about Buckingham Palace, but we will also open it all secrets, which are essentially just Interesting Facts its creation...

Buckingham Palace today is the official residence of local monarchs and the largest active Royal Palace. The queen lives and works here. For a couple of months (August and September) she leaves her residence, and during this time the chambers are open to visitors (not all of them, of course). This is London's main attraction.

Thanks to the famous balcony, it is a place of national unity on days of tragedy or national celebration. Buckingham Palace is used for formal ceremonies, banquets and receptions and is a favorite tourist attraction.

Once upon a time, on the site of this luxurious palace there were green meadows. As a royal residence, the palace is quite young. Its state rooms are no more than 200 years old. However, his story is much longer and more dramatic.

The objects filling the halls of the palace reveal to us the characters of the kings and queens of the past. Here art and architecture came together to show Britain's global status. Many people think that the palace was built at a time when Britain was the most powerful empire on earth. But few people know that for the first kings it was a quiet nest. But everything is changing...

The wetland was in no way suitable for royal lands, until one king decided otherwise... and now you will find out how the Buckingham Palace project was “born”:

King Henry XIII, who ascended the throne in 1509, was passionate about hunting. The marshy shores of this area were ideal for hunting. Once upon a time, the king changed up to 8 horses per day. And so he decided to turn the lands north of Westminster into personal hunting grounds. Having thrown out several landowners from there, he surrounded his new possessions brick wall. In 1535, Henry XIII drained the land under the site where Buckingham Palace now stands and created a large deer park there.

But later another king found another use for this park. James I(English James, Latin Iacobus) loved rich clothes, especially the best silks. And he realized that silk could bring him considerable money. On the lands where the gardens of Buckingham Palace are now located, James I decided to establish English silk production. In 1608, the king planted dozens of mulberry trees and released silkworms onto them. But he made a mistake with the tree. This is a black mulberry and the silkworms were simply not interested in it.

Only after 100 years, in 1708, a building was built on the site where the palace now stands. Today, all that remains of it is the name of its owner. The Duke of Buckingham was not loved at court. He was even given the nickname “my lord proud.” But he was rich, so having bought the royal lands, he built a luxurious mansion on them. Although today not a single stone remains of it...

By 1760 the house was put up for sale. Young King George III decided that this would be the best wedding gift to his young wife. The aristocratic mansion became the home of the British monarchy. George III loved simple pleasures. He was modest and presented the palace to his wife as a quiet family refuge away from the whirlpool of court life.

Buckingham Palace was too pretentious for George III's taste. Therefore, he decided to remove the intricate gates, the Neptune fountain and even the statues on the roof... Externally, the house became boring, discreet, but decent.

However, the interior made it clear that a king lived here. George III covered the walls with paintings from the royal art collection.

Buckingham Palace began to be rebuilt son of King George IV after the death of his father. John Nash was chosen as the architect. George IV begged Parliament to give him money to rebuild his childhood home. He was only able to obtain £150,000 for repairs and improvements. But the king had no intention of saving...

George IV. and architect John Nash transformed the once quiet corner into the grandiose palace that everyone knows today as Buckingham Palace.

Officially, Buckingham Palace was declared the main residence of British monarchs upon the accession of the young Queen Victoria to the throne in 1837. But even at that time the palace was not fully furnished and was not suitable for habitation (there were no carpets and very little furniture). However, the queen was delighted. During her reign ( late XIX- early 20th century) the last major additions were made to the current appearance of Buckingham Palace: the construction of another wing and the relocation of the former main entrance, Marble Arch, to its current location near the Oratory in Hyde Park. By 1853 a ballroom was built. Later the famous balcony appeared.

How many rooms are there in Buckingham Palace?

Currently, the palace occupies an area of ​​20 hectares, of which 17 hectares are a garden.

Today it is not just a palace, it is a real small town with its own post office, police, hospital, sports clubs, swimming pool, cinema and even a disco! In the main palace of the kingdom as many as 755 rooms, of which:

• 72 bathrooms.
• 188 bedrooms, intended not only for guests, but also for staff, which numbers more than 700 people.
• 92 offices.
• 19 rooms of national importance.
• 52 bedrooms for members of the royal family.

Until 1993, tourists were not allowed into the main residence of the monarchs, but then the palace opened its doors to visitors for two whole months - in August and September.

