The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is probably on your London bucket list. And why not?
It's a grand spectacle - and one that I never get tired of, no matter how many times I see it!
And as London Tour guide...I've seen it often.
AS OF APRIL 2025 THIS CEREMONY TAKES PLACE ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. A Captain's Inspection will take place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And, on Sundays, there will be a ceremony known as Lodging the Colour.
Officially, the Changing begins at 11:00, but parts of it actually start by 10:30, with the whole ceremony taking approximately 1 hour.
But I am here to tell you that most people who come to see the Changing of the Guard are doing it wrong!
99% of visitors show up to the same place at the same time all jockeying for limited space and watching the most boring part.
I have actually seen people turn up around 6am in the morning to fight for a space outside Buckingham Palace and I always feel so bad for them because they have no idea they'll miss the best part.
I want you to be part of the 1% that get it right!
If you are able to, join me on my Royal London Westminster Tour or my London All in One Tour.
On days that it is taking place, my tour includes the Changing of the Guard - and I'll take you to the place that only we experts know where to go get the best view.
Watch it all virtually with Sinead, a tour guide with Tours by Foot London, as she uncovers the secrets for you.
I am writing this post to tell you everything you need to know about witnessing the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.
I include tips on when to arrive, finding the best spots, as well as explaining all aspects of the event.
- The Ceremony Explained
- Best Places to Watch
- When Should I Arrive?
- Nearest Underground Station
- Who Are the Guards
- Nearby Attractions
- Other Things to Do in London
Since you will be in the area, be sure to read my posts on tours of Buckingham Palace and things to do nearby to best plan your time here.
THE CEREMONY EXPLAINED
The Changing of the Guard is a formal ceremony in which a group of soldiers (foot guards) is relieved of their duties by a new batch of soldiers.
I get asked by a lot of people on my tours if the King's Guard soldiers are real soldiers and the answer is yes!
I know some of them personally and they are active members of the military who get sent on full deployment all around the world which is a fact that really surprises some of my guests.
But I always like to point out that the common perception of these guards standing still for 12 hours a day is not at all accurate.
The King’s Guard soldiers actually work in shifts of 2 hours each, which means new guards begin their shift every 2 hours.
When I talk about The Changing of the Guard, I am referring to the handover of guarding responsibilities of the entire group (who have been sharing the 2-hour shifts between them) to a new group of soldiers, who will then take it in turn to work their own 2-hour shifts.
It is the changing of each larger group that is referred to when discussing the Changing of the Guard and it is only during this change that guests will see the marching band, parade, etc.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a rough outline of the ceremony and its routes.
Occasionally, due to security concerns or other events in town, the Ceremony can be subject to cancellations and alterations.
Usually, I am able to know whether or not the parade will take place before my tour has started - but I always double check with the Metropolitan Police on the route during the tour.
It's rare, but there have been times where I - and other guides - have been standing with our groups, waiting for the Ceremony, only to slowly realise it has been called off.
The majority of the times that has happened to me has been because of poor weather conditions.
10:30 am
I start my Royal Westminster Tour and London All in One Tour at 10:00 so we can get a lovely view of Buckingham Palace, before taking my group to my favourite location for the 10:30 start.
The New Guard (those soldiers who are starting work for the day) form up and are inspected just outside Wellington Barracks (their base near St. James’ Park).
While the Guard is being inspected, a band stationed at the Barracks will oftentimes play.
We can usually hear the band as I am getting my group into position.
10:45 am
One of the groups of Old Guard (those soldiers who are finishing work for the day), who have been stationed at St James's Palace, will form up in Friary Court.
This is where Sinead starts in her video above.
They will then leave the Palace in a formation and head down the Mall toward Buckingham Palace.
They will (almost) always be led down the road by a marching band.
At the same time, the Old Guard stationed at Buckingham Palace will queue up in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.
10:55 am
The New Guards at the Barracks will be led to Buckingham Palace where, by now, both the Old Guard of Buckingham Palace and St. James’ Palace are waiting in formation.
11:00 am
Once in place, the Old Guard and the New Guard present their arms to one another.
The Captains of each group of Guard will march toward one another and there, the keys to Buckingham Palace exchange hands.
This part of the ceremony takes place completely behind the gates of the palace - and this is where I see most tourists head to in the mornings.
Usually, throughout all of this, the band plays music to entertain the massive crowds of people that will have come from all around the world to watch this procedure.
