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

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5 / 5 See All 389 Reviews

· 3.00h · England, United Kingdom

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.

London Walking Tour with Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard

A man inside the Tower of London speaking with his guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists in Parliament Square with Big Ben in the background speaking with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A tour group entering Westminster Abbey with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists inside Westminster Abbey with a guide from The Tour Guy.

An image of the inside of Westminster Abbey.

A man walking through St. James Park with his guide from The Tour Guy.

An image of the Changing of the Guard ceremony in St. James Park.

A group of tourists in front of Buckingham Palace with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists looking at 10 Downing Street while on tour with The Tour Guy.

Tour Itinerary

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)
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, Thursdays and Saturdays we will bring you to the Horse Guard Ceremony and a walking tour of Westminster area. There are also times where the changing of the Guard will not go ahead on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays without prior notice and this is due to last minute decision made by the palace, local authorities or bad weather.

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.

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What you get with this tour

Expert English-speaking guide
Skip-the-Line Abbey tickets
Famous tombs
Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard
St. James Park
Max 20 people
Guide gratuity
Hotel pick-up
Food and drink

Customer reviews

389 total reviews

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5.0/5 (based on 389 reviews)

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Great guide

30 September 2025

Reviewed by
Laura Jensen

Our guide Will was very knowledgeable about so many different things Learned so much Highly recommend The Tour Guy

Great tour

28 September 2025

Reviewed by
Sue Warwik

We had Will as our tour guy. He was very nice and knowledgeable. Our family learned a lot. and enjoyed the entire tour. Great job! Highly recommend it.

Great guide!

25 September 2025

Reviewed by
Joey Walker

Richard was very nice and knowledgeable. We enjoyed the tour very much.

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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 Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the year. There are also times where the changing of the Guard will not go ahead on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays without prior notice and this is due to last minute decision made by the palace, local authorities or bad weather.

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