Are you planning to visit Our Majesty and want to know which are the nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace? Just keep reading to find out 😉
The King’s official London residence since 1837 and the administrative headquarters of the monarch of the United Kingdom, Buckingham is the most famous palace in the world and attracts visitors from all over the globe all year round.
Enveloped by the lavish foliage of St. James and Green Parks, in the City of Westminster, this magnificent palace invites visitors to experience the opulence and grandeur that the United Kingdom is famous for.
The monumental palace stretches across an area of 39 acres and is comprised of 775 rooms, including 52 royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices, 19 staterooms and 78 bathrooms.
Whether you’re visiting the State Rooms, attending a summer party hosted by the king, watching the Changing of the Guard, or just want to take pictures of the most iconic building in London, here’s everything that you need to get to Buckingham Palace by underground.
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How to Get to Buckingham Palace by Tube
With six underground lines (Victoria, Piccadilly, Jubilee, Northern, District and Circle lines) and five nearby stations (Victoria, Green Park, St. James’s Park, Hyde Park Corner and Charing Cross), getting to Buckingham Palace by tube should not be a royal pain.
The stations are all fairly close, but the attractions along each way are completely different.
Here you’ll find all the details to plan your journey, including distances, walking time, advantages and disadvantages of each station, points of interest, etc.
1 – Green Park Station
Located on the edge of Green Park, at only 0.4 mi (6 min walk) from the King’s Residence, Green Park is the nearest tube station to Buckingham Palace.
It’s on the Piccadilly, Jubilee and Victoria Lines, and has an entrance on both sides of Piccadilly Road.
The station has free Wi-Fi, public toilets, escalators, lifts, cash machines and ticket halls and an exit, 2, to Green Park & Buckingham Palace.
The walk from Green Park Station to Buckingham Palace is very easy and pleasant, especially on sunny days. You just head straight down a path in the middle of the park, and after around 5 – 6 min, you’ll see the gate and The Queen Victoria Memorial.
That’s it. You’ve arrived at Buckingham Palace. As easy as pie. 😉
2 – St James’s Park Station
This underground station located near St James’s Park, in the City of Westminster, in Central London, is together with Green Park, the closest tube station to Buckingham Palace, just 0.4 mi away.
The difference here is that you walk on two different streets, Petty France and Buckingham Gate, which will make your journey a bit longer, 8 minutes in total.
Walking from St James’s Park Station to the palace, you have the chance to see the beautiful Westminster Chapel (don’t be confused with Westminster Abbey), an evangelical church with a 160-year history.
St James’s Park is served by the District and Circle Lines, between Victoria and Westminster stations.
Be aware that there aren’t lifts and escalators at this station, so it isn’t wheelchair accessible. But there are bathrooms, ATMs, and a market.
Take the Broadway exit for Buckingham Palace and you’ll see the walking route map pictured below.
3 – Victoria Station
Victoria, a key railway and underground station, is the second busiest London terminus and receives over 74 million passengers a year.
You can expect to find all the facilities in London Victoria, including a myriad of restaurants, a shopping centre, supermarkets, ATMs, public toilets, free Wi-Fi, an information desk, etc.
Victoria is another station within walking distance of Buckingham Palace, 0.5 mi, and it takes an average of 9 min to get there.
Once you leave the underground station through Victoria Street/Buckingham Palace exit, turn left and right on the A3214 (Buckingham Palace Road).
You’ll pass by several souvenir shops, the Royal Mews, St James Theatre and The Queen’s Gallery, the main public art gallery of the home of the British monarch in London.
It’s an easy walk, although you have to cross two busy roads.
The best thing about Victoria Station is that it’s a hub and you can enjoy its facilities, particularly if you want to grab something to eat before/after your visit.
The downside is that it’s a huge station and you can get a bit lost.
However, if you’re coming to London to visit Buckingham Palace from Brighton, Dover, Southampton, or Gatwick Airport, this is the best station for you.
To get to Victoria Underground Station, you can take the District, Circle and Victoria lines.
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4 – Hyde Park Corner Station
Situated near Hyde Park Corner in Hyde Park, this tube station on the Piccadilly Line is just 0.6 mi from Buckingham Palace.
