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Royal London & Changing of the Guard Walk

See the Changing of the Guard, walk past palaces and parade grounds, then explore the backstreets of St James’s.

4.9/5 · 5,020+ reviews

The perfect mix of royal pageantry and local secrets. Our guide knew every shortcut and every great photo spot. Felt like seeing London with a friend who knows all the good gossip.

Lisa D. · New York, USA

From £175 per private booking

Instant confirmationFlexible changes (24h)

Gift vouchers also available

PRIVATE WALKING TOUR
Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
A group of tourists in front of Buckingham Palace.
A horseguard on duty.
A group of tourists on a Royal London Walking Tour.
Meet your London tour guide outside St. James' Underground station.
A tour group outside of St James's Palace.
Horse Guards riding past St. James's Park.
Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

Guards, Drums and Royal Drama

Weave through royal precincts and green parkland to St James’s Palace, Clarence House, Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace. Your host times the walk to catch the drums, the brass and the Guards on the move, with clear views for photos.

Along the way you’ll hear: why Green Park has no flowerbeds; how to spot a regiment by its buttons; the Queen Mother’s favourite G&T ratio; the pelicans with Russian roots; Beau Brummell’s immaculate cravat; and the kidnap attempt ended with ‘Not bloody likely’.

We finish by the royal-warrant shops of St James’s and Fortnum & Mason — perfect for a scotch egg and a proper cup of tea.

Duration

2.5 hours

Private group

Your party • Up to 12

Suitable for ages

5+

Times

10:00

Pace

Easy 1 mile

Perfect for

Families • First-timers • Multi-gen groups

Meeting point

Outside St James's Underground Station

Highlights

  • Timed to catch the Changing of the Guard from prime viewing spots
  • Walk past Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, and Horse Guards
  • St James's Park wildlife and stories (the pelicans, the missing flowerbeds)
  • Finishes near Fortnum and Mason, well placed for lunch or tea

What to expect

Included

  • Private guide
  • Curated Guard-day route
  • Smart viewing points
  • Finish near Fortnum & Mason
  • Tips for great photos and snack stops
  • Optional add-ons: black-cab pickup, post-tour cream tea, or private photographer

Not included

  • Food and beverages (unless specified in inclusions)
  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Personal travel insurance
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off (unless specified)

Good to know

  • 10.00 start
  • ~2.5 hours
  • Gentle pace with several standing stops
  • Family-friendly; buggies welcome
  • Step-free options available; let us know any access needs
  • Rain or shine — pack a brolly
  • Guard schedules may vary — route adapts so you still see the spectacle
  • Bring comfy shoes, a bottle of water, and your best royal wave

Changing of the Guard

Guard Change Days This WeekAs of 29 Aug 2026

Our 9:45 & 10:00 starts are timed for 11:00. Our 2:00 pm start pairs with 3:00 pm inspections.

Sat 29 Aug15:00
Pairs with 2:00 pm start
Guard: Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Coldstream Guards
Sun 30 Aug10:00
Pairs with 9:45 start
Guard: Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Grenadier Guards
Mon 31 Aug11:00
Pairs with 09:45 / 10:00 start
Guard: F Company Scots Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Scots Guards
  • Band of the Grenadier Guards
Tue 1 Sept15:00
Pairs with 2:00 pm start
Guard: F Company Scots Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Scots Guards
Wed 2 Sept11:00
Pairs with 09:45 / 10:00 start
Guard: Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Scots Guards
  • Band of the Irish Guards
Thu 3 Sept15:00
Pairs with 2:00 pm start
Guard: Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Grenadier Guards
Fri 4 Sept11:00
Pairs with 09:45 / 10:00 start
Guard: Number 7 Company Coldstream Guards
Musical Support
  • Band of the Irish Guards
  • Band of the Scots Guards

Your royal welcome

Meet at St James’s Station

Your private guide greets you outside the Underground station — route brief, intros, and the first glimpse of royal London life.

Meet your London tour guide outside St. James' Underground station.

Palaces & parade routes

St James’s Palace and Clarence House

Step through London’s royal precincts — where kings were born, princes reside, and the Guards march by in full regalia.

A tour group outside of St James's Palace.

Parks, pelicans & pageantry

St James’s Park stroll

Wander London’s most elegant royal park, glimpse its famous pelicans, and enjoy postcard views of The Mall and Buckingham Palace.

Horse Guards riding past St. James's Park.

The main event

Changing of the Guard

Catch the Guards on the move — drums, brass, precision and polish — from smart, crowd-free vantage points.

Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace.

A finish fit for a king (or queen)

Clubland & Fortnum’s finale

Stroll St James’s backstreets past royal-warrant shops and historic clubs, finishing by Fortnum & Mason — tea, treats, and a proper loo.

A tour group outside of the Burlington Arcade.

