Changing of the Guard: A Self-Guided Audio Tour – London, United Kingdom

EXPERIENCE:

The changing of the guard ceremony in London is known around the world for its precision and spectacle. Most visitors view the event from Buckingham Palace, but on this walking tour with Context Travel and London-based scholar and royal expert, Sean Moran, you‘ll experience it from three less common vantage points. For the best experience, we recommend starting the tour at 10:15am so you can synchronize your walk with the ceremonial movements.

Starting outside St. James‘ Park, you‘ll see the iconic guards in their bright red jackets and black bearskin helmets, supported by their regimental bands which provide a tuneful backdrop to your walk. As you witness the ceremony, you’ll learn to identify the different guards, by looking at the feathers in their caps and the buttons on their jackets. You‘ll also walk in the footsteps of Charles I on his way to being executed, and see a statue of the famous French General, Charles De Gaulle, in the very square where he set up his government while in exile during World War II. The tour ends with a visit to the Household Cavalry where you‘ll be able to get up close to the guards and their stunning black horses. You’ll also find out what the requirements are for a horse to join the cavalry!

Along the way, you‘ll:

• Hear about the centuries of history that unfolded in the heart of London
• View the movements of the royal guards up close
• Learn to spot and decipher differences between the uniforms
• Find out the best times to view the emblematic ceremony
• Stand on the Mall, where the world comes to get a grandstand view of royal events like weddings, coronations, and funerals
• Listen to the stories behind the George VI, Duke of York and National Police memorials
• Take in the impressive Buckingham Palace and St James‘s Palace

By the end of this hour-long tour, you‘ll have witnessed the Changing of the Guard from a different perspective, and gained a new appreciation for the ceremony.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Find out the best times to view the emblematic ceremony up close
Hear from the producer, one of Context Travel’s local expert tour guides
Do it all in 75 minutes or linger at stops along the way
Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it
Use the virtual tour option at home

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