Changing of the Guard in London: The 15 Best Tours

1.London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,672 reviews · 4 to 9 hours (approx.) · from $95Our pick

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a guided London tour by air-conditioned coach and on foot. Visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, watch the Changing of the Guard when scheduled, and choose a full-day route with the Tower of London and Thames cruise. Upgrade to cream tea at Harrods or a London Eye ride.

“This was a wonderful full-day London experience! Our tour guide, John, was quite knowledgeable and offered many interesting tidbits of information. His recommendation about where to stand for the changing-of-the guard parade was very helpful. John even ordered our lunch ahead of arriving at the Tower of London. Wear good walking shoes and prepare to climb stairs.”

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2.Changing of the Guard Guided Walking Tour in London

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,793 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $25Top rated

Walk from Piccadilly Circus through St. James’s to Buckingham Palace with a local guide such as Joe, Angie, Paul, or Alex. You’ll follow the guards along the Mall, hear stories about the royal family, and watch key parts of the ceremony from several viewing points. Expect a brisk pace, three flights of steps, crowds, and no refreshment stop.

“Lots of walking and crowds. But definitely worth doing with a guide. Bring water and snacks if you need them”

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3.Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,720 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $98

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Duke of York Column for a royal walk through St. James’s Park, a guided attempt to view the Changing of the Guard, and admission to Buckingham Palace. Inside, you explore the State Rooms independently with an audio guide. The ceremony may be replaced by a Westminster walk if schedules or weather change.

“The Buckingham tour was fantastic! If you don't want to walk around in the area, skip the tour and go straight to the palace. There was a lot of speaking before our tour.”

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4.Changing of the Guard Guided Tour at Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 941 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19Best value

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Duke of York Column and follow a headset-supported walking route through St. James’s. You’ll watch the guards from several chosen viewpoints, hear stories about royal ceremony, and finish outside Buckingham Palace. Guides such as Louise, Paul, David, Natalie, and Kevin have led recent tours. Upgrade options add the Royal Mews and King’s Gallery.

“Tour guide Louise was brilliant … excellent knowledge and delivery. She was entertaining as well and so helpful for other tourist tips at end of the tour.”

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5.Changing of the Guard Walking Tour in London at Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 919 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19

Join a guide such as Rachel, Mike, or Connor for a two-hour walk through royal London and the Changing of the Guard. You will move between several viewing points, hear the story behind the ceremony, pass Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Clarence House, The Mall, and St James’s Park, then finish at Horse Guards Parade. Expect about three miles of walking and plenty of standing.

“Our tour guide, Rachel, a born and bred Londoner, was exceptional, friendly, cheerful, energetic and very knowledgeable!! She knew it ALL! And could answer any question we had. Very easy walking tour and took us to the BEST locations to watch and listen to the guard band, the new and old shifts that change every other day and knew exactly where to stand at every event. Had excellent knowledge of the Monarchy and buildings. Loved this tour!”

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6.Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 776 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $26

Follow an English-speaking guide through St. James’s, Horse Guards Parade, and Buckingham Palace during a 1-hour-45-minute walking tour. Guides such as Babs, Nathan, Alex, Jeremy, and Francis are known for clear timing, lively royal stories, and finding close views of the marching guards. Expect brisk walking, crowds, and no refreshment stop.

“Babs is an incredible tour guide. She is extremely knowledgeable and kept us entertained with her wit. She made sure that we saw the changing of the guard in all 3 locations and did a great job navigating the crowds.”

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7.The Changing of the Guard Tour and Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 326 reviews · 2 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $24

Walk through Royal London with a guide such as John, Alan, or Peter, then watch the Changing of the Guard from a carefully chosen viewpoint. You’ll see Buckingham Palace from outside, Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, Big Ben, Downing Street, Horse Guards Parade, and Trafalgar Square. The tour lasts about 2 hours 15 minutes and does not enter Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace.

“An absolutely stellar experience from start to finish. The Changing of the Guard Tour and Buckingham Palace were incredible, but what truly made this tour exceptional was John. His knowledge, energy, and engaging interactions brought everything to life, even in the cold. John made the tour genuinely fun, lively, and memorable, keeping everyone entertained and comfortable despite the 9°C weather. As a Nigerian girl, that warmth and enthusiasm made all the difference and turned what could have been a chilly day into an unforgettable experience. I will definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting London, especially because of John. This was a standout, five-star experience and one I’ll alw...”

