8 royal sites to visit this summer
From residences to exhibitions, here’s our pick of the best royal days out in 2024
It’s our last Royal List of the summer, before we, like the Windsors, depart on a short break. So, we thought we’d join together with our sister newsletter The British Travel List and bring you our guide to the best royal days out. Here’s our pick of eight sites to visit, this summer.
1. Buckingham Palace
First on the list, has to be the summer opening of Buckingham Palace, which this year includes an extra East Wing guided tour, taking visitors through previously closed-off-to-the-public rooms, including the famous balcony. This must be booked separately from the normal State Rooms and Garden tour. There are also other special tours, such as an evening tour and study afternoon – do check the website as they have a lot of great events. On until September, visit rct.uk
2. Untold Lives, Kensington Palace
This summer’s exhibition at Kensington Palace is Untold Lives: A Palace at Work, telling the stories of the workers who lived there, from pages, to nannies, cooks and seamstresses. It includes many artefacts which have never been on display before. On until October, visit hrp.org.uk
3. Balmoral
Guided tours of the interior of Balmoral began this summer – read more about them here – and the summer opening of the Royal Family’s Scottish retreat runs until August 11, after which time, they take their own holidays there. There are all sorts of tours to experience in the grounds and castle, plus afternoon tea. If you miss it this year, book ahead for next! Visit balmoralcastle.com
4. Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography, King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace
Separate to the Buckingham Palace tour, is the summer exhibition in the King’s Gallery, which this year is a royal portraiture one, showing photos from the 1920s to today, including 150 works by Cecil Beaton, Dorothy Wilding, Annie Leibovitz, Rankin and Antony Armstrong-Jones. On until October, visit rct.uk
5. Life Through a Royal Lens at Hillsborough Castle
If you missed this exhibition when it was at Kensington Palace, then this lovely collection of images of the Royal Family over the past 200 years, including many taken by family members themselves, has moved to Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland. On until October, visit hrp.org.uk
6. Style and Society: Dressing the Georgians, The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse
Similarly, for those who didn’t get to see the magnificent exhibition exploring the lavish lifestyles of the Georgians, in London, it has moved to The King’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scotland. Marrying fashion and art, the exhibition includes enormous court gowns and has artwork by Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth. On until September, visit rct.uk
7. 100 Years of Queen Mary’s Dolls House, Windsor Castle
If you have never toured Windsor Castle, do make the trip, as it’s a lovely day out and one of our favourite sites. Read more about it here. All year it’s celebrating the tiny treasures of the Edwardian miniature masterpiece dolls’ house – but beware, there are always long queues to see this. Visit rct.uk
8. Wildflowers at the Tower of London
Visit the Tower of London over the summer holidays and see the last of the beautiful wildflowers in the moat, as well as the dazzling Crown Jewels, of course. This summer, there’s a special immersive Trailblazers experience, celebrating women at the Tower. Until September. Visit hrp.org.uk
Coming soon: An exciting announcement!
We’re now taking a break and will be back with another newsletter on August 25. We’ll also be making an exciting announcement about a new project, so watch this space. Thank you for all your continued support and see you soon!
Kerry and Maria