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Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour

London, GB
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Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour

London, GB
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Experience the incredible tradition of the Changing of the Guard with this half-day private walking tour in London. Avoid the crowds at Buckingham Palace and witness various stages of this cultural ceremony, including the inspection, Old Guard, New Guard, and even marching alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands! This fast-paced tour offers action, excitement, and fun as you explore iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. James's Park, and more. With hidden gems and the best photo spots in St. James's Park, you'll have plenty of opportunities to capture unforgettable memories. Immerse yourself in the rich history of London as you visit Downing Street, Westminster Bridge, and Tower Bridge, and learn about the fascinating stories behind these landmarks. Don't miss the chance to experience this extraordinary tour and be a part of the amazing Changing of the Guard ceremony.

About this experience

  • Non Refundable There is no return, refund or cancellation possible with this product
  • Admission Not Included
  • 4 hours
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Private Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Experience the Changing of the Guard ceremony
  • Witness the pomp and circumstance of the Queen's Guards
  • March alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands
  • Visit iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey
  • Explore St. James's Park and enjoy the royal ambiance
  • Snacks
  • Gratuities
  • Lunch

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More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the historic Changing of the Guard ceremony in a whole new way with the Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour. This fascinating tradition, dating back hundreds of years, showcases the Queen's Guards at Buckingham Palace as they change shift in a captivating display of pomp and circumstance. Unlike other tours, this walking tour ensures you have the best position to witness the ceremony while avoiding the crowds at the palace gates. Get ready for a fast-paced adventure filled with action, excitement, and fun as you witness various stages of the ceremony, march alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands, and even enjoy a snack along the way.

What to expect?

During the Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour, you can anticipate a thrilling experience like no other. Witness the entire process of the ceremony, from the inspection to the Old Guard, New Guard, and Palaces. You'll have the unique opportunity to march alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands, immersing yourself in the rich traditions and history of the British monarchy. This fast-paced tour ensures you stay ahead of the crowds and offers plenty of action, excitement, and fun. However, please note that there will be at least one flight of steps along the way, making this tour unsuitable for individuals with walking difficulties.

Who is this for?

The Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour is perfect for history enthusiasts, culture lovers, and anyone seeking a truly immersive experience of British tradition. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a small group, this tour offers a unique and personalized adventure. While it may not be suitable for those with walking difficulties, anyone with a sense of adventure and a desire to witness this iconic ceremony up close will thoroughly enjoy this experience.

Why book this?

This tour provides an exclusive and intimate opportunity to witness the Changing of the Guard ceremony like never before. By avoiding the crowds at the palace gates, you'll have the best position to fully appreciate this cultural spectacle. Marching alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands adds a thrilling element to the experience, creating memories that will last a lifetime. The fast-paced nature of the tour ensures you see all the highlights and never miss a moment of the action. Immerse yourself in the rich history and traditions of the British monarchy with this captivating and unique tour.

Good to know

It's important to note that the Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour is not suitable for individuals with walking difficulties, as there will be at least one flight of steps along the way. However, for those who are able, this tour offers an exhilarating adventure filled with action, excitement, and fun. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy a snack during the tour, keeping you energized throughout the experience. Green Park, which is easily accessible via major tube lines and bus routes, serves as the starting and ending point of the tour.

Reviews

Feedback from individuals who have experienced the Changing of the Guard Half-Day Private Walking London Tour has been overwhelmingly positive. They rave about the unique perspective and intimate access to the ceremony, making it a truly memorable experience. Travelers have praised the knowledgeable and friendly guides, who provide fascinating insights into the history and traditions of the event. Many reviewers highlight the excitement of marching alongside the Guards and Ceremonial Bands, creating a sense of being part of the ceremony itself. Overall, customers express high satisfaction with the performance of this tour, making it a must-do for anyone visiting London.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Your Itinerary

Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament, known also as the Palace of Westminster is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. They lie on the north bank of the River Thames in the London borough of the City of Westminster, close by other government buildings in Whitehall. The oldest part of the building is still in existence, Westminster Hall, which dates from 1097. The palace originally served as a royal residence, but no monarch has lived in it since the 16th century. Most of the present Houses of Parliament structure dates from the 19th century when the Palace was rebuilt after it was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in 1834. The architects responsible for rebuilding the Palace was Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin, and the building is an example of the Gothic revival.

