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(103)
We had an amazing experience with Nathan! He was absolutely incredible - funny, knowledgeable, articulate, very engaging experience. We showed up a little late because we got lost, but we were able to jump right in. Nathan is a man who loves his country. We’re from USA and it was refreshing to meet someone with such passion for where he lives. Learned so much about London and the Royal Family!
Chris is an excellent tour guide! He was so informative and good to give us time for pictures! We thoroughly enjoyed the changing of the guard!
Mr Richardson was an incredible tripadvisor. His humor was excellent he was polite and very knowledgeable of the history. Would definitely recommend him !!!
David our tour guide was very funny, warm and knowledgeable. He made sure we got the right spots to view the band and guards
It was an amazing tour and our guide Paul was wonderful. Told the history and many stories. We saw all the aspects of the changing of the guard. The band the guards. Explained why and how of all aspects of the process. We saw them from several vantage points. we would never have found on our own. So glad we did this tour
The tour with Babs was great and entertaining. Lovely walking tour around Buckingham Palace with her!!!! I recommend a tour with her
Babs was a great tourguide. She knew the best spots to watch the changing of the guards en told a lot of fun stories along the way.
Chris was an excellent guide. He knew exactly how to time our visit to see the Changing of the Guard while avoiding the crowds. His local knowledge made the experience smooth, enjoyable, and stress-free. Highly recommended.
Nathan told the tour really well and in an enjoyable way. He spoke with passion, it was easy to follow, and there were some funny moments too.
Chris totally rocked our tour! From start to finish, he made the whole experience unforgettable, with laughs, stories, and just the right sprinkle of behind-the-scenes action. Even though I don’t usually get excited about history, Chris brought the ceremony to life (with way more than textbook facts) and pulled us right into the heart of it all. The best part? He kept things light, shared cool secrets you’d never find on Google, and made sure everyone,( history buff or not )was hooked. Hats off to Chris for making it memorable and a solid must-do for anyone on the fence. Thanks, Chris, for making history seriously fun!