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8.Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 234 reviews · from $151

Walk from Green Park to Westminster with a local guide, passing Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, Whitehall, Horse Guard Parade, and Westminster Abbey. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, weather permitting, you may see the Changing of the Guard. Guides including Becky, Yasin, Yassine, Ollie, and Yasmin have led this roughly two-hour tour.

“The tour was very pleasant and informative. Yassine did a great job explaining everything and answering all questions. The experience overall was great and totally worth it!”

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9.Royal London Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 175 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $68

Start at Victoria Coach Station for a three-hour guided coach tour of London’s royal center. Hear stories through provided Vox headsets, see Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Parliament, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, and Buckingham Palace, then watch the Changing of the Guard on select days. Guides such as Sheila, Debbie, Leslye, and Oliver have earned especially warm praise.

“We found the guide for the half day tour to be exceptional. Gave us a good overall view of London at the start of our holiday.”

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10.London Tour: Changing of the Guard, Westminster Abbey & Tower

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 134 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $68

Spend about seven hours with an English-speaking guide exploring Westminster Abbey, St. James’s Park, Buckingham Palace, the Changing of the Guard, and the Tower of London. You’ll cruise from Embankment to Tower Bridge, see the Crown Jewels, and benefit from timed entry. Guides such as Jeremy, Toby, Dan, and Caroline are known for lively history and sharp crowd management.

“Well versed guide. Knew where to go and when. Would not know what you are looking at without the guide.”

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11.Buckingham Palace Visit & Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $100

Join a small group of up to 15 for a fast-moving walk through the Changing of the Guard, St. James’s Palace, and Clarence House. Guides such as Nathan, Babs, Chris, and Jo add royal stories and secure good viewing spots before sending you into Buckingham Palace for its official audio tour and gardens.

“Our guide, Patrick, was amazing even with the disappoint of the cancellation of the changing of the guard event. To make up for it he arranged for us to witness the changing of the royal horse guard ceremony. His personal knowledge was also amazing and added to our tour.”

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12.Skip the Line Westminster Abbey & Changing of The Guard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 49 reviews · from $121

This 3.5-hour English walking tour pairs a guided visit to Westminster Abbey with Changing of the Guard viewpoints near Wellington Barracks and Horse Guards Parade. A Blue Badge guide leads up to 20 people through royal history, military ceremony, and St. James’s Park. Expect steady walking and variable views of the guard change.

“Our guide Matt was able to detail the history of Westminster Abbey clearly which put this beautiful shrine into perspective.”

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13.Westminster Small Group Guided Tour with Changing of the Guard

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $142

Walk from Covent Garden through Trafalgar Square and Westminster to Buckingham Palace, then follow the Changing of the Guard from several well-chosen viewing spots. The tour lasts about 2 hours 45 minutes, runs in English, and includes a guide-led route with outside views of Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, 10 Downing Street, Big Ben, and the palace.

“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 $!”

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14.The Changing of the Guard – Exclusive Guided Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Meet your guide at the National Gallery at 9:30 am for a two-hour walk through Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, St. James’s Park, and the royal quarter. Your guide helps you find good viewing positions for the Changing of the Guard and explains the ceremony, though the palace event can be shortened or cancelled, especially in wet weather.

“Welsey was a great guide. He patiently answered our granddaughter's questions and kept at a good pace for her grandparents! He was extremely knowledgeable and gave us great insight into the changing of the guard plus all the areas we walked by.”

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15.Buckingham Palace, Changing of the Guard & Thames Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 24 reviews · from $27

Follow a professional guide through Mayfair, Burlington Arcade, St. James’s Park, royal filming locations, Downing Street, and Westminster Abbey before taking a Thames boat to the Tower of London. The tour costs $27.41, lasts about two hours, and includes the boat ticket. Guide Jack is praised for sharp trivia and finding good views.

“Our guide, Jack, was so very well educated! He kept us entertained with witty humor and trivia while teaching us so much. He knew all of the secrets to get us the best views of everything we wanted to see. I highly recommend this tour and hope that all guides are as amazing as Jack is!”

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