Activity provider: City Wonders Ltd. UK
Guided tour

London: Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour

4.2 / 5

345 reviews

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    Guided tour

    London: Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace Tour

    Activity provider: City Wonders Ltd. UK
    Likely to sell out
    Likely to sell out

    From US$ 80.56 per person

    Experience a cherished tradition of the English monarchy on a small group tour of London. Watch the Changing of the Guards of the Queen’s Household Cavalry. Then, see the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace on a rare day it’s open to the public.

    About this activity

    Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
    Covid-19 precautions
    Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
    Reserve now & pay later
    Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
    Duration 165 minutes
    Check availability to see starting times.
    Skip the ticket line
    Live tour guide
    English

    Experience

    Highlights
    • Watch the precision skills of the Queen's Foot Guards or Household Cavalry
    • See treasures from the Royal Collection, including beautiful Sèvres porcelain
    • Learn about the royal residences of Buckingham Palace
    • Explore the lavish State Rooms of the Queen's official London residence
    Full description

    Take advantage of a rare opportunity to explore the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace and experience one of the most historic ceremonies of the Royal Family in London. Watch the Changing of the Guards in the company of a local guide, who will explain the history and pageantry behind the ceremony. Gasp at the precision skills of the Queen’s Foot Guards as they march to the sounds of a military band, or see the mounted Household Cavalry - resplendent on horseback - change guards at Horse Guards Parade. If you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you’ll get to experience the change of the Household Cavalry. Admire the lavish apartments and sparkling chandeliers of Buckingham Palace. See some of the greatest treasures from the Royal Collection, including exquisite Sèvres porcelain and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. An official audio guide will be provided to tell the history of the sumptuous furnishings and ornaments and to put it all into historical context.

    Includes
    • Entrance ticket to Buckingham Palace
    • Tour guide
    • Headsets (if needed) to hear your guide
    • Gratuities
    • Hotel pick-up and drop off
    Not suitable for
    • People with mobility impairments
    • Wheelchair users
    Covid-19 precautions
    Safety measures in place
    • The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds
    Traveler requirements
    • You are required to bring and wear a mask

    Select participants and date

    Participants

    Date

    Meeting point

    Meet by the Duke of York column on Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ. It's a tall column with a statue on top. Guides will have a City Wonders sign with the name of the tour at the meeting point for easy recognition. Directions: Take the Underground to Piccadilly Circus. Take exit 3 to Regent Street/St James. Walk south down Regent Street towards St. James Park (do not walk towards Oxford Street). Waterloo Place is at the end of Regent Street. Alternatively, take the Underground to Charing Cross Station, and walk down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The statue is at the top of the stairs to your right after the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA). Please note the meeting place is not at Buckingham Palace. (GPS Coordinates: 51.5063159-0.1317662000000155)

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    Important information

    What to bring

    • Comfortable shoes

    Not allowed

    • Cameras
    • Baby strollers

    Know before you go

    • The Changing of the Guard does not take place in heavy rain. If canceled, it will be replaced with an extended walking tour
    • On occasional Sundays, the Changing of the Guards ceremony is rescheduled to the early morning. In the event this happens, the tour will not be able to feature this component
    • Government-imposed COVID restrictions for entering countries and venues (e.g. booster shot, negative COVID test, vaccine certificate with a QR code) may change with little notice. It is the responsibility of all visitors to ensure they check the official travel advice on the government websites and comply with each country’s requirements. The activity partner will not be held responsible for refused access to museums and tourist attractions and no refund will be due
    • The changing of guard schedule may change and on different dates, you will see either footguards or horse guards (if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.)
    Customer reviews

    Overall rating

    4.2 /5

    based on 345 reviews

    Review summary

    • Guide
      3.8/5
    • Value for money
      3.9/5
    • Service
      4.4/5
    • Organization
      4.4/5

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    Star rating:

    Good tour on the whole, very informative however, the guide was unprofessional at times which spoiled it a bit. She was stood in a restricted area to give the talk and argued with the police about it when clearly she was in the wrong. She hinted at tips during the talk which again is unprofessional and she also gave personal, negative opinions on the royal family. People are there to appreciate British traditions, this should be left out of it. Overall though, it was enjoyable and I would do it again.

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    September 30, 2019

    R
    Rose – United Kingdom Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Tour starts at the Duke of York statue, 5 minute walk to parade square, followed by 10-15 minute walk through St James' Park (after changing of the guard) before entry to Buckingam Palace. Excellent experience! But a lot of (relatively fast-paced) walking. Also keep in mind there are no washrooms available until you reach the Palace Gardens (several hours later). A must see tour for all interested and fascinated by royalty and the monarch. Once in a lifetime experience! I went through the adult audio tour inside the palace (fantastic!) but a family option is also available for those with children. Once inside Buckingham Palace the tour is self-paced with audio guide (in-person guide only for Changing of Guard and walk to the palace). Overall I spent about 3.5 hours for the full experience and had plenty of time to admire all state rooms.

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    September 11, 2019

    K
    Karisa – Canada Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Ben was so great and informative. We saw the changing of the guard as close up as you can get! We got a very thorough history of the royals too! Buckingham place was gorgeous, and we could stay as long as we wanted. Absolutely nothing bad to say about my experience!

    September 7, 2019

    G
    GetYourGuide traveler – Canada Verified booking

    Helpful?

    Product ID: 49917