The Changing of the Guard Tour and Buckingham Palace
Description
Royal Westminster and Changing of the Guard is an unforgettable walking tour experience offering you the chance to get up close and personal with London’s most famous and impressive Royal sights. Marvel at Buckingham Palace, march down the Mall with the King's Guards and be surrounded by Royal history at Westminster Abbey - the site of every coronation since 1066. Not only will your guide entertain you with in-depth knowledge and anecdotes, they will also position you in the very best locations to witness the world-famous Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Without a guide hundreds of people stand in the wrong place every day. *Please read the additional information below for full information of Changing of the Guard. One minute be standing in the shadow of London's most iconic sight - Big Ben, and the next be stroking one of the horses of the Household Cavalry. Experience it all on this unforgettable tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your tour with a journey through Royal London, witnessing some of the most famous Royal Houses and Palaces such as St. James' Palace, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace. Enjoy the iconic Changing of the Guard Ceremony as you march down the Mall with the Queen's footguards or marvel at the impressive horses of the Household Cavalry (daily itinerary is dependent upon the schedule of the British Army). Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the beautiful St James' Royal Park to finish the first half of the tour.
Our journey continues through historic Royal Westminster. We pass Churchill's War Rooms and onto Westminster Abbey - the site of every Royal Coronation since 1066, it is the most important church in England. Explore Parliament Square with its array of impressive statues immortalizing such historical figures as Mahatma Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill. Overlooking Parliament Square is the most famous sight in London - Big Ben. Admire the stunning gothic architecture of the Houses of Parliament before heading down to 10 Downing Street, home of the Prime Minister. Capture the perfect photograph with the horses of the Queen's Guard before exploring Horse Guards Parade. Please note we do not enter Westminster Abbey, all of the above is approx 70mins, we spend about 5 mins at the Abbey.
Finish the tour at Trafalgar Square, home of Nelson's Column, one of the most impressive sights in London.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- There will be access to public toilets halfway through the tour.
- The Changing of the Guard (Foot Guards) ceremony at Buckingham Palace occurs on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the tour will witness the Changing of the King's Horse Guards at Horse Guards Parade ..
- The Changing of the Guard Ceremony operates at the discretion of the British Army. It can be changed or cancelled without notice. This is beyond our control.
- In the event of bad weather the Changing of the Guard Ceremony may be cancelled. The tour will endeavor to watch the Changing of the Horse Guards on these days.
- Not recommended for those with walking difficulties as the tour can be a brisk walk in parts.
Reviews(443)
Alan was knowledgeable, funny, thorough and got us to the right spot for the best viewing. Great guide with a way about him that kept you engaged and happy in the current heat.
Our guide Peter was very knowledgable and guided us very well throughout the tour . The palace is beautiful and change of guards was very well organized. It’s surely a must see if you are visiting London.
Such a lovely company to deal with! From the very beginning, they were kind, helpful, and incredibly quick to respond. Their communication was excellent, and every interaction felt easy and genuine. It is clear they truly care about their customers and take pride in providing a great experience. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for a friendly, reliable, and thoughtful tour company.
Best way to start your London holiday. Lots of information of what to do and best way to do it. See all the major sites and more. We were so lucky to have Sinead as a tour guide. We couldn’t ask for a better guide.
This tour was not good at all. the tour guide was not knowledgeable, knew nothing off script, was not engaging, and the walking tour really wasn’t much more than leading us to the back of a crowd watching the changing of the guard with a couple intermediary stops. we would have been better off not paying and using google as our guide.
We are sorry you had a bad experience but from the description you have given we believe you did not attend our tour. There are many guard change tours in the area but we use only the best guides for this event. This is why we are voted the number 1 Changing of the Guard tour in london consistently for the last 5 years. Your review mentions nothing about seeing Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street, Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, St James palace, Clarence House, Churchill’s War rooms. If you did not see these sites on your tour then you were 100% not on our tour. Please have a look at your tickets and see which tour company you went with. If you like please contact us and we will guide you to the correct tour. In the meantime please remove this unfair review on our page. Richard
The tour was great, and our tour guide John was the best part by far! Would definitely recommend him
Peter was an amazing guide! We got the best spot to see the changing on the guards and the horse guards! He was very informative!
What an enjoyable morning - we saw so much more than we would have seen on our own. John was outstanding he was so knowledgeable and fun.
Great tour! Angie is very knowledgeable and kept our group together and safe from the many cyclists in the streets. She shared many interesting stories and answered questions as they came up.
Our tour guide Angie was very informative and friendly! We couldn't have been happier with her expertise. #GoTeamAng! From the Featherstones in Shibden Hall, Halifax
