Changing of the Guard Tours London
If you only have one choice and you want to see the ceremony rather than the crowd, stand at the Queen Victoria Memorial. It is raised, it faces the Palace forecourt, and the guards march past it in both directions.
Each of these shows you a different part of the ceremony. None of them shows you all of it, which is the thing no schedule tells you.
The Victoria Memorial offers an elevated view of Buckingham Palace and, while it gets crowded, it’s less packed than the palace gates. Aim to arrive by 10am in summer or 10.30am in winter.
Facing the Palace, you’ll see the marching bands and guards as they go to and from Buckingham Palace, plus glimpses of the Cavalry at 10.45am and 11.35am.
The catch? You’re some distance from the action, so you’ll miss the close-up views of the guards and won’t see either the beginning or end of the ceremony, or experience the pure joy of marching alongside the band.
This is where most people go, and most leave disappointed having seen the least. Its densely packed, and to get a place at the palace railings you should arrive by 9am in the summer, 9.45am in the winter. If you arrive after 10am be prepared to watch events through someone else’s phone.
The Old Guard don’t arrive until 10.50am. If you arrived early and you are at the front of the crowd by the gates, you won’t see the guards as they’ll be coming from the Mall. Once they enter the courtyard they will wait for the New Guard, who will arrive at 11am. The courtyard is large so even if you are by the railings you will struggle to see everything. The Old Guard and New Guard face each other for 30 minutes, the band plays a few pop tunes, then they all leave.
Having seen the ceremony from all the various locations listed here, this is categorically the worst way to see the ceremony.
The Mall is underrated. Stand here and you see the guards and the band march past at close range, and you can walk alongside the parade as it heads towards the Palace. That movement and music is the best part of the ceremony, and most visitors miss it entirely.
Guards usually march along the Mall at around 10.45am, then again at around 11.30am. You will also see the Household Cavalry passing on their way to their own smaller ceremony at Horse Guards.
The New Guard assembles in the Wellington Barracks courtyard from around 10.45am, marches out at about 10.57am and returns at around 11.30am. If you would rather stay in one place than move with the ceremony, this is a good spot. You see the guards form up and the band prepare, which is the part that happens entirely out of sight of the Palace railings.
Most people don’t realise that the ceremony starts and ends at St James Palace, not Buckingham Palace. Arrive by 10.30am to see the inspection of the Old Guard and to enjoy the Band play a warm-up tune. The regimental colour (ceremonial flag) is lodged at St James Palace, and when this is introduced, the guards are ready to march.
A separate group of guards – the New Guard – will arrive at St James Palace with the band at 11.40am to conclude the ceremony.
The ceremony is not one event in one place. The guards move between St James’s Palace, Wellington Barracks and Buckingham Palace, and a visitor who walks with them sees three movements rather than one.
The full sequence, with what happens at each site and when, is on the main Changing of the Guard page. The practical point is that the ceremony rewards moving with it. Guards march along the Mall at around 10.45am and again at around 11.30am, so a visitor willing to walk sees the Old Guard leave, the march, and at least two sets of guards, rather than one slice of it through a crowd. Judging when to move on the day is the part that is hard to do from a page, because the guards do not always run to the minute.
If you arrive at Buckingham Palace at 10.55am and the crowds are already three deep, your best bet is to either find a position along The Mall, head to Wellington Barracks or to St James’s Palace then wait for the guards to pass.
You’ll have missed the Old Guard marching from St James’s Palace to Buckingham Palace, and, depending on where you’re coming from, you’ll likely miss the New Guard marching from Wellington Barracks at 10.57am.
For great photos, try Spur Road, between Buckingham Palace and Wellington Barracks; the north side of The Mall (Green Park side); or St James’s Palace on Marlborough Road.
The Old Guard and band march along Spur Road shortly after 11.30am, while the New Guard and band are on The Mall by 11.40am, arriving at St James’s Palace at 11.45am.
Alternatively, head to Horse Guards Parade for the wonderful Change of the Lifeguard, between 11 and 11.30am—a much easier spot to secure late.
If you’re with a small child, keeping them moving is the best way to ensure they have fun. Our Changing the Guard tour is designed to follow the guards from place to place, keeping even the youngest children interested.
Doing it independently? Find a position on the south side of The Mall, beside St James’s Park, at 10.30am. Once the guards have marched past, scoot through the park to the excellent playground beside Birdcage Walk.
Want to see more guards? Head back to The Mall via the coffee stand and toilets no later than 11.30am to see the Household Cavalry and New Guard march past.
Crucially – stay away from the crowds near Buckingham Palace until the ceremony is over.
Reduced mobility requires more planning and realistic expectations. Avoid the crowds around Buckingham Palace and Victoria Memorial, as well as the narrow, busy pathways between Wellington Barracks and the palace. Instead, remain by The Mall until the crowds disperse.
Foot Guards and the Band march along The Mall twice during the ceremony—around 10.40am and 11.40am—with the Household Cavalry also going past at similar times. Stay in the same spot and you’re guaranteed plenty of action. We recommend the south side of The Mall, near St James’s Park, for easy access to refreshments and public conveniences.
Once the ceremony ends, head to Buckingham Palace for that all-important Bucket List photo.
If the rain is heavy, or the forecast is for rain, the British Army may curtail the ceremony. On those days there is a ‘Wet Change’: the soldiers wear light overcoats and march without the ceremonial band, they protect the regimental Colour, and guard movements vary. Sometimes the full ceremony goes ahead in the rain anyway. The decision is usually made at the very last minute.
Because the call comes so late, the schedule is worth checking on the morning itself rather than the night before. The Household Division publishes the authoritative schedule.
Everything above is free to do on your own. What a guide adds is knowing which position suits the day you are there, and moving you between them at the right moment rather than committing you to one spot at ten o’clock.
Our Changing the Guard walking tour · what time the ceremony starts · all Changing of the Guard tours and answers
