St James’s Palace opens to the public for first time in history

Following successful trials in 2022 and 2023, the public will soon have the rare opportunity to explore one of Britain’s most historic royal palaces, St James’ Palace.

Exclusive guided tours of the Palace are set be available on selected weekends in Spring 2025, offering visitors a unique glimpse into 500 years of royal history.

Exterior shot of St James’s Palace exterior. (Will Pryce/RCT)

Built between 1531 and 1536 by order of King Henry VIII, St James’s Palace is the most senior royal palace in London and remains the official seat of the Royal Court. Although no Monarch has resided there for years, it continues to hold a significant ceremonial role in the British Monarchy – notably, the Accession Council meet at Palace to formally mark the accession of a new Monarch.

His Majesty The King gives a personal declaration at today’s Accession Council, where he was formally proclaimed King Charles III.

⚫ https://t.co/lZ6yrT9Y0Y pic.twitter.com/phalp3gxTo

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) September 10, 2022

The exclusive guided tours, lasting approximately 1 hour 45 minutes, will take visitors through a carefully curated route showcasing the palace’s historical significance. Highlights include:

– Surviving Tudor architecture: The palace’s original courtyard and gatehouse provide a reminder of its 16th-century origins.
– Royal Collection: Visitors will admire exquisite paintings, furniture, and decorative arts, including Mortlake tapestries acquired by Charles I.
– The Throne Room and Picture Gallery: The rooms where the Accession Council of Charles III was held in 2022.
– The Chapel Royal: A view from the balcony of the historic Chapel Royal, where Queen Victoria married Prince Albert, and where the christenings of Prince George and Prince Louis took place in 2013 and 2018 respectively.
– Other key rooms: The tour also includes the Colour Court, the Grand Staircase, Armoury, Tapestry Room, Queen Anne Room, and Entrée Room.

Visitors in the Tapestry Room during a tour of St James’s Palace. (© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2024 | Royal Collection Trust)

The Royal Collection Trust has announced that tickets for the tours are priced at £85 per person, a price ‘benchmarked across the sector’ to reflect the exclusive access being granted. The tours will operate on a timed admission system, with the first tour starting at 10:30am and the last at 6:30pm.

Visitors should be warned that photography, eating, and drinking are prohibited during the visit, and there are no visitor toilet facilities on-site.

Only a limited number of tours were made available in April and May 2025, and all tickets have already sold out. However, it is anticipated that tours will continue beyond 2025, providing further opportunities to experience this historic site.

Inside the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace. (Royal Family)

Unlike other royal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace, St James’s has remained largely closed to the public until now. The upcoming tours offer a rare opportunity to explore a site that has witnessed centuries of royal history.

Further details and any future ticket releases will be announced via the Royal Collection Trust’s e-newsletter.