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- Buckingham Palace
- Changing the Guard Ceremony
- State Rooms
- King's Gallery
- Gardens
- Royal Mews
- History
- Architecture
- Inside
- Christmas
- Christmas in London
- London Theatre Tickets
- Harry Potter London Tours
- London Eye
- Tower of London
- Madame Tussauds London
- Westminster Abbey
- London To Windsor Castle Tours
- Up At The O2 Climb
- SEA LIFE London Aquarium
- London To Stonehenge Tours
- Tower Bridge
- The Shard
- Frameless London
- St. Paul's Cathedral
- Kew Gardens
- Hampton Court Palace
- Downton Abbey
- Churchill War Rooms
Buckingham Palace Guided Tours
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.
- Catch the Changing of the Foot Guards or Changing of the Horse Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, depending on the day of your visit, with a small group.
- Witness the Old Guard, in their vibrant red uniforms, being replaced by the New Guard in a formal ceremony as the regimental band plays a lively tune.
- Go on a 1.5-hour walking tour and stroll through St. James's Park, the Mall, and St. James's Palace, hearing stories from your English-speaking guide.
- Upgrade your tickets to get skip-the-line entry into Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site that has witnessed multiple coronations and royal weddings.
- Catch the Changing of the Foot Guards or Changing of the Horse Guard Ceremony at Buckingham Palace, depending on the day of your visit, with a small group.
- Witness the Old Guard, in their vibrant red uniforms, being replaced by the New Guard in a formal ceremony as the regimental band plays a lively tune.
- Go on a 1.5-hour walking tour and stroll through St. James's Park, the Mall, and St. James's Palace, hearing stories from your English-speaking guide.
- Upgrade your tickets to get skip-the-line entry into Westminster Abbey, a World Heritage Site that has witnessed multiple coronations and royal weddings.
Inclusions
- Changing of the Guard Ceremony outside Buckingham Palace
- Expert English-speaking tour guide
- Small group tour
- 1.5-hour walking tour around Buckingham Palace (as per option selected)
- Skip-the-line entry to Westminster Abbey (as per option selected)
- Audio headsets
- Tip: Try to stand somewhere close to the Buckingham Palace Gate to get the best views of the Changing of the Guard Ceremony.
- Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
- Changing of the Foot Guards Ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
- Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
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4.1
256 ratings
148
52
13
17
26
What our guests say
Mara
Dec 2024Verified booking
Our guide was very caring. The way the tour was conducted was eventful and exciting. Would do a tour with Natalie again and again. Thank you!
View original review in German
Samuel
Dec 2024Verified booking
The tour guide was well knowledgeable and in the times when nothing was happening at the changing of the guard, he kept us informed. I totally appreciated the story of the man that broke in and was with the queen, and the fact that she understood him and greeted him well.... amazing story, I'm sure it was an event.
Matthew
Dec 2024Verified booking
Kateryna our guide was fantastic. Very knowledgeable and a great sense of humour, engaged everyone in the group. She also knew the best vantage points during the changing of the guard.
Silke
Dec 2024Verified booking
Our guide Kevin was an English original and was full of heart and wit! Very entertaining and amusing! A real experience: simply top!
View original review in German
Jose
Nov 2024Verified booking
I would never be able to understand what was happening nor figure out which way to go without a guide. She was awesome, very nice with a great spirit and sense of humor and explained in details each part of the tour. I definitely recommend.
Malgorzata
Nov 2024Verified booking
Very nice guide. The trip met our expectations: a small group, some knowledge, some humor, the opportunity to take fantastic photos. I recommend
Amanda
Oct 2024Verified booking
A guided tour for the changing of the guards was definitely the way to go! Our guide knew exactly where to go to get the best views and was very knowledgeable.
Jörg
Oct 2024Verified booking
The guide was very good and there was plenty of information about Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guard. Unfortunately a group of four who were late for another group aggressively joined us. The guide was furious and eventually gave in and took the group away. I thought that was outrageous. After half an hour, the four of them were suddenly gone, with equipment including earphones. As if that was planned? Nevertheless, the guide was great and did a good job.
View original review in German
Thérèse
Oct 2024Verified booking
The lecturer was perfect, very friendly, and her articulation of English very understandable, with anecdotes. She took us to the best places to get a good look at the horseguards.
View original review in French
Danielle
Oct 2024Verified booking
Adrian, our guide, was enthusiastic and gave a lot of information. A great experience, I highly recommend it.
