Guided Tours

Changing the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace

Name: Changing the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace
Start: 2025-10-22T10:15:00
End: 2025-10-22T11:45:00
Location: London

Changing of the Guards ceremony at Horse Guards Parade, London.

Tour guide leading a group on the Royal Walking Tour, Changing of the Guard in London.

Buckingham Palace State Rooms with ornate chandeliers and gilded decor.

Tourist using audio guide in Pisa with Baptistery and Cathedral in background.

Explore at your pace

Choose your entry time, stay as long as you like

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience

Book now, pay later

Book now without paying anything. Cancel for free if your plans change.

Guided tour

4.4/5

(1,516)

Jan

Oct 2025

Verified booking

5/5

Our tour guide, Adrian, was so knowledgeable and shared so much history with us as we toured Westminster Abbey. It made the visit more meaningful than if we had simply toured on our own because Adrian helped us understand the importance and significance of what we saw. I highly recommend this tour!

Fernando

Sep 2025

Verified booking

5/5

I invited my mum, who is 80 years now, to see the Change of guards at Buckingham Palace. The tour was fantastic, and the guide great and very knowledgeable. it was a relatively long walk, but slow enough to allow my mother to engage and rest, as she has some mobility issues. Very good.

Beatriz

Aug 2025

Verified booking

5/5

I love our tour lady, the best guide that i ever have in Europe, the most kind, knows a lot of the history, i enjoy every story that she told us. Was our best day in London!! The best tour ♥️!! Very complete, we learn a lot from the history that she told us.

Join a small group and witness a royal tradition, the Changing the Foot Guard on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, you’ll see the Changing the Horse Guard Ceremony on the Buckingham Palace grounds.

Watch the Old Guard, in their vibrant red uniforms, stand at attention, as the regimental band plays a lively tune and the New Guard marches in formation.

Take a 1.5-hour walking tour and stroll through St. James's Park while your English-speaking guide points out famous sights like the city’s oldest wine shop.

Upgrade to enjoy a guided tour of Westminster Abbey with an expert English-speaking guide leading you.

Changing the Guard Ceremony outside Buckingham Palace (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays)

Changing the Horse Guard Ceremony (Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday)

Expert English-speaking tour guide

Small group tour

Audio headsets

Additional paid upgrades:

1.5-hour walking tour around Buckingham Palace

Guided tour of Westminster Abbey

You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.

4.4
1,516 reviews
How do we collect reviews?
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 10 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
Jan
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our tour guide, Adrian, was so knowledgeable and shared so much history with us as we toured Westminster Abbey. It made the visit more meaningful than if we had simply toured on our own because Adrian helped us understand the importance and significance of what we saw. I highly recommend this tour!
Rebecca
Oct 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Our guide, Nathan was amazing. Not only did. He know an amazing amount of history, but he was an incredible storyteller. And the tour was very educational and we loved all the things we could see during the changing of the guards. A great tour.
Patrick
Oct 2025
Verified booking
4/5
Very friendly and committed guide, thank you
Soni
Sep 2025
Verified booking
5/5
Mary was very knowledgeable and it was a well paced tour. I had a really good experience. It was a small group, so a very personalized experience.
David
Sep 2025
Verified booking
3/5
I was very disappointed, as our whole group was, I'm sure. There was no Royal changing of the guard due to the President of the United States being present. This should have been told to us ahead and a discount should've been provided. The guide was informative and knowledgeable but he included, in not so subtle ways, his displeasure with my President. It was distasteful at best. His remarks made me uncomfortable as he expected everyone to agree with his sarcastic remarks. All around, I found it rude and unnecessary. I wasn't visiting for political commentary.

Step into the heart of British heritage with an unforgettable experience that showcases the pomp, pageantry, and tradition of London’s iconic Changing the Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Getting started

Your journey begins near The Mall, a grand ceremonial avenue that leads you through the heart of royal London. Meet your expert English-speaking guide, collect your personal headset for clear commentary, and set off on a picturesque walk through the capital's historic center.

What to expect

Changing the Guard Ceremony

Enjoy front-row views of the world-famous Changing the Guard Ceremony, where disciplined soldiers in bright red tunics and bearskin hats march to the sound of military bands. As you follow your guide past landmarks such as St James’s Palace, insightful narration brings centuries of tradition and royal history to life.

Features:

Prime viewing: Get the best vantage points for watching the meticulously choreographed Changing the Guard, avoiding the crowds and confusion of solo exploration.

Expert guided experience: Benefit from the knowledge and expertise of a local English-speaking guide who unpacks the ceremonial significance of every move, uniform, and note of music.

Personal audio headsets: Stay connected with your guide at all times through a personal audio headset, allowing you to hear every detail, even in crowded spaces.

Stroll through St James’s Park: Wander through the oldest Royal Park in London, famed for its greenery, lake, and resident pelicans, offering a peaceful contrast to the ceremonial grandeur nearby.

Extras

Westminster Abbey guided tour: Opt for a guided tour of Westminster Abbey for a deeper dive into royal and religious history.

Buckingham Palace

Monday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Tuesday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Wednesday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Thursday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Friday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Saturday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm
Sunday	09:30am - 07:30pm	last entry 05:30pm

What's not allowed

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

Additional information

The Changing the Guard ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout the year. However, last-minute cancellations can occur without prior notice due to decisions made by the palace or local authorities, or because of bad weather.

Changing the Foot Guards Ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

On Sundays, a slightly different version of the ceremony takes place, known as the "Sunday Parade."

Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, you’ll experience the Changing the Horse Guard Ceremony instead.

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.

Meeting point

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