Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour
Overview
Experience London’s royal heritage and pageantry on a 2.5-hour experience that combines a visit to Buckingham Palace with the Changing of the Guard. Enjoy the colorful spectacle of the Changing of the Guard ceremony, and then enter the magnificent palace with a tour host for an independent audio tour of the State Rooms, an experience only available for two months of the year. Admire the lavish rooms that are used by the royals for State and ceremonial events, as you discover the palace’s history from the audio guide.
Please note: Buckingham Palace is only open to the public for approx. eight weeks each year. Tickets sell out fast, so book now to avoid disappointment
What's Included
- Free time to explore Buckingham Palace at your own pace
- Changing of the Guard viewing: Foot Guards (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) or Horse Guards (Tue/Thu/Sat)
- Pre-reserved entry to Buckingham Palace State Rooms (open July – September only)
- Audio headsets when required for clear commentary
- Insider commentary on royal history and traditions
- Official Buckingham Palace self-guided audio guide available in 9 languages
- Expert English-speaking guide for the walking tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Meeting Location
St. James's
London SW1Y 5AJ, UK
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
Spur Road
London SW1A 1AA, UK
Inside Buckingham Palace
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free
Duke Of York Column (pass by)
The Mall (pass by)
King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Memorial (pass by)
St. James's Park
20 minutes Admission Ticket Free
St. James's Palace (pass by)
Clarence House (pass by)
Lancaster House (pass by)
Changing of the Guard
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Wellington Barracks (pass by)
Buckingham Palace
1 hour Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- On occasional Sundays may be rescheduled to early morning, this will then be replaced with an extended walking tour.
- The 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 instead
- There is no Changing of the Foot Guards on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday so you'll be provided with a Walking Tour of Westminster City. You may be able to see the Changing of the Horse Guards at Horse Guards parade but that's not guaranteed.
- On Sundays, a slightly different version of the ceremony takes place, known as the "Sunday Parade".
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour?
Cancellation Policy
Still have questions?
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Activity code: C-6295LOBPCGEAM
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.37 out of 5 stars based on 1,919 traveler reviews collected by City Balloon Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Balloon Tours customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (GMT).
- Free time to explore Buckingham Palace at your own pace.
- Changing of the Guard viewing: Foot Guards (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) or Horse Guards (Tue/Thu/Sat).
- Pre-reserved entry to Buckingham Palace State Rooms (open July – September only).
- Audio headsets when required for clear commentary.
- Insider commentary on royal history and traditions.
- Official Buckingham Palace self-guided audio guide available in 9 languages.
- Expert English-speaking guide for the walking tour.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- Gratuities.
There is no minimum age for this tour, so bring your wee one along for an adventure. This tour requires at least one adult to accompany children..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour is as follows:
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Balloon Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- Free time to explore Buckingham Palace at your own pace
- Changing of the Guard viewing: Foot Guards (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun) or Horse Guards (Tue/Thu/Sat)
- Pre-reserved entry to Buckingham Palace State Rooms (open July – September only)
- Audio headsets when required for clear commentary
- Insider commentary on royal history and traditions
- Official Buckingham Palace self-guided audio guide available in 9 languages
- Expert English-speaking guide for the walking tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- On occasional Sundays may be rescheduled to early morning, this will then be replaced with an extended walking tour.
- The 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 instead
- There is no Changing of the Foot Guards on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday so you'll be provided with a Walking Tour of Westminster City. You may be able to see the Changing of the Horse Guards at Horse Guards parade but that's not guaranteed.
- On Sundays, a slightly different version of the ceremony takes place, known as the "Sunday Parade".
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
