London

Skip the Line Westminster Abbey & Guard Change

London, England
March with the Guards Changing of the Guard Tour
  • 3 hours 30 minutes
  • Offered in: English

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Overview

Don’t just watch the Changing of the Guards; get as close as you can to the action. On this exclusive Buckingham Palace tour, you’ll discover the best vantage points and most secluded spots for a close-up peek at London’s most popular spectacle. Witness two different ceremonies from four different angles, and listen to an in-depth background on the history of the iconic tradition.
  • A Changing of the Guards tour at Buckingham Palace
  • Visit four different nearby locations for close-up views of the history-rich ceremony
  • Learn how the tradition first developed and get other historical tidbits from your guide
  • Bring your camera: you’ll get as close as possible to the action, with insider perspectives

What's Included

  • Skip the line Westminster Abbey tickets
  • Small group of 20 guests maximum
  • Licensed Blue Badge guide
  • Expertly guided walking tour
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Millicent Garrett Fawcett Statue
    London SW1P 3JX, UK

    This tour meets at the Millicent Garrett Fawcett Statue Parliament Square at London SW1P 3JX. Your guide will be waiting for you holding a Walks sign.

Start time

09:00 AM

End point

  • Horse Guards Parade
    London SW1A 2ET, UK

    Horse Guards Parade

What To Expect

Westminster Abbey

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Wellington Barracks

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Our group tour utilizes multiple areas that are not wheelchair accessible/mobility friendly. Those with wheelchairs and mobility issues should contact us so we can arrange your visit.
  • IMPORTANT NOTE - The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before 11am. When this occurs, customers will still see a ‘wet change’ during which the guards march but without the usual music or parade.
  • Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
  • Please contact Viator Customer Care in advance if you or a member of your party have any mobility issues or special needs to help us provide you with the best experience on your tour with us.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 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.

