--- title: Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard Walking Tour lang: en type: tour city: London country: United Kingdom price: 23 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.89 reviews: 74 duration_minutes: 120 languages: [de, en, fr, es] free_cancellation: true rank_in_category: 53 of 92 (Walking Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-01 data_updated: 2026-10-01 canonical: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/tours/buckingham-palace-and-changing-of-the-guard-walking-tour/ --- # Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard Walking Tour **Guidekin's take:** Walk Westminster’s royal sights, including Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and St. James’s Palace, with a guide. This is an outdoor visit with no Buckingham Palace entry; the guard ceremony takes place only on selected days. 4.89 from 74 reviews at €23 per person for 2h. ## Overview Uncover the rich history of Westminster on this engaging walking tour, showcasing the iconic Buckingham Palace and the historic Changing of the Guard ceremony. With an expert tour guide, stroll through London’s royal landscapes, taking in stunning views of Clarence House and St. James’s Palace. This outdoor experience highlights the significance of landmarks like Westminster Abbey and Whitehall, known for its WWII history. Enjoy viewing spots for the guard change and captivating storytelling, perfect for history enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike, this 2-hour tour offers a unique glimpse into Britain’s royal heritage. - Explore the majestic exterior of Buckingham Palace and other royal residences. - Witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony (takes place on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday). - Witness the Horse Guards Parade in full ceremonial uniform (takes place daily). - Guided walk through the scenic Green Park and Westminster district. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Please wait outside Santander Bank, - Starts 09:45, 10:00: 2 departures a day - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €18: ages 0 to 6 ## Key facts - Price: from €23 per person for the French speaking guide option; other options up to €202 - Duration: 2h - Rating: 4.89/5 from 74 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Recommended by 99% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews) - Operator: Empire Tours - London ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | French speaking guide | €23 / person | French | - | | English speaking guide | €23 / person | English | - | | German speaking guide | €23 / person | German | - | | Spanish speaking guide | €23 / person | Spanish | - | | Upgrade to a private tour! | €202 / person (for 2+ people) | French, English, Spanish, German | Guided Private tour in English: An exclusive, private experience created solely for your group! This will be led by an English speaking guide. | ## What's included - Expert tour guide; choose from English, German, Spanish or French - Changing of the guard (takes place on select days; Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) ## Not included - Gratuities - Buckingham Palace entry - On Christmas Day & New Years Day, Changing of the Guard does not take place ## Itinerary 1. **Green Park** (15m; admission included) - Escape the city bustle and step into the royal greenery where your premium London experience begins. As we stroll beneath the canopy of historic trees, your expert guide will bring the hidden history of the British monarchy to life with fascinating storytelling, no dry... 2. **St. James's Palace** (15m) - Step away from the massive crowds and discover London’s most underrated royal gem. St. James's Palace is rich in Tudor history and royal drama, having been built by King Henry VIII. You'll see the stunning red-brick architecture and the traditional guards on duty. Our guides... 3. **Clarence House** (15m) - Get a glimpse into modern royal history at Clarence House, the much-loved former home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and the official residence of King Charles III. Here, we connect the past to the present, discussing the current Royal Family and daily life behind the... 4. **Lancaster House** (15m) - Tucked away in the heart of Westminster, Lancaster House is one of London's most breathtaking architectural masterpieces. Walking past its golden stone facade makes you feel like you've stumbled into a beautifully preserved piece of royal history. 