View original review in French
Katharina
Oct 2024Verified booking
Our guide Marilyn did a great job on the tour 👍🏼 Unfortunately, the booking states that it is a tour "through Buckingham Palace". However, this was not the case. You walk from the Monument of York to the Palace, but do not enter the Palace itself. Nevertheless, the tour was very interesting.
View original review in German
Camille
Oct 2024Verified booking
We were able to enjoy all the best moments of the shift up close thanks to the guide's excellent knowledge. Aron was a perfect guide who took us to the best spots and explained a lot about traditions, the history of the guard, the history of certain characters in the monarchy. I loved it, and so did my son (8). Great mix of knowledge, humor and pedagogy!
View original review in French
Amy
Sep 2024Verified booking
It was great. I loved that the guy leading the toor was very excited and took usbto the best spots to see the changing of the guard. Would highly recommend Raf
Daniah
Sep 2024Verified booking
It was a really nice experience, it is a captivating ceremonial display of British tradition. With its precision, colorful uniforms, and rhythmic music, it draws large crowds, offering a unique glimpse into royal pageantry.
Leonard
Sep 2024Verified booking
Unable to get tickets without internet and this caused problems. Natalie our guide for the changing of the guard was excellent. I would recommend her to anyone.
Babette
Aug 2024Verified booking
sophie, our guide was super good, always took us to the best places, we were able to see and experience everything. thank you!
View original review in German
Elaine
Aug 2024Verified booking
Our guide knew where and when to stand for seeing the guards. We enjoyed the stories - both historical and light hearted. I would have liked to have heard more of the guards playing but then we would have missed out hearing more from the guide.
Caroline
Jul 2024Verified booking
Jeremy, our guide for the Changing of the Guards, was excellent!! We were able to see the band and the Guards from a few vantage points which was fun. Jeremy also was full of intereting information about Buckingham Palace and the surrounding parks and palace. I would highly recomment taking this tour.
XENI
Jul 2024Verified booking
Michael was an excellent guide and we were all amazed by his knowledge and the way he described everything to us. Unfortunately we couldn't experience the change of the guard
Yasmin
Jul 2024Verified booking
Ou4 guide (Sophie) was amazing. Knowledgable, personal and funny. She made the history lessons so entertaining that even our 14 year old girls enjoyed the expreince very much. Thank you.
Denise
Jul 2024Verified booking
Our guide was pleasant and knowledgeable. Lots of history learned and the changing of the guard ceremony was a really cool experience.
Ingrid
Jul 2024Verified booking
Lee was a fantastic guide with tons of knowledge and funny guy. He got us to see perfect timing of all the steps of changing of the guard.
Gamblin
Jun 2024Verified booking
Our guide Sophie was very dynamic and pleasant. Always available to answer questions. Lots of information punctuated by a pleasant touch of humor. Having a guide to introduce us to the changing of the guard was a plus that put us in a good position. Tickets for the Tower of London purchased in advance allowed us to get on with the day.
View original review in French
Jennifer
Jun 2024Verified booking
I can't say enough now amazing Louise was as our tour guide for changing of the guards! She was extremely knowledgeable, witty, and so much fun! We had the best spots to see everything! Thank you Louise!
Tom
Jun 2024Verified booking
Lee was an incredible tour guide who was incredibly knowledgable about the various sights we saw throughtout the tour, and ensured that the entire group stayed together. Could not have asked for a better experience.
- Dive into Britain's rich history with this 4-hour, small-group, English, German, or French guided tour of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
- Skip-the-line tickets mean no waiting around at Westminster Abbey, spend more time exploring this architectural wonder and its royal heritage.
- Be awed by the beauty of Lady Chapel, called ‘the wonder of the world’ by 16th-century historian John Leland, and check out the Coronation Chair.
- Stroll through the streets of Westminster, and visit the exteriors of Buckingham Palace as your English-speaking guide regales you with interesting stories.
- Marvel at the Big Ben, a sign of Parliament and democracy, and explore the Buckingham Palace Gardens where you can see a tennis court, summer house, and more.
- Dive into Britain's rich history with this 4-hour, small-group, English, German, or French guided tour of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace.
- Skip-the-line tickets mean no waiting around at Westminster Abbey, spend more time exploring this architectural wonder and its royal heritage.
- Be awed by the beauty of Lady Chapel, called ‘the wonder of the world’ by 16th-century historian John Leland, and check out the Coronation Chair.
- Stroll through the streets of Westminster, and visit the exteriors of Buckingham Palace as your English-speaking guide regales you with interesting stories.
- Marvel at the Big Ben, a sign of Parliament and democracy, and explore the Buckingham Palace Gardens where you can see a tennis court, summer house, and more.
