London Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing of the Guards

5.0 (15 reviews) 3 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

15 reviews

5.0

London Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing of the Guards — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

London Westminster Abbey Guided Tour with Changing of the Guards, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover the heart of royal London on a small group walking tour led by a certified Blue Badge guide. Stroll through Parliament Square, past Downing Street, and along the scenic paths of St. James’s Park, then watch the Changing of the Guard from a quieter vantage point near Buckingham Palace, or the Horse Guards Parade on alternate days. Finish by skipping the long ticket lines at Westminster Abbey, the historic setting for centuries of royal weddings, funerals, and coronations.

Small group walking tour led by a certified Blue Badge guide
Skip-the-line entry to Westminster Abbey, Britain’s most renowned church and site of royal coronations, weddings, and funerals
Watch the Changing of the Guard near Buckingham Palace (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays) or the Horse Guards Parade on other days
Scenic route through Parliament Square, past Downing Street, and into St. James’s Park

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Architecture Tours Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Likely to Sell Out Religious Tours

At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 20 people
People per booking: 1–20
Guide: English
Operated by: The Tour Guy

Ages: Children (0–4 years) · Youth (5–15 years) · Adults (16–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Changing of the Guard or Horse Guard Parade viewing
Included: Guided walk through St. James Park
Included: Walking tour including exterior views of Big Ben
Included: Guided tour of Westminster Abbey
Included: Skip-the-line Westminster Abbey entry
Included: Expert, English-speaking guide with Blue Badge certification

Not included

Not included: Guide tips
Not included: Entry into Buckingham Palace & Big Ben

Itinerary

Parliament Square

10 min

Your tour starts in Parliament Square, the green space ringed by statues of world leaders and framed by the Houses of Parliament. Your Blue Badge certified guide introduces the morning’s royal and political highlights and points out the Gothic facade of the Palace of Westminster before you set off.
Stop 2

15 min Admission not included

Pause beneath the Elizabeth Tower, home to the 13-tonne bell that has tolled over the Thames since 1859. Your guide explains that Big Ben is the name of the bell, not the tower itself. This is an exterior viewing only, as entry to Big Ben is not part of the tour.
10 Downing Street

10 min Admission not included

Walk to the gates of Downing Street and look toward the famous black door of Number 10, home to Britain’s prime minister since 1735. Your guide shares stories of political power and the armed officers who guard the address around the clock. The street itself is closed to the public, so this is a viewing from the gates.
St. James's Park

20 min

Cross into St. James’s Park, the oldest of London’s royal parks, where pelicans glide across the lake and tree-lined paths open onto views of the surrounding palaces. Your guide walks the group through the park toward Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the British monarch since 1837.
Changing of the Guard

35 min

Your guide positions the group away from the thickest crowds to watch the Queen's Guard march in red tunics and bearskin hats in the Changing of the Guard. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, or when weather prevents the ceremony, the group visits the Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall instead.
Westminster Abbey

one hour Admission included

Timed entry takes you past the ticket queue and into Britain’s coronation church, where monarchs have been crowned for nearly 1,000 years. Inside, your guide leads you past Queen Elizabeth I’s tomb, the Coronation Chair, and Poets’ Corner, the resting place of Chaucer and Dickens. Your tour finishes here, with recommendations for nearby cafes and pubs.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Please arrive 10 minutes early. Our friendly guide will meet you in Parliament Square in front of the statue of Abraham Lincoln. A representative from our company will be holding a sign with The Tour Guy on it.

End point

Finish inside Westminster Abbey, where your guide leaves you ready to revisit a favorite chapel or continue through royal London.

Using your ticket

Please note that the Changing of the Guard currently occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays only. On alternate days, we will see the Horse Guards Parade instead.
The Changing of the Guard schedule is subject to change or cancellation by British authorities, sometimes due to weather, with little notice. In case of cancellation, you'll enjoy a guided walking tour of Westminster instead.
Large bags, backpacks, luggage, tripods, and glass bottles cannot be brought inside. There is no coat check or space on-site to leave your belongings, therefore, we encourage you to leave such items and anything similar at your accommodation.
Please read our meeting point directions thoroughly in advance. It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 10 - 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, & missed tours or tickets cannot be refunded.
Mandatory: All participants are required to carry a valid government-issued picture ID on them during our tours.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any walking impairments that require special assistance on our group tours. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages.
We will be subject to a security check at the entrance to all sites. Depending on the volume of visitors, we may have a short wait in the security line.
The museums, sites and monuments we visit on our tours are among the most popular in the world. Careful planning helps limit crowd exposure, but please be aware that some locations may be unavoidably busy during standard hours/high season.
TTG reserves the right to alter itineraries for reasons of safety, restoration, maintenance, adverse weather conditions or occasional events.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that the Changing of the Guard currently occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays only. On alternate days, we will see the the Horse Guards Parade instead.
The Changing of the Guard schedule is subject to change or cancellation by British authorities, sometimes due to weather, with little notice. In case of cancellation, you'll enjoy a guided walking tour of Westminster instead.
Westminster Abbey is a place of worship; modest attire covering shoulders and knees is required for all guests. Guests not meeting this standard may be refused entry.
Guests with wheelchairs or walking impairments that require special assistance cannot be accommodated on group tours. The activity provider cannot accommodate strollers or baby carriages.
All guests must pass through a security check before entering Westminster Abbey; some wait time may apply even with timed entry
Small bags and backpacks up to 40 x 30 x 20 cm are permitted; please leave larger luggage at your accommodation
Please carry a valid ID during the tour

Options

Westminster Abbey Only

Includes timed entry and a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. Does NOT include the walking tour and the Changing of the Guard.

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Extended Option

Extended Tour Option: Includes Westminster Abbey, a walking tour past Big Ben, and a viewing of the Changing of the Guards or Horse Guard Parade

Duration: 3 hours

Changing of the Guard schedule: Please note that the Changing of the Guard currently occurs on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays only.