London: Changing of the Guard Walking Tour with Small Group

The ceremony is the main event, but this walk is also a smart way to understand the royal landmarks around it. You follow the changing guards through central London, with a guide helping you find close views of the Old Guard, New Guard, Household Cavalry and band when the ceremony runs in its full form.

I like two things in particular: the small-group format, which makes it easier to hear the guide and move between viewing spots, and the way the route links the ceremony to Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Clarence House and Horse Guards Parade. Guides Ian and Carolina have been praised for lively storytelling, historical detail and clever positioning for photos.

The main consideration is simple: this tour does not go to Buckingham Palace’s front gates. Most of the ceremony happens elsewhere, and bad weather can mean a shortened change without music. If the palace gates are your priority, this is not the right tour.

At a glance

• The ceremony is mobile: You follow key parts of the guard change rather than watching it all from one fixed spot.
• The route ends at Horse Guards Parade: The walk takes in royal sites and St James’s Park before finishing near the Household Cavalry.
• Guides make a difference: Ian and Carolina have been praised for funny, story-led explanations and close viewing positions.
• The palace gates are not included: The tour specifically avoids the front gates of Buckingham Palace.
• Weather can change the show: A wet change is shorter and has no music, with the British Army making the call around 10:30am.
• Allow for a brisk two hours: The route is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments or low fitness.

Starting outside The Old Star

Meet your guide outside The Old Star pub at 66 Broadway, opposite St James’s Park Station’s Broadway exit. Look for the yellow umbrella. It is a straightforward central London meeting point, but do take note of the exact exit: St James’s Park Station has more than one way out, and a wrong turn can make a morning meeting feel more dramatic than the ceremony.

The walk lasts two hours and is conducted in English. It is a small-group guided walking tour, though no exact group size is specified. The practical benefit is that you can stay closer to the guide and hear the context while moving between public viewing places. That matters during a ceremony with crowds, changing vantage points and plenty to look at.

There is no entrance ticket to a palace or attraction included, and none is needed for the outdoor route as described. Think of this as a guided street-level experience, not a palace visit. You see the buildings from outside and follow the ceremony through royal London.

Buckingham Palace without the front gates

Buckingham Palace is the obvious name on the itinerary, but it is important to understand what that means here. The walk does not take you to the palace’s front gates. The ceremony unfolds across several locations, and the tour focuses on following those movements rather than staking out the familiar gate view.

That approach can suit you well if you want more than a single photograph of the palace frontage. Your guide helps you understand how the Old Guard and New Guard fit into the morning’s proceedings, and where the key parts of the change can be seen. The promise is close views at selected points, not an uninterrupted front-row seat to every moment.

I like that distinction because it sets sensible expectations. If your main goal is to stand in front of the gates, go independently and choose a different plan. If you want to connect the ceremony to the royal sites around it, the walking format offers more context and movement.

St James’s Palace and Clarence House

The route also includes St James’s Palace and Clarence House, two royal residences that help broaden the story beyond Buckingham Palace. You see both as part of the walk, with your guide supplying historical context along the way. There are no interiors or entrance tickets included, so the value lies in the explanation and the setting rather than going inside.

This is where a good guide can turn a succession of grand façades into a story you can follow. Ian has been described as weaving royal and palace facts into entertaining storytelling, while Carolina’s historical accounts were praised for linking events to memorable personal characters. Those names are not a guarantee of who will lead your departure, but they give you a sense of the guide-led style to expect.

The walk’s strength is that it places the ceremony among working royal landmarks, rather than treating the guards as a stand-alone show. You may already recognize the names, but seeing the sites in sequence helps you make sense of their place in royal London.

Following the Old Guard, New Guard and band

The heart of the tour is following the Changing of the Guard, including the Old Guard, New Guard, Household Cavalry and ceremonial band when the ceremony takes place in its full form. Your guide aims to position the group at useful viewing points for the key moments. The ceremony is a public event, so crowd conditions and the precise view can vary; no tour can promise that every person will see every detail from the same angle.

This is not a quiet, stationary history lesson. You should expect to walk between locations and pay attention to where the group is moving. The payoff is variety: instead of watching from a single distant spot, you get a guided look at different parts of the ceremony and a running explanation of what is happening.

