Complete Westminster Abbey Tour with Royal Changing of the Guard

Discover royal history and traditions on this insider's tour of Westminster Abbey tour and storied Changing of the Guard ceremony. As crowds begin to jostle in front of London's most popular sites, this Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard tour takes you away from the masses.

After meeting your guide and small group in Parliament Square, you'll start things off with a crash course in all things royal and a view of the famous Big Ben clock tower. Following the brief introduction, you'll head over to the Mall to witness the guards preparing to make their famous march. Believe it or not, it’s not all for show. These are real soldiers with real weapons carrying out their daily duty of protecting the Palace. Your guide will talk about what their duties include and the significance of their highly symbolic uniforms.

You'll march right alongside the guards as they leave St. James's Palace, making your way to a special vantage point that lets you get as close as possible to the action. Then, you’ll the equally impressive Horse Guard coming up the street. This majestic ritual features mounted, armor-clad soldiers and their immaculately groomed steeds.

Your tour continues inside Westminster Abbey, where you'll skip the line and head straight in for a guided tour of one of London's most architecturally impressive buildings. Your Blue Badge Guide will lead you on an all-encompassing tour of the Abbey, showing you important points of interest and the story behind them, so you don’t have to wander around aimlessly on your own. The Abbey can be a lot to take in, but your guide will ensure you see the most significant sites—from the Coronation Chair to the tomb of Queen Elizabeth I—and even a few hidden gems. 

As your Westminster Abbey tour and Changing of the Guard experience draws to a close, you'll have experienced these sites and ceremonies on a much deeper level than most visitors to London can claim. Having an insider's knowledge of the pomp and circumstance will help you appreciate every detail of these legendary events even more. 

Sites Visited:
Parliament Square, The Mall, Big Ben (exterior), Westminster Abbey

Please Note: During inclement weather conditions, it is the decision of the Palace as to whether the Guard Change takes place or is cancelled. We will only know this on the day of the visit. If the Changing of the Guard is cancelled last minute by the Palace due to bad weather, guests will see the King's Life Guard Change, Horse Guards Parade.

Please also note that access to the panoramic viewpoint may be limited due to local events.