Inclusions
- 4-hour guided tour of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace
- Skip-the-line tickets to Westminster Abbey
- Licensed English, German, or French-speaking guide (as per option selected)
- Walking tour of the city of Westminster
- Small group of max 20 people
Exclusions
- Entry to Buckingham Palace
- Entry to Big Ben
- Tip: While exploring Westminster Abbey, make sure to visit the famous Poets' Corner. You'll find memorials to notable literary figures like Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Dickens.
- Keep in mind large suitcases and bulky items are not allowed on this experience. Pack wisely!
- Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for this experience.
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
- Safety is a priority so guests under 17 must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over.
- While there is no strictly enforced dress code, please note that the Abbey is a place of worship, and it is better to be dressed modestly
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
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4.5
310 ratings
234
36
6
15
19
What our guests say
Elaine
Nov 2024Verified booking
Lots and lots of information given Guide (Lucy ) was very knowledgeable. With a good sense of humour Was able to keep the groups attention for the while of the tour Did not rush to the end
LUCILLE
Nov 2024Verified booking
We had a great time on our tour of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace. Our guide was clearly very experienced and knowledgeable. She led us around the Abbey and kept us together as we all admired our beautiful surroundings. We were always entertained as she gave us lots of information about the abbey. The walk to Buckingham Palace was also a great way to get in steps while also being kept well informed. My husband and I really liked the tour.
kevin
Nov 2024Verified booking
Natasha was a very knowledgeable tour guide and answer plenty of our questions the Abby was so beautiful given us plenty of time to look around and telling us the history of the place
Paul
Oct 2024Verified booking
Cannot say enough good things about our tour giude Natalia Holden. She was delightful from the first minute. She knew everyone, and got us in to some very interesting places not on the tour. Highly recommend. Paul T
Maureen
Oct 2024Verified booking
We liked the whole tour that our super guide gave us. Very friendly and pleasant, she explained everything in detail. Highly recommended
View original review in Spanish
Laura
Oct 2024Verified booking
Lucy was a wonderful tour guide. She was very knowledgeable, witty, and kept us on a perfect pace to be able to take photos and the most opportune time and in the best locations. She was pleasant and open to answer any questions the group had as we walked from our locations.
Susan
Oct 2024Verified booking
The Abbey is an amazing place, our guide Lucy was really knowledgeable and great fun and ensured that we learnt many important and funfacts while we were there
Karsten
Oct 2024Verified booking
We had a great time with Natascha, she knows exactly where to be at the right time to get best Fotos and views before the crowd is coming. She was especially kind towards our children and explained everything very good and understandable even for our 12 year old son ( we are from Germany) Thank you very much!
Alexandria
Oct 2024Verified booking
Our ticketing experience was easy. We booked the night before the tour. Our guide was Mila and she did an excellent job. We enjoyed the sites and stories. An wonderful value!
Chris
Sep 2024Verified booking
Alexandra was a very knowledgeable tour guide and made the whole experience amazing! Thank you so much top notch experience and would highly recommend - regards Chris
Agatha
Sep 2024Verified booking
Mila was a lovely tour guide Very knowledgeable and organised. A pleasure to meet her. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperative for the walking to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.
Symon
Sep 2024Verified booking
Lucy was a brilliant tour guide, unbelievably knowledgeable with a great sense of humour and extra tips about London must-sees. Highly recommend.
Trent
Sep 2024Verified booking
Our tour guide was extraordinary. She was positive, extremely knowledgable and very interactive. Easily the best guided tour I have ever done anywhere in the world!
Mary
Aug 2024Verified booking
The tour guide was very knowledgeable. Too bad we missed the first part of the tour as we came 5 minutes late. If the other tour guide that we asked pointed us to the right direction we would have made it.
Ahmet
Aug 2024Verified booking
Our tour guide Gabriel Small Remark: The name of the tour is misleading I thought we will be visiting inside of Big Ben and Buckingham as well as we did for Abbey
Johannes
Aug 2024Verified booking
The German guide Ulrich provided very clear information about the English royal family. He also made a great effort to allow me to take part in his tour even though I wasn't on his list.
View original review in German
Ronald
Aug 2024Verified booking
I like it when the tour guide is loaded up with lots of interesting facts and has has a light-hearted joke thrown in here and there.
Ronald
Aug 2024Verified booking
The guide, whose name is Dan, was excellent. I like it when tour guides are loaded with lots of knowledge and injects a joke in there now and again. Great guy Perfect!
