--- title: Changing of Guards, Big Ben, Tower of London, Beefeaters & Cruise lang: en type: tour city: London country: United Kingdom price: 113 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.68 reviews: 76 duration_minutes: 240 languages: [en] free_cancellation: true rank_in_category: 20 of 25 (Thames River Cruises) schedule_checked: 2026-10-01 data_updated: 2026-10-01 canonical: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/tours/changing-of-guards-big-ben-tower-of-london-beefeaters-cruise/ --- # Changing of Guards, Big Ben, Tower of London, Beefeaters & Cruise **Guidekin's take:** Combine a royal London walk, a Thames boat ride and Tower of London entry with a Beefeater meet-and-greet. A guide is included; a Westminster walk replaces the guard ceremony on weekends or if it is cancelled. 4.68 from 76 reviews at €113 per person for 4h. ## Overview Discover London’s Iconic Landmarks: A Must-See Tour ! Experience the best of London with a tour that combines history, tradition, and breathtaking sights. Begin with the iconic Changing of the Guards near Buckingham Palace, or enjoy a Royal Walking Tour on Saturdays, featuring landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Relax on a scenic Thames River cruise, where you’ll take in unforgettable views of Tower Bridge and other famous landmarks from the water. The highlight is your visit to the Tower of London, home to over 1,000 years of history and the Crown Jewels. Enjoy an exclusive Beefeater Meet & Greet—a private 15-minute session with a Yeoman Warder who will share captivating stories and give you a rare behind-the-scenes perspective of this iconic fortress. Perfect for history lovers and first-time visitors, this tour is an unforgettable journey through London’s heritage and charm. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Meet your guide by the Duke of York… - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - Starts 10:15: one departure a day - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €107: ages 5 to 15 ## Key facts - Price: from €113 per person - Duration: 4h - Rating: 4.68/5 from 76 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Likely to sell out - Recommended by 91% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews) - Operator: City Wonders UK ## 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 | |---|---|---|---| | With Changing of the Guards | €113 / person | English | With Changing of the Guards | | With London Highlights Tour | €113 / person | English | Westminster City walk | ## What's included - Expert, English-Speaking Tour Guide - Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide - Entrance Ticket to the Tower of London - Boat ride on the River Thames - Changing of the Guard Tour / London Higlights Tour [depending on the day] - Tower of London Meet & Greet with a Beefeater ## Not included - Hotel pickup and drop-off - Gratuities ## Itinerary 1. **Changing of the Guard** (1h 30m) - Begin your day with the iconic Changing of the Guards ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Watch the royal guards in their red uniforms perform a ceremonial handover, accompanied by a military band. Please note that if you book your tour on a Saturday, the viewing of the Changing... 2. **St. James's Park** (pass by, no stop) - Passing by during the walking tour 3. **Buckingham Palace** (10m) - Passing by to see the Changing of the Guards with explanations from your guide of the importance of Buckingham Palace 4. **Westminster Abbey** (10m) - As you stroll through this vibrant area of London, hear about the royals and politicians of Great Britain, who have left their mark around the capital. Pass Whitehall, home of the government, and swing past Downing Street where the Prime Minister lives. Enjoy photo stops at... 5. **Big Ben** (15m) - , the iconic clock tower at the Houses of Parliament, is a symbol of London and British culture. Known for its accurate timekeeping and resounding chimes, it represents the UK's history, democracy, and resilience. Featured in countless films and events, Big Ben is a beloved... 6. **Parliament Square** (pass by, no stop) - Passing by during the walking tour 7. **Houses of Parliament** (5m) - The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, are the heart of UK democracy and a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. Home to the House of Commons and House of Lords, it’s where laws are debated and shaped. Iconic and steeped in history, it... 8. **Thames River** (30m; admission included) - Your cruise from Embankment to Tower Bridge offers a relaxing journey along the Thames, showcasing iconic London landmarks. You can enjoy stunning views of the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Shard, all while gliding through the city’s... 9. **Tower of London** (1h; admission included) - The Tower of London, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a historic fortress that has served as a royal palace, prison, and treasury. It’s home to the Crown Jewels and centuries of captivating stories. Your private audience with a Beefeater adds a unique touch, offering insider... ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun - Departures: 10:15 - 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 Meet your guide by the Duke of York Column, Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ. This is the tall column with a statue on top. Arriving by tube: Take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and take exit No. 3 onto Regent Street/St James. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJdVT5WdAEdkgRIgE-J2syOmQ ## Good to know - Public transportation options are available nearby - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Cancellation due to bad weather or other circumstances is not announced before the morning of the ceremony. When this occurs, you will be provided with a walking tour of Westminster city instead. No refund will be provided as this is not under our control. - Please note that if you book your tour on a Saturday or a Sunday, the viewing of the Changing of the Guards will be replaced by a Royal Walking Tour of Westminster City. - We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group tours. - This service ends at the Tower of London after the Beefeater Audience. You are free to explore as long as you wish the Tower of London at your pace. - Please note that photography is not permitted inside the Crown Jewels exhibition. ## Compared with other Thames River Cruises | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #20 of 25** | €113 | 4h | 4.68 (76) | shared | | [High-Speed Thames River Speedboat in London](/uk/london/tours/high-speed-thames-river-speedboat-in-london/?format=md) | €83 | 50 min | 4.96 (4332) | shared | | [Thames Rockets Sunset London Speedboat Experience](/uk/london/tours/thames-rockets-sunset-london-speedboat-experience/?format=md) | €77 | 50 min | 4.99 (259) | shared | | [Thames High-Speed Zone Speedboat in London](/uk/london/tours/thames-high-speed-zone-speedboat-in-london/?format=md) | €77 | 45 min | 4.93 (602) | shared | Ranked #20 of 25 in Thames River Cruises by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €12 to €113, median €69; typical length 1h 30m. 0 of 25 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/thames-river-cruises/?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/changing-of-guards-big-ben-tower-of-london-beefeaters-cruise/ ## 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". 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