Changing of the Guard Guided Walking Tour in London
London, United Kingdom
Rating: 
Trip Type: Cultural Tours
Duration: 90 minutes
The most fun 1.5-hour tour in London. Watch the Changing of the Guard with an experienced and acclaimed guide, where you'll be taken to the best places to see the ceremony. Along the way you'll see palaces, royal parks, royal residences and even have an opportunity to march alongside the guards. The walk is interesting for adults, fun for kids, and will almost certainly be the highlight of your stay in London.
More About This Activity All Cultural Tours →
The most fun 1.5-hour tour in London. Watch the Changing of the Guard with an experienced and acclaimed guide, where you'll be taken to the best places to see the ceremony. Along the way you'll see palaces, royal parks, royal residences and even have an opportunity to march alongside the guards. The walk is interesting for adults, fun for kids, and will almost certainly be the highlight of your stay in London.The tour begins in late morning at Piccadilly Circus where you will be given an overview of what to expect. Make your way down lower Regent Street to Waterloo Place, where you will be told a little bit about royal history and the general area of Pall Mall and St James. After hearing about the history of the Duke of York Column, you will be led along the Mall, stopping at various places along the way, possibly including the Royal Society, a statue of King George VI and Marlborough House.
Then, head over to St. James Palace, where we will await the arrival of the Old Guard on the courtyard. The inspection will take place, and either a drum corp or ceremonial band will also emerge.
The next part of the tour involves marching in step with the Guards. Your guide will then take you to see the New Guard at Wellington Barracks. Avoiding the crowds as much as possible you will then be brought back to Clarence House where you will see the first of the New Guard coming on duty. Although this is the proposed itinerary, it is at the mercy of the British Army and crowd size, so it is in its very nature a rather flexible tour.
Please note that as you march at the same pace as the guards at one point and encounter two flights of steps, you must have a reasonable level of fitness and be physically able in order to take this tour. Also, while you will see various stages of the Changing the Guard ceremony, you will not see the section within the courtyard of Buckingham Palace as the crowds are too large and also very little happens there.
Then, head over to St. James Palace, where we will await the arrival of the Old Guard on the courtyard. The inspection will take place, and either a drum corp or ceremonial band will also emerge.
The next part of the tour involves marching in step with the Guards. Your guide will then take you to see the New Guard at Wellington Barracks. Avoiding the crowds as much as possible you will then be brought back to Clarence House where you will see the first of the New Guard coming on duty. Although this is the proposed itinerary, it is at the mercy of the British Army and crowd size, so it is in its very nature a rather flexible tour.
Please note that as you march at the same pace as the guards at one point and encounter two flights of steps, you must have a reasonable level of fitness and be physically able in order to take this tour. Also, while you will see various stages of the Changing the Guard ceremony, you will not see the section within the courtyard of Buckingham Palace as the crowds are too large and also very little happens there.
« Go Back