Brianne
Jul 2024Verified booking
Our tour was booked unknowingly on a day when the monarch was visiting parliament. We couldn't get over to Big Ben or buckingham. Our tour guide Lucy made the absolute best of it, however, and gave us a wonderful tour of the Abbey and then found a way to get us through road closures and over to St. James's park where we lined the roadway (front and centre) to see the King! What an experience. She could have decided to tour the Abbey and then let us go, but she was determined to make this shortfall a win for us. We loved her commentary and knowledge of the area, she was 7/5 stars!!
Vladimir
Jul 2024Verified booking
You claimed guided excurtion to Parlament, Big Ben and Buckingham palce when it is only excurtion to Abbey. Looks like cheating
Zandra
Jul 2024Verified booking
The checkout of experience was easy and having the app was an added bonus to be able to get a reminders and pecific details of the pick up locations. Also, the experience that I and my family had on the Stonehenge, Windsor Castle, and Oxford tour with Simon our guide and Patrick the driver was fabulous. Simon’s historical insights are great for trivia questions, and we learned some interesting facts on the origins of certain names and idioms. He also entertained us with his witty remarks. Patrick was a responsible and courteous driver. Thank you!
Flávia
Jul 2024Verified booking
I loved the guide: Mila. She speaks a very clear and compreensive english, easy to understand. In adittion, she is very kind.
RENAUX
Jun 2024Verified booking
Our guide was really great, even though we weren't English we were able to follow the tour without any problems. Thanks again for his service.
View original review in French
Arthur
Jun 2024Verified booking
I really enoyed Natalia's guide. She made the experience so much better by telling us about the history and culture evolving Westminster Abbey and the monarchy.
ARTUR
Dec 2024Verified booking
Mila is extraordinary: very professional with unparalleled passion and knowledge!
View original review in French
Guided Tours
Tower of London Guided Tour, Thames Cruise, Changing of the Guards and Optional Opening Ceremony
Itinerary
TOTAL DURATION4 hours
Timeline
Map
START POINT
Tower of London Ticket Office
Meet your English-speaking guide at the Ticket Office at the Tower of London.
0.16 km
3 minutes
1
Tower of London
Tickets included
The Tower of London, a historic castle on the banks of the River Thames, is a symbol of British power and history. This iconic fortress has served as a royal palace, an armory, a prison, and a treasury.
0.16 km
3 minutes
2
Thames River Cruise
8 attractions
Tickets included
Experience the magic of London from the River Thames, a relaxing and scenic way to explore the city! Cruise past iconic landmarks like the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, and St Paul's Cathedral, while learning about the city's rich history and culture from your English-speaking guide.
Nearby things to do
Tower Bridge
21 min walk
The Shard
22 min walk
HMS Belfast
22 min walk
St. Paul's Cathedral
14 min walk
Shakespeare's Globe
15 min walk
London Eye
8 min walk
Big Ben
1 min walk
Westminster Abbey
2 min walk
3.37 km
27 minutes
3
Skip the lines at the Tower, & watch the Changing of the Guard.
- See the Tower of London, the Changing of the Guard, and a Thames River cruise in one day, saving time and money.
- Get a healthy dose of royalty as you marvel at the Crown Jewels at the Tower and the palatial residence of Buckingham Palace.
- With a guided tour of the Tower, the Thames River cruise, and the Buckingham Palace grounds, you can learn much about the city and its rich history.
- While skip-the-line early access to the Tower is guaranteed, you can also upgrade your experience to see the Beefeater (Yeoman Warders) opening ceremony.
Skip the lines at the Tower, & watch the Changing of the Guard.
- See the Tower of London, the Changing of the Guard, and a Thames River cruise in one day, saving time and money.
- Get a healthy dose of royalty as you marvel at the Crown Jewels at the Tower and the palatial residence of Buckingham Palace.
- With a guided tour of the Tower, the Thames River cruise, and the Buckingham Palace grounds, you can learn much about the city and its rich history.
- While skip-the-line early access to the Tower is guaranteed, you can also upgrade your experience to see the Beefeater (Yeoman Warders) opening ceremony.
Inclusions
Tower of London
- Guided tour of the Tower of London
- Skip-the-line early access
- English-speaking guide
- Opening ceremony at the Tower of London (as per option selected)
Thames River Cruise
- Sightseeing cruise on the River Thames
- English-speaking guide
Buckingham Palace
- Walking tour around Buckingham Palace
- Changing of the Guards ceremony
Exclusions
- Entry to the Buckingham Palace
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off
Tower of London, Changing of the Guard, and Thames River Cruise
- The Crown Jewels are a working collection and as a consequence, the display is subject to change without prior notice due to security reasons.
