London

Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

Name: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour
Brand: Urban Saunters
SKU: 278452P6
Price: 28.06 USD
Rating: 5.0 (342 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceLondon, England

1 hour 45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Surround yourself in fanfare and history, from the best vantage point in town, on a small-group Changing of The King's Guard tour in London. This short excursion is perfect for curious travelers who want a genuinely immersive sightseeing experience. As you enjoy the parade of bagpipes, drummers, and brass instruments, learn about the ceremony's uniforms, traditions, and significance. The tour also includes brief stops outside St. James' Palace and Buckingham Palace.

Enjoy a small group size of a maximum of 15 people
Learn trivia about the ceremony not found in any guidebook
Watch the Changing of the Guards ceremony in London
Listen to entertaining stories about British royal history

What's Included

Guided Changing of the Guard experience
English Speaking local expert guide
Maximum of 15 people in your group

Gratuities
Food & drink
Hotel pick-up & drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Equestrian Edward Ⅶ
St. James's, London SW1Y 5ER, UK
Meet our guide by the Equestrian statue of Edward VII, Waterloo Place, London SW1Y 5ER. Arriving by tube: Take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and take exit No. 3 onto Regent Street/St. James's. Walk south down Regent Street towards St. James's Park. Waterloo Place is at the end of Regent Street.

Start time

10:00 AM

End point

Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA, UK
The experience will end around Buckingham Palace

What To Expect

Changing of the Guard

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. James's Palace

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Buckingham Palace

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
We tend to move pretty fast to keep up with the guards, so please wear comfortable shoes and always carry water.

We will not stand at the forecourt of Buckingham Palace as, due to crowds, you see very little and the experience would be ten times less fun. We want to get you as close as possible with the opportunity to take some amazing snapshots.
It is at the discretion of the British Army to change or cancel the Ceremony. The announcement will not be made until after 10.30am so come rain or shine, the Urban Saunters Changing of the Guard experience will go ahead. If the full ceremony is cancelled, there will still be the chance to see the guards marching, just without the music.
No videoing of the guide unless they have given permission
Ceremony can be altered at the discretion of the British Army, or occasionally due to rain
There are no toilet or refreshment breaks on this tour
Tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Carol_C

Chris found the best places to view the guards and the band! The tour was great! We would highly recommend it!!

Reviews

5.0

342 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 342 reviews

Great experience

Mary_E, May 2024

Nathan was a great guide. So much fun! He had lots of interesting tidbits to share with the group. And we got to see the King and Princess Margaret. BONUS!!!

Great tour with Rosie

Andrea_P, Apr 2024

We had Rosie as a tour guide. She was fantastic. We always were positioned in the best place. She was incredibly knowledgable and open to questions and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour.

Chris found the best...

Carol_C, Apr 2024

Chris found the best places to view the guards and the band! The tour was great! We would highly recommend it!!

Very informative and intriguing experience!

shareseking, Apr 2024

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. He was also very helpful with pointing us toward other landmarks following the tour.

Excellent Tour Guide

Colin_O, Apr 2024

Nathan was a fun and exceptional guide. He made sure that we had a perfect view of the inspection and changing of the guard. Thank you.

we had the best time with...

Carrie_B, Apr 2024

we had the best time with nathan, our guide! he was PERFECTION. he was funny, knowledgeable, kind + a joy to spend a few hours with. i would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested. it was definitely the highlight of our trip to London.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

Perfection? High praise indeed! So happy to hear your loved your Changing of the Guard tour with him so much. Thanks for choosing to saunter with US.

Tour with Jeremy!

Ashlie_A, Apr 2024

Jeremy was amazing! He knew exactly where to stand for each view of the guards. He was extremely knowledgeable of the history and step-by-step details of the changing of the guards

Great way to experience the changing of the guard.

Kim_C, Apr 2024

We had Jo who was an excellent guide, both knowledgeable and entertaining. She knew all the perfect spots to stand for photos. Highly recommend.

Fun tour with guide Lee

Caitlin_K, Mar 2024

Lee was a fantastic tour guide. He got our kids involved and kept them interested with his fun facts and bad jokes!

