Westminster Small Group Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard
Overview
Available languages
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 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.
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.
What‘s Included
10 Downing St (from outside)
Buckingham palace (from outside)
Changing of the Guard (or Household Cavalry)
Fully guided experience
Westminster Abbey (from outside)
Semi-Private group of 6 people max!
Private Option is available!
Covent garden
Big Ben (from outside)
Trafalgar square
Churchills war rooms (from outside)
Westminster city
Food/Beverages
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up / Drop-Off
Options
Small Group
Private Option
Private: Enjoy a private experience with your professional guide!
Reviews
31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Charlotte is a Westminster Pro!
lindseybJ9389RC,Feb 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I cannot recommend this half-day tour enough. Charlotte was an incredible guide who was knowledgeable, witty, and clearly knows Westminster like the back of her hand. Because we were in a small group, it was an intimate experience that felt very personal. It was so easy to move through the busy streets together without feeling like a giant herd of tourists. The highlight was definitely the Changing of the Guard. It can be a chaotic event to navigate on your own, but Charlotte knew exactly where to position us for the best views. That experience alone was worth every penny. If you want to see the best of London’s royal history without the stress, book this tour and ask for Charlotte!
Ask for a tall guide!
lesleyaB1491SB,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Andy was the perfect guide to help us make it through the crowds to all the best viewing spots! He answered all of our questions and even kept it interesting enough for my 12-year-old to stay (mostly) engaged!
Excellent walking tour of Londo
620irynan,Oct 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This 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
5.00Charlotte 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
5.00Such 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
5.00Lee 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
5.00We 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
5.00The 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
5.00Wonderful! 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
5.00We 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.
Related Experiences
Operated by LivTours