My Europe tour started in London. I had a great time catching up with my best friend whom I haven’t seen in a couple of years. We’ve got caught up on our careers and personal lives and it was just really nice seeing her again.
Anyway, I’m also glad the weather cooperated during my trip to London. I went there in the second week of September and rain falls almost every day. Thank heavens the weather was good during my trip that I was able to do many things to explore the place.
Of course, my Europe tour wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t get to see the Buckingham Palace!
The Buckingham Palace is basically the Queen’s office. As the working headquarters of the Monarchs, this is where official and ceremonial duties are carried out. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have private apartments on the Palace’s north side while the other rooms on the upper floors of the east and north sides are occupied by members of the Royal Family. The State Rooms are on the west block facing the garden. These State Rooms are open for public viewing during summer, for the months of August and September, so that’s about only 8 weeks per year.
Included in the tour are a visit to the 19 State Rooms and a special exhibition featuring Her Majesty’s coronation gown, wedding dress, and personal jewelry. After the tour, visitors can walk along with the Palace garden.
I went there with my best friend and her three kids. The place is kid-friendly although you need to keep your children behaved. With two young boys and a 3-year old toddler girl in tow, we took the tour of the Buckingham Palace. The boys were being their best selves but the little girl cried a lot so she and her mom had to leave and not finish the tour with the rest of us. The overall experience was great. We were able to see a total of 19 rooms and it was incredible. The palace is what you’d expect it to be – amazing, ornate, extravagant, grand, splendid and marvelous.
I think we spent about 2 or 3 hours touring the areas that are open to the public. The palace is huge and will never fail to take your breath away. The art, antiques, and carpets in the palace were just fabulous. Every corner and every part of the Buckingham Palace is photogenic but unfortunately, photos are not allowed due to security reasons.
Anyway, this memorable experience doesn’t need a photo souvenir. I have captured the overwhelming delight of this visit in my heart. Without the need to click my camera, I simply relished at the moment and enjoyed the experience of actually setting foot in the home of the Queen.
The admission fee was worth every penny. If you are curious about the things that catch your eye, you can ask the attendants throughout the palace and they’re all ready to answer your questions. There is also an audio guide that covers most of the things you’d want to know. If you wish to get a souvenir, you can find great novelty items and gifts at the souvenir shop.
Tickets are on a first-come, first-served basis so if you wish to get a glimpse into the lives of the Royal family, secure your ticket early.
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