Changing of the Guard Tour

Discover London’s Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace on this award winning Changing of the Guard tour. Led by a knowledgeable London tour guide, this Changing of the Guard walking tour takes you to the perfect vantage points of where to see the Changing of the Guard ceremony in all its royal pomp and pageantry. The Changing of the Guard in London is one of the great British traditions, and this Changing of the Guard tour will give you the chance to see the best parts of this world famous ceremony up close. Join this Changing of the Guard walking tour and witness the best of British history, heritage and culture all in one royal morning.

Tour Description

Discover the iconic Changing of the Guard in London with this award-winning Changing of the Guard tour. Full of traditional pomp and pageantry, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is one of the best things to do in London, with this Changing of the Guard walking tour giving you the best spots to view this world famous ceremony full of incredible British history and culture.

Your Changing of the Guard walking tour is led by an experienced and knowledgeable London tour guide who will ensure you see the Changing of the Guard ceremony in the right way (most people do it the wrong way!). Moving between each Changing of the Guard location, you'll get incredible up-close photos of the Buckingham Palace guards as they march between London’s Royal palaces accompanied by a full military band.

As you discover London’s royal history, you’ll be following the best Changing of the Guard route ensuring you see all of the best parts of the Changing of the Guard ceremony in a way that is easy to understand and avoids the majority of the crowds, making this the best Changing of the Guard tour for all visitors to London including families, solo travellers, first time visitors and returning guests. From the origins of the Royal guards to fascinating royal anecdotes, every moment of this Changing of the Guard walking tour deepens your understanding of British history and will further your appreciation for this centuries-old London tradition.

The Changing of the Guard in London is one the best things to do in London for those wanting to experience the heart of Britain’s royal heritage. By witnessing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace you’ll be seeing the very best that Royal London has to offer. With knowledgeable tour guides, engaging storytelling, and perfectly timed viewing spots, this award-winning experience is the best Changing of the Guard tour for those wanting to get the best photos of the Changing of the Guard ceremony whilst discovering Britain’s royal history, heritage, culture and tradition at its finest.

Do you have a Go City/London Pass?
Please book on our dedicated Go City/London Pass booking page instead!

Tour Highlights

⭐ The best views of the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

⭐ Front row view of the Royal Guards.

⭐ All four locations involved in the Changing of the Guard ceremony.

⭐ Uncover the royal history of Buckingham Palace.

⭐ Find out if the King is home at Clarence House.

⭐ Discover Henry VIII’s historic St James’s Palace.

⭐ Get a photo next to the Royal Horseguards

Tour Schedule

Days of Operation: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday

Start: 10am
Departure Point: Victoria Palace Theatre
Nearest Underground Station: Victoria

The Changing of the Guard Tour will start at 10am at the Victoria Palace Theatre. This is located opposite Victoria Station. On arrival please meet your tour guide holding the yellow umbrella.

Finish: 12pm approx.
End Point: Horseguards Parade
Nearest Underground Station: Westminster

The tour will finish at approximately 12pm at Horseguards Parade.

Tour Itinerary

Your Changing of the Guard Tour will include stops at the following locations:

📍 Buckingham Palace

📍 Clarence House

📍 St James’s Palace

📍 Wellington Barracks

📍 The Mall

📍 Horseguards Parade

📍 St James’s Park

*Itinerary subject to change.

Tour Price

Adults (18+ years old) - £14 per person

Children (5 - 17 years old) - £14 per person

Infants (0 - 4 years old) - Free

Go City/London Pass
This tour is also available with a Go City/London Pass. If you have purchased a Go City/London Pass please book on our Go City booking page instead.

Make it a private tour
This tour is also available as a private tour. Click here to book a private tour.

Important Information

WHAT IS INCLUDED

✅ Walking Tour
✅ Professional Tour Guide
✅ Photo with the Royal Horseguards (subject to availability)

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

❌ Entrance Tickets
❌ Front gates of Buckingham Palace
❌ Gratuities

ACCESSIBILITY

♿ This tour is not suitable for wheelchairs or those with walking difficulties.

