London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard
Explore royal history at London's famous church before seeing Buckingham Palace's iconic ceremony
Without a plan, visitors to London end up missing Westminster Abbey’s hidden stories and losing out on the best view of the Changing of the Guard. With us, skip the line and enter Britain’s most iconic church, led by an expert who reveals royal secrets from coronations to ancient tombs. Then, secure the ultimate spot to witness the Guard’s iconic march. Don’t settle for rushed glimpses—this tour is your key to experiencing London’s grandeur with nothing left unseen.
- Meet your guide at Parliament Square
- Westminster Abbey
- Coronation Chair
- Famous tombs of UK Monarchs
- Poet's corner
- Downing Street
- St. James Park
- Buckingham Palace
- Changing of the Guard (or horse guard)
- End at Buckingham Palace
You’ll meet your authorized Blue Badge guide in Parliament Square for the short walk to magnificent Westminster Abbey, where you’ll skip the line and head straight in to explore. Like a walking Westminster encyclopedia, your guide knows everything worth knowing about this 1,000-year-old site. They’ll bring its history to life with engaging stories of the seismic events that happened here.
Leaving the abbey, you’ll stroll through beautiful St. James Park to Buckingham Palace, just in time to find a great spot to watch the famous Changing of the Guards ceremony. You will even have the opportunity to visit nearby Downing Street—the street that plays home to Britain's Prime Minister and other key figures while they're in power.
Westminster Abbey Guided Tour Description
Your 3-hour tour includes:
Skip-the-line walking tour of Westminster Abbey
Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace (certain days; weather permitting)
Fun, knowledgeable local guide
Maximum group size of 20
The Changing of the Guard occurs only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays we will bring you to the Horse Guard Ceremony. If there is heavy rainfall, the Changing of the Guard will not happen.
Westminster Abbey
Built on the site where a fisherman saw a vision of St. Peter in the 10th century, the Abbey has over a thousand years of history as a religious center, although the incredible building you'll see today is only around 750 years old, having been consecrated in 1269. Huge events in British history have played out here, including almost 40 royal coronations and the funeral of Princess Diana—watched by some 2.5 billion people worldwide. Today, it remains in use for royal weddings, and the funerals of the royal family and other notable people from British society.
Your guide is a true expert on the abbey and its history, and you'll hear fascinating stories of its construction and the events that have taken place here. This grandest of churches is the burial place for famous scientists such as Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton, and the Poet's Corner section houses the remains of famous writers like Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, and Geoffrey Chaucer. You'll explore every beautifully crafted corner of this vast abbey, learning all about its rich history as you go.
Changing of the Guard
A gentle stroll through leafy St. James Park brings you to the Buckingham Palace, just in time for the famous Changing of the Guards ceremony. As one of London's must-see events, crowds can get pretty big and it's not always easy to get a good view. Not to worry though, your guide knows exactly where to go so you can see the ceremony from multiple vantage points.
The King's Guard has been protecting Britain's monarch since 1660, and these elite soldiers from seven regiments are solely responsible for the King's security. This elaborate ceremony serves a practical purpose to change the morning shift (the Old Guard), to the afternoon shift (the New Guard). Though there is much pomp and fanfare, the guards primary focus is the protection of the King.
For this reason, the guards refuse to be distracted by the constant and often humorous attempts to distract them. To see this incredible parade of bands and soldiers in both red and blue outfits, your guide escorts you to more than one viewpoint as the ceremony happens.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
342 total reviews
Leave a reviewA Must!
Kymberly Emanuel
I took the 9am tour on March 24th with Stephen. He was phenomenal! Westminster Abbey is incredible and so much more than a church. There was so much to learn and see and Stephen did a wonderful job on guiding our group throughout the tour and ensuring that we saw all the most important sites. He was extremely patient, took care to keep us all together, answered all questions, and was very respectful of the abbey and all those who rest within. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge and I don’t know how he manages to retain so much history! We also got to see Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the corner of 10 Downing Street, and the changing of the guard which was quite special and we had an excellent view! London is so rich in history and for better or worse, it’s fascinating! This and my tour of The Tower of London were two of the highlights of my trip! During my two weeks in Europe, I took 3 tours (including the Louvre in Paris) and all my experiences were top notch! I can’t wait to book another tour with The Tour Guide for my next trip. :)
Kathryn
Kathryn G Bludis
We had such a lovely tour, and highly recommend you book the morning group visit to the Abbey and the changing of the Guard. We had the pleasure of spending the tour with Jackie and she is quite knowledgable. She kept a good pace and found us all the best views for the changing of the guard. Jackie is a great story teller and she knows her history! Thank you again!
Dayna Duncan
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
We recommend bringing a bottle of water with you and wearing a pair of comfortable shoes since this is a walking tour.
Can I take pictures in Westminster Abbey?
Yes! You are now allowed to take non-commercial photography inside Westminster Abbey. Videos and flash photography are not allowed, nor is any kind of photography allowed during a service.
Does this tour include pick up from your hotel?
Transport isn't included with this tour, but it's very easy to get here on the tube or by taxi. Your guide will be at the meeting point listed on your confirmation voucher.
Can I bring a backpack?
Small bags and backpacks are allowed, but they will be searched upon entry to Westminster.
What to bring?
We recommend bringing a bottle of water with you and wearing a pair of comfortable shoes since this is a walking tour.
How much walking is involved in this tour?
Although this tour doesn't cover a large distance or any difficult terrain, you will walking or standing for the majority of the 3 hours.
Does this tour guarantee seeing the Changing of the Guard?
No. The Changing of the Guard ceremony happens every day during June/July, but only Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sundays throughout the year. If there is heavy rainfall, the ceremony does not happen. Your guide will watch the time to help you get to the ceremony from Westminster Abbey in time.
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