LONDON
St. Paul’s Cathedral & Buckingham Palace
Key Info
Buckingham Palace: London SW1A 1AA
St. Paul’s Cathedral: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
Times
Pickup Time: 9:00 AM
Trip End: 5:30 PM
Cost
Buckingham Palace:
Ticket Cost: £27 per person (Group discounted price)
St. Paul’s Cathedral:
Ticket Cost: £20.50 per person (We did a free visit to the church and grounds only)
Key Info
Booking
- Check the website for Buckingham Palace slots and book your slot first. Plan the rest of your day accordingly.
Transportation
First Stop: St. Paul’s Cathedral
- Reached by 10:30 AM (It takes about 1 hour to reach central London).
- No parking is available at St. Paul’s. Exchange phone numbers with the driver and discuss drop-off and pick-up points. Communication with the driver is vital.
Second Stop: Buckingham Palace
- Reached by 1:00 PM.
- Limited coach parking near the exit of Buckingham Palace. Use the same drop-off and pick-up point.
- The entrance to the Buckingham Ticket area and the main entrance is about a 10-15 minute walk from the parking point.
Coach Details
- We booked a coach for 33 people.
- Book a coach according to your group size.
- Check quotes from at least three coach companies.
- Coach arrived for pick-up at 9:00 AM.
- Choose a pickup point that suits your group’s needs and has parking available.
- Provide the coach company with the exact address so they can research and find coach parking.
Activities & Lunch
St. Paul’s Cathedral:
- Beautiful surrounding areas and many cafés nearby.
- Walked around the grounds outside the Cathedral and took pictures.
- The church inside is free to visit. You can light a candle and pray. Services are free to attend. Check the timetable outside the church or on the website for detailed timings.
- Met the coach driver at the discussed pick-up location and drove to Buckingham Palace (about 30 minutes away).
Lunch:
Time: 1:00 PM, picnic.
- Everyone brought their own packed lunch, and we had a picnic outside the Buckingham Palace garden grounds.
- Brought picnic blankets and enjoyed sitting under the sunshine.
- Recommended to take a foldable chair for those who can’t sit on the ground.
Buckingham Palace Tour:
- Tour took about 1.5 hours.
- Towards the exit area, there are toilets, a gift shop, and a garden café.
- Some people got ice cream or coffee and enjoyed the view of the grounds and back of the palace.
- Approximately 10 minutes walk from the leaving pathway to the main exit area (where coaches can park and meet for pick-up).
On the Way Back:
- Conducted a pop quiz about portraits, royal rooms, and history questions about the Queen and her life.
- The group enjoyed singing and chatting for the rest of the way.
Points to Keep in Mind
Group Information:
- This trip was organized for a 50+ age group.
- Conduct a health and safety risk assessment prior to the trip.
- Collect emergency contact information for all attendees.
Preparation:
- Wear comfortable clothing and stable footwear due to extensive walking.
- Bring a water bottle.
- Pack lightly to avoid fatigue.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your tour at Buckingham Palace.
- Security bag check at the entrance.
Practical Tips:
- Create a WhatsApp group for easy communication among attendees.
Cost and Address
Buckingham Palace:
- Ticket Cost: £27 per person (Group discounted price)
- Address: London SW1A 1AA
- Phone Number: 0303 123 7300
- Buckingham Palace Website
St. Paul’s Cathedral:
- Ticket Cost: £20.50 per person (We did a free visit to the church and grounds only)
- Address: St. Paul’s Churchyard, London EC4M 8AD
- Phone Number: 020 7246 8350
- St. Paul’s Cathedral Website
Our Trip Gallery
(The information shared here is correct as of July 2024, please check the relevant websites for updated info on each site)
