Westminster Small Group Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard

Overview

Available languages

English

2 hours 45 minutes

Mobile ticket

This two in one experience allows you to visit some of London’s most iconic sites alongside our expert guide in addition to attending the world famous changing of the guard’s ceremony outside Buckingham Palace. Walk past Big Ben, admire the residence of the British Prime Minister and learn about the historic occurrences on Trafalgar Square before having the picture-perfect view on the changing of the guard’s ceremony witnessing this spectacle from A to Z.

Beat the crowns with your expert guide for the best views and photos

Discover the magic and the splendor of the most iconic military parade

Learn about the fascinating history of the Kings and Queens old and new

Explore more than 2000 years of British history on a 3.5-hour tour

See the most iconic parts of London with an interactive and small group

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Please note, if you book on a Friday you will witness the changing of the Household Cavalry

The British authorities reserve the right to change modify or cancel the Changing of the Guards ceremony without notice in the case of wet weather and other official events. In such cases, your guide will modify the tour to include an alternative Parade where possible, and share more highlights of the Westminster area.

In the case of heavy rain, you will see a wet change (guards marching without music).

For the Changing of the Guard ceremony, we do not stand by the Buckingham Palace gates. The crowds swarm there hours in advance, only to find they can only see the very end of the parade all while being crushed by the masses. Instead, we take you to the best spots only the locals know, and actually walk along with the parade! This way you see the absolute most there is to see, and it’s a much more enjoyable experience.

We highly recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for this tour.

Please bring ID for kids 15 and under

Cancellation Policy

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

What‘s Included

10 Downing St (from outside)

Buckingham palace (from outside)

Changing of the Guard (or Household Cavalry)

Covent garden

Fully guided experience

Westminster Abbey (from outside)

Big Ben (from outside)

Trafalgar square

Churchills war rooms (from outside)

Westminster city

Food/Beverages

Gratuities

Hotel Pick-Up / Drop-Off

What To Expect

Discover this shopping and entertainment hub amidst St. Martins & Drury Lane alongside of our guide. Learn about the history of the impressive opera house, which today homes the 3rd largest auditorium in London.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Trafalgar Square

Linking back to Napoleons Battle this square has been a significant landmark since the early 1200’s. Our guide will walk you past its most impressive sculptures and share its corelating anecdotes.

15 minutes • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Westminster Small Group Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard

Reviews

5.00

29 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Excellent walking tour of Londo
620irynan,
Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour was absolutely wonderful! Walking around for over 6 hours seems like a lot, but Lee made is very fun and engaging. He is super knowledgeable about the city, its vibrant history and landmarks. He was phenomenal during the changing of the guard - we really did see the best of it and he kept us out of the huge crowds. Cannot recommend LivTours enough!
jollis27,
Jul 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Charlotte was an amazing guide! She knew all the secrets to ensure we saw all the action while avoiding the crowds. She was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. We had a fantastic time and highly recommend!
Perfect small group tour
D3154ZVjudithc,
Jul 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Such a great tour! Luke was so knowledgeable and funny. We had a wonderful time! Would definitely recommend for someone looking for a small group tour.
Best tour ever!
Flyer41785456245,
Jul 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Lee was amazing--he helped us get to the best spots for the changing of the guard, and he was extremely informative during the entire tour. The highlight of the tour was that we got to see the king, thanks to his knowledge and taking us to the right spots! We loved our time with him--even our kids enjoyed hearing his stories! Can't recommend him and this tour enough!
Fabulous for First-Time Family Fun
davidkL9010UV,
Jul 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had such a great time touring London and seeing the “greatest hits”, including the changing of the guard and Westminster Abbey. The tour was the perfect amount of time to see the most important sites and lay the foundation for us to explore some specific spots in more depth. Our tour guide, Colin, was excellent - he was very knowledgeable about the history and culture and answered all our questions with great in depth knowledge. He also did a frat job connecting with our 14 year old daughter and 10 year old son. We highly recommend this tour, especially for first timer and family trips to London!
Luke was an amazing tour guide!
Mariaviajera323,
Jul 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour guide was amazing!!! Luke was very knowledgeable and super funny, he knew how to engage my kids (9 and 11) throughout our visit. Thanks Luke!!
Great tour! More than advertised!
Karen K,
Jun 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Wonderful! Very informative tour that kept teenagers engaged. First part of the tour leading up to the changing of the guard is fun. Our guide Luke went out of his way to give us fun tidbits and facts. Arrived at just the right time and spots to see the changing of the guard from several locations. Worth the time and $!
Fun, interesting, educational.
Mobile34774468690,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We very much enjoyed our tour. Charlotte was our guide, and she was excellent. She knew where to be for the best view and when to be there. It was more like having a close family friend lead the tour.
Amazing experience
Raylene53,
Jun 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Charlotte was a fantastic guide and delivered a tour that was much more than we expected. Not only does she use her knowledge and experience but also uses her keen intuition to provide the best possible experience for her tour group. She answered our many questions and nothing was a bother. Due to her guide prowess we were able to see King Charles up close which was something we had no idea we would experience that morning when we woke up. Made my day
Tour of London with Lee
Sophia J,
May 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We took a tour with Lee as part of a girls’ trip (two moms and two young daughters), and he was warm and kind to our kids from beginning to end. Despite the crowds at the Changing of the Guard, Lee expertly guided us through the chaos and found a perfect viewing spot for our girls. He was also incredibly patient with their nonstop questions, responding to even the silliest ones with thoughtful, educational answers. This review is long overdue, but we truly enjoyed the tour—so much so that I’m still thinking about it months later.