Buckingham Palace, Change the Guard & Crown Jewels Tour

Royal pageantry meets medieval drama. This four-hour London tour pairs the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace with the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, while a guide connects the royal sights, Westminster, Big Ben, Parliament, the Thames, and the London Eye. I like the efficient route and the included Tower admission, which lets you cover major London sights in one day. The main drawback is the price, $176.89 per person, especially since Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and Parliament are seen from outside.

I also like that the guide handles the timing and viewing position for the guard ceremony. Guides named Mike, Pamela, Phillip, and Brendan have earned especially warm praise for their stories, humor, and ability to find a good spot. You should know, though, that this is a serious walking tour, and a missed meeting point can mean missing the opening section.

Key points at a glance

• The guard ceremony depends on the day: Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday departures feature the Household Cavalry, while other days may feature the Queen’s Foot Guards.
• The Tower admission is included: Your ticket covers the Tower of London, Crown Jewels Exhibition, White Tower, armory, Raven House, and access to see the Yeoman Warders.
• Buckingham Palace is an exterior visit: You learn about the palace and take photos, but entry inside is not included.
• Expect a lot of walking: Cobblestones, stairs, hills, inclines, declines, and uneven surfaces are part of the route.
• The tour ends at the Tower: Once you are inside, you may be left to explore much of the complex on your own.
• Small groups help: The maximum group size is 25, giving the guide a better chance to keep people together in busy central London.

Buckingham Palace and the opening view of royal London

The tour begins at the Constance Fund fountain near Buckingham Palace, at London SW1A 1RN. Check your confirmation carefully, because the meeting point is specific and the group leaves on schedule. The tour does not include hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way there.

The first stop gives you the setting for the royal story. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch and a focal point for national celebrations, ceremonies, and royal events. Your guide explains how the palace developed and how it functions today, while you view the exterior and take photographs.

The palace visit lasts about 30 minutes, but it is not an interior tour. This matters if you are hoping to see the State Rooms or royal apartments. The price does not include admission to Buckingham Palace, so you are paying for the exterior visit, guiding, and the wider route rather than access inside.

I like starting here because the palace makes more sense when a guide explains its public role. Without context, you mostly see a grand facade and a large crowd. With a good guide, the gates, balconies, guards, and ceremonial spaces become part of a larger story about the monarchy and modern Britain.

Finding a good view of the Changing of the Guard

The guard ceremony is the main reason many people book this experience. It marks the handover between the Old Guard, already on duty, and the New Guard arriving to replace them. Expect uniforms, military music, marching, formal movements, and the carefully staged ceremony that has made this one of London’s best-known public spectacles.

The ceremony itself is listed as about 20 minutes, although the full experience can involve waiting, moving into position, and watching activity around the palace. Your guide’s value is clearest here. A group arriving late or standing in the wrong place may see very little, while a guide who knows the area can place you where the action is easier to follow.

Several guides receive strong praise for this part of the day. Pamela is noted for knowing where to stand and for helping people catch details that might otherwise be missed. Michael and Mike are praised for good timing, clear explanations, and a friendly manner. Brendan even recognized that the King was passing by and moved the group to a better viewing position.

The exact ceremony varies by day. On Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday, the tour is scheduled to feature the Household Cavalry. On other days, you may see the Queen’s Foot Guards. Check your chosen date if one version matters to you, and remember that royal and military schedules can affect public ceremonies.

This is also the part most vulnerable to timing problems. The tour cannot hold the group indefinitely for late arrivals, and one unhappy experience involved confusion over the meeting point and a missed Buckingham Palace section. Read the voucher, use the map, and arrive early enough to locate the fountain without rushing.

Westminster sights from Buckingham Palace to the Tower

After the palace ceremony, the route turns toward Westminster. The Westminster portion lasts about 1 hour and 20 minutes and includes guided views and photo stops around Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames River, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey.

