London Changing of the Guard, London - Book online at Civitatis.com

Name: London Changing of the Guard
Brand: Civitatis
Price: 18.57 USD
Rating: 7.6 (46 reviews)

Rainy day... no grand changing at the royal palace, but thanks to the professionalism of the guide the experience was pl...

Luisa

See this most British of traditions from start to finish with a guided tour, a spectacular ceremony sure to be a highlight on your trip to London.

Details

Duration

2 hours.

Language

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English.

Included

Expert local guide
Small groups of 15 or fewer
Headsets when needed to listen to your guide
Admission to Buckingham Palace (depending on selection)
Official palace audio guide (depending on selection)

Supporting documents

Electronic voucher. Have it on your phone.

Sustainability

All services meet our

Pets

Not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

If you have other questions, contact us

Free cancellation

Free cancellation up to 3 days before the day of the activity. Any cancellations after this or no-shows on the day will not be refunded.

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Meeting point

Duke of York Column, Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ

Reviews of our customers

7.6

Very good 1,137 Travelers·46 reviews

October 8, 2026
Luisa
Roma, Italy
Rainy day... no grand changing at the royal palace, but thanks to the professionalism of the guide the experience was pleasant and we were lucky becau...
Traveling solo
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July 7, 2024
Valentina Cirder
Italy
The meeting was very nice, the guide Lucia was very kind and very knowledgeable, we were a group of Italians so she only spoke to us in Italian and it...
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August 21, 2025
Leandro
Brazil
Amazing, a live class explained in detail.
As a couple
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August 15, 2025
Anonimo
Italy
It's a great experience, and it's quite an impact when you experience it live. I recommend it.
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April 21, 2025
Luciana Di Cecco
Lanciano, Italy
Very kind guide, very good
With friends
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November 1, 2024
Caroline
United Kingdom
Our guide Peter was excellent and has a very good knowledge. Thanks
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August 26, 2024
Rita
Italy
The guide was prepared and friendly
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June 2, 2024
Verônica Barroso
São Paulo, Brazil
Very good guide, with vast knowledge, kind, punctual and polite. The exchange brought us very close and allowed us to see the king and queen leave…
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March 27, 2024
Marica Gigliotta
Switzerland
Our guide Nathalie was very polite and funny! :) Perfect timing and spots thanks to Nathalie. We saw The King too! I highly raccomend a guided tour f...
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March 4, 2024
Alvaro Soares
Abrantes, Portugal
Normal
Traveling solo
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See this most British of traditions from start to finish with a guided tour, a spectacular ceremony sure to be a highlight on your trip to London.

Activity Details

There are a few things that are naturally associated with Britain and Britishness. Afternoon tea, grey skies and the stiff upper lip... and the Changing of the Guard, of course! There are few more distinctive sights than the Queen's Guards, whose red uniform and tall bearskin hats are so well known that they've become a symbol of Britain itself.

The Changing of the Guard is the moment, filled with pomp and ceremony, when one shift guarding Buckingham Palace relieves the other. The change includes tightly choreographed marching, with the band of the Grenadier Guards in step, adding a sense of occasion to the ceremony with their bombastic mix of horns and drumming.

And while masses of tourists make the mistake of gathering at the gates of Buckingham Palace, only catching the very end of the ceremony, you'll be accompanied by an expert guide. You'll be taken around the very best viewpoints to see the changing of the guard from start to finish, and you'll enjoy your guide's commentary: digging into the history and significance of everything from the uniforms to the choreography.

The full experience lasts around 2 hours.

Add a Tour of Buckingham Palace

Want to complete your experience? When booking, you can choose the option that also includes admission to the famous Buckingham Palace. In this case, depending on the day you take the tour, we'll witness one of several different guard changes that take place on the Palace grounds.

On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, we'll observe the Changing of the Foot Guard, as foot soldiers from the Household Division take their places. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we'll see the Changing of the Horse Guards, or the Horse Guard Parade, featuring mounted cavalry from the Household. If you're joining us on a Saturday, we'll watch the Inspection of the New Guard, where the Captain inspects the incoming soldiers, ensuring they are ready to take on their duties, and their uniforms are in pristine condition.

Then, as local guides are not permitted to speak inside the palace, you'll enter the palace to explore on your own with the guidance of an official palace audio guide. You'll be able to see all kinds of treasures of the Royal Collection, including Sèvres porcelain, fine English and French furniture, beautiful artwork, ornate décor, and more. The most complete option for your visit!

Important

The Changing of the Guard ceremony is subject to change and cancellation by the British authorities, often due to large public events in London's city centre. If the change is affected by bad weather, cancellation is not announced until 11 am. However, even when it's cancelled due to bad weather, there will still be a 'wet change' without the band and with less ceremony.

Please note that the duration of the tour may vary depending on the entry time at Buckingham Palace.

Please also note that if there are large crowds, the best place to see the changing of the guard may be at The Mall, rather than in front of Buckingham Palace.

See this most British of traditions from start to finish with a guided tour, a spectacular ceremony sure to be a highlight on your trip to London.

Activity Details

The full experience lasts around 2 hours.

Add a Tour of Buckingham Palace

Important

Please note that the duration of the tour may vary depending on the entry time at Buckingham Palace.

Please also note that if there are large crowds, the best place to see the changing of the guard may be at The Mall, rather than in front of Buckingham Palace.

London Changing of the Guard