It's mostly traditional military music but I have heard all sorts...Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, Queen and even a rendition of the Game of Thrones theme!
The band is made up of 35 musicians, usually belonging to one of the King's Guard regiments (although I hear occasional seen the RAF, the Marine's and the Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas).
In addition to the music, there are also Guards parading the colours (or flags) of their respective regiment, while all the soldiers are inspected and counted.
11:30 am
Once the inspection has subsided and the keys are in the hand of the New Captain, the New Guard are marched into their positions, at both Buckingham and St. James’ Palaces.
The Old Guard are matched back to Wellington Barracks and are led, usually, by the band.
BEST PLACES TO WATCH THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD?
It's very important for me to get one thing straight.
No matter what anybody might tell you, there is nowhere to watch the entire guard mount.
You will need to choose which area is best for you, like I do when I decide where to take my tour groups.
There are 5 essential places for people to watch the Changing of the Guard.
I will explain each in detail with the pros and cons of each location below.
- Friary Court - The courtyard at St. James's Palace.
- The Mall - The main road approaching Buckingham Palace from St. James's Palace.
- The Victoria Memorial - Large memorial statue fronting Buckingham Palace.
- Buckingham Palace Gates - As close as one can get to the Palace.
- The Wellington Barracks - On the edge of St. James’ Park on Birdcage Walk.
I always see the largest group of people standing outside the Buckingham Palace gates, or even hanging off parts of the Victoria Memorial.
But there are a few factors to consider when you decide where you want to go...
Friary Court (St. James's Palace)
Friary Court, Marlborough Road (map) The Closest Station is Green Park
If you want to watch the very beginning of the ceremony, this is where you want to be!
In this courtyard outside St. James' Palace, the Old Guard (and usually the band) gather before they kick off the Ceremony by walking down the Mall.
This is a great place to go if you just want a glimpse of the Guards, rather than watching the entire event.
The reason I don't bring my groups here, however, is because almost every other tour guide does!
It gets SO crowded on this little stretch of road that I think it becomes to difficult for most people to see anything.
Also, Marlborough Road is very small so I feel like as soon as the Guards walk past my group, it seems almost over before it has begun.
Some guides I know like to start by standing with their groups here - and then follow the procession down the Mall (my next option below) all the way to Buckingham Palace.
I get that a lot of visitors like the idea of "marching with the Guards" but, truthfully, it's a mad rush down the road.
And, in the busy months. I have seen (this is not an exaggeration) almost 1,000 people running down the Mall trying to follow the Guards.
In my opinion, it is stressful and chaotic and not worth the effort.
It's also impossible to get any photos while you are rushing down the road and in the dry summer months, the crowds kick up a huge cloud of dust that rolls along with them.
I always tell my groups to get ready for a stampede!
Above is a video of what you may see (assuming the band is present).
The Mall
The Mall (map) - The closest station is Green Park
NOTE: This is where I take my groups to see the parade from St. James's Palace to Buckingham Palace!
If you decide to go down to the Mall - keep an eye out for me! T
his is where I, and quite a few of my tour guide friends, like to take our groups to watch the parade.
You will see all of us vying for space along the street as we all know this is the best spot for clear views and good photographs.
I like to bring my guests here for a few reasons:
Firstly: I don't have to fight for space with the hundreds of people crowded outside Buckingham Palace.
Here, my group and I always have space to spread out.
Secondly: I don't have to get my group here super early!
I find 10:30 is plenty of time - unlike the 9:00am start time for some of the dedicated visitors I see outside the Palace.
Third: Sometimes there are waist-high barriers that line the Mall...but that is it in terms of separation between my groups and the guards.
There is literally nothing separating our view from the soldiers which means there's no struggling to get a clear shot for your photographs.
Fourth: We sometimes get a bonus view of the Household Cavalry as they pass by the Old Guard on their way to the Horse Guards Parade for their changing of the guard ceremony.
(Where I always take my groups later on in the tour.)
Fifth: This location enables me to take my group onwards to St. James's Palace, after the Guards have marched past us.
People who are standing outside Buckingham Palace are trapped there until the ceremony is over.
Meanwhile, I am showing my guests more of the beautiful sights of Westminster.
Sixth: This is the parade! When people think of 'The Changing of the Guard,' this is what they are imagining.
I always tell my groups that by the time the Guards reach Buckingham Palace...the parade is over!