Traveler Photos

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Reviews

4.0
31 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 31 reviews
Great historical tour of the Abbey
Janet_A, Apr 2024
The in-depth history that Fia gave us during the visit to the Abbey. She explained who was buried at the Abbey and why.
Response from Host, Apr 2024
Hi Janet, Thank you for sharing your experience! It's fantastic to hear that Fia provided such in-depth historical insights during your visit to the Abbey. If you're ever interested in exploring more historical sites or delving deeper into the history of the area, we'd love to welcome you back for another insightful journey! Best, Andrii Walks & Devour Tours
Did not deliver what was promised
barry_h, Sep 2023
We booked this following an email from TUI suggesting various London experiences. It said that we would see the Guards preparing for the changeover and then, as the title promises , follow them as they march to the change over. It actually comprised a long history lecture at the Victoria Memorial, a visit to the barracks with a distant view of the coming into the assembly yard and setting up, seeing them march past , a dash to see some other guards marching past and a final visit to Horse guards parade where we missed the action This was not what we wanted or were promised and we would have been much better off saving £20 and going to these places ourselves
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Dear barry_h, I'd like to express our gratitude for taking the time to provide us with your valuable feedback. We always strive to provide only the highest level of service for all our guests, and we always choose the itinerary very carefully in order to provide a worthy experience. We go further away from the crowds and over to St. James’s Palace to witness the guards preparing to make their famous march. We'll march right alongside the guards as they leave St. James's Palace, making our way to a special vantage point near the Wellington Barracks. Arriving at the Horse Guards Parade, we’ll watch our second ceremony of the morning: the equally impressive Changing of the King’s Life Guard. This majestic ritual features mounted, armor-clad soldiers and their immaculately groomed steeds. The Changing of the Guard & Buckingham Palace tour is the best way to experience these ceremonies on a much deeper level than most visitors to London can claim. We are eager to hear more about your thoughts on how we can further enhance the tour to meet and exceed your expectations. Your opinions matter to us, and we encourage you to get in touch with us at feedback@walks.org. Best, Sasha
Our tour guide, Anna was...
Christian_C, Jul 2023
Our tour guide, Anna was fantastic. Absolutely incredible with knowledge and putting us in the best place to be. Kudos to her.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Dear Christian_C, Thank you for the review provided. We look forward to seeing you with us in the near future! Best, Sasha
Fantastic
Karen_H, Jul 2023
Our guide was extremely informative and very funny. We learned a great deal and also made some nice friends during the tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Dear Karen_H, Thank you for providing us with this feedback. We are glad to hear that you had an enjoyable time with us and gained new friends. We look forward to seeing you with us in the near future! Best, Sasha
Peter our tour guide was...
CynthiaL_D, Jun 2023
Peter our tour guide was very good. I know sometimes the guides change their schedules. But, this was terrible. Only a short time to sr just the inspection of six horses. Not good!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Deaer CynthiaL_D, Thank you for taking the time to provide us with this feedback. For all our tours, we do have a prepared schedule that the guide and the group have to follow in order to provide the best experience for the tour. We know how important your holidays are to you, and we feel terrible for not meeting your expectations. At our company, we take customer satisfaction very seriously and always try to do our best to accommodate the highest level of service for all our guests. We understand how important it is to have a smooth and enjoyable experience. We kindly request that you contact us at feedback@walks.org so that we can investigate this matter further and try to resolve any issues you may have encountered. Best, Sasha
Wonderful tour
Antoinette_M, Jun 2023
My guide Pete was over the top excellent. He took great care with me since I was the oldest & somewhat slow walking. He also kept us in the shade & found great locations for us to observe the horses etc. he intervened when another visitor started bullying me & yelling.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Antoinette_M, Thank you for the review provided. We are sorry to hear that somebody has bullied you. We are extremely happy to have the most experienced walker with us! We always do our best to provide the best service for all guests and make sure that you feel great during your tour with us. We can't wait to see you on one of our tours again! Best, Sasha
Book this tour with Polly!
Richard_H, Jun 2023
Polly did an excellent job as tour guide. Very knowledgeable and helpful. She took us to the support functions that surround the Palace part of the changing such as the band march and the new guards coming from their barracks. She also took us to the pageantry of the Horse Guards ceremony. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Dear Richard_H, Thank you for the review provided! We are extremely happy to hear that you had a great experience with us and enjoyed the tour. We look forward to seeing you with us in the near future! Best, Sasha
Amazing Guards Tour!
Tara_A, May 2023
Richard was amazing! We had an amazing tour! We were able to see the rehearsal for the Trooping of Colour and we saw the King! Richard was so knowledgeable and brought us to the perfect spots. It was also a great (and funny) history lesson!
Response from Host, May 2023
Dear Tara_A, We are extremely grateful to you for the review you provided. We are looking forward to seeing you with us again next time! Best, Sasha
Even more impressive than I'd imagined.
Paul_S, May 2023
The knowledge and enthusiasm of the tour guide. She explained all of the processes of the changing of the guard prior at each stop on the walk. She also put us in the most advantageous spots for viewing and taking pictures.
Response from Host, May 2023
Dear Paul_S, Thank you for the review provided! We hope you had a great time not only with us but also enjoyed the city fully. We look forward to seeing you again soon! Best, Sasha
Very disappointed- guide never showed!!
ron_f, Oct 2022
Guide never showed up for tour. Sold us a tour on day of half marathon with almost all entry to. Buckingam Palace closed and no official “changing of guard” ceremony. No contact from company. Trying to contact for a FULL REFUND. Maybe one time issue but very poorly handled
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Dear ron_f, Thanks for taking the time to write us a review. We are very sorry you were unable to take your tour. Unfortunately, we had a last-minute cancellation for the Guard change and we were trying to contact you to offer alternatives. After checking our system I can see the full refund was processed. Please note it can take a few days to get the money back to your bank account. We want to show how much we care for each of our guests. If you could please reach out to us at feedback@walks.org. We will be happy to look for other options that we can offer you. Again, we apologize for any inconvenience. We hope you had a great holiday despite this situation. Kind regards, Jhonas
