Royal Westminster and Changing of the Guard: Get Intimate with London’s Majestic Royal Sights
4.6
111 Ratings
Greater London
Experience the majesty of London's royal sights on a walking tour. Get up close to Buckingham Palace, witness the Changing of the Guard, and explore Westminster Abbey's rich history.
Duration:
2 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Changing of the Guard - 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.
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Westminster - 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. - Trafalgar Square - Finish the tour at Trafalgar Square, home of Nelson’s Column, one of the most impressive sights in London.
What's Included
- Expert-guided walking tour
What's Not Included
- No Food or Drink included
- Gratuities
- Entrance to inside of attractions
Additional Information
The Royal Westminster and Changing of the Guard walking tour offers an unrivalled, immersive experience into London’s most iconic Royal attractions. Be amazed at the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, walk alongside the King’s Guards on the Mall, and explore royal traditions at Westminster Abbey, the venue for all coronations since 1066.
Your guide will not only provide you with comprehensive information and interesting tales, but also assist you in finding the optimal spots to observe the globally acclaimed Changing of the Guard Ceremony. A significant number of individuals without guides find themselves in less favourable locations every day.
*Please review the following additional information for complete details about the Changing of the Guard.
Experience the charm of standing under London’s most renowned landmark, Big Ben, one moment, and touching one of the Household Cavalry’s horses the next. All of this and more awaits you on this unforgettable journey.
- 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.
Location
Colicci Ritz Corner
The tour starts from the Goddess Diana fountain in Green Park, next to the Colicci refreshment stand. Enter Green Park via the entrance gates next to the Ritz Hotel.
If taking the underground, disembark at Green Park Station. The Green Park/Buckingham Palace exit will lead you to the fountain.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(111 Ratings)
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Scott_m
Feb 27, 2024
Amazing - John was amazing! He was very polite and knowledgeable. We were the only couple on the tour due to other guests not showing up. We got him to ourselves. We even got to see the King today!
Review provided by Viator
Neuchcat
Feb 19, 2024
My teen's favorite part of his London discovery - our guide Nick was the key - Our guide, Nick, was the main reason for the excellent rating. He was funny, informative, and attentive to all ages in the group. My son liked this tour the best of all that we did in our 4-day visit there.
Besides the guards and the Palace, we saw and learned about St. James Palace, Westminster and Big Ben, and 10 Downing St., in about a 2 hour walking tour. Very good value for money.
Note : if you are expecting to be next to the gates of the palace and see the guards there close up, this isn't the tour for you. You do get to see the guards (and marching band) emerge from their quarters and march up to the palace; Nick had us in a prime location to see this and made the short wait fun. But if you want to be near the gates you should go early and on your own (I think it would be impossible to get a group there, given the crowds).
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ballgeier
Dec 11, 2023
Amazing Tour - Do it!!! - This tour saved me! My bucket list item was to see the changing of the guard but my uneducated self thought it all happened at Buckingham Palace. Thanks to our exceptional tour guide, John, he guided us to a great spot to watch the inspection, watch the band and regiment go down the mall and then on the way back to their barracks to be done. The history and information he provided really added a lot to the tour and educated me and all of the tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica_r
Dec 2, 2023
Great tour, and Nick was a great guide! - Nick was a great tour guide who gave us lots of history and jokes along the way. He kept it interesting for our multigenerational (three) group!
Review provided by Viator
Vacationer489099
Nov 1, 2023
Must do guided tour - Thank you so much for a Fantastic experience!!! Went with my 13 year old son. The tour guide Alan was absolutely amazing!!! Answered all our questions and genuinely wanted the best views for all of us on the tour! Thank you so much Alan!!!
Thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vickie_r
Oct 31, 2023
John was a fabulous guide... - John was a fabulous guide and made the whole experience awesome, even though it poured rain most of the tour. Had a great time and learned a lot!
Review provided by Viator
Alanri5823cl
Dec 3, 2023
Great Changing of the Guards experience - Our Tour Leader was very good - gave us a great understanding - we had a very distant view of the main Changing, however, he took us to another smaller Changeover, and we were able to stand right beside the horses.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marsha_v
Nov 14, 2023
Knowledgeable tour leader - a different way to see London - Our tour guide was wonderful - very knowledgeable, walked at a pace everyone could manage even our 5yr old. The meetup point was not so clear for us - thankfully we showed up early and were given instructions from another guide. We did not get to really see the changing of the guard - but this was not the fault of the tour leader, we were unfortunate to be in London while there were demonstrations and remembrance day - roads were closed and super busy everywhere - he done his very best to get there on time. I would say overall a very good experience
Review provided by Viator
Traveler13959131900
Nov 5, 2023
Fun educational tour - Rob our guide was great. Found the meeting place easy. Learnt a lot about London. Lots of photo opportunities. I recommend people do this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andleeb
Jan 6, 2024
Disappointing trip - wrong information on website about the trip.
Could not reach tour guide and no one was helpful over phone to reach your guide.
Very disappointing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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