Recent Searches
Clear
Close

Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony

star-4.5465 Reviews
|
Badge of Excellence
|
Greater London, United Kingdom
Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony
See More
See More
Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022
Royal Collection Trust / © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2022
See More

From $81.17

Lowest Price Guarantee

Select Date and Travelers

Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults10 Adults11 Adults12 Adults13 Adults14 Adults15 Adults0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children10 Children11 Children12 Children13 Children14 Children15 Children0 Infants1 Infant2 Infants3 Infants4 Infants5 Infants6 Infants7 Infants8 Infants9 Infants10 Infants11 Infants12 Infants13 Infants14 Infants15 Infants
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Loading available options...
Safety measures
icon2 hours 45 minutes  (approx.)
Mobile ticket
iconOffered in: English

Explore our promoted experiences

Operators have paid Viator more to have their experiences featured here

Overview

Delve into London’s rich royal heritage during a visit to Buckingham Palace to see the Changing of the Guard Ceremony. Marvel at the traditional Changing of the Guard performance, which involves meticulously dressed soldiers marching to the rhythm of military drums. Then, enjoy an exclusive experience as you enter the opulent State Rooms of Buckingham Palace for an independent audio tour. See lavish chambers during a tour only available for two months of the year, and gain fascinating insight into the history of the British monarchy.
  • Buckingham Palace tour including the Changing of the Guard ceremony, led by a tour host
  • Wander through St James’s Park and watch the famous Changing of the Guard
  • Explore the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace, an experience only open to the public for two months of the year
  • Plug into an audio guide and learn about Queen Elizabeth II and the British Royal Family

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

On this efficient tour, see the Changing of the Guard and nab hard-to-get tickets to Buckingham Palace.
Saved to wishlist!

From $81.17

Lowest Price Guarantee
Book Now
Professional host
Audio guide for Buckingham Palace
Changing of the Guard ceremony
Entrance ticket for Buckingham Palace
Headsets when appropriate
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Food and drinks
Duke of York Monument , St. James's, London SW1Y 5AJ, UK
Open in Google Maps

By the Duke of York Column, Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ. This is the tall column with a statue on top.

Spur Road , Spur Rd, London SW1A 1AA, UK
Open in Google Maps

Inside Buckingham Palace

Greet your courteous guide at a central London location and stroll through the verdant splendor of St. James’ Park to Buckingham Palace, the majestic official residence of Her Majesty the Queen. Stop at a prime position before the gates to behold the impressive Changing of the Guards Ceremony, a colorful and traditional performance that combines vibrantly dressed soldiers with rhythmic drum beats. 

See immaculately groomed horses and the beautifully dressed Household Cavalry canter across Horse Guards Parade, and then prepare to enter one of Britain’s most iconic cultural institutions. Listen to illuminating commentary from your guide as you stroll to the entrance of the regal residence, only open for two months of the year. 

Pop in your audio guide and embark on independent exploration of Queen Elizabeth II’s luxurious State Apartments. Delight in opulent ornaments like sparkling chandeliers, classic artworks and elegantly upholstered furniture as you discover the historical rooms. 

Return to the outside of Buckingham Palace and bid your guide farewell at this central location. 

Please note: If there is heavy rain — or if the Changing of the Guard is rescheduled to early morning (as on some Sundays) — the ceremony will be replaced with a walking tour.
Itinerary
Stop At:  
St. James's Park
Greet your courteous guide at a central London location and stroll through the verdant splendor of St. James’ Park to Buckingham Palace, the majestic official residence of Her Majesty the Queen.
... MoreLess
Duration: 15 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Changing of the Guard
Stop at a prime position before the gates to behold the impressive Changing of the Guards Ceremony, a colorful and traditional performance that combines vibrantly dressed soldiers with rhythmic drum beats. Please note: If there is heavy rain — or if the Changing of the Guard is rescheduled to early morning (as on some Sundays) — the ceremony will be replaced with a walking tour.
... MoreLess
Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Horse Guards Parade at Whitehall
See immaculately groomed horses and the beautifully dressed Household Cavalry canter across Horse Guards Parade, and then prepare to enter one of Britain’s most iconic cultural institutions.
... MoreLess
Duration: 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Stop At:  
Buckingham Palace
Listen to illuminating commentary from your guide as you stroll to the entrance of the regal residence, only open for two months of the year. Pop in your audio guide and embark on independent exploration of Queen Elizabeth II’s luxurious State Apartments. Delight in opulent ornaments like sparkling chandeliers, classic artworks and elegantly upholstered furniture as you discover the historical rooms. Return to the outside of Buckingham Palace and bid your guide farewell at this central location.
... MoreLess
Duration: 1 hour 
Admission Ticket Included
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Depending on the day you will see either the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade. The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities.
  • On occasional Sundays may be rescheduled to early morning, this will then be replaced with an extended walking tour.
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before 11AM. When this occurs, customers will still see a ‘wet change’ during which the guards march but without the usual music or parade.
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 25 travelers
  • OPERATED BY City Wonders UK
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony.
Q:
What is the social distancing policy during Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony?
A:The policy on social distancing is:

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
See all safety measures taken by Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony.