Passing of the guards
Nadia_P, Sep 2022
Our tour was great, lots of walking and maybe not suitable for the elderly that walks with a cane. Our tour guide Sophie was the best was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed every moment of it. Definitely a must do when in London. The parade was lovely to see.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Dear Nadia_P, Thank you for taking the time to provide your honest feedback. Our company – Walks – is specializing in providing walking tours all over the world. I understand that tours can be tiring, and I am sorry if the information about them was not highlighted properly. Nevertheless, we are so happy that you have enjoyed the time on tour, as we were trying to make it unforgettable for you. We hope you had a great time in London and will undoubtedly come back again! Best, Sasha
Peter our guide was very...
Michael_F, Jul 2022
Peter our guide was very friendly and informative. He did a great job talking about Buckingham Palace. Had hoped for a better view of the guards leaving Wellington barracks. Mike
Disappointed with the...
Lauro_G, Jul 2022
Disappointed with the tour and tour guide. We couldn’t locate them at the Victoria Square the meeting place.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Dear Lauro_G, Thanks for submitting a review. I have checked your booking and it is marked as a no-show. We are sorry you missed your tour. This often happens due to two reasons: first, you were not at the correct meeting point. Second, you were not at the meeting point at the correct time. It is mandatory to check in with our guide 15 minutes before the tour departure time. Even when our clients miss their tours, we still offer many options as we know how important your holiday is for you. Please contact us at feedback@walks.org and we will check the alternative available for you. Kind regards, Jhonas.
Tour was cancelled, but no notice.
kathryn1993, Jun 2022
Our tour guide was a no show. We received no notice or information. A few minutes after the start time I called the tour operator. Apparently the guide tested positive for Covid that morning and the tour was cancelled. However, since we booked through Viator, they were not able to contact us. They had contacted others who booked direct. They did refund us snd we’re able to refund another customer who was there too with just the paper voucher.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Dear Kathryn, Thank you for posting on our page. We rely on our clients' direct feedback to monitor our performance and are therefore always grateful for their comments, especially negative ones, as they help us improve. First of all, we are terribly sorry this happened to you. We pride ourselves in offering only the best possible experiences to our guests, and we realise this was not the case. Unfortunately several guides tested positive for Covid that very morning and we were not able to find replacements on such short notice. Again, we cannot apologise enough for the inconvenience, but please believe us when we tell you that there was nothing we could have done except alerting all clients we had direct contact for and refunding them in full. We hope your time in London was everything you wished for and that if you ever find yourself in one of the other destinations we serve you will give us another chance. Kindest regards,
Marching with the Guards through History
Donna_R, Apr 2022
What a great experience! Our guide, Richard, was knowledgeable and very personable, bringing the history to life. I would do any tour that he is guiding!
Response from Host, May 2022
Dear Donna_R, What a great review! We are certain it will make Richard's day when he reads it! Looking forward to walking again with you in other cities soon. All the best,
Jeremy is the greatest!
Natalia_D, Apr 2022
Jeremy was the greatest tour guide!! Funny and knowledgeable- he set the tone for a great day. The tour was informative and we were able to get amazing photos. Well with the few.
Response from Host, May 2022
Dear Natalis_D, We are happy to hear you had such a wonderful time on our Changing of the guard with Jeremy, and that the tour was very informative. We hope you enjoyed your stay in London and that you will have the chance to return in the future. All the best,
Best experience in London
Carla_R, Apr 2022
Jeremy is the best. He is hilarious. He took us to the best spots and we were able to get great pictures and videos. I was so surprised to hear the queens band play an Earth Wind and Fire song. This tour involved some fast walking but it was only to get us to the front row spots. You will not see the exact changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace but you’re not missing anything. It takes about 5 mins for one guard to hand the key to the other guard. It is really not worth it to stand at the gate of BP for hours just to see that part. Your time is better spent on this tour learning about Queen Victoria at her memorial. You get a chance to see up close the guards who are actively in place march back and forth as they guard the palace. You get to see a ceremony of 6 guards report to each of the guards who are actively in place. Jeremy tells you all about the palace and the queens bedroom quarters. You get the best photo areas for a great shot of Buckingham Palace. You get a chance to see the guards at Prince Charles house and learn about Spencer house, Diana’s family. The tour takes you to the place where the old guards and the band are getting ready for the change. Wonderful. They march right past you and is great for selfies. You also get a front row view of the new guards and they march right in front of you. You can March with them to the palace where the changing of the guards takes place but you will not get right in front of the gate to see the ceremony itself. (You’re not missing anything)Jeremy’s tour includes going to see the queens horses and this is a great area to take pictures of the horses and get the London Eye behind you. I highly recommend this tour with Jeremy.
Fantastic
sean_c, Sep 2021
Jeremy was very informative, engaging and knowledgeable. We learnt so much. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, highly recommended, thank you.
Very good
johndD8078AG, Oct 2019
Jeremy who was our tour guide was informative, engaging and funny. It’s true the there are places to see the changing of the guard that the average tourist wouldn’t know about.
Response from Host, Oct 2019
We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with Jeremy! Thank you so much for your review.
A disappointment....
Jennifer L, Oct 2019
I had read so many reviews about how great it is to pay for a tour to get a more up close and personal experience. Unfortunately we could not locate our group at the designated meeting point AND it was raining so they did not change the guards.
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Hello Jennifer L, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are so sorry to hear that you were unable to join us on your Changing of the Guards tour! We typically advise our guests to arrive 10 minutes early for this tour, as our groups do leave promptly. While it was raining the morning of your tour, the rain had stopped by the time the tour began and we have confirmed that the tour ran with no issues. We take pride in curating our tours with customer ease in mind. If ever a situation arises that poses a challenge to joining the tour, we always advise calling us directly so that we can assist you in real-time. All the best, The Walks Team
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From $97.97

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

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