Combos

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

Buckingham Palace gates, London, featured on the Royal Walking Tour.

Guards in red uniforms and bearskin hats at Buckingham Palace ceremony.

Afternoon tea on a Thames River cruise with people enjoying drinks and views of London.

Cruise boat on the Thames River with Westminster Bridge and London skyline in the background.

Duration

1 hr 30 min

Guided tour

4.4/5(1,833)

Suzanne S

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

Richard, our tour guide, gave us a lot of information about the various statues and houses we passed . If we had just wandered ourselves along The Mall we probably wouldn't have noticed the various places of interest or known about their history. Richard was able to take us to various places on the route where we were able to get the best view of the guards. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend this tour

Shirlee C

Group

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

Our guide David was very entertaining and gave us lots of trivia about buckingham and the rest of the royal family. He found us the best spots to take pictures. We were the first group to arrive at the best spots except for 1 but did not matter because he made up for it at the next spot. Never a dull moment.

Garel N

Couple

Verified booking

3 days ago

All right, before taking us to St. Paul’s Castle, David told us about the history of the monuments we passed along the way. It was very interesting, and of course, watching the changing of the guard was fun.

Joseph M

Couple

Verified booking

2 weeks ago

Natalia or Natalie is a good tourist guide. She explains everything clearly and know the right spot for the viewing of changing of guards. Definitely book again here.

Simone K

Couple

Verified booking

3 weeks ago

It was a wonderful feeling to see London from the water. We were shown to our seats and the food was served. It was all very relaxing and a welcome break from the usual hustle and bustle.

Abhi D

Solo

Verified booking

Mar 2026

On a cloudy, gloomy day, the walking tour was just so enriching and informative. Jeremy, my guide, was experienced and knowledgeable and his dash of Brit... err Scottish humour... made the tour so entertaining. He knew the right spots and right timings which made the tour fruitful and memorable!

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.

1,833 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 36 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Simone K
Couple
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
It was a wonderful feeling to see London from the water. We were shown to our seats and the food was served. It was all very relaxing and a welcome break from the usual hustle and bustle.
Suzanne S
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
Richard, our tour guide, gave us a lot of information about the various statues and houses we passed . If we had just wandered ourselves along The Mall we probably wouldn't have noticed the various places of interest or known about their history. Richard was able to take us to various places on the route where we were able to get the best view of the guards. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend this tour
Shirlee C
Group
Verified booking
3 weeks ago
Our guide David was very entertaining and gave us lots of trivia about buckingham and the rest of the royal family. He found us the best spots to take pictures. We were the first group to arrive at the best spots except for 1 but did not matter because he made up for it at the next spot. Never a dull moment.
Garel N
Couple
Verified booking
3 days ago
All right, before taking us to St. Paul’s Castle, David told us about the history of the monuments we passed along the way. It was very interesting, and of course, watching the changing of the guard was fun.
Monika G
Couple
Verified booking
Last week
We had thought the changing of the guard would take place right in front of Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, we could only see it from a side street. However, the information our guide provided was very interesting!

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.

Studio of Wonders

Monday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Tuesday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Wednesday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Thursday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Friday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Saturday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm
Sunday	11:00am - 8:00pm	last entry 6:30pm

Buckingham Palace

Monday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Saturday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm
Sunday	9:30am - 7:30pm	last entry 5:30pm

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