Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch. The palace is a setting for state occasions and royal entertaining, and a major tourist attraction. It has been a rallying point for the British people at times of national rejoicing and crisis.
Originally known as Buckingham House, the building forming the core of today's palace was a large townhouse built for the Duke of Buckingham in 1703 and acquired by George III in 1761as a private residence, known as "The Queen's House". It was renovated and redesigned over the next 75 years forming three wings around a central courtyard. Buckingham Palace finally became the official royal palace of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria to throne in 1837. The last major structural additions to the palace were made in the late 19th and early 20th century that includes the present-day public face of Buckingham Palace.
Every year about 50,000 guests are entertained at garden parties, receptions, audiences, and banquets. The Garden Parties are held in the summer and there are usually three such parties a year.
A visit to London would not be complete with out a trip to Buckingham Palace which is iconic of English Heritage. A regular attraction is the regular hand-over of guards in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace known as “Changing the Guard”, it draws thousands of visitors to watch the soldiers and listen to the music that is played concurrent to the ceremony.
More enchanting than the palace are the parks that surround it. Hyde Park is truly beautiful with rows and rows of daffodils, which are bright and sunny. On a warm day, Hyde Park is the perfect place to spread out a picnic or read a book. On a winter day, grab a cappuccino and stroll through.
There are a number of
hotels near Buckingham Palace that give tourists a wide range of options when it comes to accommodation. Because Buckingham Palace is located in the Westminster district of London with in St. James Park it is also in close proximity to a few up market
London Hotels.
About the Author,
Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive at eMarketingEye which is a
search engine marketing company that offers integrated Internet marketing solutions and specializes in serving the online travel and hospitality industry.