- Some lines may form due to increased security measures, even with skip-the-line access.
- The Changing of the Guard is subject to changes in date, time, and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Please note that the schedule may change and on different dates, you will see either Foot Guards or Horse Guards.
- In case the Changing of the Guard ceremony is canceled, you will be provided with a walking tour of Westminster instead.
- Keep in mind that large bags, sharp objects, and items that can cause security hazards are not allowed in these experiences. Pack wisely!
- Due to venue restrictions, pets cannot tag along for these experiences.
- These experiences are partially wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.
- Your guide dogs are welcome at the venues.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
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4.1
65 ratings
36
17
3
2
7
What our guests say
Saldino
Dec 2024Verified booking
What I loved the most was all of the valuable information that the guide gave us. From the sites, locations and restaurants. I'll definitely be returning and recommend this service to my friends and family.
Sherry
Oct 2024Verified booking
Our guide was knowledgeable and personable. The allotted time at the Tower of London would have been awesome if it was even 30 minutes longer. However as part of the tour included a boat ride down the Thames there was a schedule that had to be adhered to.
Katharine
Oct 2024Verified booking
Natalie was amazing! She gave us facts instead of pointing to something and giving us the name as we walked by. It was fascinating!
Linda
Oct 2024Verified booking
This was the most fabulous 4-hour tour. Our guide was Natalie. She was attentive to every single person on the tour and made sure we always got the best viewing spots. Our ticket included a Thames ride in addition to the Crown Jewels, Tower of London and changing of the guard at Buckinghma Palace. I truly feel your visit of London would not be complete without it.
Matthew
Oct 2024Verified booking
The guide was great was able to get us into great spots for photos quickly. Well planned. Well executed! The directions to meet up are a bit dodgy. The guides carry little flags on sticks but the booking makes it sound as if there is sign creating confusion till you figure it out.
Denise
Oct 2024Verified booking
The tower of london has always been on my bucket list and the tour guide Sophie was absolutely amazing. She was funny and knowledgeable and really gave a great tour.
Geni
Sep 2024Verified booking
They were calling when I was on a ship not able to take a phone call but ended up getting the info via voice maile time was earlier. I'm good. Once in London I get a phone call. I said I got the message time change and the Rep was no I had to be a different day . As soon as I said I can't do that all of a sudden she say she can't hear me trouble on the line . Maybe but I could hear her. She said call back the number I just called on. I did ended up being a phone tree and I pressed the option to call me back which didn't happened. I'm assuming it's cancelled. The following day another Rep calls to tell me about the time change which doesn't work now since I assumed you all cancelled on me. She said she would refund my money which better happen. This was not on me and please do the right thing.
Jaime
Sep 2024Verified booking
We had a great time. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we enjoyed the experience. I do wish we could have had more time at the tower.
Lynne
Aug 2024Verified booking
Our tour guide Jeremy was the best part of the experience. He was friendly, informative and funny. The reason I didn't rate it awesome is because we didn't actually get a guided tour of the Tower of London or early access as was advertised
Manuela
Aug 2024Verified booking
The Tower of London. It's a shame that we had so little time inside the Tower and couldn't see everything at our leisure.
View original review in German
cuvier
Aug 2024Verified booking
The Harry Potter performance was sublime, with the actors living up to their roles, the set, special effects and atmosphere were great ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
View original review in French
Laura
Jul 2024Verified booking
Seeing the sights, going on the boat were nice. Getting through the line quickly was nice. Not sure your was completely necessary to view Tower of london
Nigel
Jul 2024Verified booking
Jeremy was very knowledgeable and entertaining tour guide but the tour was tower of Lond and changing of the guards but there was no guards changing. We still enjoyed the tour though
Stärkel,
May 2024Verified booking
The early tour of the Tower with the Changing of the Guard and the Crown Jewels is an absolute recommendation. Mary, our guide, then led us through the sights of Westminster and gave us lots of additional information. You could tell that she is still fascinated by this city. And that's exactly what she conveyed to us as a group in a very authentic way. Top!
View original review in German
Sarah
May 2024Verified booking
Louise was extremely knowledgeable and a very experienced welcoming guide. The overall experience was exceptional, however 1 hour in the Tower of London is just not long enough to enjoy or see it all.
Gràinne
Apr 2024Verified booking
Overall a very enjoyable experience. The guide Isabelle was exceptional full of nuggets of information. For me travelling with two children under 13 some concession should have been given. Definitely recommend to my colleagues just double check what your paying for and booked.
Victoria
Mar 2024Verified booking
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and very engaging. A really enjoyable experience. I learnt quite a few new bits of information about London. I really enjoyed watching the opening ceremony of the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels.
