Inside Buckingham Palace & See The Westminster Sights Tour

London royalty meets a serious city walk. This five-hour experience combines a guided tour through Westminster with entry to Buckingham Palace, giving you two excellent reasons to book: a small group and lively local guide, plus access to the palace gardens, 19 state rooms, and Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. The route also covers Big Ben, Parliament Square, Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, and Horse Guards Parade.

I especially like that the palace ticket is built into the experience rather than left for you to arrange. I also like the practical mix of outdoor sightseeing and indoor exploring, which gives you a fuller picture of central London. The main drawback is the pace: five hours of walking, standing, and palace sightseeing can be tiring, and the Westminster portion may feel brisk if you want a long stop at every sight.

The tour costs $101 per person. That is fair if you want a guide, a small group, the Changing of the Guard when scheduled, and palace admission in one package. Just remember to bring food and a drink, since lunch is not included.

Key points to know before booking

• Buckingham Palace opens only seasonally: Palace access is available from the middle of July through late September, so dates are limited.
• The Changing of the Guard is not daily: It is scheduled for Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday on the 10am tour, and the British Army can change or cancel it.
• The morning schedule matters: Choose the 10am start if seeing the guard ceremony is a priority.
• The palace portion is self-guided: Your English-speaking guide leads you to the palace, but you explore inside with a multilingual audio guide.
• You get more than a palace room visit: The ticket also covers the royal gardens and Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.
• Expect a lot of walking: Comfortable shoes are essential, and an umbrella is sensible London insurance.

Starting at the Ritz London

The meeting point is outside The Ritz London at 150 Piccadilly. Look for two red telephone boxes and two souvenir stands beneath one of the Ritz signs. This is close to Green Park Underground station, which makes the start easy to reach by public transport.

From Green Park station, take the left-hand exit. You will come out by stairs and a ramp, then walk toward the Ritz. Give yourself a few extra minutes here. The meeting point has several recognizable markers, but central London can still be confusing when you are watching traffic, street signs, and fellow group members at the same time.

The location is fitting. Piccadilly places you right beside Green Park and within easy reach of Buckingham Palace, but it also means you are beginning in one of London’s busiest central areas. You do not get hotel pickup, so plan your own route to the Ritz and your return trip after the tour.

The experience is wheelchair accessible, though the route includes several hours of walking and outdoor sightseeing. If mobility is a concern, it is sensible to ask the provider for current route details before booking.

Three hours through Westminster

The first major part is a three-hour walking tour of Westminster. This is not simply a transfer to the palace. You move through some of the most recognizable public spaces in London, with stops for photographs and commentary along the way.

A small group is useful here. Westminster streets can be crowded, and a smaller party makes it easier to hear an English-speaking guide and stay together at crossings. The named guides Will and Jason have earned particularly warm praise for being entertaining, clear, and good at keeping the day enjoyable. That matters on a long walking route, where a dry lecture can make even famous sights feel like homework.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is one of the route’s early highlights. It is a broad public square with a grand urban setting, and it gives you a strong first look at London’s ceremonial center.

You should have time for photographs and a guided explanation, but do not expect a long independent visit. The square is one stop among many, not the main event. If you want detailed time at every monument, museum, or viewpoint nearby, this format may feel too quick.

Horse Guards Parade

Horse Guards Parade offers another dose of ceremony and official London. The open space is tied to the city’s military traditions and makes a good contrast with the royal interiors you will see later.

The stop is scheduled for about 20 minutes. That is enough for a look, photographs, and context, but not enough for a leisurely pause. Keep your camera ready and listen closely while the guide is speaking.

Downing Street

The tour also passes 10 Downing Street, the famous address associated with the British prime minister. You will receive guided sightseeing here, but the point is the location and its political importance rather than an interior visit.

This is a good example of why the walking section works best as an overview. You are seeing the places where national ceremonies, government decisions, and public demonstrations have played out, but you are not entering each building. The route gives you a useful sense of how close these major institutions are to one another.

Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey

Parliament Square brings together some of the most recognizable sights in the Westminster area. The scheduled stop is longer, around 40 minutes, so this should be one of the more substantial sections of the walk.

You will see the Houses of Parliament area, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey from the outside, with guided commentary and time for photographs. The London Eye is also part of the sightseeing route. These views are among the strongest reasons to take the walking portion, especially if this is your first visit to London.

Do note the distinction between seeing Westminster Abbey and entering it. The experience includes guided sightseeing at the abbey, but it does not include an interior admission ticket. The same principle applies to several other famous buildings along the route: you are being shown the city’s major landmarks rather than touring each one inside.

Watching the Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is one of the tour’s biggest draws, but you need to choose the right departure. It takes place only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday during the 10am tour.

The ceremony is managed by the British Army, so the schedule can change. Extreme weather can also lead to cancellation. Treat it as a valuable extra rather than a guaranteed centerpiece, especially if the ceremony is the main reason you are booking.

When it does run, the guide can help you understand what you are seeing and where to focus. The event is highly popular, which makes the small group helpful. Still, public ceremonies can involve crowds and standing, so do not expect a quiet private viewing.

If your schedule permits only another day or a later start, you can still enjoy the Westminster walk and palace visit. You simply will not have the planned Changing of the Guard portion.

