10 Things That Will Get Confiscated When You Visit Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is among the most recognizable landmarks in the world, serving as the British Monarchy's working administrative headquarters and a major London tourist attraction. During its public season from July through October, visitors can book tours of the opulent State Rooms, see artwork from the Royal Collection, and enjoy a portion of the gardens. Before one is allowed to see the splendor, however, one must go through a security checkpoint that functions similarly to an airport.

Like many iconic buildings around the world, Buckingham Palace has strict regulations about what visitors can and can't bring inside. Here, we look at 10 things that could be confiscated when you visit Buckingham Palace. Bear in mind that "confiscated" does not always translate to "taken away forever." In some cases, you will be asked to store your item elsewhere or to simply check it for the duration of your stay. And if you're a royal watcher, remember that if you don't see any working members of the royal family at Buckingham Palace, you can always check out some of their favorite vacation spots instead.

To compile this guide, we primarily used Buckingham Palace's official rules and regulations, accompanied by firsthand accounts from people who have had these items confiscated. News articles from the BBC, Love and London, and Travel To With provided additional context.

If you're trying to avoid common American clothing mistakes in Europe, you may have overpacked a bit for your trip to London. And even if you limit yourself to  just one carry-on for your whole vacation, your luggage still probably won't meet Buckingham Palace's rules. Bags larger than 17.72 inches × 7.87 inches × 11.81 inches aren't allowed on palace grounds. This means you'll need to leave your items somewhere else, which could cause you to miss your timed tour.

Fortunately, there are a couple of simple solutions. Perhaps the easiest thing is to allot enough time to stop by your hotel or Airbnb prior to your Buckingham Palace visit. Many London hotels offer luggage storage at the bell desk, though some charge a fee even for registered guests. If, however, you're staying a bit further outside of London proper or you simply don't have time to stop by your accommodations, there is another baggage storage option close to Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Residence is located just half a mile from Victoria Station, where travelers can find a luggage storage facility that charges rates as low as £3.99 daily. The storage spot appears to be trustworthy, with 4.9 stars on Google across more than 2,100 reviews. One person gushed, "Really nice place! The staff were super friendly and helpful." Another reviewer seconded this, sharing, "This is an amazing place to keep luggage. The people are very cordial and helpful."

An umbrella is a sensible accessory to carry in London, where it rains about 156 days a year and is infamously drizzly much of the time. However, visitors who try to carry a full-length umbrella into Buckingham Palace will be asked to surrender it at the security checkpoint. The palace's official visitor rules clearly state that "long umbrellas" must be checked with a guard and reclaimed when the guests in question are exiting the palace grounds.

Unlike large luggage and some other items that we'll look at later in this guide, you won't have to actually exit Buckingham Palace property if you bring a golf umbrella, bubble umbrella, or similar oversized style. Nonetheless, checking any item adds an extra step to the arrival process, and visitors have to remember to collect their belongings before they leave. Bear in mind that you'll take a one-way tour of the palace's public State Rooms, so you can't return to the entry gate once you've begun.

Buckingham Palace does not publish an exact measurement for what constitutes a "long umbrella." However, a smart guess is that if it doesn't retract to fit into a purse or other small bag, it is probably too large. IKEA's Knalla umbrella is a compact, stylish option for world travelers in need of rain gear, but be aware you may need to check it of Buckingham's on your itinerary!

Most people would never deliberately take along a large pair of scissors to tour Buckingham Palace or any other well-known tourist attraction. It is, however, shockingly easy to forget you even have smaller scissors with you when you're on the go. Portable sewing kits, travel-ready first-aid kits, manicure and grooming sets, and kids' craft packs can all contain scissors that might slip your mind.

Buckingham Palace forbids guests from entering with any type of scissors. Its official visitor guidance just notes that "scissors" in general must be checked prior to entry. Even tiny sewing scissors or safety scissors that seem harmless will not be allowed into the London landmark. The good news, though, is that you can pick up your scissors when you leave. Since they are not an illegal item, they simply have to be left with security, not permanently surrendered.

