Buckingham Palace

The origins of Buckingham Palace date back to 1703, when John Sheffield, Duke of Buckingham, had a large townhouse built. In 1761, King George III acquired the estate as a private residence. Over the following 75 years, the palace was successively expanded, primarily by architects John Nash and Edward Blore, eventually encompassing three wings around a courtyard. With Queen Victoria's ascension to the throne in 1837, Buckingham Palace became the official residence of the British monarch. A significant expansion under Victoria was the addition of a wing on the east side, completing the enclosure towards The Mall. During this process, the original state entrance, the Marble Arch, was dismantled and re-erected in its current location in Hyde Park. The East Front received its current Portland stone cladding in 1913, forming the backdrop for the Victoria Memorial and giving the palace its well-known appearance.

Buckingham Palace is located in the heart of London, in the City of Westminster borough, within the Greater London region in England, United Kingdom. It stands at an elevation of approximately 13 meters above sea level.

Today, Buckingham Palace serves as the official residence of the British monarch and is an active working palace for the royal family. Parts of the palace and its gardens are accessible to the public at certain times, making it a popular tourist attraction.

• Lancaster House (residence), approx. 0.4 km away
• Clarence House (residence), approx. 0.5 km away
• St. James’s Palace (residence), approx. 0.6 km away
• Marlborough House (mansion and estate), approx. 0.6 km away