| ranked #5 out of 10 attractions | rated 2.09 out of 5 | total 223 votes |
Changing of the Guard
Why Changing of the Guard is one of the worst London tourist attractions
This London tourist attraction is entertaining for people who like dudes in red jackets and black fur hats marching around with outstretched legs in front of Buckingham Palace. The funniest thing is that they are not
allowed to smile or react to the things people do in front of them – huge fun!
The actual changing of the guard is quite boring. If you want a good view, be early, because you won’t be the only tourist who wants to watch the changing of the guard. But be aware – you will wait much longer in front of the railing than watching the real action.
And if you’re really unlucky, you might get a dose of bad London weather in the bargain! We recommend this London tourist attraction for people with patience.
Address
Buckingham Palace,
London SW1A 1AA
Opening times/Cost
The Changing takes place at 11.30am daily during the summer (May, June, July) and on alternate days in winter (August to April).
No entrance fee.
Related links
Read more about Changing of the Guard
Changing of the Guard – a royal ceremony
January 25, 2005 @ 6:11 pm
Markus said,
My god, they make a fuss about that! A little platoon of ridiculously dressed soldiers (you know the kind with a dead wombat as a hat) marches in, accompanied by a full marching band. They do mysterious things for like an hour (including checking their little guard huts for explosives and hiding suicide bombers) and after that, the guard has changed. What a spectacle! Roads are closed for this, and no matter what weather, it attracts 1000s of camera-wielding tourists. The masses will make sure you don’t get to see much at all. Much ado about nothing, I say!
January 30, 2005 @ 5:11 pm
Denise said,
I was disappointed with the changing of the guard. We got there “early” but evidently, it wasn’t early enough and I couldn’t really see anything, except for the fluffy black hats.
May 20, 2005 @ 8:54 am
Denise said,
I recently visited London and waited 1.5 hours for the change. I had a front rail spot and thought this was a wonderful ceremony. It’s not every day in America that you can actually stand in front of a royal palace and watch such a performance of history. It’s not the most exciting thing I’ve ever seen, but I stood in amazement that I was standing in front of Buckingham Palace amongst all these soldiers that were performing such an honorable duty. I video taped the entire production and while much of the time the soldiers weren’t doing anything, the marching, the bagpipes, the music, the uniforms all made up for the lack of movement. I definitely think it’s a must see.
June 4, 2005 @ 11:25 pm
Ian Hodge said,
The Pageantry and the precision of the Guards were outstanding, but the music of the band throughout the ceremony was just to die for.
August 13, 2005 @ 11:55 pm
Pete said,
Denise – Next time may I suggest you take a chair with you to stand on then.
October 27, 2005 @ 11:17 pm
Matt said,
The changing of the guard is NOT a tourist attraction. It’s a military procedure that has been performed for generations and is not performed so a few tourists have some pictures to take home.
For those of you who have no heritage in your own country, you should watch & learn.
November 10, 2005 @ 7:46 pm
hanna said,
i love london!
January 28, 2006 @ 3:01 pm
Sylvain said,
I say that who ever doesn’t appreciate the changing of the guard is disrespectful towards his queen and her majesty the queen. You do not even deserve to witness it.
March 7, 2006 @ 10:51 am
Melissa said,
It’s great if you’re into that. Just don’t go in January. Standing outside in the cold, damp weather for 2 hours isn’t the most fun.
March 8, 2006 @ 5:25 pm
M said,
Thanks for your website. I am a little confused and would love u to explain things better.
I will be visiting london with my family and wanted to visit palace as well watch the changing of the guards. do we have to pay to watch? i see websites advertising and paying as much as 30 British Pounds sounds crazy.
Do we have to pay or may we just watch. what is the difference, if any between paying and not paying per benefits.
May 20, 2006 @ 6:40 am
rosey said,
Hey just wanted to say I have never been in London and this is one of the main thing I want to see ! I will be in London on friday and I am so excited.
July 29, 2006 @ 5:52 am
Andy said,
I think the best thing for you to do is just stay at home. You don’t seem to like anything. I’m really glad I don’t know you.
August 11, 2006 @ 10:49 am
Ellen said,
To all those using these reviews as a London tourist guide, ignore it! This guy is a total numbskull with no sense of history or heritage. London is a city of historic and cultural sites. The “attractions” to which the author refers are not built specifically for tourists. They heve stood for hundreds of years and it is the historic events surrounding them which provide the fscination. This guy has absolutely no idea what he was looking at and clearly demonsrates his ignorance to those who know some of the history.
August 15, 2006 @ 2:57 pm
jordan said,
i love london
August 15, 2006 @ 3:01 pm
JORDAN said,
SUCK….STAND UNTIL LEG PAIN….JUST waited 1.5 hours for the change…I THINK U MUST BRING UR OWN CHAIR THERE….
March 1, 2007 @ 3:56 am
Guides said,
This is great, look forward to looking into every area. Thanks for being there.
August 25, 2007 @ 11:57 am
CARMEN said,
Yes it is a long wait. Daughter and I went we had a rail spot so close you could almost touch them as they passed,(but dont as this will get you arrested). If you like to people watch this is the place to be, afterwards some of the people walk into St. James park which was very nice even in March
April 2, 2010 @ 5:04 am
Esmé said,
“dudes in red jackets and black fur hats”? That is desrespectful to the whole of England and to the Queen herself. I LOVED the Changing of the Guard. It made me proud to be British.
July 31, 2011 @ 6:38 am
Acorn said,
It is amazing what nonsense a moron can produce on the internet.
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