Elisabeth
Nov 2024Verified booking
Natalie was a great tourguide!
Marco
Sep 2024Verified booking
Everything was perfect. Could not have been better very excited to have done this visit.
Rowan
Aug 2024Verified booking
Jeremy led a really fun and informative tour of the City. Highly recommend.
Ashley
Aug 2024Verified booking
Jeremy was a great guide- very engaging and knowledgable.
Laura
Aug 2024Verified booking
The instructor Lee was super affable and gracious when we were late to the tour. Very knowledgeable Lee was.
Christina
Aug 2024Verified booking
Our tour guide Jeremy was fantastic!!! He was informative and fun!
Joan
Aug 2024Verified booking
Guide was interesting and informative.
Norman
Jul 2024Verified booking
Ticket experience was easy and worked out well! Hi was a great tour guide who was friendly and knowledgeable
- Enter the iconic Buckingham Palace, and opt to witness the Change of the Guard ceremony with an expert guide.
- Watch the guards in red tunics and bearskin hats march before the grand palace, then explore the Royal Family’s residence with the official audio guide.
- Walk through the royal State Rooms, where the royal family holds their many events and receptions, and admire the 47-meter-long Picture Gallery.
- The gallery houses the Royal collection such as Van Dyck's portrait of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, scenes of Venice, by Canaletto, and more.
Choose to witness the Changing of the Guard or enjoy a walk in St James's Park while hearing fascinating tales of King Henry VIII's hunting adventures.
- Enter the iconic Buckingham Palace, and opt to witness the Change of the Guard ceremony with an expert guide.
- Watch the guards in red tunics and bearskin hats march before the grand palace, then explore the Royal Family’s residence with the official audio guide.
- Walk through the royal State Rooms, where the royal family holds their many events and receptions, and admire the 47-meter-long Picture Gallery.
- The gallery houses the Royal collection such as Van Dyck's portrait of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, scenes of Venice, by Canaletto, and more.
Choose to witness the Changing of the Guard or enjoy a walk in St James's Park while hearing fascinating tales of King Henry VIII's hunting adventures.
Inclusions
- Hosted entry to Buckingham Palace
- Official Palace multimedia guide for interiors
- Headsets
- Changing of the Guard Ceremony with an English-speaking guide (as per option selected)
- St. James Park walking tour (as per option selected)
- Tip: Don't forget to stop and admire the Grand Staircase, a very prominent feature of the Palace that talks a lot about its aesthetic interiors.
- On the days when the Changing of the Guard ceremony is not available, a visit to the Horseguards Parade will be arranged in its place.
- Cancellation due to bad weather is not announced before 11am. When this occurs, you will still see a ‘wet change’ during which the guards march but without the usual music or parade.
- This experience is not accessible by wheelchair and pram/strollers.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
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4.4
1.0K ratings
726
176
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25
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What our guests say
Richard
Oct 2024Verified booking
Ticketing was easy using app and found headout with a google search. Gorgeous paa as lace....wish I could have some picture memories
MARY
Sep 2024Verified booking
Ticketing was easy and our guide Sion was fabulous! Nice tour around the palace area first with Sion and then went thru the state rooms as advertised with an audio headset which was well done!
Pauline
Sep 2024Verified booking
Too much historical background from the tour guide in which, some aren't really interesting to foreigners. Would prefer more time either on watching guards changing or touring the state rooms.
Sharon
Sep 2024Verified booking
Ticketing went quite easily. The day we saw the palace was okay but the guide never announced that we wouldn't see Changing of the Guards. It was also quite a long walk around in circles to get to our entry point.
Nicholas
Sep 2024Verified booking
The ticketing was fine. The experience was once in a lifetime! It ws a very fitting end to our trip to London. The incredible elegance of the Palace State rooms can not be adequately put into words. I recognized many of the rooms for pictures I have seen. Our tour guide was geat, very funny. The whole day was very enjoyable.
David
Sep 2024Verified booking
Once we got to the palace it was good. There was no changing of the guard because of "horse vacation". No reduction in price offered
PHILIP
Sep 2024Verified booking
Our guide was extremely pleasant but she gave out (at times) very inaccurate information on the tour....e.g. she called Horse Guards parade "the arena" and said Queen Victoria never left Windsor castle after Prince Albert died and had died at Windsor.... and other minor/major errors. As our group consisted of a lot of foreign tourists (mainly American) I felt they deserved a better more accurate tour which unfortunately our guide was unable to give. The tour consisted of a LOT of walking which wasn't anticipated and we never actually saw the changing of the guard, rather, we were "positioned" at a great distance to catch a glimpse of the parade passing by. We thoroughly enjoyed Buckingham Palace but on reflection it would have been better to book entry directly with the Palace and wait at the Palace railings to actually see the changing of the guard.
