Changing of the Guard Tour: Buckingham Palace and Royal Westminster on Foot

Want to see London's most famous royal spectacle from the right spot? This Changing of the Guard tour takes you on foot through Royal London and Westminster with an expert local guide and positions you where you can see the ceremony best.

Along the way

You see Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Clarence House from outside and march down the Mall with the King's Guards. Westminster Abbey, the site of every coronation since 1066, and Big Ben are on the route too. Your guide entertains you with in-depth knowledge and anecdotes, and positions you in the best locations for the Changing of the Guard, where hundreds of people without a guide stand in the wrong place every day.

Ceremony days

The Changing of the Guard (Foot Guards) at Buckingham Palace takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays the tour aims to watch the Changing of the King's Horse Guards at Horse Guards Parade. The ceremony is at the discretion of the British Army and can be changed without notice or cancelled in bad weather.

Good to know

Parts of the tour are a brisk walk, so it is not recommended for travellers with walking difficulties or poor cardiovascular health, and it is not wheelchair accessible. There is access to public toilets halfway through. Westminster Abbey entry, food and drink, and gratuities are not included.

How booking works

Choose your date and number of guests and send your request; at this stage we only place a hold on your card. We check availability with the operator, email you when we confirm and take the payment at that point. If the request cannot be fulfilled, we email you and your card is not charged.

Add Westminster Abbey or Tower of London entry from our tours in London, and stay near St James's with our hotels in London.