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London Changing of the Guard Experience 2 hr 30 min

TourTruth score 8.1 out of 10

Very goodTop 13% in London

23 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score

  • London, United Kingdom
  • 2 hrs 30 min
  • Updated November 2, 2026

Follow the royal route from St James’s Palace toward Buckingham Palace and uncover the history behind London’s Changing of the Guard.

About this tour

See one of London’s most iconic royal traditions with a guide who brings its history and symbolism to life. This 150-minute London Changing of the Guard experience begins near St James’s Palace, the oldest royal residence still in use in London. As the Household Division prepares to march, hear how the ceremony took shape in the 17th century and learn what its steps, salutes, and calls represent.

Follow the royal route along The Mall toward Buckingham Palace, watching the pageantry of red tunics, polished brass, and military drums. Your licensed or certified guide offers context that makes the ceremony more than a spectacle, connecting its details to centuries of royal and military history. The meeting point is outside the Diana Fountain. If bus travel is required, you may need to purchase Oyster Card tickets beforehand; lunch for the guide is also not included.

Choose this London Changing of the Guard experience for a closer understanding of a defining British ceremony. Join the walk and discover the stories behind the pageantry.

Highlights

  • Watch the centuries-old Changing of the Guard ceremony
  • Follow the route from St James’s Palace along The Mall toward Buckingham Palace
  • Learn about the ceremony’s history and military traditions from a licensed or certified guide

What's included

Included

  • Licensed or certified guide

Not included

  • Lunch for the guide
  • Oyster Card tickets if bus travel is required

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

Important information

  • Meet outside the Diana Fountain
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnant travelers, or travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Moderate physical fitness is recommended

How this score is calculated

This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 5.00 from 23 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.

How the score works and rating distribution in London
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 8.1. Top 13% in London means it ranks in the top 13% of tours in London by this score.

Provider rating distribution in London

How many tours in London have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • Viator

from US$366.36

on Viator

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