The only downside here is that, occasionally, there is no marching band present during the parade.
But, as I said, that is uncommon and usually because of bad weather.
And I know what you are thinking, but I promise it doesn't rain here nearly as often as people assume.
The Victoria Memorial
The Mall (map) - The closest station is Green Park or St. James's Park
I've noticed that in recent years, the Victoria Memorial has become the "go to" for a lot of visitors wanting to get a good view of the Ceremony.
By the time I walk past in the morning to go meet my groups, there are usually around 100 people hanging off every surface of the statue!
I don't think this is a particularly bad location.
It's positioned right outside the Palace and can offer a well placed visitor multiple views: the south side where the New Guard are marching from and the courtyard where the handover will take place.
Visitors standing on the front of the Memorial will have a great shot of the Old Guard processing up the Mall.
Those standing on the back of the statue will receive a view directly to the gates outside Buckingham Palace.
The memorial is elevated, which means views are better than just standing on the road and sometimes it’s possible to see both the parade and the action in the Palace courtyard.
My main issue with this location is that you have to get there EARLY if you want a good spot.
Also, I always see people crowded on and around the statue, disrupting one another's view.
Below is a Google 360 from the Victoria Memorial
Also, I've noticed that if crowds are really big outside the Palace then the view into the courtyard is restricted even from the best spot on the Memorial.
And this is one of the locations where leaving during the Ceremony is not permitted.
I've had guests tell me they felt trapped there and that is one of the reasons I avoid it.
And, practically speaking, it can be difficult if I have a larger group with me.
NOTE: If you want to give this one a go, I recommend standing on the side of the Memorial facing Buckingham Palace (this will put you at the back of Queen Victoria), though anywhere on the memorial will afford you nice views.
Buckingham Palace Gates
Buckingham Palace (map) - The closest station is Green Park, St. James's Park or Victoria
NOTE: This area is the most crowded and I would never in 1,000 years stand here to watch the Ceremony.
This is as close as you can get to Buckingham Palace which means this is where the majority of people come.
I will be honest and say that, provided you get here early enough, you can position yourself for some great views through the Palace gates.
The Google 360 view below is just one of the views from the palace gates.
However, for me, the drawbacks outweigh the rewards...
The Crowds are huge (again, I have literally seen over 1,000 people fighting for space);
Visitors are stuck in position until the entire ceremony is over and THEN once it's time to leave, everybody is trying to go at the same time, so it becomes absolute bedlam;
From this view you only get to see a snippet of the Parade;
Honestly, a lot of guests tell me they were surprised to note that the middle part of the ceremony is a bit full with not much to see - and I would agree - and, remember, there's no escaping at that point.
The Wellington Barracks
Birdcage Walk (map) - The closest station is St. James's Park
For those who just want a taste of the Ceremony, I would say this is a good option.
Coming here will give you a fantastic view of the New Guard preparing for their shift.
When I have my groups lined up ono the Mall, I always tell guests to listen out for the band at the Barracks as they play in the lead up to the ceremony.
Also, once the Guards march you are then free to leave and go elsewhere!
Watch the band lead the New Guard out of Wellington Barracks.
Crowds here are usually smaller but if you want to see as much of the total ceremony as possible, then this is not the place to do it.
However, this is a really great spot for those who want to get a taste of the guards and the marching band, and do not like large crowds.
Sometimes, if I have a private tour or friends/family visiting with children, I will take them to this location.
I feel like there is a much calmer atmosphere here and a lot less jostling for position.
But my number one recommendation to get a good view, good history, and some good information about the King's Guard in its’ entirety, is join me on my Westminster City Tour!
Whenever the Changing of the Guard is taking place, our tour groups will get the up close and personal experience of standing on the Mall as the Guards walk past.
Ww also avoid all the crowds and any obstructions that could get in the way of our photos.
We’ll take the hassle out of the planning for you, so come along with us!
WHEN DOES THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD TAKE PLACE?
The Changing of the Guard schedule is dependent on the season and weather.
It is always worth taking a peek at that schedule in advance as ceremonies can be canceled/added/amended owing to any number of events or disruptions that could be taking place in London.
I always know not to expect it on days where there a big London events like the London Marathon, Trooping the Colour, or Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Any day that the ceremony takes place, the public is welcome to watch!
Here are helpful hints on planning your visit to witness the Changing.
