Pack a picnic blanket and enjoy al fresco dining at Buckingham Palace this summer. The Queen will open the palace gardens for public picnics for the first time. That’s right, you can enjoy mini charcuterie boards and homemade lemonade in the Queen’s backyard.
While the palace grounds are usually open to visitors during the summer, visitors can now picnic on the lawns surrounding the 39-acre site. As lockdown restrictions ease, guests can also enjoy guided tours on weekends in April and May to make the most of their visit.
The rose garden, summer house and meadows can also be visited. Due to coronavirus restrictions, palace tours will not go ahead, but small guided tours of the State Rooms and Gardens will be available from May to September.
In addition to the royal residence in London, the public can also visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh. Their venue will also open this month, along with a new art exhibition, Victoria & Albert: Our Lives in Watercolor.
It's welcome news as things slowly start to return to normal after the Queen canceled her royal garden party due to the pandemic. Typically, the palace hosts three garden parties each year, bringing together volunteers, public sector workers and more.
The palace gardens are officially open from July 9th to September 19th. Tickets can be booked via the Royal Collection Trust website.
