How much time should we plan for the Royal Mews? The Staterooms? The Queens Gallery?
You have to chose your time to enter the Queens Gallery, and I don't want to arrive, get into the staterooms or mews, and then have to run to our timed entry into the gallery. I also don't want to arrive and be in line trying to get into the palace and miss our timed entry or arrive too early and be waiting around. Not sure how best to arrange it.
Ok, I know I stress about the smallest detail!!
In the past when I have done the Royal Day Out, I arranged the time for the Queens Gallery 1st thing, then did the Mews, took a break for lunch and did the Palace last. They route you to exit the Palace thru the gardens (looking at Google maps it looks like you exit on Grosvenor Pl.). It is a fair piece back to the Queens Gallery.
editing to add: The entrances to the State Rooms, The Queens Gallery and The Mews are all on the same street. Both the Mews and Gallery exit you back on to this street.
Both times I have gone I was very interested in the showing at the Queens Gallery so I listened to the whole audio tour. I did try to get to the Mews for their free guided tours at 11, so probably spent 1h30m at Queens Gallery or a little less so I could walk next door for the Mews tour, then maybe an hour or a bit more in the Mews as you will want to look around a little before or after.
After seeing those 2 areas, I did want to sit down for a bit so lunch was a good break. I asked the ladies in the Mews gift shop (thru which you have to exit, lol) about a lunch place and was sent to fairly good restaurants both times. So, lunch and then back to Buckingham Palace for the State rooms. That probably took me 1.5 to 2 hours. They have a nice little tea room/tent at the end and who can't resist having tea at the Palace?
By the way, if you or your group are NOT interested in the special showing at the Queens Gallery, I would skip it. I have not looked to see what is on this year. Last year it was The Georgians, the year before The Tudors. In my experience it is only the special show that you see, nothing else.
editing: OK, this year the exhibit is The Art of the Garden which looks like something I would like but may not be to everyone's taste.
http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/exhibitions/painting-paradise-the-art-of-the-garden-bp
I second Pam's timetable- some it will depend on whether you talk to the guards at the mews.I also second. the idea to see what is as it the Queen's Gallery. It was Italian art when we were there and we could have skipped it. Be aware they take their timed entrances seriously and we were almost denied entrance because we got caught in the crowd dispersing from the Changing of the Guards. This remains a highlight tour.
Thank you! Everyone is so helpful here!