This is not an inside visit to Westminster Abbey or Parliament. The tour gives you an exterior look and a guide’s explanation, with time to stop for photographs. The same applies to Big Ben, which is technically the name of the great bell, although people commonly use it for the clock tower.

I see this part as a useful city orientation rather than a full Westminster tour. You get several famous sights in one stretch, and the guide can explain how Parliament, the palace, the river, and royal ceremonial spaces fit together. It also breaks up the palace experience before the longer visit at the Tower.

The limitation is clear: if Westminster Abbey is high on your list, this tour will not replace an interior visit. You will see and learn about the area, but the admission details specifically exclude entry to Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Buckingham Palace.

You also need to use public transport between Big Ben and the Tower of London. An Oyster Card, Travelcard, or contactless card is required for this Tube journey. That small detail can affect the day, so do not arrive without a usable way to pay for the ride.

Entering the Tower of London and the Crown Jewels

The Tower of London is where the tour changes from royal ceremony to fortress, prison, armory, and execution site. The former 11th-century stronghold offers a very different setting from Buckingham Palace. You move through a working piece of London’s past, with thick defensive walls, historic buildings, and royal displays.

Admission to the Tower is included, which is one of the strongest reasons to consider the price. Your ticket includes the Crown Jewels Exhibition, White Tower and armory access, and the Tower’s other listed areas. Timed entry is arranged so you can avoid handling the main admission purchase yourself.

The Crown Jewels are the headline attraction. The display contains 100 objects and more than 23,000 gemstones in a royal setting designed for spectacle. The experience is highly controlled and popular, so timed access is useful, particularly on a busy London day.

Do not expect a quiet museum visit. The Crown Jewels are one of the Tower’s biggest draws, and the display can feel crowded. Still, seeing the collection after the morning’s royal ceremony gives the day a strong shape: first you watch a living tradition outside the palace, then you see the objects connected with monarchy and state ceremony.

The White Tower adds another layer. Its armory displays and fortress character help you understand that the Tower was not built only for royal display. It was also a military site and prison. The contrast between the ceremonial guards at Buckingham Palace and the defensive history of the Tower is one of the tour’s best features.

Yeoman Warders, ravens, and the final hour

The tour includes the chance to see the famous Beefeaters, officially called Yeoman Warders. They are closely associated with the Tower and its public storytelling. You may also visit the Raven House, another distinctive stop that gives the complex a little personality beyond walls, crowns, and military history.

The Tower section is listed at about 1 hour and 30 minutes, followed by around 20 minutes at the gift shop. The group finishes inside the Tower of London, not back at Buckingham Palace or Westminster. Plan your evening from this location.

There is an important practical point here. The guide may get you through the entrance and help you begin the Tower visit, but one account describes the guide leaving after the group was brought inside, leaving participants to explore the Tower on their own. That can be a benefit if you prefer freedom, but a drawback if you expect a continuous guided tour through every exhibit.

Ask your guide how the handoff works on the day. If you want to hear every available Tower explanation, make sure you know what is guided and what is self-guided. The supplied tour details promise entry and access, but they do not promise a private guide beside you for the entire Tower visit.

The gift shop is listed as the final stop. You can browse royal-themed souvenirs and memorabilia, but the time may feel short if you are eager to see more of the fortress. I would treat the shop as optional and spend your priority minutes on the Crown Jewels, White Tower, and any areas you most want to see.

The walking, group size, and pace

This is not a gentle coach tour. Expect roughly two and a half hours of walking around the central London sights, with additional time spent inside the Tower. The route includes cobbled streets, stairs, uneven ground, hills, inclines, and declines.

Supportive shoes are essential. Bring water, dress for the weather, and prepare for rain or cold because the tour operates in all weather conditions. The guard ceremony takes place outdoors, and much of Westminster is experienced on foot.

The tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility. Participants should have a moderate level of fitness, and anyone with a medical condition or who is not used to regular exercise should consult a doctor first. These warnings are practical, not decorative. A long day on stone surfaces can be tiring even when the walking pace is reasonable.

The maximum group size is 25. That is small enough for a guide to share stories and keep an eye on the group, but it is not a private tour. In crowded royal areas, you still need to stay alert and keep close.

Guide quality can shape the day. Mike is repeatedly praised for his humor, patience, and ability to answer questions. Pamela is praised for warmth, detailed royal stories, and good positioning during the guard ceremony. Phillip is noted for mixing precise information with humor, while Brendan is praised for spotting important moments and explaining them quickly.

Is $176.89 a fair price?

At $176.89 per person, this is not a cheap way to see London. The price makes more sense if you value a guide, want help with the guard ceremony, and plan to visit the Tower anyway.

The included Tower entry is the biggest part of the value. You receive access to the Crown Jewels Exhibition, White Tower, armory, Raven House, Yeoman Warders, and the wider Tower complex. You also get a structured route through Buckingham Palace, Westminster, and the Tower without having to coordinate all those stops yourself.

The value drops if you already know London well, dislike group walking, or only want to see the Crown Jewels. In that case, an independent Tower visit may give you more control. You may also feel the price is high because the three major Westminster attractions are exterior visits only.

I would book this as a first or second day in London, when you want a broad orientation and a guide to handle the morning timing. I would skip it if you prefer slow museum visits, need guaranteed indoor access, or want to spend most of the day inside one attraction.

The tour is offered in English only. It is commonly booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 77 days, so popular dates may not remain available close to your visit.

Who should book this London tour?

This experience suits you if you want a concentrated royal-themed day and appreciate a guide who adds stories to familiar sights. Families with older children may enjoy the mixture of guards, crowns, ravens, fortress rooms, and military history, provided everyone can manage the walking.

It also suits first-time visitors who would rather follow a planned route than worry about ceremony times and Tube connections. The guide can help you make sense of central London quickly, and the route covers sights that would otherwise require careful planning.

I would be cautious if you have limited mobility, dislike outdoor waiting, or want a relaxed pace. I would also be cautious if missing any single stop would ruin the day, since ceremonies, meeting times, crowds, and transport all require you to stay organized.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and a minimum group size is required for the tour to operate.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the guard ceremony, the Crown Jewels, and a guided introduction to London’s royal landmarks in one day. The strongest reasons are the included Tower entry, the guide’s help with finding a good ceremony viewpoint, and the chance to connect Buckingham Palace with Westminster and the Tower.

Think twice if you expect entry inside Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, or Parliament. You will see those places from outside, and the Tower may become partly self-guided after the group enters.

For the best chance of a smooth day, arrive early at the Diana fountain meeting point, wear serious walking shoes, carry water, bring a contactless payment card or Oyster Card, and check which guard ceremony is scheduled for your date. With those expectations in place, this is a useful, energetic way to meet London’s royal side.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately four hours. The listed stops add up to more than four hours, so the exact timing may vary based on the ceremony, walking pace, transport, and entry arrangements.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at the Constance Fund fountain near Buckingham Palace, London SW1A 1RN. Hotel pickup is not included.

Where does the tour finish?

The tour finishes inside the Tower of London at London EC3N 4AB.

Is entry to Buckingham Palace included?

No. The Buckingham Palace visit is an exterior guided visit. Entry to Buckingham Palace is not included.

Is the Changing of the Guard always the same?

No. On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, the tour is scheduled to feature the Household Cavalry. On other days, you may see the Queen’s Foot Guards.

Is Tower of London admission included?

Yes. Admission includes the Tower of London, Crown Jewels Exhibition, White Tower and armory, Raven House, and the opportunity to see the Yeoman Warders.

Do I need a travel card for the tour?

Yes. You need an Oyster Card, Travelcard, or contactless card for the Tube journey from Big Ben to the Tower of London.