If you have enjoyed watching the TV series The Crown, following the life of Queen Elizabeth II, we have put together the perfect tour for you to discover Royal Britain. As well as including royal residences and key landmarks associated with the British Royal Family, our tailor-made tour also encompasses filming locations used in the drama.

Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of Her Majesty The Queen © VisitBritain / Andrew Pickett

One of the best places to start a Royal Tour of Britain is Buckingham Palace in London. The official residence of the British monarch, Princess Elizabeth was christened here and lived in the Palace as a child. When she ascended to the throne, Elizabeth as Queen moved back in to the Palace.

When the Second World War came, the young princesses, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret, were evacuated to Windsor Castle, where they spent most of the war. On the outskirts of London, Windsor Castle has been home to 40 monarchs and is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.

Magnificent Windsor Castle, where the Queen spends most of her time when not in London

Find out more about the United Kingdom's royal castles and palaces.

Westminster Abbey is at the heart of Britain’s royal history, and kings and queens have been crowned and buried here for generations. In 1947 Elizabeth married Prince Philip in the Abbey; it was also the site of the Coronation in 1953. Situated close to the Houses of Parliament in London, Westminster Abbey is mainly Gothic in style and can trace its history back over 1,000 years.

Westminster Abbey is at the heart of Britain's royal history (Photographer: Julian Elliott)

Following their marriage, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh lived at Clarence House, on The Mall in London. Designed by renowned 19th century architect John Nash, and commissioned by the Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, Clarence House is open to visitors each August. From 1953 to 2002, Clarence House was the home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

In 1960, Princess Margaret married photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, who was made Earl of Snowdon by the Queen. Now a luxury hotel, Plas Dinas in North Wales was the ancestral home of Lord Snowdon, and Princess Margaret often visited when she was married to the Earl. The 17th century house retains many family photos and memorabilia, so it is the perfect place stay on a tour of Royal Britain.

The investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales took place at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales

Lord Snowdon was Constable of Caernarfon Castle, the ancient fortress which overlooks the Menai Straits in North Wales, and was largely responsible for organising the investiture ceremony in 1969 when Prince Charles (now King Charles III) became Prince of Wales. The atmospheric medieval castle is a delight to explore.

While in London on a Royal Tour, it is well worth visiting St Paul’s Cathedral. One of London’s most recognisable landmarks, St Paul’s Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th Century. The cathedral has longstanding royal connections, for example, a service was held here for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, as well as thanksgiving services for the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees of Queen Elizabeth II. St Paul’s Cathedral was also famously the location chosen for the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

St Paul’s Cathedral, where Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer (Photographer: Peter Smith)

In November 1997, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip held a reception at Banqueting House in the capital to mark their golden wedding anniversary. This splendid neo-classical building was designed by Inigo Jones and dates back to 1622. It is the only remaining part of the once magnificent Palace of Whitehall, residence of English monarchs for over 150 years, from 1530. The house boasts an epic Rubens ceiling and a breathtaking banqueting hall created for King James I.

Balmoral, on Royal Deeside in Scotland's picturesque Cairngorms, is the holiday home of the royal family. Owned by the monarch, the estate was originally bought by Albert, Prince Consort, the husband of Queen Victoria, in 1852. The castle is a famous example of Scottish baronial architecture and every year the Queen used to spend her summer holidays there. The castle gardens are open to the public from April to July and the ballroom in the castle can also be visited.

Balmoral Castle © VisitScotland / North East 250 / Damian Shields

Of all the filming locations used in The Crown, our favourites include Hatfield House, north of London, where the Tudor Queen Elizabeth I spent time as a child; majestic Ely Cathedral in Cambridgeshire, where Princess Elizabeth’s wedding scenes were filmed; the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which was used as a stand-in for the Buckingham Palace courtyard, and Ardverikie Estate in the Highlands of Scotland, which stood in for Balmoral.

To find out more about our Royal Britain Tour, please do contact our friendly team today. As well as visits to the major royal landmarks of Britain, our tour includes the finest accommodation and the best restaurants to meet the needs – and the budget – of your group.

We can also include complementary activities, whether that’s a day at the races or an evening at a top West End show; a relaxing dinner cruise on the River Thames or a little retail therapy on Oxford Street. As all our tours our tailor-made to meet the requirements of your group, every tour is special!