Frustrated tourists took to social media to argue Buckingham Palace isn’t everything its cracked up to be – and one even said they might complain to King Charles himself
Buckingham Palace, one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks, has been branded as ‘ugly’ and ‘overrated’ by disgruntled tourists, who even threatened to complain to the King.
Despite its worldwide fame and historical significance, some visitors have been left underwhelmed by the Royal residence.
‘Mira H’, who visited in April 2024, expressed her disappointment on Tripadvisor, describing the palace as ‘lame’. She wrote: “We only visited from the outside and I’m not going to lie, it was pretty lame and kind of ugly.
“It does not look like a palace at all. There are more beautiful-looking buildings around London that look more like a palace than this place. It was too crowded, making it very hard to get good pictures. I thought it was very boring.”
Even locals aren’t impressed, with Londoner ‘Azy B’ stating: “Boring. Nothing happens there! Just an old, ugly building. Very crowded for no special reasons. King isn’t around!”
American visitor ‘Susan D’ echoed these sentiments, commenting: “Everyone wants to see it but, in my opinion, it is just a big, ugly building, with a very tall, black fence around it.”
Complaints weren’t limited to the exterior, with some visitors criticising the guided tour, lack of facilities, and strict bag policy.
Tripadvisor user ‘Ankita S’ lamented: “Terrible, terrible, terrible! All those security guards spoiled the entire experience for me and my parents! After travelling halfway across the globe to witness the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, we were met with incessant badgering from overly zealous security guards during our tour of the state rooms.
“Despite repeated explanations that my bag was essential, I was hounded at every nook and corner! Their constant nagging ruined what was supposed to be a delightful experience. I will lodge a complaint with King Charles himself!”
While some visitors echo these concerns, many have sung praises to the iconic landmark, with numerous higher ratings and declarations of ‘must-see’.
A visitor from New York named Gretel voiced: “Buckingham Palace was cool to visit, and I’m glad I got to experience it. It’s undoubtedly iconic, and one must certainly tick it off their London bucket list. However, a fair warning for first-timers – the Changing of the Guard tends to draw immense crowds, which could obstruct your view.”
Others offered a glowing review on the palace’s magnificence. A visitor named ‘MA Burns27’, also from the States remarked that for £90, the tour provided “unparalleled access to history and current events.”
The art history enthusiast was thrilled with the intimate access to the Royal gallery and its priceless collection, writing: “The knowledgeable trio of guides pointed out details great and small; and as an art history buff, access to the Royal gallery and its priceless collection with a group of only 30 people and adequate time to peruse all of the works was unreal – almost like a private audience with the Mona Lisa or David sculpture.”
Another tourist, under the username ‘Travel25346533585’, left a glowing review of the Changing of the Guard ceremony, which takes place four times a week every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 10.45am. They wrote: “Pure class and elegance. England knows how to put on grandeur. We even witnessed the famous Changing of the Guard. Naturally we took many photos. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. There is plenty of walking and waiting if you wish to watch the world famous Changing of The Guard.”
