Westminster Walking Tour with Changing of the Guard: London
See the Changing of the Guard from where the parade actually happens, not where the crowds get stuck.
A guided walking tour of Westminster in London with a small group (max 6 people) that ends at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. The tour lasts about three and a half hours and covers Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, 10 Downing Street and Big Ben on foot with a live guide. Instead of standing at the palace gates with thousands of others, your group walks along the parade route itself, seeing the full ceremony from spots only locals know.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore London and watch guard ceremony
- Visit St. Martins & Drury Lane
- Walk past Trafalgar Square sculptures
- See Westminster church
- View Churchill War Rooms externally
- Pass by 10 Downing Street
- Admire Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
- Explore Buckingham Palace area
- Watch Changing of the Guard ceremony
- Trafalgar Square 15m
- Westminster 15m
- Churchill War Rooms 15m
- Houses of Parliament and Big Ben 15m
- Buckingham Palace 15m
- Changing of the Guard 45m
What’s included
- Fully guided walking tour of Westminster.
- Trafalgar Square with its sculptures and history.
- Westminster Abbey viewed from outside.
- Churchill War Rooms viewed from outside.
- 10 Downing Street viewed from outside.
- Big Ben and Houses of Parliament viewed from outside.
- Covent Garden.
- Changing of the Guard ceremony from the parade route (not the palace gates).
- small group of up to six people.
- live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday 09:30
Information
Walk past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and 10 Downing Street with a guide, then watch the Changing of the Guard from the spots locals use instead of the palace gates crush.
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Traveler reviews
The experience
The tour starts in Covent Garden, a shopping and entertainment hub surrounded by St Martin's and Drury Lane, where your guide explains the history of the opera house: the third largest auditorium in London. From there you walk to Trafalgar Square, a landmark tied to Napoleon's Battle that has stood since the early 1200s. Your guide points out its most impressive sculptures and the stories behind them. The route then takes you past Westminster Abbey, a Gothic church that has hosted 17 royal weddings, countless burials and coronations since 1066, and by Churchill War Rooms, where Churchill sheltered during the German Blitz and planned major strategies during World War II. Your guide brings these sites to life from the outside, sharing their most memorable stories.
You'll pass 10 Downing Street, the office of the British Prime Minister, and see Big Ben (officially the Elizabeth Tower), which holds five enormous bells. The largest weighs 13.5 tons and is nicknamed Big Ben itself. The tour culminates at Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. Rather than join the masses who camp at the palace gates for hours only to see the very end of the parade, your group walks along the actual parade route, positioned to watch the old guards (the Beefeaters) ceremonially hand over responsibility to the new guards, accompanied by music. This way you see the full spectacle from start to finish without the crush.
Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. Groups stay small, a maximum of six people, so you're not herded through London with dozens of others. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring ID if anyone in your party is 15 or under. If you book on a Friday, you'll witness the Changing of the Household Cavalry instead. The British authorities can modify or cancel the ceremony without notice in case of wet weather or official events. If that happens, your guide will reroute the tour to include an alternative parade and more Westminster highlights. In heavy rain, the ceremony goes ahead as a wet change, with guards marching without music.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 17 years); Infant (under 3): free.
What is the Changing of the Guard ceremony actually like when you see it from the parade route?
The Changing of the Guard is a ceremonial handover where the old guards (Beefeaters) formally pass responsibility for Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace to the new guards, accompanied by music and full military pageantry. Walking along the parade route instead of standing at the palace gates means you see the entire ceremony unfold in front of you rather than catching only the tail end from a packed crowd.
How much of the walk is actually on your feet, and what kind of fitness do I need?
The tour lasts about three and a half hours and covers Westminster on foot, passing multiple landmarks and ending at Buckingham Palace. The operator recommends at least a moderate level of physical fitness. Comfortable walking shoes are essential.
Can I book this as a private tour instead of a small group?
A private option is available at checkout. The standard offering is a small group of up to six people with a live guide.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?
The British authorities can modify or cancel the Changing of the Guard ceremony without notice due to wet weather or official events. If that occurs, your guide will modify the tour to include an alternative parade where possible and share more highlights of the Westminster area. In heavy rain, the ceremony may proceed as a wet change, with guards marching without music.
Do I need to bring anything besides comfortable shoes?
Bring ID if anyone in your group is 15 or under. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and service animals are allowed. Public transportation options are available nearby if you need them.
Which sites do I see from the outside, and which ones do you enter?
You walk past and view from the outside: Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, 10 Downing Street, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace. You walk through Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square. The Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace is the main event you attend. You're positioned along the parade route to watch it unfold.
Operated by LivTours. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated today
Westminster Walking Tour with Changing of the Guard: London
2h 45m · EN · ES · PT
from £ 110 per person
≈ US$ 145 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.