Instant confirmation

From £175per private booking

Next departurestap one to book it

  • Instant confirmation at checkout
  • Flexible changes (24h)

Only with Tally Ho

What sets us apart

Smart viewpoints

Clever positioning for the best royal moments without the crush.

Gentle pace

A relaxed, well-paced route designed for easy exploring.

Brilliant stories

History brought to life with warmth, humour, and sharp local insight.

The perfect mix of royal pageantry and local secrets. Our guide knew every shortcut and every great photo spot. Felt like seeing London with a friend who knows all the good gossip.
L

Lisa D.

New York, USA

Born in London. Built on stories

We started Tally Ho in 2011 chasing the good stuff — royal parades, juicy gossip, and stories worth retelling over tea. We’ll take you beyond the palace gates into St James’s backstreets, where the Guards march, the pelicans pose, and old-school shops still serve the Queen’s favourites. You’ll leave with bragging rights, great photos, and a London story you’ll tell for years.

Meet the team
Meet the core tour team

Rascals, raconteurs, and very good company

Quiet lanes, cracking stories, proper laughs.

James

James

Glorious beard; shaves for panto each winter, returns spring triumphant again.

Katie

Katie

Mary Poppins energy; vintage queen with endless costumes, sells treasures at weekends.

Ed

Ed

Knows more routes than Waze; actor on the rise, you'll say you knew him first.

Tom

Tom

Retired drummer; tours with rock-solid timing, charm, and applause guaranteed.

Guest reviews

What our guests say

4.9/5 from 5,000+ reviews on Google, TripAdvisor, Airbnb and more· 63 new in the last month

Guest photo 1 from a Tally Ho review
Google · 9 Aug 2026

Absolute best way to enjoy London! It’s engaging, informative, and covers more ground than you can on foot. We have 6 and 8-year-old boys who love riding bikes, but haven’t ever been on a four-hour informational tour… Thanks to Edward, they “want to do that again every single day for a whole year!” He told stories in a way our kids could understand and opened up their curiosity for more. The route was a lovely mix of bike paths and roads through neighborhoods we never would’ve wandered otherwise. Couldn’t recommend this enough. Thank you, Edward!

Caroline H.

Google

Guest photo 1 from a Tally Ho review
TripAdvisor · 4 Mar 2026

Excellent Guide, SUPER interesting yet not a ride for a beginner cyclist! - This one was a little tough to review so I am rating based on the guide - Edward! The cycling turned out to be a little scary and difficult for a beginner cyclist with us (along side cars and people who are walking everywhere!). Edward could not have been better in handling this situation with a variety of different people present and he was so incredibly kind to the beginner cyclist. The sites we saw were outstanding, interesting and Edward was very knowledgeable, funny and thoughtful. Super call out to Edward!! Note to potential cyclists - Our tour was 2 - 6 pm on a weeknight. Around 4:00 people started flooding to the streets so we were not only navigating cars, and other cyclists, now we had people EVERYWHERE, and there are many uber eats/other delivery drivers / E-bikes sharing the biking lanes and they ride very quickly, expect us to move, and the bikes had 1 gear.

D

Deannatami

TripAdvisor

Google · 5 Apr 2026

Our day trip with Dean was honestly one of the highlights of our trip. From the moment he picked us up at our hotel, the whole day felt easy and relaxed and he immediately won over our teenagers with a stash of snacks ready for them. He made both Stonehenge and Windsor Castle so much more interesting than we ever could have experienced on our own. At Stonehenge, he walked us around, explained the history in a way that actually kept everyone engaged (not always easy with teens!), and took tons of great family photos so we didn’t have to worry about it. On the way to Windsor, he stopped at a really great pub by the Thames, which was such a nice, local touch we never would’ve found ourselves. Then at Windsor, he gave us just the right amount of background and guidance so we could explore confidently on our own without feeling rushed. The absolute highlight for our kids though was that he let them try on his real King’s Guard bearskin hat and coat from his service. They’re still talking about it and have told family and friends that the day trip was their favorite experience of our 8 day trip to London/Paris! Dean just went above and beyond all day. Super knowledgeable, thoughtful, and genuinely fun to spend time with. We’d book him again in a heartbeat.

Emily C.

Google

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Yes, bring your umbrella. There's still plenty to see and explore!

Gladly — Contact us with your hotel location, and we'll provide you with a tailored quote.

Yes. Short distances, lively stories, and snack stops nearby.

Outside St James’s Underground Station (District & Circle), street level. Your confirmation includes a pin and photo of the exact spot.

Usually — but the Army can amend or cancel at short notice. If that happens, we pivot to Horse Guards and St James’s Palace so you still get the pageantry.

Royal pageantry with stories that stick.

From £175 per group

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Flexible changes (24h)Instant confirmation
A Kings Guard in a red tunic on standing on Duty

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