The Changing of the Guard: when and where to watch

The Changing of the Guard is one of London’s great free spectacles. Soldiers in red tunics and tall bearskin caps march to Buckingham Palace with a military band, and the old guard hands over to the new. It is also one of the most crowded events in the city, so a little planning makes a big difference.

What happens

The soldiers who guard Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace are known as the King’s Guard. At the ceremony, properly called Guard Mounting, the new guard marches from Wellington Barracks on Birdcage Walk to the palace forecourt, led by a band. The old and new guards meet, the keys are symbolically handed over, sentries are changed, and the band plays a mix of military marches and, sometimes, pop tunes. The whole ceremony takes about 45 minutes.

When it takes place

The ceremony at Buckingham Palace usually begins at 11:00. It takes place on several days a week for most of the year, and more often in summer, but the schedule changes and the ceremony can be cancelled in very wet weather or for state events. Always check the official schedule, published by the Household Division and the Royal Family website, a day or two before you go.

Where to stand

• The palace railings: the best view of the handover in the forecourt. Arrive by 10:15, or earlier in summer, for a place at the front.
• The Victoria Memorial: the steps of the monument in front of the palace give a raised view over the crowd, but they fill up fast.
• Birdcage Walk and Spur Road: see the new guard and the band march past at close range, with fewer people.
• The Mall: watch the St James’s Palace detachment march to and from the ceremony.

The Household Cavalry at Horse Guards

A second guard change takes place at Horse Guards, on Whitehall, a ten-minute walk from Westminster Station. Here, mounted troopers of the Household Cavalry change the King’s Life Guard, usually at 11:00 from Monday to Saturday and at 10:00 on Sundays. It is quicker and less crowded than the palace ceremony, and you can watch the mounted sentries on Whitehall all day.

Tips

• Mind your belongings: pickpockets work the crowds.
• Bring children early: small children see little from the back of the crowd, so arrive early and find a spot at the front.
• Follow the police: roads around the palace close during the ceremony, and officers move the crowd when the guards march through.
• Make a morning of it: combine the ceremony with Westminster Abbey and St James’s Park on our one-day Westminster itinerary.
• Want to see inside? In summer, the Buckingham Palace State Rooms are open to visitors.