Changing of the Guard Guided Walking Tour in London

Overview

Available languages

English

1 hour 45 minutes

Mobile ticket

The most fun 1.5-hour tour in London. Watch the Changing of the Guard with an experienced and acclaimed guide, where you'll be taken to the best places to see the ceremony. Along the way you'll see palaces, royal parks, royal residences and even have an opportunity to march alongside the guards. The walk is interesting for adults, fun for kids, and will almost certainly be the highlight of your stay in London.

Please note that you will not see the section of the ceremony on the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, but rather the other highlights of the ceremony.

Sundays - As of April 2025 the army is trialing a slight variation of the usual ceremony on Sundays. It involves the same number of guard movements and locations but is referred to as a Parade rather than a Change. There is currently no indication of how long this trial will go on for.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

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

Children must be accompanied by an adult

There are no toilet or refreshment breaks on this tour

Tour operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Ceremony can be altered at the discretion of the British Army, or occasionally due to rain

All tours are dependent on the British Army's schedule

No dogs are allowed on the tour other than guide dogs.

We do not see the section of the ceremony which occurs on the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, but instead we observe the highlights of the ceremony in other locations.

No videoing of the guide unless they have given permission

Arrive ten minutes before the tour for check in. Out of respect for other customers, we do not wait for latecomers.

Travellers should have good mobility as we encounter three flights of steps and march at the same pace as the guards at one point

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Piccadilly Circus

We begin the tour in this iconic location in Central London

5 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

St. James's Palace

We see this 500 year old palace from the outside and wait for the Guards to begin the ceremony.

20 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Local guide

Gratuities

Hotel pick-up and drop-off

Transportation to/from attractions

Options

Changing the Guard Tour

Reviews

4.89

1,790 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1675

Tour with a local expert
T H,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide, Angie, was friendly, organized and informative. She loves her city and her enthusiasm is infectious. I would definitely go on another tour with her.
Angie was a great guide
vinced2026,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide Angie was great, she gave us a lot of interesting stories behind the places we saw. She also spent extra time with the group, and had all the best places for us to stand. Would definitely recommend. Much better and more fun than trying to see it ourselves without any guide.
So. Many. Crowds. But great tour.
Karen D,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great to see different elements of the ceremony. Crowds Christmas week are intense, though. Uncomfortably so at times. But Joe did a great job maneuvering our group through the chaos and sharing history along the way.
The guide, Joe was very...
Suellyn G,,Dec 31, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The guide, Joe was very knowledgeable and friendly. Even though there were a lot of people he still put us in good positions to see what was going on.
Just book!
gillettef2025,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Mr Lee is an absolute GEM! He made this tour one of our top experiences in London. The way he shared history, politics, and comedy all wrapped in a fun interactive way with everyone was perfect. Even the teenagers were all in. He found us the perfect spots at several locations to see the various aspects of the old guard and new guard. We even saw him a couple days later on another tour and was still asking us “are you having fun?” Don’t book elsewhere- just do this and enjoy it.
Best way to view the changing of the guard
386rn,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Team Angie, Let’s go! Enjoyed our tour and guide, Angie. Best way to enjoy the changing of the guard with all the best tips and info from our guide. 10/10 highly recommend
Changing of the Guard walking tour
Leigh H,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Alex G. was the perfect tour guide. He led us through three stops to see the changing of the guard progression. Alex combined his knowledge and quick wit to share the history of the Westminster area. This is the way to see the changing of the guard!
Incredible job!
Rich M,,Dec 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide, Lee, was spectacular from start to finish. He was so charming, funny and insightful during our tour providing incredible historical information as we walked through the streets, and guidance to the best stops to observe the changing of the guards. It was a highlight of our trip to London and we highly recommend.
Worth It!!
Renee M,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent tour and our awesome tour guide got us up close and personal to the guards. It was worth every penny!
Changing of the Guards 💂‍♂️ guided tour
LisaD2219,,Dec 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Peter was our guided tour for the morning and oh what a morning it was. Peter answered all our questions with whit and professionalism. Peter took myself mum and my friends to the best spots to capture the perfect photos and arrived perfectly timed for the parades that happened. It was like Peter was magic 🎩, he just knew everything and answered any questions that we asked. Thank you Peter for the best morning we thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend to see all the history and sites of London.