Royal London Tour incl Buckingham Palace & Changing of Guard

Buckingham Palace is more than a grand frontage for photographs: on this tour, you go inside its State Rooms and walk through part of the royal garden. That access gives you a much closer look at the working palace and its art than a quick stop at the gates can offer.

I like the way the tour combines the palace with St Paul’s Cathedral and a panoramic coach ride, so you get royal London and a major City landmark in one day. I also like the practical approach to the Guard ceremony: a guide can help you find a viewing spot, and the tour makes a palace photo stop even when the ceremony is not on.

The main caveat is that the Changing of the Guard is not guaranteed. It does not happen every day and can be affected by weather or operations. Expect crowds around the palace, too, and remember that the professional guide is listed for the coach tour only.

Key things to know before you go

• Buckingham Palace entry is the main event: See 19 State Rooms furnished with historic pieces and works from the Royal Collection.
• The palace garden is part of the visit: Your route includes a walk along its south side, with views of the lake and the palace’s west front.
• The Guard ceremony depends on the day: If it is unavailable, the tour may visit Horse Guards Parade, subject to daily operational viability.
• St Paul’s works differently on Sundays: Entry is included, but there is no guiding inside during church services.
• The coach guide does not accompany you inside: The listed professional guide leads the panoramic coach tour.
• Plan for a full day: Check in at 7:30 a.m. for an 8 a.m. departure from Victoria, then return to the same meeting point after eight hours.

Why this tour is about more than palace gates

London offers plenty of ways to see Buckingham Palace from outside. This tour’s real draw is the chance to enter the palace, visit St Paul’s and connect those stops with a coach tour of the city. If royal history is your priority, that combination makes for a full day with a clear theme.

The palace visit is especially useful if you want to see the royal residence beyond its famous façade. The State Rooms offer a look at ceremonial interiors and objects from the Royal Collection, while the garden walk gives you a different perspective on the palace grounds. This is not a private tour or a behind-the-scenes visit, but it does take you into spaces that an outside photo stop cannot show.

The day also has practical value for a first London visit. A coach tour links several sights without asking you to plan every transfer yourself, and an English-speaking guide provides commentary during that portion. Just keep expectations in line with the format: the guide is listed for the coach tour, not for a guided walk through the cathedral or palace.

Starting in Victoria and crossing London by coach

The meeting point is Bus Stop 8 on Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria SW1W 9SZ. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m., with departure at 8 a.m. The tour lasts eight hours and ends back at the same meeting point, so allow for a full day rather than trying to fit in a tight afternoon plan.

The panoramic coach ride is a broad introduction to London’s monuments and modern landmarks. It gives you a chance to see more of the city than the two main interior visits alone would cover, while resting between stops. The exact route and the sights passed are not specified, so treat this as a general city overview rather than a promise of particular photo stops.

A professional guide accompanies the coach tour. That is the best point to listen for context and ask questions about the city as you travel. You will not have that same guided commentary inside the palace or St Paul’s, according to the tour details, so if you want deeper explanation at either site, consider reading a little beforehand or using any information available on site.

A free snack pack is included, a welcome extra on a day that starts early. Food and beverages beyond that are not included, so bring anything else you know you will want. The coach is described as modern, comfortable and cleaned daily, which matters when you are spending a substantial part of an eight-hour outing in transit.

St Paul’s Cathedral: a soaring Wren landmark

St Paul’s rises above the City of London and is widely regarded as architect Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. Its scale and commanding dome make it a striking counterpoint to the royal setting at Buckingham Palace: one stop is a working royal residence, the other a major church with a long role in the city’s public life.

Entry to St Paul’s is included. The important qualification is Sunday: church services mean there is no guiding inside on that day. The tour information does not say that Sunday entry is cancelled, so you should not assume that you will miss the cathedral itself. Instead, expect to visit without the tour’s interior guidance.

That distinction can shape your day. If explanation from a guide is central to how you like to see historic buildings, a non-Sunday date may suit you better. If you are happy to look around independently, the included entry still gives you access to the cathedral. The details provided do not specify how much time you will have there, so avoid planning an exact visit length around this stop.

The Changing of the Guard: memorable, but not a sure thing

The sight of red tunics and bearskin hats at Buckingham Palace is a classic London scene, but the ceremony does not take place every day. It is also subject to weather and operational conditions. Check the day’s schedule before you book, and treat the Guard as a possible highlight rather than the guaranteed centrepiece of the tour.

The guide may help you find a better spot to watch. One useful piece of advice from this tour’s experience is that positioning matters: a visitor who followed the guide’s suggestion got a good view of the march. Another account describes seeing the guards march toward the palace on a smaller street, without seeing the ceremony itself. That is a fair reminder that a good view of the procession is not the same as seeing the full change.

Crowds can gather around the palace, and the tour says it will stop for photos there unless safety or security concerns prevent it. On days without a Guard change, the palace stop is made earlier to improve the chance of getting photos before the area becomes too crowded. If the ceremony is not available, the itinerary may include Horse Guards Parade, though that alternative depends on daily operational viability.

The practical takeaway is simple: enjoy the ceremony if it happens, but do not book solely for that moment. The palace interior and St Paul’s are the more dependable reasons to choose this particular day out.