Fun, Informative and Witty

Todd_A, Mar 2024

We recommend this tour highly--and our 11 & 9 year old boys were quite pleased. Our guide, Nathan, was delightful and humorous and we had a lovely day--despite some rain. Nathan provided fun color on the history of changing of the guard, witty backstories on the royals and some very interesting history.

Ask for Amy amazing tour!!!

susan_p, Mar 2024

Amy was one of the best tour guides we have had. She was very interactive with the way she gave us information the kids loved her and were entertained the whole time. Would highly recommend you ask for Amy on your next tour.

Amber was an amazing and knowledgeable guide!

Lourdes_R, Mar 2024

Amber was an amazing guide. We took part in a song, a play, marching and overall good and fun time. She was very knowledgeable and willing to answer questions and make recommendations.

Response from Host, Mar 2024

There's Changing of the Guard tour and there's an Urban Saunters Changing of the Guard tour with an incredible guide like Amber singing, dancing and leading the way. So happy you enjoyed. Thanks so much for choosing to saunter with US.

Great value!

shefali_d, Mar 2024

Francis our tour guide was excellent. We all enjoyed the soldiers, the music and the history. Beautiful day as well. I highly recommend this tour. We also saw King Charles at Clarence House.

Must see for first timers in London

Gabrielle_B, Mar 2024

Nathan was fantastic! So enthusiastic and knowledgeable, presented interesting historical and current tidbits in a really engaging way throughout. Knew all the best tips to explain exactly what was going on and bring us to the best places to see and experience it!

Book Amber!

Richard_D, Mar 2024

Amber is an animated, articulate & whimsical American tour guide in London. Songs, skits, marching & stories make up her thoroughly detailed & interesting tour. One of the best tour guides we ever had & we’ve enjoyed heaps of tours.

Outstanding

Joshua_M, Feb 2024

Francis was an outstanding tour guide! Friendly, knowledgeable, and shared lots of personal stories to make it really interesting. Highly recommend him.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Fantastic. Fabulous. Fun. For us it is no coincidence that these words start with the same letter as Francis. So happy you had such a wonderful time with him. Cheers for choosing to saunter with US.

Outstanding guided tour!

Sddjackson90, Feb 2024

This guided tour was fantastic. Couldn’t have asked for better. Our tour guide Jerome was outstanding and provided us with lots of interesting and fun facts. We are from Florida and were able to enjoy a sunny day on this tour in February. I highly recommend this tour for the best viewing spots and the wealth of knowledge provided by your tour guide. Ask for Jerome from Scotland and you will not be disappointed.

Response from Host, Feb 2024

Firstly, on behalf of London, thanks so much for bringing the sunshine from Florida - we truly appreciate it. Secondly, thrilled to hear you enjoyed your Changing of the Guard tour so much. Thanks for choosing to saunter with US.

Fantastic walking tour!

Michael_H, Dec 2023

Jo was an excellent guide. She took us to all the best spots to capture images of the Changing of the Guard. In addition, she was also able to explain to us the background to how the ceremony was conducted and also the history of Buckingham Palace. She was also able to weave in contempory stories of the monarchy which we could all relate to.

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Hitting that sweet, sweet balance between the old and the new - that's our lovely Jo! Thrilled to hear your time spent with her in our royal borough was so worthwhile. Thanks for choosing to saunter with US.

Excellent experience

Jennifer_D, Nov 2023

Our tour guide Nathan was very knowledgeable and had lots of information to share that we never could have figured out on our own. I have seen the changing of the guards before but this tour made it a whole new experience!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Okay, to hear that you have actually seen the Changing of the Guard ceremony before and STILL got so much for your time on it and with the lovely Nathan is music to our ears (eyes?). Love it! Thanks so much for choosing to saunter with US.

Entertaining and Informative!

Janella_B, Oct 2023

Amber was wonderful…entertaining and informative…did a great job of giving historical background! Energetic and kept us all involved!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Amber is an absolute ball of energy, isn't she? Really adds joie de vivre to the experience. Thanks ever so much for choosing to saunter with US.