The band is a memorable part of the full ceremony, but it is not guaranteed. In rain or poor weather, the British Army may call a wet change at approximately 10:30am on the day. That shortened version has no music. If the band matters most to you, accept that weather makes the outcome uncertain.

Through St James’s Park to Horse Guards Parade

St James’s Park is one of the named stops on the route, offering a change of pace between the palaces and the ceremony’s other locations. The tour is still focused on the guard change, not a long park visit, so think of this as part of a connected walk rather than time set aside for a leisurely stroll.

The final stop is Horse Guards Parade, where the Household Cavalry is part of the royal pageantry. The tour also offers a photo with the Royal Horseguards, subject to guard availability. That condition matters: treat the photo as a possible extra, not a guaranteed appointment or the sole reason to book.

Finishing at Horse Guards Parade gives the walk a satisfying endpoint. You have moved from the palace district through the ceremonial route and can finish with a closer look at the mounted guards if circumstances allow. The tour ends there, so plan any next activity from that location rather than expecting to be returned to the pub.

What the $25 price buys you

At $25 per person, the main value is not admission to a landmark. There are no attraction tickets included. You are paying for a guide, a planned route, help finding good viewpoints and the historical thread connecting several royal sites with the ceremony.

That can be good value if you would otherwise arrive unsure where to stand or how the guard change works. The close viewing positions and guide commentary are the parts most likely to improve the experience. Past participants singled out Carolina for finding spots close to the guards and helping them get strong photos and videos, while Ian was praised for making royal history fun and easy to follow.

On the other hand, you can see public streets and buildings without paying for a tour. The fee makes most sense if you want someone to explain what you are seeing and guide you between vantage points. If you prefer to wait in one place, skip the commentary or only want the palace gates, the tour’s particular value may not match your plans.

Practical details that can shape your morning

Wear shoes you can walk in and be ready to keep moving. The tour is explicitly not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments or people with a low level of fitness. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so leave them elsewhere before meeting the guide.

The ceremony itself is controlled by the British Army, and weather can affect its format. The wet-change decision is made at about 10:30am on the day, so the full version with music cannot be promised. The tour’s two-hour duration gives you a guided morning around the event, but the information provided does not specify an exact start time; check availability for the departure you want.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option offers flexibility when making plans. Those terms are useful, but the bigger booking question is whether you are comfortable with a moving outdoor tour whose best-known feature can change with weather and crowd conditions.

Who should book this walk

I would choose this tour if you are interested in the guard ceremony but do not want to work out the viewing spots and royal landmarks on your own. It is especially appealing if you enjoy hearing the background as you walk and want a small-group guide to help you follow the action. The lively storytelling described by people who had Ian or Carolina as guides is a real plus, although guide assignment is not assured.

It is less suitable if you have limited mobility, dislike walking, need wheelchair access or are carrying large luggage. It is also the wrong choice if you specifically want to stand at Buckingham Palace’s front gates. Those are not minor details; they define what kind of experience this is.

Book it if you want a guided, close-up look at the ceremony with royal context along the way. Skip it if your priority is the palace gates, a guaranteed band performance or a seated and accessible outing. At this price, it offers a practical way to make sense of a famous London morning, provided you are happy to follow the ceremony as it unfolds.

FAQ

How long is the Changing of the Guard walking tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

Where does the tour start?

It starts in front of The Old Star pub at 66 Broadway, London, SW1H 0DB, opposite the Broadway exit of St James’s Park Station.

How do I find the guide?

Look for a guide holding a yellow umbrella outside The Old Star.

Does the tour go to Buckingham Palace’s front gates?

No. The tour does not go to the front gates of Buckingham Palace, and most of the ceremony takes place elsewhere.

Which landmarks are included?

The route includes Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Clarence House, The Mall, St James’s Park and Horse Guards Parade.

Will I see the band?

The ceremonial band is part of the full ceremony, but bad weather can lead to a wet change, which is shorter and has no music.

Is a photo with the Royal Horseguards guaranteed?

No. The photo is subject to guard availability.

What language is the tour in?

The tour is conducted in English.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. It is listed as unsuitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments or a low level of fitness.

Can I bring luggage or a large bag?

No. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the tour.