The palace houses a huge art gallery with works by Rembrandt, Rubens and others. The collection also includes French porcelain, French and English furniture, but if you are interested in paintings, it is better to go straight to the National Gallery.

Opening hours: from 09.30 to 18.00 (entry closes at 15.45)

Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and schedule

The procession of soldiers to the palace begins at 11.00 every day.
Changing of the guard at the palace takes place at 11.30 every day. Every day (from April to July) and every other day (in other months) a changing of the guard of the royal guards (on foot) is held in Buckingham Square.

Where is Buckingham Palace

Nearest metro stations: St. James's Park, Victoria

SW1. Tel: 7839-1377. www.royal.gov.uk

It is possible to visit the palace only with excursion groups during the Queen’s departure (watch for the flag on the palace building - its absence indicates that visiting is permitted).

We will help you buy tickets to Buckingham Palace. The ticket price includes an audio guide in Russian.

The residences of the Queen of Great Britain will tell you about the history of the British Monarchy and will help you touch the life of the royal family:

• (London) is the official residence of the Queen of Great Britain.
• (Bexshire County, 30 km from London) is the favorite residence of Elizabeth II of Windsor.
• Sandringham Castle(Norfolk, England) is the traditional place for the royal family to celebrate Christmas.
• Palace of Holyrood House Edinburgh is the official Scottish residence of Queen Elizabeth II.
• - The Queen's private residence in Scotland.
• Kensington Palace and Clarence House– two London residences of members of the royal family.

Windsor. England.

The city of Windsor is an island of calm after the bustle of London. It can be reached in an hour by train from London's Waterloo Station to Windsor & Eaton Riverside Station, departing every 30 minutes. A second train station, Windsor & Eaton Central, is located close to the first.

Standing proudly in the middle of the surrounding meadows, the castle is a classic illustration of modern England.

Sights of the city of Windsor:

• Windsor Castle is the official summer residence of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
• The Town Hall, built in 1687, is located on High Street.
• The wedding palace where Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were legally married.
• Statue of George V (near the castle entrance).
• Great Windsor Park.
• Botanical garden with an area of ​​14 hectares.
• Lake Virginia - Walter and a 30-meter totem pole on the shore. It is famous for its legends. Scenes for the Harry Potter film were filmed here.
• Inexpensive shopping on the central streets and in the station building.
• Legoland Park (3 km from Windsor) is the best theme park in England with interactive models, games and attractions.

Held annually in Windsor since 1943 in May. Royal Horse Show.

This an important event for horse and racing lovers. For eight days, Windsor becomes an arena where champions of horse breeds are selected, 150 companies present their “equestrian” products, crew championships and cart cavalcades, an international Grand Prix, and a competition in the “Marathon” section (eight obstacles for the speed and accuracy of the rider) are held.

Ascot horse racing take place here in June. Attending horse races is very prestigious, so all the British nobility flock here. The first horse races were held on the grounds of the castle on Ascot in 1711.

Garter Ceremony takes place in June at Windsor Castle.

Not far from Windsor (on the opposite bank of the Thames) is the town of Eton and the famous Eton– oldest quotient educational institution, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI for boys aged 13 to 18 from influential families. The territory and classrooms are open to visits from April to September from 14:30 to 16:30 and, if you wish, you can see where Princes William and Harry, the grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, studied.

Palace of Holyrood House in Edinburgh is the official residence of the Queen of Great Britain in Scotland, located at the end of the Royal Mile. In 1128 it was founded as a monastery. Typically, state ceremonies and official events are held here from late June to early July.

One of the royal residences is located in the county of Norfolk - sandringham castle. Traditionally, the royal family spends the Christmas holidays here! Also, every February, Queen Elizabeth II and her family retire here on the anniversaries of her father’s death and her coronation to the throne of Great Britain. Tourists can admire the castle gardens and the local museum.

Royal residence - Sandringham Castle

Clarence House - the official London residence of the Prince of Wales (the eldest son of the reigning queen - heir to the throne) and the Duchess of Cornwall, who plays her role in the life of the nation and the royal family. In summer, part of the house (5 rooms on the ground floor) is open to the public.

Kensington Palace in London e– new apartments for the royal family. The palace was empty after the death of Princess Margaret (sister of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain). After overhaul Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge will live there. The Queen approved of her grandson's decision to live in Kensington Palace, which consists of 20 rooms. Historical part this palace will be open to tourists.