London: Tower of London, Thames Boat & Changing of the Guard
4 hours
Max 25 people
London, United Kingdom
About this activity
Explore London's history and landmarks with early access to the Tower of London, a Thames River boat ride, and choose between the Changing of the Guards or a royal tour of the City of Westminster.
Highlights
- See the Tower of London's ceremonial opening performed by the Beefeaters
- Be among the first to see the Crown Jewels at Jewel House with early access
- Shuttle down the River Thames on a panoramic river boat with a local guide
- Witness the Changing of the Guards ceremony, a display of British tradition
- Delve into centuries of history with a walking tour of the City of Westminster
Full description
Start your early morning walking tour at the Tower of London. Formerly a fortress, a prison, and the execution site of three Queens of England, get early access to the Tower before it opens to the public. Witness the Opening Ceremony (if selected) performed by the Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters.
Avoid the crowds that form later in the day and be among the first to see the Crown Jewels. These official regalia and vestments used by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom have been held in this Jewel House for the last 600 years and include swords, crowns, scepters, orbs, rings, and more.
From there, be escorted on board a riverboat ride up the Thames to enjoy the beautiful sites as your local guide points out notable landmarks. Upon arrival at the Embankment, you will have the option to witness the Changing of the Guards, a display of British tradition and military precision.
The ceremony may feature the Changing of the Foot Guards or Horse Guards, depending on the schedule. Alternatively, go on a guided walking tour of the City of Westminster. Explore the foundations of the British monarchy as each corner unveils tales of kings, queens, and political intrigue.
End your morning at Buckingham Palace, the home sweet home of the Royals. Get plenty of time to take photographs, particularly of the iconic balcony where the royal family performs their well-practiced slow hand wave during major events.
Included / Excluded
- • VIP early access to the Tower of London
- • Opening ceremony of the Tower of London by the Beefeaters (if option selected)
- • Boat ride on the River Thames
- • Tour guide
- • Changing of the Guards (if option selected, depending on the day)
- • Guided walking tour of Westminster City (if option selected)
- • Headsets, when needed, to hear the guide clearly
- • Tips
- • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Meeting point
Start Location
Tower of London Welcome Centre, Great Tower Street, London, UK
Important information
Know before you book
- No guiding inside the Jewel House and White Tower at the Tower of London as this is forbidden by the venue
- Changing of the Guards may be cancelled or rescheduled by British authorities. If so, a Westminster walking tour will be offered
- Depending on the schedule you may experience either the Changing of the Foot Guards or the Horse Guards:
- Changing of the Foot Guard at Buckingham Palace involves foot soldiers from the Household Division and occurs Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- Changing of the Horse Guards at Horse Guards Parade features mounted cavalry from the Household Cavalry, this is what you will see if you book a tour on Tuesday and Thursday. On Saturday, the show is known as the "Guard Mounting" or "Inspection of the New Guard" at House Guards Parade. The inspection involves the Captain of the New Guard inspecting the soldiers to ensure they are in proper order with their uniforms and equipment in pristine condition, before they take over their duties from the Old Guard
Know before you go
- • The tour coordinators will be wearing blue attire for easy recognition at the meeting point
- • To avoid disruptions or possible denied entry, please avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks
- • The Changing of the Guards is subject to changes in date, time, and cancellation at the discretion of British authorities. Cancellation due to bad weather or other circumstances is not announced before the morning of the ceremony. When this occurs, you will be offered a walking tour of Westminster instead
- • The Changing of the Guards schedule may change and on different dates, you will see either Foot Guards or Horse Guards
- • The Changing of the Guards ceremony is not included if your tour departs after 9 AM. On these days, you will be provided with a walking tour of Westminster instead
- • Gratuities for your guide/driver that provided excellent service are appreciated!
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Reviews
Alice
Jul 20263.0
Tour was 40 min not 90. Info said to arrive 15 min early. Start time was listed at 445 so there were a whole bunch of people waiting looking for the guide at 4:30 very lost and confused and frustrated. The guide turned up at 4:45 and said oh the tour is at five and you were supposed to be here at 4:45 which is not what the ticket said and clearly not what an entire group understood. Well, we did have Skip the line tickets - it definitely was not worth the exorbitant price to get a very short audio tour.
GetYourGuide traveler
Jul 20261.0
Je n'ai pas pu faire l'excursion car on m'a voler ma carte d'identité la veille et j'ai du faire mes démarches auprès de l'ambassade.
GetYourGuide traveler
Jul 20261.0
The worst - couldn’t find the guide, felt rushed, the audio guide was horrible
Additional information
Not wheelchair accessible
Please note that if your tour starts later than 9am, we regret that due to time constraints, the changing of the guards ceremony cannot be included in the itinerary and will be replaced with an extended walking tour.
Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.
Please note that if your tour starts later than 9am, we regret that due to time constraints, the changing of the guards ceremony cannot be included in the itinerary and will be replaced with an extended walking tour.
Please note that if you book your tour on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, you’ll experience the change of the Household Cavalry.