--- title: Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace Experience lang: en type: tour city: London country: United Kingdom price: 34 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.99 reviews: 805 duration_minutes: 120 languages: [en] free_cancellation: true rank_in_category: 4 of 47 (Pub Tours & Pub Crawls) schedule_checked: 2026-10-01 data_updated: 2026-10-01 canonical: https://guidekin.com/uk/london/tours/changing-of-the-guard-at-buckingham-palace-experience/ --- # Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace Experience **Guidekin's take:** Walk alongside the Guards and ceremonial band down The Mall on a guided route built around the Changing of the Guard, with selected viewing spots included. Moderate fitness is required, and motorized carts are not suitable. 4.99 from 805 reviews at €34 per person for 2h. ## Overview This is the highest-rated Changing of the Guard walking tour on Viator and Tripadvisor. Led by a historian and designed with a former Guardsman, this tour gives you the historical context, insider knowledge and the best viewing spots for the capital’s most iconic ceremony. Not only that, you'll get to walk alongside the Guards and ceremonial band as they march down The Mall—yes, it is as exciting as it sounds. You'll see Buckingham Palace, of course, but you'll also visit St James's Palace and Clarence House, discovering how these royal residences fit into this world-famous ceremony. If we're lucky—it does happen—you might even catch a glimpse of the King or Queen. Just as importantly, there'll be plenty of fun and laughter along the way. At the end of the tour, as the crowds begin to disperse, you can either go to the gates of Buckingham Palace for some fantastic photo opportunities or walk back to Trafalgar Square with your guide and enjoy some bonus sightseeing along the way. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Your guide will be holding a red… - Starts 09:30: one departure a day - Children from €23: ages 5 to 17 ## Key facts - Price: from €34 per person - Duration: 2h - Rating: 4.99/5 from 805 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Recommended by 100% of travellers (share of four- and five-star reviews) - Operator: Fantastic Walks ## What's included - Expert local guide - Prime viewing spots ## Not included - Gratuities/tips ## Itinerary 1. **Trafalgar Square** (10m) - We begin in Trafalgar Square, the historic heart of London. Not only is it easy to find, it also has a direct link to the origins of the Changing of the Guard ceremony. While you're here, we'll show you the spot that marks the very centre of London. You'll also discover why... 2. **St. James's Palace** (pass by, no stop) - This palace rivals Buckingham Palace and is a must-see in its own right. It’s also where the Guards come off duty, offering a fascinating behind-the-scenes perspective of the ceremony. One of London’s most historic sites, it’s steeped in centuries of history, scandal and... 3. **Buckingham Palace** (pass by, no stop) - One of the highlights of the tour is marching alongside the King's Guards and their ceremonial band as they make their way down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Few experiences bring you closer to the spectacle. You'll hear the military music, watch the precision drill at... 4. **Wellington Barracks** (15m) - This immense Georgian barracks is where the Changing of the Guard both begins and ends, and we will be here to see the new Guard come on duty. 5. **Clarence House** (pass by, no stop) - Your Changing of the Guard experience concludes outside Clarence House, the home of the King and Queen - which is just a couple of minutes away from Buckingham Palace. It will also be a final opportunity to see the Guards and the ceremonial band, and we are likely to see the... ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun - Departures: 09:30 - 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 Your guide will be holding a red Fantastic Walks flag and wearing a Fantastic Walks rucksack. Please be at the meeting point ten minutes before the scheduled start time. If you're late, head along The Mall to Friary Court, St James's Palace. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJm4AdoOAFdkgRAvUxdQp0-Tk ## Good to know - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries - Not recommended for pregnant travelers - Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for those using a motorized cart. ## Compared with other Pub Tours & Pub Crawls | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #4 of 47** | €34 | 2h | 4.99 (805) | shared | | [Soho Music & Historic Pubs Tour](/uk/london/tours/soho-music-historic-pubs-tour/?format=md) | €38 | 2h 30m | 4.99 (2355) | shared | | [London Small Group Tour of Historical Pubs](/uk/london/tours/london-small-group-tour-of-historical-pubs/?format=md) | €42 | 3h 30m | 4.98 (11782) | shared | | [Royal Historic Pubs Walking Guided Tour in London](/uk/london/tours/royal-historic-pubs-walking-guided-tour-in-london/?format=md) | €38 | 2h | 4.99 (995) | shared | Ranked #4 of 47 in Pub Tours & Pub Crawls by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €17 to €407, median €38; typical length 2h 30m. 5 of 47 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/pub-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/changing-of-the-guard-at-buckingham-palace-experience/ ## 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. 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