To avoid the hassle of having to check something as trivial as a pair of scissors, it's smart to double-check all the bags you plan to take with you on your tour before arriving at Buckingham Palace. Look through any zippered compartments, toiletry bags, pencil cases, and kids' backpacks to make sure you aren't inadvertently carrying any scissors. If you do discover an errant pair and don't have time to return them to your accommodations, you'll be able to collect them when your tour ends.

In the United States and the United Kingdom, it is legal to carry small pocketknives. If you regularly keep a blade on your person, though, it probably shouldn't accompany you to Buckingham Palace. The palace's official security regulations require visitors to check any knife with a blade that measures under 3 inches long, including penknives, pocketknives, and other similar knives.

Palace security will hold the item during your visit, and you can pick it up before you leave, just like the oversized umbrellas and scissors we've already covered in this guide. Some travelers may forget they have a knife blade with them if it's attached to a keychain or a Swiss Army-type multitool. It is important to note that locking knives of all lengths are prohibited for civilians under United Kingdom law.

One person on Rick Steves's travel forums noted that their 1-inch locking pocketknife was confiscated for good while visiting Buckingham Palace. The law officially states that "good reasons" for carrying knives in public include job requirements, wearing one as part of specific cultural attire, and religious exceptions, like the traditional Sikh kirpan blade. If you have any doubt about whether your knife qualifies as legal in the U.K., it is best to leave it in your checked luggage at your hotel or Airbnb, as eligible knives are not allowed in carry-ons on flights departing from the United States, per TSA rules.

We've separated knives into two categories in this guide due to how British law functions. As noted in the prior section, non-locking pocketknives and penknives that are shorter than three inches can be picked up and reclaimed following a Buckingham Palace tour. However, palace regulations require visitors carrying locking knives or knives with blades exceeding 3 inches to permanently surrender their property.

Flick knives and butterfly knives are specifically listed as prohibited in the King's Gallery at Buckingham Palace. It is worth mentioning that palace guidance does allow for one notable exception. Those who "have a reasonable excuse for having it" may be allowed to enter with a locking knife. However, royal officials do not explicitly say what constitutes a "reasonable excuse" in this case. As with shorter blades, it is likely that these reasons could include your employment or religious purposes.

This is, however, a situation in which erring on the side of caution is best since the odds are good that you won't get your blade back from palace security if it is illegal under U.K. law. The best play is to leave utility knives, self-defense knives, and other longer or locking blades behind when you enter any public space in the United Kingdom. If you don't have a potentially banned weapon on you, there is, of course, no chance of facing legal repercussions for it.

Although states have different laws regarding pepper spray, it is a relatively common choice for personal protection in the United States, particularly among females. In a survey of more than 1,700 women, in fact, about 20% said they regularly carry pepper spray. SABRE, Mace, and other self-defense brands sell keychain pepper spray varieties that many travelers may take on a trip without a second thought. The TSA permits pepper spray containers under 4 ounces in checked baggage, though particular airlines sometimes have their own restrictions.

In the United Kingdom, however, pepper spray is not legal for civilians to carry. As a matter of fact, it is classified as a Section 5 firearm — a serious category that also includes bombs and grenades — and possessing it can result in years of incarceration. To put things in perspective, English and Welsh prison guards were only given the green light to carry pepper spray in 2018. Buckingham Palace, not surprisingly, bans guests from entering with any form of pepper spray, CS (tear gas) spray, or OC spray.

Anyone who attempts to bring this type of self-defense item into Buckingham Palace will have it confiscated, per U.K. law. Given the severity of the offense, it is best to leave your pepper spray at home, especially if you're planning your first European vacation and don't want any issues! If you are concerned about personal safety, alternatives that are legal in the United Kingdom include dye-based sprays that may shock an assailant and portable panic alarms that will begin blaring if you press them during an unwanted interaction or assault.

The vast majority of people would not expect to be allowed to tour Buckingham Palace with an open beer or cocktail in hand, but the palace's restriction on alcoholic beverages extends past open containers. Per the official rules, sealed bottles and cans are also prohibited on the grounds and must be checked with security upon arrival. Unlike weapons and pepper spray, though, guests can pick up their alcoholic souvenirs when they are finishing touring the public areas of the palace.

