Activities ,Walking tours ,Attractions & guided tours ,Excursions & day trips ,Sightseeing & traditions ,City

London Changing of the Guard Guided Tour

9 Carlton House Terrace, St. James's, London SW1Y 5AG, UK, London, United Kingdom

London Changing of the Guard Guided Tour

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Overview

Duration

1h 30min

Languages

English

Voucher type

mobile

What To Expect

See British tradition come to life on this fully-guided Changing of the Guard walking tour that ensures you get the very best views of this spectacular ceremony.Follow your guide on a dynamic journey that takes in the entire Changing of the Guard from beginning to end as they expertly navigate the crowds to take you to the best viewpoints. Your guide is an expert on the history of this fascinating ceremony and their knowledge will give you insight into every detail of this British spectacle. With your own headset allowing you to easily follow your guide’s entertaining commentary, you can fully take in the splendor parading past you.Marvel at the precision with which the King's Foot Guards march to Buckingham Palace, clad in their iconic red tunics and bearskin hats, or admire the gleaming coats of the Household Cavalry’s horses as they emerge at Horse Guard’s Parade. If you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.

What to remember

Important info

Not suitable for:

Wheelchair users or guests with any impairments requiring special assistance
Strollers or baby carriages

Know in advance:

The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace involves foot soldiers from the Household Division and occurs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The Changing of the Horse Guards at Horse Guards Parade features mounted cavalry from the Household Cavalry and takes place daily, this is what you will see if you book a tour on Tuesday and Thursday. The former occurs at Buckingham Palace, while the latter is held at Horse Guards Parade near Whitehall
On Saturday, the show that takes place is known as the "Guard Mounting" or "Inspection of the New Guard" at House Guards Parade. The inspection involves the Captain of the New Guard inspecting the soldiers to ensure they are in proper order with their uniforms and equipment in pristine condition, before they take over their duties from the Old Guard
The tour operator will do everything within their power to ensure timings and itineraries are respected. However, due to issues beyond their control, timings and sites are subject to last-minute changes on rare occasions. Please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours due to the popularity of London’s sites
Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the experience. Latecomers cannot be accommodated and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded

Remember to bring:

Rainproof clothing, weather is very changeable in London

What's included

Guided walking tour. Headsets (to hear the guide)

Know Before You Go

Highlights

Get views of the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Hear about the history of this event from an expert guide. Visit The Mall, St. James's Palace and St. James's Park. Admire the exterior of the stunning Buckingham Palace

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel your tour until a day in advance

Provider

City Wonders

Meeting Point

You will meet your guide at Duke of York column at Waterloo Place. This is the tall column with the statue on top. Your guide will have a sign with the tour name for easy recognition. Arriving by tube: Take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and take exit No. 3 onto Regent Street/St James's. You can also arrive via Charing Cross Station.