Hyde Park Corner Station has free Wi-Fi, cash machines, escalators and ticket halls. Use exit 2 to get to Green Park & Buckingham Palace.
From this station to the palace takes around a 13 min walk and you have to cross a large traffic island between the corners of Hyde Park and Green Park.
Despite that, this is the most scenic walk out of the five nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace.
As soon as you get off Hyde Park Corner, you see the imposing, and indeed picturesque, Wellington Arch, one of London’s best-known landmarks. It was built in 1825-7 and was originally intended as a grand outer entrance to Buckingham Palace.
You’ll walk past other memorials until you get to Constitution Hill, a road that cuts Green Park and walls the palace gardens.
Walking on the same road as King Charles II used to go for his daily constitutional walks along with his favourite Spaniels is magical, particularly on summer days and during the fall foliage.
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5 – Charing Cross Station
Among the five stations listed here, Charing Cross, on the Northern Line, isn’t the nearest tube to Buckingham Palace. But it’s the one with the largest number of attractions.
This major railway and underground station close to Embankment and Trafalgar Square, is 0.9 mi (18 min walk), away from Our Majesty London’s official residence.
Charing Cross has escalators, ticket halls, ATMs, Wi-Fi and similarly to Victoria, at the railway terminal, you can find all the facilities, including free toilets, restaurants and etc.
A few steps after leaving the station through exits 5 or 6, you’ll see the impressive Nelson’s Column at Trafalgar Square, as well as the National Gallery (one of London’s most important museums), Admiralty Arch and even Big Ben.
After passing through the alluring arch, you arrived at The Mall, a tree-lined royal road leading from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.
Walking on The Mall, a grand processional route in honour of Queen Victoria, which has seen innumerable historic Royal processions including coronations, weddings and funerals is delightfully remarkable.
You can stroll around St James’s Park, see the Duke of York Column, have a glimpse of the London Eye, visit St James’s Palace (one of the oldest palaces in London and a fine example of Tudor architecture), and also follow the Changing of Guard that leaves this palace toward Buckingham at 10h43min.
If you’re visiting London for the first time, you should consider this option.
To get to Buckingham Palace from Charing Cross Station you have to cross three very busy roads. It’ll require an extra dose of patience and double attention if you’re with kids.
Nearest Tube Stations to Buckingham Palace
The closest stations to Buckingham Palace are Green Park and St. James’s Park. Both are equidistant, 0.4 mi, and it doesn’t take more than 8 min walk to get to Our Majesty’s home.
Below there’s a map with the five nearest tube stations to Buckingham Palace, and you can check the exact location of each one of them.
Which is the Best Tube Station for Buckingham Palace?
Green Park is not only the nearest tube station to Buckingham Palace, but also the best, easiest, and quickest way to get to the King’s official London residence.
It takes only 6 minutes to walk the 0.4mi-long path that connects Green Park Station to the Queen Victoria Memorial, located right in front of the palace.
If you’re in a hurry, this is your station. 😉
Best Things to Do Near Buckingham Palace
- Strolling along Green Park
- Visit Trafalgar Square
- Enjoy free entry to The National Portrait Gallery
- See the famous pelicans of St James’s Park, one of London’s eight royal parks
- Say hello to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street
- Ride the London Eye
- Visit the House of Parliament, a UNESCO Heritage Site
- Check the time at Big Ben, the most famous clock in the world
- Attend a mass at Westminster Abbey
- Go for a walk in Hyde Park, the largest park in Central London
- Take pictures for your socials
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The Changing of the Guard
Changing of the Guard is one of the oldest and most recognizable ceremonies connected with Buckingham Palace. The correct name of the ceremony is actually Guard Mounting. In this process, a New Guard exchanges duty with the Old Guard.
The Guard which mounts at Buckingham Palace is called The Queen’s Guard and is divided into two Detachments: the Buckingham Palace Detachment (which is responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace), and the St. James’s Palace Detachment, (which guards St. James’s Palace).
The ceremony on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace starts at 11:00, lasts for approximately 45 minutes and is free of charge. However, if you want to learn more about it, I recommend that you take this guided tour.
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is scheduled to take place daily (June & July) and Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays (from August to May).
Always check the confirmed dates & times before you go, as schedules can change at short notice.
Safe travels and have fun in London.
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