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Marching Down The Mall: Changing of the Guard with a Historian

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Most people watch the Changing of the Guard from behind a railing. On this walk you move with it: alongside the King's Guards and the ceremonial band as they come down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, close enough to hear the drill and the music rather than glimpse them.

The tour is led by a historian and was designed with a former Guardsman, which shows in where you stand and when.

It starts in Trafalgar Square, which has a direct link to the origins of the ceremony, and takes in the point that marks the centre of London, why Nelson matters, and what became of the cannons captured from the French.

St James's Palace follows, where the Guards come off duty, so you see the other side of the handover. Wellington Barracks is where the whole thing begins and ends, and the walk is there for the new Guard coming on duty.

It finishes outside Clarence House, the home of the King and Queen, a couple of minutes from Buckingham Palace, with a last sight of the Guards and the band, and usually the Horse Guards as well.

From there, Green Park and St James's Park stations are a short walk, or about 15 minutes on foot to Trafalgar Square or Parliament Square. You can also stay for photographs at the palace gates, or walk back to Trafalgar Square with the guide.

Meet ten minutes before the start. Your guide holds a red Fantastic Walks flag and wears a Fantastic Walks rucksack. If you are late, head along The Mall to Friary Court, St James's Palace.

What's included

  • Expert local guide
  • Prime viewing spots

Itinerary

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  1. Trafalgar Sq, London

    Your guide will be holding a red Fantastic Walks flag and wearing a Fantastic Walks rucksack. Be at the meeting point ten minutes before the scheduled start time. If you are late, head along The Mall to Friary Court, St James's Palace.

  2. Trafalgar Square

    The walk starts in Trafalgar Square, the historic centre of London. It is easy to find and it has a direct link to the origins of the Changing of the Guard. While you are there you will see the point that marks the very centre of the city, hear why Lord Horatio Nelson counts among Britain's great heroes, learn what was done with the cannons captured from the defeated French, and find out why it may be worth patting the paw of one of the lions.

  3. St. James's Palace

    This palace rivals Buckingham Palace and is worth seeing in its own right. It is also where the Guards come off duty, which gives you the other side of the ceremony. Centuries of history, scandal and intrigue attach to it, and not every tour bothers to include it.

  4. Buckingham Palace

    The high point of the walk is moving alongside the King's Guards and their ceremonial band as they come down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. Little else gets you this close: the military music, the precision drill at short range, and angles most visitors never realise are available.

  5. Wellington Barracks

    This immense Georgian barracks is where the Changing of the Guard begins and ends, and the walk is here to see the new Guard come on duty.

  6. Clarence House

    The walk concludes outside Clarence House, the home of the King and Queen, a couple of minutes from Buckingham Palace. It is a last chance to see the Guards and the ceremonial band, and the Horse Guards are usually about as well. From here it is a short walk to Green Park or St James's Park stations, or around 15 minutes on foot to Trafalgar Square or Parliament Square.

  7. London

    The walk finishes at Buckingham Palace. From there it is a short walk back to Trafalgar Square, and Green Park and St James's Park tube stations are both very close.

Not included

  • Gratuities/tips

Good to know

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
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  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
  • Unfortunately, this tour is not suitable for those using a motorized cart.
  • Up to 30 travelers per booking.
  • Mobile or paper ticket accepted
  • Guiding available in: en.

Meeting point

  • Your guide will be holding a red Fantastic Walks flag and wearing a Fantastic Walks rucksack. Please be at the meeting point ten minutes before the scheduled start time. If you're late, head along The Mall to Friary Court, St James's Palace. Look for a guide with a red flag.

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