PLEASE NOTE:

The tour is available in English only.
The total distanced walked on this tour is approximately 3 miles.
This tour will not go to the front gates of Buckingham Palace. Most of the ceremony is away from the gates. If you wish to go to the front gates of Buckingham Palace then do not book this tour.
In wet weather the Royal Guards may do ‘Wet Change’ - a shorter version of the ceremony without music. This is decided by the British Army at approximately 10.30am on the day.
Photos with the Royal Horseguards are subject to Guard availability.
Go City/London Pass? If you have purchased a Go City/London Pass then please make make your booking on our Go City/London Pass booking page instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. All of our tours are required to be booked in advance. This is due to popularity and for planning purposes. All children aged 5+ years old are required to be included in your booking. Children aged 0-4 years old are complimentary and do not need to be included in your booking.
All of your guests must be included in the same booking. Please do not make separate bookings. We often run multiple tours and each booking is allocated to a tour guide before you arrive for the tour. If you make separate bookings then it is highly likely your guests will be split up with different tour guides. Please note that once we have allocated a booking to a tour guide then it cannot be changed on the day.
Unfortunately our tours are not suitable for wheelchairs, prams/strollers, or those with walking difficulties.
The tour will cover approximately 3 miles of walking. There is no transport on the tour.
For policy reasons Groups or Travelling Parties of 9 or more people must contact us before booking the tour. Failure to contact us prior to booking will result in bookings being cancelled and/or being turned away at the start of the tour without refund.
This Changing of the Guard tour! Our tours are award winning and have been named amongst the best 20 tours in Europe. We’ve also won the Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award 3 years in a row!
The Changing of the Guard in London takes place across the Royal residences of Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace and Clarence House as well as the Wellington Barracks.
Our Changing of the Guard tour guides are all experienced guides and are always kept updated with the latest Changing of the Guard schedule, Changing of the Guard route and Changing of the Guard times.
The Changing of the Guard ceremony goes for approximately 1 hour. Our Changing of the Guard tour goes for approximately 2 hours so you can get the best spots before the crowds, take incredible photos of the Royal palaces and finish with a photo standing next to the Royal Horseguards!
The Changing of the Guard ceremony usually takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. We usually receive the confirmed Changing of the Guard schedule from the British Army approximately 2 - 6 weeks in advance.
Your Changing of the Guard tour will start at 10am with the first guards appearing from approximately 10:30am.
Your Changing of the Guard walking tour will finish with a photo of you standing next to the Royal Horseguards! This is subject to Guard availability.
No. This tour will not go to the front gates of Buckingham Palace as most of the ceremony is away from the Palace.
In bad weather the Royal Guards may do ‘Wet Change’ - a shorter version of the ceremony without music. This decision is made by the British Army at approximately 10.30am on the day of the ceremony.

Tour Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rachel was an outstanding tour guide, bringing a perfect blend of knowledge and enthusiasm. She got us some great views of the guards. (Tripadvisor, 2025)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Erik was very knowledgeable! Thoroughly enjoyed this tour and recommend for anyone wanting to experience the changing of the guard with a historical view. (Tripadvisor, 2025)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was so much more than just the changing of the guards. We got all kinds of historical information and saw so much and our guide. Eric was amazing! (Tripadvisor, 2025)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Matt was our tour guide and he was fantastic! His stories were very entertaining! We had a great view of the guards changing and enjoyed the whole tour. (Tripadvisor, 2025)

Book a Tour

Book your Changing of the Guard Tour in just 4 easy steps!

1) Select your date from the calendar

2) Select number of people

3) Accept the terms and conditions

4) Complete booking

It’s that easy!

What is the Waitlist? If you see ‘Join Waitlist’ on the calendar then the tour is sold out on that date. Join the waitlist for free and we will contact you by email if spots become available to book.