London: Tower of London, Thames Boat & Changing of the Guard

From$89

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

4.7(142,169 reviews)

Hao

Aug 2026

5.0

Sam I loved it except that we didn’t get that much time to explore the places we went to.Otherwise the included meal is good and the Normandy dessert was incredible and it was a good trip. :))))))

Elle

Aug 2026

5.0

Klaire was an amazing guide, so helpful, funny and friendly. Roberto was an excellent driver too, made the whole journey so comfortable and smooth. Going to the different spots was incredible too, so beautiful and so much to see. Our archaeologist-led tour around Pompeii was incredible too, our guide had so much knowledge of Pompeii and was so passionate about its history, it made the entire experience so surreal. An amazing experience, 100% recommend it was so organised from start to finish. Thank you!

GetYourGuide traveler

Aug 2026

3.0

Leider haben wir von der tatsächlichen Wachablöse nichts gesehen. Wir haben ewig auf den Abmarsch der Wache in Richtung Buckingham Palace gewartet, dann ist die Truppe kurz an uns vorbeimarschschiert. (Schlechte Sicht aus der hintersten Reihe). Am Palast selbst konnten wir praktisch nichts von der Wachablöse sehen. Gut war der vorgezogene Eintritt in den Palast ohne Wartezeit.

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.