Changing the Guard, at Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, The Mall, London51.501009 -0.141588

Date:

2nd June to 30th September 2013 (Every day in June/July. Odd dates only in August, and even dates in September. No ceremony on 8th and 15th June) -- 11.15 AM to 12 noon -- Arrive as early as possible to get a good place. Be aware that the event may be cancelled if there's bad weather

Cost:

Free to watch. See royalcollection.org.uk

Buses:

8 10 16 24 38 44 52 73 82 148 170 171 187 214 507 C1 C10

Trains:

Green Park JUB PCL VIC, St. James’s Park CRC DSC, Victoria CRC DSC VICNote: The best station for Buckingham Palace is St Jamess Park. We can help you get there from any train station:

Train journey to Buckingham Palace

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Strolling down the Mall to Buckingham Palace and watching the "Changing the Guard" ceremony is one of the must-do events in every tourist's stay.

There are actually two detachments of the Guard that need changing -- the one at Buckingham Palace and one at St. James's Palace, a short walk down The Mall. The St. James's Palace detachment starts first, by marching to the Palace at 11.13 AM (a few will remain behind, until they are replaced by the New Guard). They will then form up with the Buckingham Palace detachment on the forecourt. Meanwhile, the New Guard will march from Wellington Barracks in Birdcage Walk at 11.27 AM, ready for the ceremony to start at 11.30 AM. (If you want to, you can go and stand outside the iron railings of Wellington Barracks before the ceremony starts, and watch the new guard being put through their paces.)

The ceremonial change-over will then take place on Buckingham Palace forecourt, and the replacements will head towards St. James's Palace at 11.40 AM -- which then frees up the contingent that was left behind to head to Buckingham Palace at 11.55 AM. Finally, the Old Guard will leave the Palace at 12.10 and head back to Wellington Barracks, followed by the St. James's Palace detachment at 12.15. Phew! The whole event is accompanied by a military band.

If you want to bag yourself a spot right up against the Palace's railings, then we recommend getting there no later than 10 AM. If you find that it is already full, then try and get a spot on the Queen Victoria Memorial.

Be aware that the schedule is set by the British Army, and may change at short notice. The event is also heavily dependant on the weather.

[Note: You might also see some other soldiers marching down The Mall, but these are taking part in a similar ceremony at Horse Guards.]

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• “I finally got around to doing Changing the Guard this week (and last week). I had to go two weeks in a row because I messed it up the first time -- I got there too late! Changing the Guard is one of those things that all the touri…”

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