- The ceremony takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Previously, the Ceremony took place every day from April to July but because of 'security concerns' the schedule has been permanently reduced.
- Officially, the Changing begins at 11:00. However, Guards begin to leave the Royal Barracks and St. James Palace by 10:30 - which is when I always aim to get my groups onto the Mall.
- The Changing will not take place in bad weather. If it is raining, chances are there will be no ceremony. If the weather is changeable, police officers stationed around Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Memorial can be approached and asked if the Changing is going to be canceled - this is what I do if the weather is a bit dodgy!
- Join us on our Westminster Walking Tour as we take in the Changing of the Guard ceremony.
IS THERE A WAY TO SEE IF THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD IS TAKING PLACE?
It might surprise you when I tell you that the Buckingham Palace website is not the most reliable place to check out the schedule.
I prefer to rely on information from the websites of The Household Division (the Seven British Army Regiments serving His Majesty) or ChangingGuardguard.com.
There are a number of reasons why the Changing of the Guard may not take place, but the most common reason, as I've said, is bad weather.
The ceremony never takes place in horrible weather so if there’s a storm or heavy rain, it’s unlikely the ceremony will happen.
This always disappoints me because the Guards will also stand in their little Guard Boxes (blue-grey boxes positioned outside the Palace) which means there's no good way for my groups to get decent photographs of the soldiers.
Which actually leads me to another way I can tell if the Ceremony is going to take place or not: look at the King’s Guard outside Buckingham Palace.
If they are standing outside the guard boxes then the Ceremony should be happening.
If they are INSIDE the boxes then that means the weather is bad enough they’ve been taken off the post which means a Ceremony is unlikely.
I've noticed that the decision about whether or not the ceremony will take place owing to the weather is made around 10:30 am.
You can ask police officers in the area if they have heard from the soldiers and they can likely give you an update, which is what I usually do!
They are always friendly to me and my guests.
Occasionally, in reverence and remembrance, the Ceremony will not take place after tragic events such as terrorist attacks, or the death of members of the royal family, or other heads of state.
WHAT TIME DO I NEED TO GET THERE FOR A GOOD SPOT?
This greatly depends on the time of year you visit and where it is you intend to stand.
In the summer season, some visitors will arrive at the gates to Buckingham Palace or to the Victoria Memorial as early as 8:00!
And I will say that earlier is better this time of year.
If you are visiting during the Winter months, I would say you'd be fine turning up to the Palace gates around 20 minutes ahead of time.
Note though that I always see larger groups on the days leading up to and right after Christmas.
I have heard the Guard's playing Christmas carols and that's always pretty popular, so I'd recommend getting there a bit earlier during that time period.
If you wish to view the Guards marching down the Mall (where I take my groups) or to the Wellington Barracks, you will find it much easier to secure a good location here.
In the winter months, simply give yourself a few minutes to get into place.
During summer, arrive earlier but I think 15 minutes is sufficient.
The Mall
Here you will be competing with tour groups (or maybe you’ll be with us!) so you’ll want to get here at least 15 minutes ahead of time.
Most visitors don’t come here, though - which is why I like to bring my guests - so it’s busy but not crowded.
The Victoria Memorial
This starts to get busy fast. Honestly, I see people here well over an hour before it starts as space on the Memorial is a hot commodity!
Buckingham Palace
This fills up the quickest (although you’ll notice it’s not my favourite spot) so coming around an hour early is recommended.
The Wellington Barracks
Again, you’ll only be competing for space with tour groups so you don’t have to arrive super early to catch this one.
If I am going to this location, I usually turn up 15 minutes ahead of time and that has always been sufficient.
In Winter (September through April):
During the off-season, you only need to arrive early if you wish to watch outside Buckingham Palace. I would suggest arriving 30 minutes early to stand here.
As for the other three - in general, you can get there around 10 minutes ahead of time and be fine!
WHICH ARE THE NEAREST UNDERGROUND STATIONS?
While there is no Buckingham Place Underground Station, there are several stations servicing the Palace:
- Victoria Station (Circle, District and Victoria Lines) + several regional train lines
- Green Park Station (Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria Lines)
- St. James Park Station (Circle and District Lines)
- Hyde Park Station (Piccadilly Line)
If you are not familiar with the subway in London, then be sure to read my following guides:
If you are considering purchasing a ticket for a hop-on-hop-off bus in London, then know that all companies have stops that service Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guards.
