(More than) one is not amused: Visitors to Buckingham Palace Gardens flood TripAdvisor with bad reviews with claims the Queen’s official residence is just a ‘money-making machine’
- Tickets for self-guided tour of 39-acre gardens went on sale for first time in April
- Tourists took to TripAdvisor to warn other guests away from the attraction
- Complained parts of gardens out of bounds, prosecco ban and overpriced cake
Visitors to Buckingham Palace Gardens took to TripAdvisor with bad reviews about their experience, calling the Queen’s official residence a ‘money-making machine’.
Ticket sales for the chance to enjoy a picnic at the palace has to be suspended when they were first released due to ‘overwhelming’ demand.
However, tourists have warned other guests away from the attraction after discovering large parts of the gardens were out of bounds.
Tourists have flocked to TripAdvisor to warn other guests away from the attraction after discovering large parts of the gardens were out of bounds
The palace website promised visitors the chance to soak up the ‘beauty and calm of this walled oasis’ on a self-guided tour.
Visitors would then be able to enjoy a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to picnic on the lawn’, according to The Sunday Times.
This summer the 39-acre gardens were opened for self-guided tours and picnics for the first time, after entry into the palace exhibitions was stopped last year.
The gardens include a 511-foot herbaceous border and plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Tickets went on sale in April at £16.50 for an adult or £42 for a family with up to three children.
Guests bemoaned overbearing security guards, a ban on prosecco, overpriced coffee and cakes and ‘rip-off’ gift shop tat at the Queen’s official London residence
But guests were left unhappy with their experience, citing overbearing security guards, a ban on prosecco, overpriced food and ‘rip-off’ gift shop tat as reasons not to go.
One guest described it as a ‘money-making machine’ while another added they felt ‘robbed by the royals’.
Many also criticised the size of the area in the gardens, which opened in July, that was available for the public to access.
Many were surprised that areas, including the rose garden and wildflower meadow, were off limits without paying an extra £6.50 per person for a guided tour, which needed to be booked in advance.
This summer the 39-acre gardens were opened for self-guided tours and picnics for the first time, after entry into the palace exhibitions was stopped last year
One guest described it as a ‘money-making machine’ while another added they felt ‘robbed by the royals’ as visitors flooded review sites to tell of their negative experience
Review sites have been flooded with comments criticising them as ‘bitterly disappointing’ and ‘poor value for money’.
One disappointed guest wrote on TripAdvisor: ‘Beware of this complete rip-off! I paid £16.50 for access to the gardens only hoping to laze around, see beautiful flowers and trees.
‘What I experienced was first a long queue to security check and then seeing a piece of a lawn surrounded by standing stewards watching your every step and ropes segregating rest of the garden.
‘This small fragment of the park that you have access to is easily walkable around in 10 min and nothing is interesting to see there.
Visitors were promised they would be able to enjoy a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to picnic on the lawn’ at Buckingham Palace
Review sites have been flooded with comments criticising them as ‘bitterly disappointing’ and ‘poor value for money’
‘You can’t even sit on the lake’s bank to watch wildlife because of these ropes everywhere. I am very disappointed and feel robbed by royals.’
Another wrote that it was a ‘waste of time and money’ while another added there was ‘nothing special’ about their visit.
However, many were thrilled at getting the chance to enjoy the gardens, and visiting the palace has a 4.5 star rating — out of 5 — on TripAdvisor with almost 30,000 reviews.
One review raved about ‘getting to see her majesty’s private garden’ describing it as an ‘incredible experience’, before giving it five stars.
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for a comment.
Source: Read Full Article