Admission Not Included

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is still the official residence of Britain's monarchy, as it has been since Queen Victoria's designation in 1837. Much of Buckingham Palace was constructed as early as 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. Buckingham House (as it was then known) was purchased in 1762 by George III, who used it as a private residence. Over the following 75 years, the house was expanded to form three wings around a central courtyard. When Queen Victoria discovered Buckingham Palace lacked several 'necessary' rooms - such as a formal ballroom, a nursery, visitor's bedrooms and others - major additions were undertaken, including adding an entire wing to form a quadrangle. The Marble Arch was moved to Hyde Park, where it still resides near Speaker's Corner. With the re-facing using Portland stone in 1913, the palace received its last major change. Buckingham Palace is still actively used as both residence and offices, over 50,000 guests and invited diplomats to visit per year who interact with over 400 individuals for whom this is 'the office'. Nevertheless, several parts of Buckingham Palace are open to the public.

Admission Not Included

Parliament Square

Located right in the middle of London's iconic landmarks such as Houses of Parliament, Elizabeth Tower (a.k.a Big Ben), Whitehall, Saint-Margaret's Church, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Bridge. Parliament Square houses eleven state figures and world leaders, including Sir Winston Churchill, Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Parliament Square in London is a popular destination among tourists. The atmosphere is magnificent and it's one of the must-visit locations in the city.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a Church, burial ground, coronation site and much more and continues to attract visitors over 900 years after its founding. In many respects the architecture is common. There's the traditional cross-shaped floor plan with a nave, north and south transepts and several round side areas but both its execution and use raise The Collegiate Church of St Peter, Westminster (the official name) to among the highest examples of church construction. Here at Westminster Abbey lie buried kings and poets, scientists and philosophers who have themselves raised humankind to the highest levels. Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell (discoverer of electromagnetic theory, which later leads to radio and TV), Chaucer and Kipling, Dr. Samuel Johnson (creator of the first English dictionary) and many other justly famous names are interred here.

Admission Not Included

Changing of the Guard

The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard (called King's Guard and King's Life Guard when the reigning monarch is male) are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in the United Kingdom. The British Army has regiments of both Horse Guards and Foot Guards predating the English Restoration (1660), and since the reign of King Charles II these regiments have been responsible for guarding the Sovereign's palaces. Despite tourist perceptions, the Guards are not purely ceremonial and are fully operational soldiers. Important Notice: The Changing of the Guard may be cancelled up until the last minute, especially in wet weather. In heavy rain the ceremony will not take place. Please check the schedule with us first, before you purchase this tour.

St. James's Park

St. James's Park is one of the Royal Parks of London in the City of Westminster just east of Buckingham Palace and west of Downing Street. For more than four hundred years, St James ' Park has been the centre of the royal and ceremonial life of the country. Many features of the park have been shaped by Royal ambitions and national events. We will show hidden gems and the best spots for your best photo shots in the park.

Downing Street

Being one of the most important political buildings in the world, the United Kingdom's “White House”, Number 10 continuously hosts the British prime ministers since 1735. The main decisions affecting Britain's destiny in the last 275 years have seriously been taken behind its iconic black door. Today it's not possible to enter the street as a tourist but knowing the idea that an actual prime minister lives and works in the street is exhilarating.

Admission Not Included

Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge is not an ordinary bridge to span the river Thames. It has a very tumultuous history in London. The bridge's colour is green and the story of the bridge is colourful. We will tell you about the history of the bridge after Lady Boudicca's role in London's 2000-year-old history. Oh before we leave we will walk along the bridge and take pictures of London Eye, Royal Festival Hall and the River Thames.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is probably the city's most distinctive symbol of today. The Bridge shows a lot to its medieval predecessor London Bridge with its starlings and elaborate twin towers that give the bridge its name but it's not just a homage to the past, hidden inside that medieval-looking exterior there's a rather wonderful piece of Victorian engineering and in its day it was the biggest and most sophisticated lifting bridge in the world. Unlike London Bridge, the genius of the design is that the bridge can act as a gateway swinging open to allow tall ships to pass through. We will tell you plenty of things about this masterpiece in London, just follow us!

Admission Not Included

Tower of London

Few prisons can claim to be as popular as the Tower of London, an attraction - unpleasant for some - for over 900 years. Its twenty towers are filled with an ancient tradition of royal blood, armor and jewels and the history to match. The Tower of London central structure began as a fort - used by the original builder William the Conqueror who completed the first tower around 1100 AD. At its completion it was the tallest building in London. Henry III had it whitewashed in the 13th century and the name, White Tower, has stuck. Later it evolved into a prison, used by Henry VII (and many others). Still later - and continuing to this day - it has acted as a repository for the extensive collection of crown jewels. Henry VII, nearly always short of money, had few jewels to store. But the stone complex, near the Tower Bridge alongside the River Thames, has also been used at various times to house the Royal Mint, the Public Records, the Royal Menagerie (later to form the starting point of the London Zoo) and an observatory (built in 1675). Listen to the rest of the story of the Tower of London from us today.

Admission Not Included

2024-05-06 10:54