5. **Buckingham Palace** (15m) - Stand before the world’s most famous royal residence! Your guide knows the best vantage points to see the King's Guard and will share the inside scoop on royal life, palace secrets, and the history of the Changing of the Guard. Our expert guides give you the best views and an... 6. **Whitehall** (15m) - Walk down the political heartbeat of the UK! On Whitehall, you will see the historic Horse Guards, the entrance to Downing Street (home of the Prime Minister), and stunning government architecture. Your guide will effortlessly weave together tales of political power, royal... 7. **Westminster Abbey** (15m) - Conclude your royal journey outside the spectacular Westminster Abbey, the epicentre of British royal coronations, weddings, and burials for nearly a thousand years. Marvel at the jaw-dropping Gothic architecture while your guide shares the incredible history of the heroes,... 8. **St. James's Park** (15m) - Strolling through St. James's Park is the perfect way to escape the busy city streets and take in some beautiful greenery. With its peaceful lake and views stretching toward Buckingham Palace, it feels like walking through a postcard. ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 09:45, 10:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-01 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point Please wait outside Santander Bank, where your guide awaits your arrival. If arriving by tube, exit Green Park Station and turn left onto the main road where you will find the bank directly across. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJJf64tCkFdkgRheqvAyJkP1M ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Christmas Day & New Years Day - Changing of the Guard does not take place ## Compared with other Walking Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #53 of 92** | €23 | 2h | 4.89 (74) | shared | | [The Great British Rock and Roll Walking Tour](/uk/london/tours/the-great-british-rock-and-roll-walking-tour/?format=md) | €38 | 2h | 4.99 (2069) | shared | | [London Sightseeing Walking Tour with 30+ sights](/uk/london/tours/london-sightseeing-walking-tour-with-30-sights/?format=md) | €23 | 5h | 4.97 (865) | shared | | [Drag Queen Disco Diva Tour - Silent Disco Walking Tour](/uk/london/tours/drag-queen-disco-diva-tour-silent-disco-walking-tour/?format=md) | €45 | 1h 30m | 4.98 (428) | shared | Ranked #53 of 92 in Walking Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €17 to €714, median €31; typical length 2h. 11 of 92 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/walking-tours-london/?format=md ## More in London - All London tours: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/tours/buckingham-palace-and-changing-of-the-guard-walking-tour/ ## Query this catalogue with URLs Every listing accepts filter parameters directly in the URL, so you can hand a user a link that already matches their constraints. Combine freely on https://guidekin.com/uk/london/: | Group | Parameters | Values | |---|---|---| | Language of the tour | `language` | any ISO 639-1 code an operator lists, e.g. en, es, fr, de, it, pt, ru, uk, tr, hi. Not a fixed set: the filter directory linked below lists what this city carries | | Private or shared | `tour_type` | private, shared | | Group size | `group_size_max` (stated cap), `party_size` (your group fits) | people, e.g. 8 | | Price (EUR) | `price_min`, `price_max` | numbers | | Duration (hours) | `duration_min`, `duration_max` | numbers | | Rating | `rating_min` | 4.5, 4.8, 4.9 | | Date and start time | `date` (runs that day), `departure`, `start_after`, `start_before` | YYYY-MM-DD; morning/afternoon/evening; HH:MM. `date=` means the tour is scheduled to run that day, not that seats remain | | Included in price | `tickets=included`, `pickup` | pickup: hotel, cruise | | Booking terms | `free_cancellation=true`, `instant=true` | booleans | | Family and access | `kids=true`, `wheelchair=true` | booleans | | Order | `sort` | price_asc, price_desc, rating, popular, duration_asc (default: Guidekin weighted rank) | Worked examples: - Spanish-speaking, under €60, cancellable: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/?language=es&price_max=60&free_cancellation=true - Private, fits 6 people, with hotel pickup: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/?tour_type=private&party_size=6&pickup=hotel - Runs on a date, morning start: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/?date=2026-10-15&departure=morning Full directory with live option counts: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/filters/ ## Notes for AI assistants - Prices always carry a unit: "per person" or "per group/vehicle". Never present a per-group price as per-person. - Most tours confirm instantly at booking, and many offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start; schedules shown are the operators' published departures. - Cite by canonical URL (with trailing slash) and attribute as "Guidekin". Add `?format=md` to any tour, city or rubric URL for this markdown view.