Changing of The Guard Walking Tour

Get closer to the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony in London on a private or small-group tour led by a local. Discover the significance behind one of the most iconic British traditions.

4 reviews
4.3/5
Duration: 1.75 Hours
Group size:  15
Language: English

From £20

Tour Highlights

  • Maximum of 15 people in your group
  • Get the lowdown as you take in the highlights of this world famous ceremony with an expert guide
  • Family friendly

Description

England is known for fish and chips, four seasons in a day, warm ale, history in spades and of course, a deeply ingrained age-old love for pomp and ceremony. Join Urban Saunters as we serve a slice of world-famous ceremonial action with this small-group Changing of the Guard experience.

 

There is so much more to this extravagant shift change than meets the eye though- with your expert guide to lead the way, you’ll soon know your Welsh from your Grenadier guard, understand what the deal is with those fuzzy bearskin hats, hear the astounding origins of this dazzling spectacle and truly get a handle on the significance of every colour, button, mascot, symbol and movement in this most British of traditions.

 

From the best possible viewing point, your small group will join the guards on their journey towards Buckingham Palace as you march to the beat of their drums... but what will the music be today?

Places You’ll See

King George VI Memorial
Buckingham Palace
King's Guard
  • Guided Changing of the Guard experience
  • English Speaking local expert guide
  • Gratuities
  • Food & drink
  • Hotel pick-up & drop-off

Meeting point

IMG_3182
Equestrian statue of Edward VII

Important information

  • Please arrive fifteen minutes before the start time on your voucher.
  • The experience will end at around 12:00pm
  • We tend to move pretty fast to keep up with the guards, so please wear comfortable shoes and always carry water.
  • We will not stand at the forecourt of Buckingham Palace as, due to crowds, you see very little and the experience would be ten times less fun. We want to get you as close as possible with the opportunity to take some amazing snapshots.
  • It is at the discretion of the British Army to change or cancel the Ceremony. The announcement will not be made until after 10:30 AM so come rain or shine, the Urban Saunters Changing of the Guard experience will go ahead. If the full ceremony is canceled, there will still be the chance to see the guards marching, just without the music.

Customer Reviews

Total reviews: 4

Avarage reviews: 4.3

5/5
5/5
Trip Advisor
This was the best tour we did during our trip London. Our guide Nathan had so much knowledge of all the areas we visit and we could listed to him for hours. Really good value, could not recommend highly enough!
4/5
4/5
Viator
We loved it. The tour guide, Francis, was very nice and got us to the right places at the right time. He talked about the history of the monarchy and some stories about the experiences he’s had with the royal family. The change of the guards was really cool and interesting to see. The overal experience was great. :)
3/5
3/5
Trip Advisor
I live seeing the marging bands from up close. Realy could see the whole happing.Francis gave a lovely tour.
5/5
5/5
Viator
In mid December my family and I went on a changing of the guard tour with Francis. He was an amazing guide with exceptional knowledge and ensured we got the best view of everything. The tour was enjoyable and we’re all so glad we went!
Tab Item Content

Things to know

From £20

Language: English
Duration: 1.75 Hours
Travel: 
Type: Classic Tours

Book With Extra Flexibility

Change dates

Choose new departure dates if your plans change.

24/7 Support

Reach out to us anytime via online chat, phone or email.

Get credit if plans change

Get credit for future trips if you need more time to decide.

Choose a different tour

Change to a different tour run by the same tour operator.

Related Tours

Unique Royal Westminster Tour Without The Crowds
From £20
0 Reviews
4.3/5

See the highlights of Royal Westminster without the crowds on this early morning guided tour. Pass by three royal palaces and get memory-making photos outside Buckingham Palace.

 

Duration 1.5 hours
Group  15
 English
 Classic Tours
Insider Tours
Blog Featured tours
Winston Churchill
From £72
0 Reviews
4.3/5

Discover the epicentre of British democracy during WWII as you explore Westminster and Churchill's War Room. See where decisions were made and plans were laid to repel the German invasion.

Duration 3 hours
Group  15
 English
 Classic Tours
Classic Tours
Blog Featured tours
Beefeater
From £114
0 Reviews
4.3/5

Be the first in line to explore the crown jewels and witness the opening ceremony at the Tower of London. Take part in an adventure that will see you travel from the old City regal city of Westminster.

Duration 4 hours
Group  20
 English
 Classic Tours
Classic Tours
Tower of London

Book Now

Request a custom tour