.png)
As spring blooms across the iconic Buckingham Palace gardens, the English capital is preparing to welcome picnickers for the first time in history.
The Royal Collection Trust has announced that this summer, visitors may embark on a self-guided tour through the gardens and around its massive three-and-a-half-acre lake.
"You will be free to wander around the garden's winding paths at your own pace and experience the beauty and calm of this walled oasis in central London," the trust writes. "Among the many features to discover are the 156-metre Herbaceous Border, the Horse Chestnut Avenue, the Plane trees planted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the famous lake with its island that is home to the Buckingham Palace bees."
According to the Royal Collection Trust, the 29-acre garden is a rich biodiverse habitat; it contains over 1,000 trees, the National Collection of Mulberry Trees, and 320 types of wildflowers and grass.
The area also features the Rose Garden, a summer house, and a wildflower meadow—all of which can be accessed via daily guided tours from July 9 until September 18. Needless to say, Londoners have never been more excited.