Razvan
Sep 2024Verified booking
A beautiful experience. Very informative guide. Aron. An awesome guy with great atitude and a lortof info delivered in a pleasant way
Leonides
Sep 2024Verified booking
Excellent tour, touring the palace is a fascinating experience! The person who received us "The Tour Guy" is excellent; only that the application generated an error, sent us to the wrong meeting point, but The Tour Guy located us by phone and we arrived on time.
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Deborah
Sep 2024Verified booking
Loved the tour but very disappointed we didn't get to see the changing of the guard. Due to rotten instructions we couldn't find the meeting point on our day. So we had to reschedule and it rained. Horrible day
Michael
Aug 2024Verified booking
I personally wouldn't recommend using this site as it's not the most open, meeting the guide was pure guess work and we could easily have been missed off, I tried contacting them several times but no joy. Speaking with others on the tour they had the same feeling about Headout so clearly it's not just me. Again personally I'd avoid I have three stars purely for the palace and the palace alone, go through the genuine palace tour section and book direct. Headout won't be getting my trade again.
Cindi
Aug 2024Verified booking
Ticketing great. The palace was beautiful. Recognized some of the rooms from pictures. No photos are allowed inside Buckingham Palace.
Brooke
Aug 2024Verified booking
Great tour provided by Mary! She was full of knowledge, patient and accommodating with our group especially when it was such a busy venue to be around. Would highly recommend this tour.
Iryna
Aug 2024Verified booking
Great experience and our Guide Sion was very welcoming , informative and friendly. We did enjoy his company. However, it wasn't clear in time of booking online that he would not be present inside the Buckingham building itself, still because of his work it made our visit more enjoyable.
Sheena
Aug 2024Verified booking
A wonderful experience walking around London and hearing about the rich history and then immersing ourselves into the ornate rooms of Buckingham Palace. A glorious glimpse into Royal lives. The booking experience with HeadOut was excellent and our guide was top notch. Overall one of our London highlights.
Ruya
Aug 2024Verified booking
Our guide Sophie made it really interesting and not boring at all even for my 10 year old. Thanks to her for her engagement and smile.
Justyna
Aug 2024Verified booking
It was a great adventure with lots of interesting stories that we could hear from the great guide Aron. Thank you and see you soon😀
Malva
Aug 2024Verified booking
It's impossible to visit the two universities in 10 hours. I saw another tour that takes 12 hours. With two more hours, is possible. We didn't visit the chruch at Cambridge. We had literaly to run at the tour. You could inform that It's impossible to buy food during the tour, because of the time. If I know it was so busy, I didn't take the tour for the two universities.
Maris
Aug 2024Verified booking
We learned a lot from our friendly guide Raffa (maybe spelling is different). Duration was optimal. The Palace was excellent.
Gayle
Aug 2024Verified booking
Loved the tour. Rafe(?) the guide was knowledgeable, entertaining and found all the best places for us to see the changing of the guard.
MR
Aug 2024Verified booking
We loved the Buckingham Palace state rooms. Before we went into the palace we had an amazing guild called Siôn who was very informative and made our day that extra bit better.
Dennis
Jul 2024Verified booking
Buckingham Palace was terrific. Most surprising, and pleasantly so, was the quality and comprehensiveness of the pre-palace walking tour. Our guide Raf was a well trained and personable professional. Thanks Raf!!!
Patricia
Jul 2024Verified booking
Ticket process was very easy online - I received email updates and detailed info on the event. Our guide, Anna, was from Brazil and was very personable and cute when she was searching for the English word for something. Very nice. The only criticism I have is that the tour location for watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace was quite far away, so even though you could see "movement" it really wasn't close enough to see details or get pics. All in all, a fun activity.
Greetje
Jul 2024Verified booking
Nice walk with the guide and then the tour of the staterooms with the audio tour. Was crowded but we were able to get in fairly quickly.
