London Experiences

Buckingham Palace skip-the-line tour with Changing of the Guard

££

Attraction Heritage

Hightlight

City Centre
Family Friendly
Tours

Get the royal treatment in London with a narrated viewing of the Changing of the Guard and a visit to Buckingham Palace. See the outfits worn by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the Coronation too.

You’ll meet your guide and be taken to an area with a prime view of the Changing of the Guard. This colourful ceremony is one of the oldest traditions at the Palace, with red tunics, bearskin hats, and occasionally pop music.

Please note that if you book on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, enjoy the Household Cavalry change the guard at Horse Guards parade, with their unmistakable silver plumed helmets and mounted on their magnificent horses.

Afterward, your guide will take a moment to describe the history of Buckingham Palace before sending you right in. Traditionally, guides are not allowed to speak inside, so you will receive an official audioguide. You’ll be able to explore this royal home at your own pace. Take the time to admire the world-famous artwork and furnishings. With 19 State Rooms, a ballroom, and the throne room, you’re sure to see impressive elements of the Royal Collection. It’s a regal experience you won’t want to miss.

What’s included

Pre-booked admission to Buckingham Palace
Changing of the Guard (weather permitting)
Expert, English-speaking tour guide
Headsets, when necessary

What’s not included

Gratuities
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Food and beverages

Meeting point:

Please meet by the Duke of York column at Waterloo Place. This is the tall column with the statue on top. If you are arriving by tube, take the tube to Piccadilly Circus and take exit No. 3 onto Regent Street/St James. Walk south down Regent Street towards St James Park (do not walk north towards Oxford Street). Waterloo Place is at the end of Regent Street. You will see the tall column with a statue on top. If you arrive into Charing Cross Station, walk down the Mall towards Buckingham Palace. You will see the statue on your right at the top of some steps. The tour will end inside Buckingham Palace.

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Maps

Contact

9 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG, UK

Google Reviews

Buckingham Palace

4.5187234 reviews

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Sumukha Ashok

2 weeks ago

Highly recommend the palace tour as the palace is quite stunning on the inside. Do buy the tickets in advance and show up right in time for your entry because there’s no wait then! The gift shop also has some quality souvenirs so I highly recommend it. Also, the palace gardens were my favourite gardens in London ✨✨✨✨

Shanel

3 weeks ago

I had a great time attending Buckingham palace! The grounds were stunning and I even got to see a short performance from the guards. The landscaping and fountains were the highlight for me. The self-guided tour inside was great too. Buy your ticket in advance to pick your preferred time.

Lori DeBoer

3 weeks ago

Tickets are not necessary for the changing of the guard. But I recommend standing on the fountain if you cannot get near the fence. You will need tickets for the States room tour. It's well worth with it.

Scott

2 months ago

Interesting to be and see inside this storied place. The State Rooms are interesting and the chance to see the royal art collection is a real treat. I also enjoyed the special exhibition of art produced on the King Charles’s travel over the years as well as the throne room. It’s crowded but manageable. I also visited the mews with the carriages and would recommend. My disappointment was the limited access to the garden. The website lists the Royal Gardens as one of the highlights and includes pictures of the rose garden and other select spots. Once on-site I learned that much of the garden, including the roses I hoped to see, is off-limits unless you book a special tour, which were all booked. This is not made clear on the website when booking. Also note that the amount of time they indicate for the palace tour is far too long unless you’re planning to eat in the cafe and do a lot of shopping in the gift shop. I listened to the entire tour and spent time in all of the rooms and it took me 45 minutes or so—they indicate 2 to 2.5 hours. This can be an issue if you are booking multiple timed elements at the palace or tickets elsewhere.

jessica desilets

a month ago

We purchased guided tour tickets to include the changing of the guards. What we failed to understand was the meeting point is not actually at Buckingham Palace, rather about a mile down the road at the equestrian statue. The tickets were expensive since we did opted for a guided tour however the guided tour does not take you inside the palace. I have to say overall I was a bit let down by the tour I expected more for some reason. Don't get me wrong you get to see beautiful marble statues and works of art that are one of a kind and you're only going to see there and you get to see a very small section of the palace. The section you get to see is where they do most of the hosting for guests. It's a must-see, I'm not so sure paying extra for a guided tour was worth it as once you get inside your guide leaves you and you can take the free guided audio tour to go through the rooms. The palace was absolutely packed during a random weekday and I would definitely recommend pre-buying your tickets. There is a small Cafe outside at the end of your tour and a large garden that you can get a free tour as well. Located right in the center of London, when you come out it pops you right back out in the streets so be prepared to walk. Just like all the other palaces and castles I visited you cannot take pictures or video once inside.