Buckingham Palace will open its garden for picnics for the very first time this summer.

Described as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity', visitors will not only be allowed to wander the grounds of Her Majesty The Queen's official London residence by themselves, but also find a spot to eat and drink on one of its sprawling lawns.

The garden at Buckingham Palace will open to visitors from July until September and tickets for this unique opportunity are now on sale - with children's tickets costing less than £10 and under fives free.

Amongst items of interest available to see will be trees planted by and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and views of the island and its beehives across the Palace's 3.5 acre lake.

Plus the Rose Garden, summer house and wildflower meadow can also be viewed through guided tours that will run each day, which can be booked for a small additional charge.

The historic 39-acre garden dates back to the 1820s when George IV turned Buckingham House into a palace.

Despite its urban location, the garden is home to a remarkable array of flora and fauna, including rare native plants seldom seen in London. On its website the Royal Collection Trust, which oversees all arrangements for visits to royal palaces, refers to the garden as a 'walled oasis in the middle of London'.

Special guided tours of Buckingham Palace will take place from May until September, providing the country moves out of lockdown and away from restrictions as planned, where many of the Palace's magnificent State Rooms will be on show to visitors.

But it is from Friday, July 9 until Sunday, September 19 that special access to the garden will also be available.

A message on the booking website describes to potential visitors what awaits them. It reads: "When you are done exploring, get together with your loved ones and enjoy a picnic on one of the sweeping lawns overlooking the Palace.

"You can purchase delicious refreshments from one of the many food stalls dotted around the Garden, or bring your own food and drink."

To mark the occasion picnic blankets are also being sold via the Royal Collection Trust's online shop when website users click through to purchase their tickets. Tickets must be booked for a specific date and time to allow palace officials to manage guest numbers, which are limited each day, as well as in relation to coronavirus restrictions which may still be in place at the time.

Garden tickets for adults cost £16.50, children aged five to 16 are £9 and those aged under five free. There are also concession tickets costing £15 for over 60s and students.

To learn more about booking a visit or to purchase tickets please visit www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace

Read more: All the latest entertainment news here

Read more: All the latest news from across Kent here.