Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
England is known for fish and chips, four seasons in a day, warm ale, history in spades and of course, a deeply ingrained age-old love for pomp and ceremony. Join us as we serve a slice of world-famous ceremonial action with this small-group Changing of the Guards experience.
There is so much more to this extravagant shift change than meets the eye though- with your expert guide to lead the way, you’ll soon know your Welsh from your Grenadier guard, understand what the deal is with those fuzzy bearskin hats, hear the astounding origins of this dazzling spectacle and truly get a handle on the significance of every colour, button, mascot, symbol and movement in this most British of traditions.
From the best possible viewing point, your small group will join the guards on their journey towards Buckingham Palace as you march to the beat of their drums... but what will the music be today?
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
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
Sundays – From April 2025, the Army is trying out a slightly different version of the usual ceremony on Sundays. It still involves the same number of guard movements and the same locations, but it’s now being called a “Parade” instead of a “Change.” There’s no word yet on how long this trial will last
What To Expect
Your experience begins at the Equestrian statue of Edward VII on Waterloo Place, where you’ll meet your expert guide before heading to enjoy the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony.
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial
Visit the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Memorials and hear the story of the royal couple who inspired the nation during World War II.
Options
with Buckingham Palace ticket
Upgrade your experience: with entry tickets to Buckingham Palace during its summer opening.
Changing of the Guard Tour
Small Group Tour - English: Maximum 20 participants in your group
What‘s Included
Guided Changing of the Guard experience
English Speaking local expert guide
Gratuities
Food & drink
Hotel pick-up & drop-off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
854 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Enjoyable tour with Richard
Litaker F,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Richard was very knowledgeable, witty and kept us on time and informed throughout the tour. We wish Richard could guide all of our planned tours.
Don't just stand there! See the flow of the guards.
recis2022,Jun 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Angie was fabulous. We had a great experience and lots of close up opportunities to see the guards, even saw the horse guards! Good overview, recommended spots for best viewing and planned movement. Angie kept us entertained with stories when the ceremony was a bit behind schedule. Great experience!! Highly recommend for good walkers... don't try this if you are not mobile.
Unforgettable and a "must" Tour
LouG6065,Jun 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We greatly appreciated our guided Tour. Nathalie, our French guide provided a lot of interesting information and made this tour an unforgettable one. We recommend it without hesitation. Nous le recommandons à tous les visiteurs francophones.
Paul helped us see the King!
Brigitte S,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Paul was great. He really knows the area and we got to see the King because he knew where to go and when to be there! Really great guide.
Thank you Jeremy!!
Aidan B,Jun 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Jeremy was fantastic was informative and funny. Even with a bad weather situation, he made the tour enjoyable. My family and I would do it again the next time we are in London.
Highlight of our trip to London!
Cassandra H,Jun 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was the highlight of our trip to London! I wasn't sure what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Our guide, Nathan, was extremely knowledgeable. He knew all the best places to stand to see the ceremony at several different spots. He told us interesting background stories about the royal family and he taught us what the different elements of the ceremony meant. Without Nathan's guidance we would not have known what we were watching. My 11 year old son and 12 year old daughter both said it was their favorite thing that we did in London. We didn't see the official change of guards at the palace, but we saw the guards in several other spots with better views. I lived in London years ago and have seen the changing of the guards before on my own and I found this tour with Nathan to be much more interesting and effective. Definitely 5 stars.
We saw so much it was awesome
fabianj759,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00𝒫𝒶𝓊𝓁 was awsome he took us to the best sites
Made it really fun and easy.
Beverly S,Jun 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our guide was so knowledgeable, interesting and fun! He brought us to many places to see different parts of the event with good views. So much nicer than trying to figure it all out on our own.
Changing of the Guard with Paul
385shawnem,Jun 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide, Paul, was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. He really created a wonderful experience and made sure everyone in the group was included and stayed with us during the often crowded stops. I enjoyed his anecdotes that accompanied the tour as well.
Well worth the money!
Giselle G,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent walking tour! Definitely worth the money. I would have never known where to stand to see so many stages of the changing of the guard. Our guide got us to many great vantage points and we saw so much. Excellent photos & videos! A real Highlight of our family trip to London. Paul was an excellent guide with a wealth of knowledge. And excellent morning well spent🇬🇧!!!
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