London Changing of the Guard Guided Tour

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Experience one of Britain’s most famous royal traditions on a fully guided Changing of the Guard walking tour.You'll begin your journey through some of London’s most important royal landmarks, including The Mall, St James’s Park and St James’s Palace, as you make your way along the ceremony route.Follow your guide between carefully chosen vantage points to see the Changing of the Guard as it unfolds. With a group of 20 people or fewer, you’ll be able to move easily between viewpoints while your guide shares stories about the ceremony's history, music, military precision and centuries-old traditions.With a headset when appropriate, you can easily listen to the commentary while watching the King's Guards in their distinctive uniforms and taking in the atmosphere of this spectacular royal tradition.As the tour continues, enjoy exterior views of Buckingham Palace and hear more about the monarchy, ceremonial life and the historic landmarks surrounding the Palace.This guided walk allows you to discover some of London’s best-known royal sights and get a deeper understanding of one of Britain’s most iconic traditions.
Highlights
- You'll explore The Mall, St James's Park and St James's Palace as you experience royal London
- You can follow the Changing of the Guard from carefully chosen vantage points along the ceremony route
- As you walk, your expert English-speaking guide shares the history and royal pageantry behind the ceremony
- Along the route, you'll see the exterior of Buckingham Palace and one of Britain's most iconic royal traditions
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Activity package
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Facilities
Free cancellation
mobile
2 hours
Available in English
What's included
- Guided walking tour
- Headsets (to hear the guide)
Where you'll meet
You will meet your guide at Duke of York column at Waterloo Place. This is the tall column with the statue on top. Your guide will have a sign with the tour name for easy recognition. Arriving by tube: Take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and take exit No. 3 onto Regent Street/St James's. You can also arrive via Charing Cross Station. Please be at the meeting point 20 minutes before departure.
Operated by
City Wonders
Important information
Accessibility:
* Not suitable for wheelchair users or guests with any impairments requiring special assistance
* Not suitable for strollers or baby carriages
Know in advance:
* The Changing of the Guard ceremony is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities
* Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before 11 AM. Even when cancelled, customers will still see a ‘wet change’ during which the guards march but without the usual music and parade
* The Changing of the Guard schedule may change and on different dates you'll see either footguards or horseguards
* On Sundays, a slightly different version of the ceremony takes place, known as the "Sunday Parade"
* Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated and missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded
* The local partner will try to ensure timings and itineraries are respected. However, due to issues beyond the local partner's control, timings and sites are subject to last-minute changes on rare occasions
* The local partner reserves the right to refuse participation on its tours to any guest under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to any guest whose behaviour is disorderly or poses a threat to other guests or the staff
Remember to bring:
* Rainproof clothing since the weather is very changeable in London