Buckingham Palace opens East Wing tours on 6 November

Buckingham Palace opens its East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour programme on 6 November 2026 in London, giving visitors a winter route through part of the working royal residence. The tour is operated by Royal Collection Trust, which describes it as the only way to see inside the palace during the autumn, winter and spring months.

East Wing tours begin on 6 November at the London palace

The programme runs from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 on selected Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The published calendar excludes 20 November, 25 December and 26 December, while adding dates from 22 to 23 December and from 29 to 31 December.

Visitors follow an expert guide through the principal rooms of the East Wing and view works from the Royal Collection. The route also reaches the Centre Room, where the Palace balcony can be seen. The East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour is a pre-booked public visit, with a maximum of 20 places on each tour.

The programme has a specific seasonal role. The State Rooms open to visitors during the summer, while the palace otherwise opens only on selected dates for exclusive guided tours. The winter East Wing programme therefore changes what travellers can find inside the London residence after the summer visitor season.

Centre Room links the winter tour to palace history

The East Wing was added during Queen Victoria’s reign, and Queen Victoria became the first sovereign to live at Buckingham Palace in 1837. The Centre Room connects that history with the balcony used for major royal appearances, while the tour also presents decorative works and details of the wing’s interiors.

The visit begins at the palace’s front gates and crosses the Forecourt, the ceremonial space in front of the building. That arrival route links the public tour to the palace’s continuing role as a working royal residence and a setting for official royal events.

Royal Collection Trust says the winter tour is designed to offer a closer look at the East Wing’s history, craftsmanship and works of art. The State Rooms are not part of this route, so the programme gives access to a defined part of the palace rather than the full summer circuit. Further details appear in the East Wing tour programme.

What the winter programme leaves outside

The guided visit is in English and some rooms may not be available on every tour because the building remains in use. Royal Collection Trust also states that short-notice closures can occur at a working royal palace.

The winter dates are separate from the exhibition at The King’s Gallery, which is located at Buckingham Palace but follows its own programme. They are also separate from the Royal Mews, so visitors should match their plans to the specific building and route listed for the chosen visit.

Visiting Buckingham Palace: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour begins on 6 November 2026 and runs through 31 January 2027 on selected dates at Buckingham Palace.
• Visitors must pre-book, enter through the front gates and cross the Forecourt; the State Rooms are not included in the winter route.
• The tour is in English, and the published programme allows a maximum of 20 places on each visit.
• The standard admission route is not step-free. A step-free access route must be arranged in advance with the Specialist Sales team.

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Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace

When does the East Wing Exclusive Guided Tour take place?

The programme runs from 6 November 2026 to 31 January 2027 on selected dates at Buckingham Palace.

What does the winter tour include?

It covers principal rooms in the East Wing, the Centre Room and a view of the Palace balcony. The State Rooms are not included.

Where is Buckingham Palace and how do you get there?

The palace is in London. Tour visitors enter through its front gates and cross the Forecourt before the guided route.