Insider Guide
Changing of the Guard Route: The Complete Self-Guided Tour
Six timed stops. Exact positions. A numbered Google Maps route that follows the ceremony from the first inspection to the final handover, built on years of guiding this exact morning.
Most visitors see almost nothing
The Changing of the Guard is free to watch. It is also one of the most frustrating mornings in London if you stand in the wrong place.
Most visitors head straight to the gates of Buckingham Palace and wait. By the time the ceremony begins, they are ten rows back behind a wall of phone screens, pressed against railings, watching the tops of bearskin hats move across a forecourt they cannot see into. Two hours for that.
Here is what they miss: the ceremony covers five locations, not one. Two processions. A regimental band at close range. The King's Life Guard on horseback. And a final handover in open street where there are no barriers and nothing between you and the soldiers.
The palace gates are the worst seat in the house. The rest of the morning is the show.
A route that follows the ceremony, not the crowds
This guide gives you the complete changing of the guard route: six stops across a gentle 1km walk, each with an exact arrival time, the precise spot to stand, and a photo tip for that moment.
You start where the ceremony actually starts, nearly an hour before the crowds at the palace see anything. You move when the soldiers move. Google Maps links carry you from stop to stop, so you follow it on your phone in real time while the morning unfolds around you.
Two of the six stops are places 99% of visitors never find. One of them is the best free moment in London, and there is almost nobody there. We are not going to tell you where they are on this page. That is what you are unlocking.
The six stops, the timings, and the two spots nobody finds.
Unlock all six stops · £6.95What's inside
- All five public ceremonies in London at a glance, including the quieter ones most visitors never hear about, so the guide works whichever day you visit
- The six-stop self-guided route with exact timings from 10:20am to the final handover, where to stand at every stop, and photo tips throughout
- Two viewing spots that almost no visitor finds, including the only place in London where nothing stands between you and the soldiers
- A field guide to all seven regiments, with a simple trick to identify which one is on duty in seconds
- The full history behind the pageantry, from a Tudor king's bodyguard in 1485 to the ceremony in front of you
- A bonus plan to turn the morning into a full royal London day, including a little-known 4pm ceremony where the courtyard is nearly empty
- What to do if the ceremony is cancelled, and the daily alternative that almost never is
A look inside the guide
An interactive map, a field guide to every regiment, and six timed stops — all on your phone, no app to install.
How it works
- 1Unlock the guide. Pay £6.95 once through our secure checkout. No account, no login.
- 2Open it instantly. You are taken straight to your guide, and a copy of the access link lands in your email.
- 3Follow it on the morning. The guide opens in your browser, works on any phone, and keeps working offline once opened. Signal around the Palace is patchy. This is built for it.
Why £6.95
Guided Changing of the Guard tours cost £18 to £20 per person, run at fixed times, and move at the pace of the slowest person in the group.
This guide gives you the same insider knowledge for a third of the price. No group. No fixed start time. Go on the day that suits you, at your own pace, and keep the guide for every future visit. One-time payment, lifetime access.
Not useful? Full refund.
If the guide does not make your morning better, email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full. No questions, no forms. We have watched this ceremony hundreds of times and we are confident you will see more than the people standing at the gates ever do.
What people say
“I was trying to figure out where to go to see changing of the guards on my trip to London, and I stumbled upon an article that was written by London Insiders which prompt me to buy the guide, and it did not disappoint! It is well written, and easy to follow where you have to be, I felt like I saw so much more than anyone else there. Thank you so much again for putting this together!”
Alisha Collier
Frequently asked questions
What is the changing of the guard route?
The Changing of the Guard covers five locations across central London, starting nearly an hour before anything happens at the Buckingham Palace gates. The ceremony begins with an inspection at St James's Palace, moves through The Mall, Wellington Barracks and Buckingham Palace, and finishes with a final handover in open street. This guide turns that full route into a six-stop self-guided tour with exact timings and a Google Maps link for every stop. For a free overview of the best viewing spots and ceremony times, see our Changing of the Guard London guide: Changing of the Guard London: Best Viewing Spots & Times.
How do I access the guide after paying?
Instantly. Checkout takes under a minute, then you are redirected straight to your guide and sent an email with your permanent access link. It opens in your browser on any phone, tablet or laptop.
Does the guide work on my phone without signal?
Yes. Once opened, the guide works offline, which matters because mobile signal around Buckingham Palace is unreliable on busy mornings. Open it before you set off and it will not let you down mid-route.
What if the ceremony is cancelled on the day?
The guide shows you how to check the official schedule in ten seconds before you leave. It also covers a daily mounted ceremony nearby that almost never cancels, so your morning is not wasted.
Is the Changing of the Guard free to watch?
Yes, every ceremony is free. What you are paying for is knowing where to be and when, so you see the whole thing instead of the back of someone's phone. The route took years of guiding to refine.
Do you have tips for watching the Changing of the Guard?
The guide is full of them: which days are quietest, when to arrive, where the photographs are best, and how to identify the regiment on duty at a glance. Every stop includes a photo tip for that exact moment.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the guide is not useful, email us within 30 days of purchase for a full refund, no questions asked.
See more than 99% of visitors ever do
£6.95 · one-time payment · lifetime access · 30-day money-back guarantee
Seeing the ceremony in person? Our free Westminster & Royal London walking tour starts nearby →