WHO ARE THE KING'S GUARDS?
The King’s Guard is the name given to the soldiers responsible for the protection of the official royal residences in the United Kingdom.
Of course, if the reigning Monarch is a female, they are known as the Queen's Guard.
It was very strange when the late Queen died and the soldiers switched their titles - for months I kept catching myself saying the wrong word while giving my tours.
This photo is courtesy of TripAdvisor
The responsibilities and jobs of today's King’s Guard have their roots back in the 17th century, during the reign of King Charles II.
Although the British Army has regiments of guards pre-dating the Restoration, these regiments began guarding the Sovereign’s palaces in the 1660s.
Today, the King’s Guard is based in London and provides soldiers outside Buckingham Palace, St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, the Tower of London, and Windsor Castle.
Occasionally there are Guards also located in Scotland at Holyrood House or at Edinburgh Castle.
It’s also worth noting that all King’s Guard soldiers are actual soldiers - I get asked this all the time!
Many assume their role to be purely ceremonial but all of the Guards are members of the infantry division of the British Army and are all, therefore, actual active serving soldiers.
In fact, we learned that two of the pallbearers at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral were brought back from deployment to take part in the ceremony.
Are all the King’s Guard Soldiers the Same?
Although ‘The King's Guard’ is a catch-all term for the Guards stationed outside the royal residences, there are actually five regiments contained within:
- Grenadier Guards - Founded in 1656, this is the most senior regiment of the Guard’s division.
- Coldstream Guards - Founded in 1650, this is the oldest part of the Guards Division and is the oldest regiment of the British Army to be in active service.
- Scots Guards - Incorporated into the British Army in 1686, the Scots Guards originally began as bodyguards of King Charles I.
- Irish Guards - Founded in 1900, this is one of only two Irish Infantry regiments remaining in the British Army.
- Welsh Guards - Active since 1915, this is the newest regiment of the Guards Division.
Guard Uniform
In the warmer months, the King’s Guard soldiers wear the traditional red tunic, black and red trousers, and distinctive bearskin hats.
To my great disappointment, and to the consternation of many of my tour guests, in the winter months the Guards change out of the iconic red tunic and into a long grey coat.
The overall uniform is standard, but there are subtle differences in the detail of the uniform depending on which part of the Guard’s Division the soldier comes from.
I always point out to my groups that this means it is possible to tell which group of King’s Guard soldiers you are looking at based on these small differences.
So, I advise you to keep an eye out (and impress your friends and family!) so you can identify which regiments the Guards during the Ceremony have come from:
- Grenadier Guards - Buttons on the tunic are equally spaced, their collar has a grenade design on it and the plume in their hat is white.
- Coldstream Guards - Buttons on the tunic are in groups of two, their collar has a star-shaped badge on it and the plume in their hat is red.
- Scots Guards - Buttons on the tunic are in groups of three, their collar has a Scottish thistle on it and there is no plume in their hat.
- Irish Guards - Buttons on their tunic are in groups of four, their collar has a shamrock on it and the plume in their hat is blue.
- Welsh Guards - Buttons on their tunic are in groups of five, their collar has a leek on it and the plume in their hat is green and white.
WILL ANY OF YOUR TOURS STOP AT THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD?
Yes! For all All-In-One Tours or Westminster Tours that run on days the Changing takes place, we will absolutely stop to get a good view and take some photographs.
This outing also includes an exclusive Westminster Dome climb!
If you go on your own, you might want to consider my self-guided Royal London Tour.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
For those of you who want to see it all, there are two smaller guard changes that take place in London daily.
These changes are performed by members of the King's Life Guard (Horse Guards) at an area called Horse Guards Parade, in Whitehall.
The Changing takes place at 11:00 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 10:00 on Sundays.
Much smaller than the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the entire ceremony only takes around 30 minutes.
This Ceremony is also included on our Royal Westminster Tour and our All in One Tour.
Also, at 16:00 (4 pm) there will be a ‘Four O’Clock Parade’ where the majority of the Mounted Guards are taken off the post for the day and security is trimmed down to just a few sentries.
This ceremony, where the King's Life Guard is inspected and counted, is also free to view by the public.
But make sure you keep your distance!
I have seen more than one tourist chastised by the soldiers for getting too close - or even getting bitten by one of the horses.
I think there are even videos on TikTok if you don't believe me!