Entering Buckingham Palace

After the outdoor route, your guide takes you to Buckingham Palace. The guide does not accompany you inside, so this is where the experience changes from a live walking tour to a self-guided palace visit.

Your admission includes the state rooms, which contain royal furniture and works from the Royal Collection. You can visit 19 rooms, giving you plenty to see beyond the famous exterior. The audio guide is available in multiple languages, which lets you set your own pace and spend more time with rooms or objects that interest you.

This arrangement has both advantages and limits. I like the freedom of moving through the palace without needing to stay beside the group. You can listen, pause, and look carefully instead of being hurried from room to room by a live guide.

The tradeoff is that you lose the personal commentary of the guide once inside. If you enjoy asking questions as you go, make the most of the Westminster section before reaching the palace. The audio guide supplies structure, but it is not the same as having a local expert beside you.

The palace visit is listed at about two hours. That is a useful amount of time for the rooms, the garden access, and the exhibition, though your exact pace will depend on how long you spend with the audio guide.

The royal gardens and Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition

Palace admission includes access to the royal gardens, which adds welcome breathing room after the formal state rooms. The gardens give you a different view of the palace grounds and make the ticket feel more substantial than a quick interior tour.

The outdoor portion is also a practical reason to check the weather before leaving. Bring an umbrella, as recommended, and wear shoes that can handle a long day on foot. London weather can shift quickly, and a damp garden walk is much less pleasant without a rain layer.

The ticket also includes Queen Victoria’s Palace, an exhibition focused on the palace and Victoria’s connection to it. This adds context to the rooms and royal setting. For many people, the exhibition will be more rewarding after seeing the grand state spaces, since you can connect the display to the building around you.

Is $101 a fair price?

At $101 per person, this is not a cheap walking tour. It is also more than a basic palace admission ticket, because you are paying for several pieces at once: a three-hour guided walk, a small group, palace entry, the gardens, the exhibition, and an audio guide inside.

The value is strongest if you would otherwise book a separate Westminster tour and palace ticket. Combining them saves you from coordinating two bookings and helps organize a full day around central London’s main sights.

The value is weaker if you prefer to move slowly, choose your own route, or spend a full day inside Buckingham Palace. The Westminster walk covers many landmarks, but the experience does not promise a long stop at every one. One piece of feedback specifically noted that not every Westminster sight received the same amount of attention and that a lunch break would have helped, especially for families with children.

That is fair criticism. Five hours without an included meal break is a long stretch. Bring something small to eat and a drink. You can enjoy them at an appropriate pause, but do not expect lunch to be built into the schedule.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to a first-time London visitor who wants a well-organized introduction to royal and political London. You get the city’s most famous postcard views, useful orientation from a local guide, and a proper visit inside Buckingham Palace.

It also suits anyone with limited time. In five hours, you see a large section of central London and enter one of its most restricted attractions during the summer opening period.

Families can enjoy it, but parents should plan carefully. The guide-led stories may keep older children interested, while younger children may tire before the palace visit begins. Snacks, water, and comfortable shoes are not optional extras here.

This is less suitable for you if you dislike group schedules or want a slow, detailed look at every stop. It is also a poor fit if you can visit London only outside the palace season, since Buckingham Palace access is available only from mid-July to late September.

Practical tips for a smoother day

• Choose the 10am departure on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday if the Changing of the Guard is important to you.
• Wear comfortable shoes. The outdoor portion alone lasts about three hours.
• Bring a drink and a snack, since lunch is not included.
• Carry an umbrella and camera.
• Arrive at the Ritz meeting point with time to spare.
• Use the left exit at Green Park Underground station and walk toward The Ritz.
• Remember that the guide leads you to the palace but does not go inside with you.
• Keep expectations realistic about Westminster. You will see many major sights, but some stops are brief photo and commentary visits.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Buckingham Palace and Westminster in one day, prefer a guide-led introduction, and like the convenience of having palace admission already arranged. The small group, friendly guides, gardens, and 19 state rooms make the $101 price reasonable for a concentrated London experience.

Think twice if you need a meal break, dislike walking, or want lengthy visits at each Westminster landmark. For the best chance of seeing the Changing of the Guard, select the 10am tour on an eligible day, while remembering that weather and military scheduling can change the ceremony.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts five hours. About three hours are devoted to the guided Westminster walk, followed by roughly two hours at Buckingham Palace.

Where does the tour meet?

It meets outside The Ritz London at 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR. Look for two red telephone boxes and two souvenir stands beneath one of the Ritz signs.

Which Underground station is closest?

Green Park Underground station is the nearest station. Use the left-hand exit, then walk toward The Ritz London.

Is the Changing of the Guard included every day?

No. It takes place only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday during the 10am tour. The ceremony may be cancelled in extreme weather, and the British Army can change the schedule.

Does the guide go inside Buckingham Palace?

No. The guide takes you to Buckingham Palace but does not accompany you inside. You explore the palace with a multilingual audio guide.

What does the Buckingham Palace ticket include?

It includes entry to 19 state rooms, access to the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. You should bring something to eat and drink.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Because the experience includes several hours of walking, you may want to confirm the current route details before booking.