Buckingham Palace and Changing of the Guard

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Full description Only open to the public for two short months of the year, tickets to tour the royal residence of King Charles III are extremely limited. Get a rare opportunity to explore the private home of royalty, complete with gilded furnishings and priceless art, by visiting the State Rooms of Buckingham Palace.

Begin this enchanting experience with the famous Changing of the Guard on Foot or Changing of the Guard on Horseback (depending on the day and time of the Royal Household Cavalry, and subject to last-minute changes), as your English-speaking guide regales you with historical anecdotes and impressive events that occurred within these royal residences.

We begin with a world-famous ceremony and the oldest tradition at Buckingham Palace: the Changing of the Guard. Depending on the day and the Royal Household Cavalry's schedule, you will either see the Changing of the Guard on Foot or the Changing of the Guard on Horseback. Your expert local guide will take you through the throngs of this timeless ritual. Here, you will be entertained with colourful commentary on the pageantry and history behind the ceremony by the Foot Guards in their famous bearskin hats and red tunics, as they march with the military band or the Royal Household Cavalry (depending on the date selected for your tour). Note: this part of the tour is subject to weather conditions and last minute changes beyond our control.

Then on to Buckingham Palace, which looks like a grandiose bastion to the rest of us, but to King Charles III it is home sweet home. Only open to visitors once a year for two short months, this is your rare chance to explore the State Rooms of the world's most adored royal family. Get a glimpse of what life is like behind closed gilded doors and stand in awe amongst the luxurious rooms, glittering crystal chandeliers and opulent furnishings.

Take time to appreciate some of the Royal Collection's greatest treasures: Sèvres porcelain, the finest English and French furniture in the world, masterful paintings and ornate decoration, many of which were gifts from Heads of State from around the world and across the centuries.

The Palace's official audio guide will introduce you to the history within the walls of Buckingham Palace and its priceless possessions. Although local guides are not allowed to speak inside the palace, our guide will captivate you with stories of its most famous (and infamous) residents and colourful historical commentary on the life and traditions of the Royal Court before you venture inside on your own.

Immerse yourself in London's most popular, timeless and absolutely beloved traditions as only City Wonders can offer on our Buckingham Palace Tour, including the Changing of the Guard. Additional information It is the responsibility of all visitors to be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure. Guests arriving after departure cannot be accommodated, & missed tours or tickets cannot be refundedExtra measures may be implemented at some venues due to heightened global security. As a result, we may experience delays in getting through mandatory security checks when entering these venues. Extra measures may also restrict the size of bags that can be brought inside. To avoid disruptions or possible denied entry, we strongly suggest that you avoid bringing large purses, bags, or backpacks on your tourWe regret that we are unable to accommodate guests with wheelchairs or any impairments requiring special assistance. We are also unable to accommodate strollers or baby carriages on our group toursPhotography is not permitted within Buckingham Palace but is allowed within the gardens Please note weather is very changeable in London, please ensure you have rainproof clothingThis tour involves a reasonable amount of walking. We recommend comfortable shoes for all guestsWe will do everything within our power to ensure timings and itineraries are respected; however, due to issues beyond our control, timings and sites are subject to last minute changes on rare occasionsWe reserves the right to refuse participation on its tours to any guest under the influence of drugs or alcohol or to any guest whose behavior is disorderly, or poses a threat to other guests or our staffThe 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 provided with a walking tour of Westminster city insteadPlease note that the changing of the guard schedule may change and on different dates we will see either Foot Guards or Horse Guards Inclusions Expert, English-speaking tour guideEntrance ticket for Buckingham PalaceHeadsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guideIn this tour we visit Buckingham Palace (inside), Changing of the Foot Guards or Changing of the Horse Guards, St James’s Park Exclusions Hotel pick-up and drop-offTickets, meals and drinks except if expressly specified in the tour inclusionsOther services not specified Cancellation policy Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service. Cancellations after this time limit or no show, no refund provided. Meeting point Duke of York Column.10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5ED, United kingdom.
Please note that the meeting point is NOT at Buckingham Palace