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Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour
4.1
1,160 Ratings
Greater London
Explore Buckingham Palace and witness the Changing of the Guard. Book now for a limited-time, 2.5-hour royal experience in London.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- St. James’s Park - Greet your courteous guide at a central London location and stroll near the verdant splendor of St. James’ Park to Buckingham Palace, the majestic official residence of several monarchs including the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh
- 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.
Depending on the schedule of the Household Cavalry, you may experience either the Changing of the Foot Guards or the Changing of the Horse Guards in London. These events are renowned for showcasing British tradition and military precision, further adding to London’s fame.
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.
- 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 Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla’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.
What's Included
- Audio guided Buckingham Palace Tour
- Changing of the Guard ceremony
- English Speaking Expert Guide for Changing of the Guard
- Entrance ticket for Buckingham Palace
- Headsets when appropriate
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Experience London’s royal heritage and pageantry on a 2.5-hour experience that combines a visit to Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guard. Enjoy the colorful spectacle of the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and then enter the magnificent palace with a tour host for an independent audio tour of the State Rooms, an experience only available for two months of the year. Admire the lavish rooms that are used by the royals for State and ceremonial events, as you discover the palace’s history from the audio guide.
Please note: Buckingham Palace is only open to the public for approx. eight weeks each year. Tickets sell out fast, so book now to avoid disappointment
- Depending on the day you will see either the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade.
- Changing of the Foot Guards run Mondays, Fridays, Sundays
- Changing of the Horse Guards run Thursdays, Saturdays
- On occasional Sundays may be rescheduled to early morning, this will then be replaced with an extended walking tour.
- The Changing of the Guards 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
- Please note that the changing of the guard schedule may change and on different dates we will see either Foot Guards or Horse Guards.
Location
Duke of York Monument
By the Duke of York Column, Waterloo Place, 9 Carlton Terrace, London SW1Y 5AJ. This is the tall column with a statue on top.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(1160 Ratings)
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Elena_g
Aug 11, 2024
Visit to Buckingham Palace - The most memorial part of our experience was definitely Buckingham Palace. And many thanks our guide for historical excursus. It was educational.
Review provided by Viator
Andrew_k
Aug 11, 2024
Visit - Good knowledge shown by our guide Anna. Bit chaotic at the start but soon sorted out. Palace visit was good.
Review provided by Viator
Patcarneyweaver
Aug 11, 2024
Guided Tour is a MUST! - Amazing tour! Our guide made sure we had prime spots to view the changing of the guards. I would definitely recommend taking this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Deana_p
Aug 11, 2024
Great stories! - Our tour guide Aaron was amazing! Gave the best historical stories I don’t believe we would’ve gotten anywhere else.
Review provided by Viator
Igor_k
Aug 11, 2024
Great tour - We loved this tour. Buckingham Palace is very much worth the visit and having it combined with the changing of the guards and the walking tour is an ideal and very efficient package. Our guide was very personable and knowledgeable and brought to the right places at the right time to see the guards and band marching. Would highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Donna_k
Aug 11, 2024
Buckingham Palace - Great tour guide! Wonderful tour and perfect amount of time. Really enjoyed this tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and easy to understand.
Review provided by Viator
Cruiser04909725745
Aug 9, 2024
Buckingham palace visit - Visiting Buckingham Palace was a truly memorable experience. The grandeur of the palace's exterior was matched by the efficiency and organization of the entrance process. Security was thorough yet unobtrusive, ensuring that we felt both safe and welcomed. The staff at the entrance were courteous and well-informed, offering guidance and answering any questions with patience and professionalism.
The palace itself is an architectural marvel, and stepping inside felt like being transported to a different era. The opulence of the rooms and the richness of the history on display were awe-inspiring. The tour was well-paced, allowing us to fully appreciate the intricate details and the stories behind each room and artifact.
Overall, the visit to Buckingham Palace exceeded our expectations. It’s an experience I would highly recommend to anyone interested in British history or simply looking to enjoy one of the world's most iconic landmarks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Larsenrod
Aug 9, 2024
Excellent tour! - I was expecting to stand in one place waiting for the guard to march by. We saw 4 different portions of the changing. Who knew the changing was that detailed and elaborate.
Going through Buckingham Palace was fantastic, it reminded me of Versailles in Paris.
Brandon went above and beyond.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol_j
Aug 9, 2024
Just go to Buckingham on your own. - Paid a large amount of money to see Changing of the Guard and Buckingham. There was no changing of the guard so there should have been a discount. We did get to see about six horses and soldiers ride in and line up in a row.
Our guide, Kevin, seemed to be a control freak or maybe was just out of the military. Constantly telling us to form a semi-circle so that we could hear him better and see better. First of all, we were wearing headphones and could hear him anywhere and second, what he wanted us to see (often) were statues that were 30 feet in the air. Standing in a semi-circle did not help see the statue.
So whatever we paid above and beyond the entry price of a ticket to Buckingham was not worth it.
Review provided by Viator
Rita_b
Aug 10, 2024
Don’t do it - This was a terrible experience. We arrived to our meeting point 45 minutes early, there was no indicator of a tour and someone told us to go to the side of the palace. We did that, they sent us back to the meeting spot. We missed the tour. No one was available by text or chat, and when we called we got Viator, not the tour company
Review provided by Viator