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Janet
Jul 2024Verified booking
The experience at Buckingham Palace was really good, however the walk there was disappointing. We lost the guide, along with a few others as she told us to take a look at the guards walking back up the Mall and when we turned back she was gone! There was no way of seeing her as she had no flag, etc. As a fellow Brit, my biggest disappointment was her complete lack of respect for the Monarchy. Coughing when she mentioned Queen Camilla, calling Queen Victoria 'Vicky' and calling the guards 'fluffy hats'. This is just a few of the comments made, there were many more. I wondered why she was in the job, as she obviously doesn't like the Monarchy. If I pay for a guided tour then I expect the person to know facts abd names as well as use the correct names. Assuming that everyone on the tour is interested in the Monarchy, then disrespecting the current Queen is not professional, and her own views should not have been expressed. I would not recommend this tour if you want to learn about the Monarchy or have a tour guide who actually likes them.
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Which Buckingham Palace guided tour is best for you?
Small-Group Guided Tour
Duration: 2 hours
Suited for: History enthusiasts
Why go for it?
- With a small-group format limited to 20 guests, you can have a more intimate and personalized experience.
- The expert English-speaking guide will provide in-depth narration, offering historical insights about the Changing of the Guard ceremony, Buckingham Palace, and more.
- Learn all about the rich royal heritage of London, with visits to iconic sites like Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace. The tour also includes stops at unique highlights such as The Queen's preferred alcohol shop and Prince Philip's barber.
Recommended Tours:
Small-Group Guided Tour Around Buckingham Palace with Changing of the Guard
Standard Guided Tour
Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
Suited for: Tourists seeking cultural experiences
Why go for it?
- This ticket provides the unique opportunity to observe the centuries-old Changing of the Guard ritual firsthand. It is a quintessential cultural experience of British history and tradition.
- Having an English-speaking tour guide will enhance the cultural experience, as they will provide you with valuable insights and interesting facts. You can learn about the palace's history, architecture, and significance within the context of British culture.
Recommended Tours:
Guided Tour of Buckingham Palace Interiors with Changing of the Guard
Buckingham Palace guided tour highlights
Changing of the Guard Ceremony
Witness the world-famous ceremony where the Old Guard, wearing red coats and bearskin hats, hands over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace to the New Guard, accompanied by music from the regimental band. The bands play stirring melodies while the guards execute precise marching maneuvers, marking the transition between detachments.
Picture Gallery
See the illustrious Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery, spanning an impressive 47 meters and showcasing some of the most esteemed paintings from the Royal Collection. With The Queen often loaning out artworks for exhibitions both within the UK and abroad, the gallery's collection sees regular rotation. Admire masterpieces by renowned artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, Rubens, Van Dyck, Claude and Canaletto.
White Drawing Room
The White Drawing Room stands as a pinnacle among Buckingham Palace's State Rooms, where esteemed guests are received by The Queen and members of the Royal Family. As one of the palace's principal reception areas, it boasts opulent English and French furnishings and delicate porcelain.
Tip: For a fun exercise, try finding the hidden entrance through which the Queen enters the room during official receptions.
Throne Room
In contrast to the White Drawing Room the Throne Room commands attention with its vibrant scarlet decor. Within, you will find a pair of throne chairs, known as the Chairs of Estate, utilized during The Queen's coronation in 1953. You can also see chairs crafted for King George VI's coronation and a throne chair commissioned for Queen Victoria in 1837. Designed by architect John Nash, this room reflects seventeenth-century opulence, showcasing his background in stage set design.
Frequently asked questions about Buckingham Palace guided tours
What languages are available for the Buckingham Palace guided tours?
The Buckingham Palace guided tours are available in English.
How long is the average Buckingham Palace guided tour?
The average guided tour of Buckingham Palace typically lasts around 1 to 3 hours, depending on the itinerary and specific rooms visited during the tour.
How many people are typically in a Buckingham Palace tour group?
Buckingham Palace tour group sizes usually range from 15 to 25 people. However if you prefer a group with less than 20 people, you can choose the small group guided tour option.
Are there any age restrictions for the Buckingham Palace guided tours?
There are no age restrictions for guided tours of Buckingham Palace, but children under 16 require adult supervision.
What is the cancellation policy for Buckingham Palace guided tours?
That would depend on the ticket chosen, some guided tours cannot be cancelled or rescheduled. However for the standard guided tour you can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Are there additional facilities or amenities included with the Buckingham Palace guided tour?
Yes, you can witness the historic changing of the guard ceremony with a guided tour. You can also view the change of the household cavalry ceremony and visit the picture gallery.
Do the guides have professional training or certifications related to Buckingham Palace?
Yes, tour guides leading guided tours of Buckingham Palace have professional training or certifications related to the palace's history, architecture, and significance. They are knowledgeable experts who provide informative commentary throughout the tour.
Can I take photographs during the guided tour?
No, photography is not permitted inside Buckingham Palace. However your tour guide will provide further guidance if needed.