Buckingham Palace Visit & Changing of the Guard Walking Tour
Description
Experience the best of British tradition with this exceptional tour, featuring a guided visit to the Changing of the Guard ceremony followed by a self-guided exploration of Buckingham Palace. Start your day with one of London’s most iconic events—the Changing of the Guard. Watch as the Old Guard ceremoniously hands over duty to the New Guard in a display of precision and pageantry. Dressed in red uniforms and tall bearskin hats, the Guards march in time to music, creating a memorable spectacle. Your guide will help you secure the best vantage points and explain the significance of each part of the ceremony. Afterward, immerse yourself in the opulence of Buckingham Palace with a self-guided tour of the State Rooms. Explore the official home of the British monarch, marveling at royal gifts, spectacular furnishings, and priceless artworks. Don’t miss the 16-hectare Palace Gardens, once the site of Her Majesty’s famous tea parties.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join us as we serve a slice of world-famous ceremonial action with this small-group Changing of the Guards experience.
Built on the site of an old leper hospital, did you know that St James’s is the oldest royal palace in the whole of the UK? Take in this beauty, still the official royal residence today. Visiting outside
Clarence House serves as the London residence of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
No guides are allowed to talk within the walls of the palace but fear not, after setting the scene for this unforgettable visit with anecdotes and stories of their own, your expert guide will see you off into the palace for a self-guided audio tour to be enjoyed at your own pace. Take up this invitation to get a rare glimpse into life at this nationally cherished palace as you tour the opulent State Rooms and marvel at gifts from Heads of State, spectacular furnishings and artworks, all brought to life by the official Palace Audio Tour. Don’t forget to stop by the 16-hectare Palace Gardens. With the palace being open to the public for just two months a year in August & September, tickets are always in high demand for this unforgettable experience Self-guided audio tour.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We tend to move pretty fast to keep up with the guards, so please wear comfortable shoes and always carry water.
- We will not stand at the forecourt of Buckingham Palace as, due to crowds, you see very little and the experience would be ten times less fun. We want to get you as close as possible with the opportunity to take some amazing snapshots.
- It is at the discretion of the British Army to change or cancel the Ceremony. The announcement will not be made until after 10.30am so come rain or shine, the Urban Saunters Changing of the Guard experience will go ahead. If the full ceremony is cancelled, there will still be the chance to see the guards marching, just without the music.
- No videoing of the guide unless they have given permission
- Ceremony can be altered at the discretion of the British Army, or occasionally due to rain
- There are no toilet or refreshment breaks on this tour
- Tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Sundays – From April 2025, the Army is trying out a slightly different version of the usual ceremony on Sundays. It still involves the same number of guard movements and the same locations, but it’s now being called a “Parade” instead of a “Change.” There’s no word yet on how long this trial will last
Reviews(125)
Had a good experience with a tour guide Ange, she was very good, funny and knows her job best. The crowd wasn’t too big as we were all fitting well . It was a good sunny day with a good guide, would love to come again and do a tour with Team Angel.
Don't go on Sunday it was just the band marching not the traditional changing of the guard which happens during the week. Chris our guide was very knowledgeable and shared historical insights into the places we visited. Buckingham Palace is a self guided audio tour.
Our guide was great! Very informative. Easy to understand. Well organized. Knew where to go and when to get us good views.
Nathan our guide was terrific and so informative, he really made the difference. I hope you're lucky enough to get him as your guide!!!
Nathan was a great guide. Excellent tour guide. Took us to the best spots to watch. Took time to explain.
The tour was great. We were is a great spot to see the changing of the guard. Very knowledgeable tour guide. He had a great stories.
I have to admit I was disappointed. Buckingham Palace is iconic, but in my opinion it’s worth visiting mainly because of its historical significance and worldwide fame. The Changing of the Guard was overcrowded, difficult to see, and far less impressive than I expected. There are many other attractions in London that offer a much better experience and make better use of your time. If your schedule is tight, I would skip the ceremony without hesitation.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We've tried to locate your booking in our system but have been unable to find any record of you joining a tour with Urban Saunters. Could you please confirm whether you booked and took this experience with our company? If this review was intended for a different tour operator, we'd be very grateful if you could either remove it or post it under the correct company, as reviews have a significant impact on small independent businesses like ours. If you did join one of our tours, please let us know the name the booking was made under or your booking reference so we can investigate your experience and address your concerns - info@urbansaunters.com Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Urban Saunters
Babs our tour guide was wonderful! She is very descriptive and knowledgeable about the royals. She knew all the tricks and best view of the changing of the guards. One issue we encountered was the tour inside the palace was too crowded. We were not able to enjoy the historic views to its fullest Beware there is 15min walk through gardens to exit the tour leaving you out on a side street to find your way back. They really need to change this, it’s way too far away from the entrance.
Babs was an amazing guide, entertaining, clear and got us to the very best place to see the changing of the guard. So impressed!
Great experience just know that it is crowded. Very worth it to go! Our guide Jeremy was so much fun I highly recommend him!
