Buckingham Palace Gardens Will Reopen To The Public This Summer — And For The First Time, You Can Have A Picnic On The Grounds!
The gates are finally opening up! Though Buckingham Palace remained close to visitors last year due to the pandemic, it's just been announced that the public will be able to tour the gardens starting in July.
Even more exciting, for the first time ever, guests will be able to have picnics on the lawns!
"You will be free to wander around the garden’s winding paths at your own pace and experience the beauty and calm of this walled oasis in central London," the Royal Collection Trust's website reads.
"Among the many features to discover are the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, the Horse Chestnut Avenue, the plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the famous lake with its island that is home to the Buckingham Palace bees," the description continues.
"When you are done exploring, get together with your loved ones and enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns overlooking the Palace. You can purchase delicious refreshments from one of the many food stalls dotted around the Garden, or bring your own food and drink."
Nature lovers will marvel at the lake, the 325 wild-plant species, 30 species of birds and 1,000 trees in addition to the Rose Garden, the 156-meter Herbaceous Border and wildflower meadow. The gardens are also where Queen Elizabeth II holds her parties.
Structures in the area include a "wisteria-clad summer house, enormous Waterloo Vase made for George IV in Italy, and the Palace tennis court," where King George VI once played.
"The design of the garden as seen today dates back to George IV’s conversion of Buckingham House into Buckingham Palace from 1825," the website notes, adding that since then, the Queen has made several changes.
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The matriarch had "dense Victorian shrubberies" removed, replacing them with more visually appealing "decorative flowering trees and scented shrubs."
Other members of the royal family have had things planted in honor of birthdays and other special occasions, marking each with a plaque.
At the moment, tickets for the garden are available from July 9 to September 19, but other areas of the Palace — such as Windsor Castle and Frogmore House — are also open to the public. Get more info on the historic tours, here!