Traveler Photos

See More
See More

Traveler Tips

  • "It should be noted that people with disabilities need consider signing up." See review
  • "Make sure you locate the meeting point ahead of time." See review
  • "This is necessary because there is so much to see." See review

Reviews by Viator travelers.  We perform checks on reviews

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
465 Reviews
5 stars
317
4 stars
67
3 stars
31
2 stars
18
1 star
32

Reviews by Viator travelers

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 465 reviews
star-5
Marnie was AWESOME!!!
Karen_G
, Aug 2022
I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this, but it turned out to be my favorite tour. Marnie was fun, knowledgeable and just the best. Loved the audio receivers so we could hear her without having to strain above the noise. This was a fun tour.
... MoreLess
star-5
Take this tour!
Christine_M
, Aug 2022
Our guide was so nice and informative. He moved the tour along and made sure everyone got in the shade when we viewing the beautiful landmarks and listening to the stories of history. Excellent!
... MoreLess
star-5
Tour guide Jo was amazing!!!! She made it fun
Misty_B
, Aug 2022
Jo from City Wonders was absolutely amazing. She was knowledgeable and added to the experience. She was fun but also is the OG on the circuit so she will do her best to get you the best views. We loved it so much was a great choice.
... MoreLess
star-2
I booked 4 tours through...
DEEPIKAVINOD_J
, Aug 2022
I booked 4 tours through Viator and 3 were great. The Buckingham Palace one was useless, it is touted as palace changing ceremony tour, the guide made us stand far away from the palace, showed us the guards marching past on the "Mall road", then took us to one side and told us to take a toilet/food break for 20 min and come back. He then took us to palace entrance line, took the walkie-takie set back and told us to enjoy the palace at leisure and left us. All of this could have been done by oneself without paying them. Compare this to the walking tour in Edinburgh which was absolutely amazing, the "goat mountain" tour in Lake district which was great, and it is so very disappointing......
... MoreLess
star-5
Exceptional tour guide Jo
Lorna_B
, Aug 2022
Great tour experience Jo was excellent. So much knowledge made the tour exceptional. She had to deal with some awkward customers and she was so professional. We had a fantastic day x
... MoreLess
star-2
Disappointing experience - not worth £66
Graciela_A
, Aug 2022
The most memorable part of the experience was the tour inside of Buckingham Palace. Our group of seven bought £66 tickets tickets that included a tour of Buckingham Palace, the changing of the guards and a walking tour. But the changing of the guards does not happen in August, according to the tour guide.. It was a disappointment. Also, trying to find the location where the walking tour would begin was unclear, so we ran around until we found the group, and then joined them. We thought this would be a good experience, but it was not. The good part of the experience was the indoor tour of Buckingham Palace, which we didn’t realize could be purchased for £30. But we had to wait for 1 hour until a tour guide could bring us into the Palace as a group.
... MoreLess
1 traveler found this review helpful
star-1
Do not book - false advertising
Kristina_S
, Aug 2022
The directions to the meeting place were insufficient and we did not catch up to our tour group until 20 past the start time. There was false advertising as there was no changing of the guard on a Saturday in August which (being from a different country) we did not know prior. Also, we had to wait 45 min. outside the palace before we could get in, and thought we would have a tour guide inside as well. We did not, and were given headphones just like everyone else who entered the castle for only $30(pounds). We paid $66/pounds for our tour which didn’t really even happen. We paid too much for this tour! I would not refer this to anyone.
... MoreLess
1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
London 2022
Roger_G
, Aug 2022
Buckingham palace is amazing. The tour guide was very good and knowledgeable about everything on the tour.
... MoreLess
star-4
tour guide Jo was very...
Mark_C
, Aug 2022
tour guide Jo was very interesting and informative. changing of the guard was not what i expected. a lot of standing around. loved inside of the palace
... MoreLess
star-1
Poor experience
roberta_s
, Aug 2022
Tour totally mid-named. We did not see changing of guards but rather little bits and pieces of guards getting ready to match or guards returning to barracks. Repeatedly told if we listened we could hear the band! Complete waste of money. Better to have done on our own
... MoreLess
1 traveler found this review helpful
star-4
Royal memories
Annemie_V
, Aug 2022
Our last day in London before going back home, we had the chance to see the changing of the guards and Buckingham Palace. Although the changing of the guards was a bit disappointing, since we only saw a small part of it. But we learned more about it and understand why it is not easy to see the full picture all at once. The tour of Buckingham Palace made up for this and so happy to have done this. Nice ending of our vacation in London.
... MoreLess
star-3
Disappointed, Not Worth the Expense
Judy_H
, Aug 2022
We purchased this experience so we could get the best view of the changing of the guard; however, we only witnessed the horse guard ceremony (which we could have done without a tour). The tour guide was very informative, but the overall experience was a disappointment given the price.
... MoreLess
star-5
Don't Miss the Buckingham Palace Tour!
Kathy_S
, Aug 2022
I sent a message indicating that we were running a little late because of the unexpected congestion due to the celebration of the UK women's soccer team. I was disappointed to receive a completely unhelpful response that basically said too bad. I would have expected a little more understanding regarding circumstances beyond our control. But ... we made it to the tour in the nick of time and we were so glad., because this tour turned out to be the highlight of our entire UK trip! Our guide was great and visiting Buckingham Palace was absolutely awesome!
... MoreLess
star-5
Guided Buckingham Palace tour
Amy_M
, Aug 2022
Louise was a great tour guide! Very knowledgeable and fun! Definitely recommend a small group guide to give you lots of interesting info you wouldn’t learn if self guided!
... MoreLess
star-5
Had a great time
Ellyn_L
, Aug 2022
Louise was an amazing guide. She made the experience so fun. It is definitely a tour worth taking. So glad we decided to see Buckingham Palace using this tour.
... MoreLess
star-5
Fun(ny) time!
Liliya_G
, Aug 2022
Nathan was fantastic! His sense of humor, his pacing, and his energy were all easy to keep up with. Highly recommend booking and requesting Nathan!
... MoreLess
star-5
Great trip
Kellie_P
, Aug 2022
Awesome day, Great guide, Whole experience was amazin, plenty of knowledge and history shown by the guide
... MoreLess
star-5
Outstanding tour with much to see
Matthew_C
, Aug 2022
Fantastic tour had a wonderful time. Our guide Marilyn had an excellent working knowledge of where to get to the best vantage points for the changing of the guards at multiple locations. She had the patience of a saint with a large group and couldn’t be more happier that we had her as our guide. The self guided Buckingham Palace tour that followed was also excellent. Highly recommended!’
... MoreLess
star-3
Waste of time changing of the guards, fantastic Buckingham palace
Jens_K
, Aug 2022
0 stars for the changing of the guards experience as our guide had no clue where to stand or go to get the best spot. We were standing either at the wrong spot or way too far away to be able to see anything. The quality of the tour guide was mediocre at best. However 5 stars for the Buckingham palace tour, the palace and the audio tour was fantastic.
... MoreLess
star-5
Great tour!
Sharon_O
, Aug 2022
Our tour guide was fantastic! She was so full of wonderful information, made sure we all had a great view for the changing of the guards, answered questions and was just enjoyable!
... MoreLess
1 traveler found this review helpful
Why you are seeing these recommendations

