"This is by far the best thing we did in London during our stay!" Mrs Carter, CA

Changing of the Guard Walking Tour London with Fantastic Walks

London's number-one Changing of the Guard tour on Tripadvisor, Viator and GetYourGuide

See the Changing of the Guard — don't just stand in one place and wait for it. Follow it through royal London.

This is a fun, fast-moving walking tour of one of Britain's most famous ceremonies: the Changing of the Guard.

You'll be joining Robin and his team. And what a team! Fantastic Walks guides are teachers, historians, stand-up comedians, actors, Green Badge guides, Blue Badge guides and knowledgeable nerds.

Rather than simply taking you to Buckingham Palace, standing in a huge crowd and seeing nothing but the back of someone else's head, we'll move — and sometimes march! — through royal London to see different parts of the ceremony from carefully chosen viewing locations.

Along the way, the ceremony will be explained in (hilarious) detail. You'll know what's happening, why it's happening and all the extraordinary history surrounding it.

And we'll have lots and lots and lots of laughs along the way.

This isn't a dry history lecture. It's not two hours of dates and names. And it definitely isn't standing ten rows deep outside Buckingham Palace trying to glimpse the top of a bearskin.

What you'll see

The exact ceremony and route can vary depending on the Guards' schedule, operational requirements and events taking place in London, but a typical tour takes you through the heart of royal London and will include:

Trafalgar Square • The Mall • St James's Palace • Clarence House • Buckingham Palace • St James's Park • Wellington Barracks • The Blue Bridge

We'll position ourselves at different points along the route so you get the best viewpoints.

We aim to see the Guards and the ceremonial band up close three times. And, if they are scheduled (and they normally are), we should see the Household Cavalry at least once.

And because we're walking rather than waiting in one place, you'll experience much more of royal London along the way.

You'll understand what you're watching

Changing of the Guard is spectacular.

It's also surprisingly confusing if nobody explains it.

Why are some Guards coming while others are going? What's the difference between the regiments? Why do they wear bearskins? What exactly is being “changed”? What's happening at St James's Palace while thousands of people are staring at Buckingham Palace — and vice versa? Why do they wear red? How can you tell the regiments apart? Is it true that they are not allowed to smile?

That's where our Fantastic guides come in.

By the end of the tour, you won't simply have seen Changing of the Guard. You'll understand what you've seen — and you'll have followed it through the heart of royal London.

History without the history lesson

The best history is history in the form of stories. And this tour has the very best. There’s Nelson and Trafalgar. Wellington and Waterloo. Churchill and the Blitz. Kings, queens, wars, romances, triumphs, disasters — and the occasional monumental eyesore. You’ll hear about the people, places and events that shaped Britain and London across the centuries, for good and for ill.

It’s history without it ever being a lecture.

Who is this Changing of the Guard tour for?

This tour is particularly good for:

First-time visitors to London who want to see one of the city's great traditions while discovering royal and historic London.

History lovers who want more than photographs outside Buckingham Palace.

Families looking for an entertaining way to introduce children and teenagers to British history.

People who normally find history tours boring. You're particularly welcome.

And anyone who wants to understand what on earth all those people in red uniforms and enormous black hats are actually doing.

You don't need any knowledge of British history before you come.

That's our job.

Your guides

You'll have Robin, Paul or Judd as your guide.

Robin is the funniest (though Paul and Judd disagree).

Paul is the most knowledgeable (though Robin and Judd disagree).

And Judd is the best-looking (Robin and Paul sadly agree).

Whichever guide you get, they'll know their stuff without being stuffy, make you laugh without turning the history into a joke, and tell great stories without telling tall tales.

Why take a walking tour instead of watching at Buckingham Palace?

You absolutely can watch Changing of the Guard by yourself.

But there's a common misconception that the best way to experience it is simply to arrive at Buckingham Palace and wait.

Thousands and thousands and thousands of other people have exactly the same idea.

Changing of the Guard isn't confined to one spot. Different elements of the ceremony take place across the area around St James's Palace, Buckingham Palace and Wellington Barracks.

A walking tour allows us to move between locations and experience the ceremony as something happening through royal London, rather than watching one small part of it from behind a large crowd — and missing most of it.

It also means someone can explain what you're looking at while you're there.

That's rather useful.

Tour details

Tour: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour

Location: Central London

Meeting point: Sir Henry Havelock statue, Trafalgar Square

Start time: 9:30am (don't be late — we start promptly!)

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Walking distance: Approximately 1.5 to 2 miles

Finish: Around 11:30–11:40am, on The Mall, minutes away from Buckingham Palace

Guide: Robin, Paul or Judd — the best guides in London!

Frequently asked questions

Will we definitely see the Changing of the Guard?

The tour is timed and routed around the ceremony scheduled for that day. However, Changing of the Guard is a working military ceremony, not a tourist performance, and arrangements can change or be cancelled at short notice.

That's one advantage of going with guides who know the ceremony in detail: we can and will adapt.

Do we stand outside Buckingham Palace for the whole ceremony?

No — deliberately.

We'll walk through royal London and use different viewing locations rather than spending the tour standing in one enormous crowd outside Buckingham Palace.

At the end of the tour, when the very large crowds — which we've pretty much avoided — begin to disperse, you can walk to the Palace and get a close-up view.

You will, however, get the history of Buckingham Palace during the tour.

Will we see the military bands?

Almost definitely.

If it rains, however, the bands sometimes don't perform. The Guards still march, but without musical accompaniment.

The precise Guards, bands and movements vary from day to day.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. There's a lot of history, but there's also a lot of fun.

Children do need to be comfortable walking approximately two miles and spending around two hours outdoors.

What happens if it rains?

Welcome to London.

The tour will go ahead in rain, although the military ceremony itself can be changed or cancelled because of weather or operational requirements.

Dress for the forecast and bring something waterproof when necessary.

Do I need to know anything about British history?

Absolutely not.

Come knowing nothing.

Leave knowing lots.

Can I take photographs?

Absolutely — and we know the very best spots.

Is Changing of the Guard worth seeing?

Absolutely.

The uniforms, military bands, palaces and centuries of tradition make it one of London's great spectacles. It's colourful, musical, historic, occasionally eccentric and quintessentially British.

There's nothing else quite like it.

Is there a money-back guarantee?

Yes. There's a money-back guarantee — as long as you book directly through the Fantastic Walks website.

What's the cancellation policy?

Plans change. We understand.

Cancel at least 24 hours before the tour starts and you'll receive a full refund.

Ready to see Changing of the Guard?

Don't just stand outside Buckingham Palace and wait for the ceremony to come to you.

Come with us and follow it through royal London.

You'll see it. You'll understand it. And you'll have a lot of fun along the way.

See you there!

Robin

PS You are going to love it! So do book Changing of the Guard Walking Tour with us. Best reviews and a money-back guarantee! How can you go wrong?!