Buckingham Palace is probably pretty high up on most tourists lists of London landmarks and if you’re American there’s an even higher chance you’re going to want to see where the Queen lives.
But it’s not for everyone and if you’ve got high expectations then you might leave feeling disappointed.
Some American tourists were left unimpressed claiming it’s “dull”, “boring” or just a waste of their time. Some felt so strongly about it that they took to Yelp to leave some pretty scathing reviews, MyLondon reports.
Here are some of the most searing reviews from our neighbours across the pond.
'Don't go if it's raining'
Don't risk it and go there if there is a chance of rain in the forecast. We arrived when it was not raining then it did.
The Buckingham personnel didn't, and apparently never, announce the cancellation until 25 minutes past the start time! People were waiting in the rain with hope. Even the police/ security staff at the Palace didn't know about the cancellation.
The cancelling wasn't a big deal but knowingly keeping people's hope up was.
'Short, uninteresting and lame'
We went on a group experience to Buckingham Palace arrived super early. Checking in was fast, but when going into the palace I was shocked to find that it was so short and uninteresting.
All that the palace shows you is how the elitists lived their lives by going to parties and hoarding paintings. The place was all so godly which was tacky in my eyes.
Overall the experience was lame. It's not worth spending your money on this palace, they don't even allow you to take photos of the place. Save your pounds. Don't spend money in their gift shop it's full of expensive coats of arms representing the palace luxuries.
'Some say it's the most recognisable building in the world, but I think it's rather dull'
Clearly, nothing I can say will or should dissuade you -- the tourist visiting the Queen's manor, and long live her, might I add -- but the truth behind it all is that Buckingham Palace is well, boring. Some say it's the most recognisable building in the world, but I think it's rather dull.
Perhaps you're waiting out in front of the palace now, waiting to see if Prince Harry goes streaking past the quad to the gymnasium, or if Elton John will randomly break out into song, dance and bouts of bulimia, but odds are none of these things will happen. Instead, you're treated a short, once a day changing of the guards ceremony that is lackluster in general and never seems to start on time, and the privilege of staring at the palace's pointless facade from 300 yards (273.42 meters) away like you're at Disney's Magic Kingdom viewing the castle from the Beauty and the Beast, and initially being impressed but it's size and grandeur, but eventually realizing it's only a small model meant to appear large and is therefore actually less significant than you'd expected, and you lose interest.
One positive note however, are those guards. You see, Bugs Bunny lead us all to believe that they can't move or talk no matter what you do. Not true. I dare you to cross the line and approach one of them (or better yet, watch some unsuspecting tourist that wasn't smart enough to read this review approach them), and discover that those British chaps wearing the, uhm... chaps, will plant their boot so far up your behind that you'll taste nothing but horse hair and beef wellington for the next fortnight.
God save the Queen.
'Boring'
BORING. Walk by. Take some snaps, but don't wait for the changing of the guard. Too many people and ridiculously boring. You're just watching a bunch of security dudes go to work.
'I thought it was a waste of time'
What a total bust. Even during winter time it was crowded and the change of guard took FOREVER. I thought it was a waste of time but I guess if you've never seen it before it's worth seeing once.
'Very sad... pretty interesting'
King Edward VII died here. Very sad. King Edward VII was also born here...pretty interesting.