It is not at all uncommon for people to purchase various whiskies, gins, and beers to take back to the United States from the United Kingdom, whether for themselves or as gifts. Depending on what time of day a tourist plans to visit Buckingham Palace, they may show up with a shopping bag that contains a nice Scotch, craft gin, or an Imperial Stout, for example. Fortunately, the bag can simply be checked with security, but this may take a few extra minutes, so it's smart to give yourself ample time if you know you'll be arriving with bottles of alcohol.

If you happen to be purchasing particularly expensive or fragile alcohol, it may be best to return to your accommodations before your palace tour if time allows. If, however, you don't have time to stop back by your room or rental house, just be aware that you'll have to pick up your purchases when you depart. Another option is to wait to shop for souvenirs until after you've visited Buckingham Palace. A lovely shop called City of London Whiskies & Wines is only about a 10-minute walk from the palace grounds!

While it might initially seem odd that Buckingham Palace specifically bars visitors from carrying paints and aerosol cans into the Royal Residence, it's important to remember that this doesn't just include cans of spray paint, which would, indeed, be a strange thing to pack for a palace tour. Hairspray, spray-on deodorant, dry shampoo, sunscreen, shaving cream, and other personal care products are all available in aerosol cans. Especially if you come to the palace straight from the airport or the train station, you might still have a toiletry bag with you.

Paint products and aerosols are required to be checked with palace security upon arrival at the palace, but they will not be permanently confiscated according to official guidelines. There are no separate requirements for personal care aerosols versus cleaning chemicals or other items, nor does Buckingham Palace distinguish between travel-sized and full-size containers. This means visitors should anticipate that any and all aerosol cans will need to be turned over to a guard when they get to the palace for their scheduled tours.

It's also worth noting that, unlike the TSA and other airport security agencies around the world, Buckingham Palace does not have a general ban on liquids. Only aerosol products must be checked in. You may bring water bottles for all members of your party during your visit.

Buckingham Palace has a very strict anti-drone policy. Visitors are not allowed to bring drones of any kind onto the palace property. These devices are treated like oversized luggage. You must leave them in your lodgings or store them elsewhere offsite while you are touring the palace. One 2025 visitor shared a photo on Facebook of signage outside the palace that said, in no uncertain terms: "NO DRONE USE. UNAUTHORISED USE OF DRONES IN THIS AREA IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. OFFENDERS LIABLE TO PROSECUTION."

It's worth noting that Buckingham's drone regulations apply at all times, even when drones are inside of cases or stashed in bags. Official guidance prohibits drones in general, not just those that are in the air. The infrastructure compliance experts at MmowW even called the palace "one of the clearest no-fly landmarks in the country." Legal repercussions can include arrest, prosecution, and fines.

Travelers should also be aware of the fact that Buckingham Palace isn't the only London location with stringent no-drone regulations. Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, The London Eye, The Tower of London, and more popular spots all require permission for drone usage, and it is decidedly not easy to come by. In September 2025, police took a man into custody for drone use at another Royal Residence, Windsor Castle. The situation occurred during a period of heightened security in the United Kingdom, as United States President Donald Trump was scheduled to make an official visit to King Charles III.

Tourists exploring London by bike, skateboard, scooter, or roller skates will need to choose another mode of transit if they plan to visit Buckingham Palace. The facility's official rules prohibit bicycles, including folding models, roller blades and roller skates, scooters, and skateboards on the grounds. If you arrive with one of these items, you will have to leave it and store it elsewhere before returning.

Parents who are traveling with small children may be wondering what this means for strollers. While they are not outright banned like the aforementioned list, they do have to be checked when you arrive and cannot actually be taken through the tour. If your child is too young to walk through the palace independently, Buckingham Palace does offer a limited number of baby carriers and hip seats. However, availability is not guaranteed, so it is wise to take your own if you travel with them.

Although it is an incredible historical site, visiting Buckingham with young babies can be a bit of a challenge. Travel To With rated it at just 59% baby-friendly, noting that, outside of the stroller restriction, the two-hour tour is not always conducive to babies' schedules. The palace does, however, make efforts to be inclusive, specifically noting that breastfeeding is permitted anywhere on-site and providing a specialized baby care area.