Compare Similar Experiences

Current
Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Buckingham Palace Tour Including Changing of the Guard Ceremony
star-4.5464
2 hours 45 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$81.17
Private Tower of London Opening Ceremony with Changing of The Guard and Cruise
star-4.5244
4 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$84.86
Likely to Sell Out
London In a Day: Tower of London, Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard
star-5109
8 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$158.65
Semi-Private Changing of the Guard & Westminster Highlights Tour
star-4.53
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$40.58
Likely to Sell Out
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace Guided Tour - Private Tour
star-514
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$86.95
London In One Day Tour with Changing of the Guard with London Eye option
star-41108
9 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$129.13
Likely to Sell Out
Royal London And Changing of Guard - Very Small Group Tour
star-00
2 hours 35 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
$55.34
Likely to Sell Out
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace Guided Tour - Semi-Private 8ppl Max
star-551
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$86.95
Likely to Sell Out
Best of London Including Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, with a Cream Tea or London Eye Upgrade
star-41577
9 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$138.97
Why you are seeing these recommendations

Explore Similar Things to Do

Private and LuxuryWalking ToursCultural ToursHistorical ToursWalking & Biking ToursCultural & Theme ToursLuxury & Special OccasionsTours & SightseeingLondonPrivate and Luxury - HorleyWalking Tours - HorleyCultural Tours - HorleyHistorical Tours - HorleyPrivate and Luxury - Stansted MountfitchetWalking Tours - Stansted MountfitchetCultural Tours - Stansted MountfitchetHistorical Tours - Stansted MountfitchetPrivate and Luxury - CambridgeWalking Tours - CambridgeCultural Tours - CambridgeHistorical Tours - CambridgeCategory

Attractions in London

St. James's Park Tours & TicketsLondon National Theatre Tours & TicketsRegent Street Tours & TicketsPiccadilly Circus Tours & TicketsMonument to the Great Fire of London Tours & TicketsBAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London Tours & TicketsLondon Science Museum Tours & TicketsBeefeater Gin Distillery Tours & TicketsRoyal Festival Hall Tours & TicketsBanqueting House Tours & TicketsWellington Arch Tours & TicketsUp at The O2 Tours & TicketsWestminster Abbey Tours & TicketsPortobello Road Tours & TicketsWestminster Tours & TicketsSt. Martin-in-the-Fields Tours & TicketsLondon Film Museum Tours & TicketsRoyal Mews Tours & TicketsBlackfriars Bridge Tours & TicketsBritish Museum Tours & Tickets
Why you are seeing these recommendations