BUCKINGHAM PALACE is located between St. James's Park and the Palace's 40-acre private gardens. From outside the gates, you can watch the Changing of the Guard at approximately 11 a.m. every other day from September through April, barring rain or other state occasions. The best location from which to watch is the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of the Palace.

There are three areas of the Palace open on a regular basis:

The Queen's Gallery, which holds an annual series of exhibitions from the Royal Collection, is open daily from 9.30 a.m. with last admissions 4 p.m. Admission costs £3.50 for adults, £2 for children, or £10 for a family ticket.

The State Rooms of the Palace will be open daily from 8th August to 5th October from 9.30 a.m. with last admissions at 4.30 p.m. Admission costs £9.50. A credit card telephone booking line for the 1997 Summer Opening season is available 7 days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are also available to personal callers to the ticket office during opening hours. Tel: 0171 321 2233

The Royal Mews, where The Queen's horses and Royal carriages are on display, is located behind the Palace. The entrance is located on Buckingham Palace Road. Admission to the Mews costs £3.70 for adults, £2.10 for children, or £10 for a family ticket. A combined family ticket for The Queen's Gallery and the Royal Mews is available for £15.

NEARBY:The Guards Museum, located to the south of the Palace at Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admission at 3.30 p.m. Admission costs £2 for adults, £1 for children, or £4 for a family ticket. The museum offers half-price admission to those previously visiting Buckingham Palace. Visitors will need to present their ticket or entry wallet from the Palace in order to receive the discount.