Westminster Abbey Tour with Guard Change & Big Ben
Description
Immerse yourself in two iconic London experiences in one morning on this unforgettable tour. Begin your day with an up close view of the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Your guide will lead you straight to the best vantage points and most secluded spots for a close-up peek at London’s most popular spectacle. Witness the ceremony from two different angles as your guide regales you with the unbelievable history of the iconic tradition. Then, while others stand in line, you’ll head straight into Westminster Abbey, where more than 10 centuries of history await. Hear tales of coronations, royal weddings, monarchs, soldiers, heroes, villains, and more as you explore England’s most important Gothic building with an expert guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide and small group outside Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament to get a brief introduction into the history of this important area.
Get your camera ready and enjoy a view of this famous tower before your guided tour of Westminster Abbey. Your guide will share an overview of its history and how it became a symbol of London.
Catch the soldiers preparing for the famous Changing of the Guard ceremony. While you wait, your expert guide will share what the guards' duties entail and the symbolism behind their eccentric uniforms. You'll march alongside the soldiers and head to a special vantage point that lets you get as close as possible to the action. Please Note: The 'Changing of the Guard' can be cancelled last minute due to bad weather, and does not take place every day. On days this ceremony does not take place, guests will see the King's Life Guard Change, Horse Guards Parade. Please also note that access to the panoramic viewpoint may be limited due to local events.
Discover the most important Gothic building in the country, with a rich history and an equally interesting present. Skip the line and head straight inside to hear stories of the significant historical events that have taken place here, along with details of the decor that can be hard to decipher on your own. See the Coronation Chair, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the High Altar, where many royal weddings have taken place. You’ll also visit the tombs of some of the most important figures in history, including Charles Darwin, Edward V, and Sir Isaac Newton.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Please note: The Changing of the Guard occurs only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays we will bring you to the Horse Guard Ceremony and a walking tour of Westminster area. There are also times where the changing of the Guard will not go ahead without prior notice and this is due to last minute decision made by the palace, local authorities or bad weather.
Reviews(57)
David was very knowledgeable. He kept it interesting and my kids did not get bored but adults loved it as well. He also took us to the best spot for the changing of the guards which was so fun!
Very interesting learning about the history of changing of the guard and Westminster abbey. David was excellent.
We missed the tour by 10 minutes because of departing from our hotel using Uber ( it was late) and traffic issues. I was unsuccessful to inform the guide of our tardiness because Walk Tours does not provide a contact number for the guide. The contact number provided on the voucher directed me to a person in the office. I was offered another date ( only one tour a day is offered) but Walk Tours wanted to charge another 25% above what I paid (4 adults). I declined because we have a tour at Tower of London at the same time. I will reach out for a refund on the admission tickets to Westminster Abbey. We toured the Abbey on our own, paying £112.00 (4 Senior tickets)
It was great. Very informative. Our guide was excellent, with a great sense of humour. The duration of the tour was good too
The tour guide was very knowledgeable, as are most tour guides that Viator uses, I have found. This tour has a lot of walking since it covers a large amount of territory so be prepared.
Oliver was wonderful! He got us in the perfect place for changing of the guards and kept us all at a great pace! It was a great tour and I highly recommend it!
Our guide Emily gave us a wonderful tour. The Changing of the Guard did not actually occur on the day that we took the tour, even though it was a "normally" scheduled day (Friday). We wouldn't have known this, but Emily was able to find out what was going on, and instead took us to see the Guard practicing for the King's birthday celebration. That was an amazing. Then she took us to walk along with them as we headed toward Buckingham Palace. She was also an amazing guide in Westminster, taking us through the entire Abbey, pointing out features of interest and telling us about it's history. We never would have gotten as much out of the Westminster experience without her. Also, she was very good about explaining everything we were seeing as we were walking from one point of interest to the next.
Guide was very knowledgeable about the history of Westminster Abbey. She also was determined we were able to see and experience the entire cathedral.
Our guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable but yet very interesting. We didn’t get to see the changing of the guard due to King Charles going to Parliament that day just in time for us to see the proceedings. We saw the whole processional go bye including the King in his carriage. Our guide was very informative about what was happening and the traditions that would be going on between Parliament and the King. Also some backstory or history on former Kings and Parliament. It was very interesting. The Abbey tour was very good and we saw everything. It was worth the money and I’m glad we went
Amazing great knowledge Good pace
Thank you for your lovely feedback! We’re so pleased to hear you had an amazing experience and that the guide’s knowledge and the pacing of the tour made it enjoyable for you. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts and hope to welcome you on another tour soon! Kind Regards, Walks Feedback Team, Carrie
