Combos

Combo (Save 5%): Changing the Guards Ceremony + Afternoon Tea Cruise

4.5/5(1,897)

Timothy C

Couple

Verified booking

Last week

The fact that you had a reserved table which would have been welcome knowledge on booking . The view and comfort. The food quality . The staff . The commentary . We thought the wait time for the boat was a bit too long though .

Wendy M

Family

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

The food was delicious and the service exquisite. I certainly recommend the cruise. I would have enjoyed it even more, if we had some information about the sights along the way.

David A

Couple

Verified booking

Jul 2026

We had a lovely trip. The staff were kind, efficient and informative. The food was excellent. The only slight issue was that it was a little confusing working out where to stand on the jetty before boarding. But not a major problem. Perhaps more signs would help?

Gerhard C

Couple

Verified booking

Jul 2026

It was a fantastic tour where we saw everything there was to see and learned a lot of background information. All thanks to our driver!!! A huge round of applause and a big thank you for that!

Elizabeth P

Couple

Verified booking

Jun 2026

The tour people i had was really good and funny . I got to Buckingham Palace and learn about it the royal family. It was so a nice day. I got good pictures.

Roland J

Couple

Verified booking

May 2026

We took the tour with Nathan. He shared lots of interesting facts and jokes, and knew exactly where to stand to get the best view of the changing of the guard. We stood at three different spots, and since we were always right up front, we had a perfect view. (There was a lot of pollen from the trees.)

Watch the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace and then relax on a Thames cruise, sipping afternoon tea for a perfect British experience.

See Buckingham Palace's grand exteriors and spot other royal attractions like St. Paul’s and Big Ben as you cruise the Thames.

Feel like a real Londoner as you explore sights on your 1.5-hour guided walking tour of Westminster and enjoy a proper British tea with scones on the river.

Don't just see the sights, understand them! With commentary, live or recorded, you'll get the inside scoop on both the British traditions and experiences.

Changing the Guard Ceremony

Changing the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace

1.5-hour walking tour around Buckingham Palace

Expert English-speaking tour guide

Small group tour at Buckingham Palace grounds

Audio headsets for the Changing the Guard ceremony

Afternoon Tea Cruise

1.5-hour Thames River cruise with British afternoon tea

Afternoon tea and British snacks (menu [here])

Live or pre-recorded commentary onboard

These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

1,897 reviews
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These ratings include verified reviews from both Headout guests and our trusted partners who operate this experience locally. All reviews come from real travelers who've taken this experience.
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Guests from United States, Germany, France and over 33 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Alice G
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The tour Marvin gave us was really exciting, with the changing of the guard and the historical background. It was great!
Timothy C
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
The fact that you had a reserved table which would have been welcome knowledge on booking . The view and comfort. The food quality . The staff . The commentary . We thought the wait time for the boat was a bit too long though .
Wendy M
Family
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
The food was delicious and the service exquisite. I certainly recommend the cruise. I would have enjoyed it even more, if we had some information about the sights along the way.
Barbara L
Couple
Verified booking
2 days ago
Our guide was fantastic and friendly—thank you so much for the detailed explanations and for sharing a few little secrets about the Windsors.
Alan A
Couple
Verified booking
2 weeks ago
The on board commentary was not loud enough to hear over the noise of the tourist on board (almost full boat Also not aware of individual audio equipment in use.

Experience the best of British tradition and culture with this delightful combo tour. Witness the Changing the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace, enjoy a guided walking tour of Westminster, and unwind with a scenic afternoon tea cruise along the River Thames.

Getting started

Begin your day by meeting your English-speaking guide in central London. From there, set off on a small-group walking tour that takes you through the heart of the city’s royal landmarks, starting with Buckingham Palace.

What to expect

Changing the Guard & Westminster Walking Tour

Start your London adventure with a dose of royal tradition as you witness the iconic Changing the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace. Then, continue exploring the heart of British heritage on a 1.5-hour guided walking tour through Westminster.

Features:

Age-old ceremony: Witness the world-famous Changing the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace and see The King’s Foot Guards in their classic red tunics and bearskin hats.

Guided experience: Learn the fascinating history and significance of the ceremony from your expert guide.

Walking tour: Stroll through St. James’s Park and along The Mall and admire historic landmarks like St. James’s Palace and Big Ben on a 1.5-hour walking tour through Westminster.

Afternoon Tea Cruise

Unwind aboard a riverboat departing from Tower Pier for a 90-min afternoon tea cruise. Delight in a spread of traditional favorites, including endless British teas, finger sandwiches, and freshly baked scones, as you glide along the Thames past London’s most iconic riverside sights.

Features:

Luxury cruise: Relax on a 90-min cruise along the River Thames and take in panoramic views of London attractions such as the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London.

Afternoon tea: Savor an indulgent afternoon tea with unlimited British teas, finger sandwiches, pastries, and freshly baked scones.

Insights: Enjoy either live or recorded commentary onboard to enrich your sightseeing experience with local history and cultural insights.

What’s not allowed

Changing the Guard

Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.

Additional information

Changing the Guard

Changing the Foot Guards Ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you’ll see the Changing the Household Cavalry Ceremony instead.

Afternoon Tea Cruise

Infants under the age of 2 will be charged the child rate.

Some tables are situated in close proximity to other diners and are pre-allocated before boarding. All tables are fixed to the floor and cannot be moved. Window tables are available, which seats up to two people only.

The boat can cater to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free people but is unable to offer menus that are both vegan and gluten-free. Please get in touch with City Cruises on 0207 7400 400 at the time of booking to provide your dietary preferences.

Your voucher will be emailed to you instantly.

Display the voucher on your mobile phone with a valid photo ID at the meeting point.

Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time of your tour to avoid any delays.

Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace

Meeting point

Please check your final voucher for the meeting point details and specific instructions.

Thames River Afternoon Cruise with British Tea & Scones

Boarding point

Board your cruise at Tower Millennium Pier.

Address: Lower Thames St, London EC3N 4DT, UK

Get directions to the boarding point