Royal Collection Trust offers rare access to London’s oldest royal palace, but blink and you’ll miss tickets
In an extraordinary development for history enthusiasts and royal watchers, St James’s Palace – the Tudor masterpiece that has witnessed nearly 500 years of British royal history – is now accessible to the public through exclusive guided tours.
Following carefully managed trial openings in 2022 and 2023 that welcomed approximately 1,000 visitors, the Royal Collection Trust has officially launched regular tours of this working royal residence. However, the palace’s appeal has proven so powerful that the initial April and May 2025 dates sold out within hours of release.
“We’ve been completely taken aback by the level of interest,” admitted Jonathan Phillips, Visitor Services Manager for the Royal Collection Trust. “We’re strongly encouraging anyone interested in future tours to register for our email newsletter immediately. When we announce additional dates, newsletter subscribers receive priority notification—often making the difference between securing tickets and missing out entirely.”
For those fortunate enough to obtain one of the coveted £85 tickets, the experience promises to be unlike any other royal residence tour. Visitors will explore nine historic areas, including the Throne Room where King Charles III was formally proclaimed monarch during the traditional Accession Council in September 2022—the first such ceremony to be televised in British history.
Built by Henry VIII between 1531 and 1536, St James’s Palace represents a rare surviving example of Tudor royal architecture in London. The distinctive red-brick exterior with its octagonal towers has remained remarkably unchanged despite the transformations around it, providing a direct visual connection to the Tudor period that most London buildings cannot match.
“What makes St James’s so special is that it remains a working royal palace—the official headquarters of the Royal Court—rather than a museum,” explains royal historian Dr. Eleanor Hampton. “When you walk through spaces like the Tapestry Room or the Queen Anne Room, you’re moving through chambers that continue to serve diplomatic and ceremonial functions today, just as they have for centuries.”
The 90-minute guided tour also includes the Grand Staircase, adorned with portraits of Stuart monarchs, the Armoury, the Entrée Room, and the Picture Gallery with its impressive collection of royal artworks. Visitors will also gain access to the private balcony overlooking the Chapel Royal, where Queen Victoria married Prince Albert and where several royal christenings have taken place over the centuries.
While St James’s Palace is no longer the sovereign’s residence (a role now filled by Buckingham Palace), it maintains its position as the senior royal palace in London. It continues to house the offices of several royal family members and serves as the London base for Princess Anne and Princess Alexandra.
For context, the £85 ticket price sits between the £75 charged for Buckingham Palace’s summer opening and the £100+ for special evening tours of royal residences. The Royal Collection Trust justifies the cost by pointing to the exclusive nature of the experience and the small group sizes, which allow for more personal engagement with expert guides.
With the initial allocation of tickets vanishing so rapidly, the Trust confirms it hopes to extend tours beyond May 2025, though specific dates remain unannounced. The palace joins other royal residences like Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace in offering public access, though with significantly more limited availability.
“For anyone with even a passing interest in British history or royal heritage, signing up for the newsletter is absolutely essential,” Phillips emphasized. “Unlike some tourist attractions where you can simply show up and purchase tickets, these palace tours operate on a strictly advance booking basis, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
The unexpected popularity of the St James’s Palace tours suggests a growing public appetite for more intimate historical experiences beyond the standard tourist offerings—provided you’re quick enough to secure your place.
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