Inside Buckingham Palace’s 19 State Rooms

The State Rooms are the heart of the palace visit. These 19 rooms are furnished with English and French antique furniture and contain works from the Royal Collection, including paintings by Rubens, Canaletto and Rembrandt, sculpture by Canova, and porcelain from Sèvres. That is a substantial collection to encounter in the setting for which the rooms were designed.

The palace is both the King’s London residence and the administrative headquarters of the Royal Household. That working role gives the visit a different feel from touring a historic house that exists only as a museum. You are seeing ceremonial rooms in a building that remains part of the monarchy’s present-day operation.

The tour information does not list a guide inside the palace. You should therefore plan for the rooms as a self-guided visit rather than expecting the coach guide to explain each artwork or furnishing. If art and royal history are your main interests, a little advance reading can help you notice more than the scale and splendour of the rooms.

Photography is not allowed inside. Take your palace exterior photos at the designated stop, then be ready to put the camera away as you enter. This rule can feel limiting, but it also encourages you to look closely rather than spend the whole visit framing shots.

A quieter finish in the palace garden

The tour concludes the palace visit with a walk along the south side of the garden. The grounds are described as a walled oasis, home to 30 bird species and more than 350 kinds of wildflower. The route takes in views of the lake and the palace’s west front, offering a calmer change of pace after the formal interiors.

This is not a promise of a long garden ramble. The stated route is a walk along the south side, so think of it as a final look at the grounds and palace from a different angle. It is a welcome contrast to the State Rooms, where the focus is on furnishings, art and ceremony.

The garden also rounds out the visit in a useful way. You see not only the public-facing rooms of the royal residence but also the grounds that surround it. For anyone who enjoys architecture and gardens as much as royal ceremony, that extra outdoor section adds real value to the palace ticket.

What $140.09 buys you

At $140.09 per person, this is a sizeable day-tour purchase. The price includes the panoramic coach tour, entry to St Paul’s Cathedral, entry to Buckingham Palace and its garden visit, a professional guide on the coach, and a free snack pack. The value is strongest if you want those major sights bundled into one organised day and would otherwise pay separately for transport and entry.

It is less compelling if your only goal is to see the Guard ceremony. That event is not daily, can be affected by conditions, and the exact viewing experience is not assured. You may be better served by a simpler palace-area visit if you do not care about going inside the State Rooms or visiting St Paul’s.

For royal-history fans, the palace entry is the key part that justifies the cost. You see an exceptional collection in its ceremonial setting, then finish with the garden and its palace views. The cathedral and coach tour add variety, though the absence of interior guiding at the two main buildings means the tour’s value depends partly on how much you enjoy exploring independently.

Who should book this London day out

I would put this tour high on the list if you have a strong interest in the monarchy and want to enter Buckingham Palace rather than settle for an outside view. It also suits first-time visitors who want a structured introduction to several major London sights in one day, and people who appreciate having transport and admissions arranged together.

It may be a less natural fit if you want a slow, highly detailed guided visit at each stop. The day covers several places, the coach guide is only specified for the bus portion, and the Guard schedule is uncertain. If you prefer to linger or follow your own pace, separate visits may give you more control.

Before booking, check the date of the palace opening and the Guard schedule, since both are essential to the experience you want. Also note that the tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, and that the e-ticket is required for entry. Cancellation information appears with two different cutoffs, 24 and 48 hours, so confirm the applicable terms for your selected booking before paying.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if entering Buckingham Palace is a priority and you like the idea of pairing its State Rooms and garden with St Paul’s and a city coach ride. It is a strong use of a day for royal-history fans, with the caveat that the Guard ceremony is a bonus, not a promise.

Skip it if you mainly want a guaranteed Changing of the Guard viewing, a guide inside every landmark, or a flexible schedule. Check the palace opening and ceremony dates first, then decide whether the bundled day is worth the price for your plans.

FAQ

How long is the Royal London Tour?

The tour lasts eight hours and ends back at the meeting point in Victoria.

Where does the tour start?

Check in at Bus Stop 8, Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria SW1W 9SZ. The stated check-in time is 7:30 a.m., with departure at 8 a.m.

Is entry to Buckingham Palace included?

Yes. Entry to Buckingham Palace is included, including access to the 19 State Rooms and the garden walk described for the visit.

Is entry to St Paul’s Cathedral included?

Yes. Entry is included. On Sundays, church services mean there is no guiding inside the cathedral.

Does the Changing of the Guard happen on every tour?

No. The ceremony does not take place every day and is subject to weather and operational conditions. A visit to Horse Guards Parade may be offered when it is unavailable, depending on daily operational viability.

Is a tour guide with me inside the palace and cathedral?

The professional guide is listed for the coach tour only. The tour details do not specify guided visits inside Buckingham Palace or St Paul’s Cathedral.

Can I take photos inside Buckingham Palace?

No. Photography inside the palace is not allowed. The tour normally stops for photos outside Buckingham Palace unless safety or security concerns prevent it.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the panoramic coach tour, entry to St Paul’s Cathedral, entry to Buckingham Palace, a professional guide on the coach tour and a free snack pack. Hotel pickup and drop-off, food and beverages are not included.