Inside Buckingham Palace & See The Westminster Sights Tour

Buckingham Palace is the star here, but the route to it gives you a useful introduction to royal London. You’ll walk from The Ritz past Trafalgar Square, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben, then enter 19 state rooms and the royal gardens on your own with an audio guide. It is a good way to tie several major sights together in one half-day.

I like the small group format and the chance to see the Changing of the Guard on selected morning departures. Guides Will and Jason earned especially warm praise for clear, entertaining commentary, and Kerisha noted that there was enough time for photographs. The catch is that the three-hour walk may not cover every Westminster sight in equal detail, and there is no scheduled lunch stop, which matters with children.

Key details before you book

• Buckingham Palace opens only from mid-July to late September, so this is a seasonal experience.
• Changing of the Guard is included only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday 10am tours, and the ceremony can be cancelled in extreme weather.
• The walking tour lasts three hours, followed by about two hours inside the palace and gardens.
• Your guide does not accompany you through the palace, so the indoor visit uses a multilingual audio guide.
• The $101 price includes palace admission, the gardens, the Queen Victoria exhibition, and the guided Westminster walk.
• Bring comfortable shoes, water, snacks, and an umbrella, since this is a long outdoor morning or afternoon in central London.

Why Buckingham Palace makes this five-hour outing worthwhile

Many London tours give you an outside look at Buckingham Palace and move on. This one lets you go inside, which changes the feel of the visit. You pass through 19 state rooms filled with royal furniture and works from the Royal Collection, then continue into the palace gardens and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.

The timing is important. Buckingham Palace is not open to the public all year, with visitor access limited to roughly mid-July through late September. If your London trip falls in that window, this tour offers a practical way to secure the palace visit while also seeing Westminster on foot.

At $101 per person, the price is not cheap, but it covers a palace entry ticket, the gardens, the exhibition, a three-hour guided walk, and a small-group guide. You are paying for access and structure as much as for transportation, since no hotel pickup, drop-off, lunch, or tube fare is included.

I would compare it with the cost of booking palace entry and a separate walking tour. The value is strongest if you want both experiences in one block of time and prefer having someone explain the streets and monuments as you go. It is less attractive if you only want a quick palace visit or dislike walking for several hours.

Meeting at The Ritz and starting in Green Park

The meeting point is outside The Ritz London at 150 Piccadilly. Look for two red telephone boxes and two souvenir stands underneath one of the Ritz signs. From Green Park Underground station, use the left-hand exit, then follow the stairs or ramp toward the hotel.

This is a central and recognizable starting point, but give yourself time to find the exact spot. The Ritz frontage has several signs and entrances, and the meeting instructions are more precise than simply saying to meet at Green Park.

The guide begins with a three-hour Westminster walk before sending you into Buckingham Palace. That order works well because the palace visit is largely self-guided indoors, while the streets benefit most from a live guide who can point out buildings and explain what you are seeing.

The group is described as small, though no exact maximum size is provided. That usually makes it easier to hear the guide and ask questions than on a large coach tour. Guides Will and Jason were singled out for being entertaining and well informed, while another booking with Will included enough time for photographs. Those details matter because a fast-moving city walk can otherwise feel like a march between photo stops.

Trafalgar Square and the first royal views

Buckingham Palace appears early as a photo stop and guided sightseeing point, then returns as the main destination later. This gives you a first look at the palace before the walking route takes you through Westminster.

You continue toward Trafalgar Square, where the tour allows about 20 minutes. It is a useful place to get your bearings in central London, with broad views and a strong sense of the city’s ceremonial side. You should expect an introduction and time for pictures rather than a long visit to every feature of the square.

The split between short stops and longer walks is worth understanding. This is not a series of extended museum visits. You are moving through an important part of London, with the guide adding context at each stop and leaving you to take photographs along the way.

Horse Guards Parade and Downing Street

Horse Guards Parade gets another 20-minute stop. The setting connects royal ceremony, military tradition, and the formal heart of government. Your guide handles the sightseeing and explanation, while you have time to look around and take pictures.

Next comes 10 Downing Street, the official residence and office of the British Prime Minister. The tour is focused on seeing the location rather than entering it. This is a good example of how the experience works: you visit a large number of major places, but most are viewed from public areas.

For some people, this is exactly the right balance. You can see the key sites without spending a full day inside one building. If you want lengthy visits to each attraction, though, five hours will feel compressed.

Parliament Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey

Parliament Square receives the longest outdoor portion of the route, about 40 minutes. This is where the tour brings together several of the sights most associated with London: the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and nearby streets of government.

The route also includes the London Eye in the Westminster sightseeing section, though the supplied schedule does not give it a separate stop. You should expect to see it as part of the wider route rather than enter it.

Westminster Abbey is included as guided sightseeing, not as an interior admission. That distinction is important. You will see the famous church and hear about it from your guide, but the included palace ticket does not cover entry to the abbey.

This part of the walk is likely to be the most rewarding for a first visit to London because so many familiar views come together. It is also where the schedule may feel tight. One booking described the Westminster portion as good but not fully inclusive of every sight in the area. I would treat the walk as an overview, not a complete Westminster tour.

Seeing the Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is one of the main reasons to choose the 10am departure. It takes place only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and the British Army controls the schedule. Extreme weather can cancel it, so no tour can guarantee the ceremony.

If this matters to you, check both the day of the week and the departure time before paying. A different start time may still include the Westminster walk and palace visit but not the guard ceremony.

Crowds and viewing conditions are not detailed, so you should keep your expectations sensible. The tour gives you a planned chance to witness the event, but the ceremony remains a public military occasion rather than a private performance arranged for the group.

The guide’s role is especially useful here. A local guide can help you reach an appropriate viewing area and explain what is happening, while also keeping the group moving when the schedule requires it.

Entering the 19 state rooms

After the outdoor walk, your guide takes you to Buckingham Palace. The guide does not go inside with you, so the palace portion changes from a live walking tour to a self-guided visit using the included multilingual audio guide.

Inside, you can visit 19 state rooms. These formal rooms contain royal furniture and art from the Royal Collection, giving you a close look at the public side of palace life. The audio guide lets you set your own pace, which is useful after several hours on the streets.

Some people prefer this arrangement because you can pause for a detail that catches your eye instead of staying with a group. Others may miss having a guide explain the rooms in person. It is worth knowing the difference before booking: the live guide provides the Westminster commentary, while the palace information comes through the audio guide.

The palace visit lasts about two hours in the schedule, including the gardens. That is enough time for a meaningful visit, but you will want to keep an eye on the clock if you stop often for photographs or listen to every audio segment.

The royal gardens and Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition

The palace ticket includes access to the royal gardens, which adds space and variety after the formal interiors. You can move from decorated state rooms into an outdoor setting and see a different side of the palace grounds.

The ticket also includes the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. This gives the visit a specific historical focus rather than leaving you with rooms and gardens alone. The supplied details do not specify the exhibition layout or length, so plan to use the audio guide and allow time for whatever sections interest you most.

The gardens are one of the best reasons to allow the full two hours. If you only rush through the state rooms, you miss part of what the ticket covers. Keep your shoes practical, since the full experience includes a long walk before the palace and continued walking within the visit.

Pace, food, weather, and accessibility

Five hours is a substantial block of time. The walk alone takes about three hours, and there is no planned lunch break. One booking specifically noted that a break would have helped, especially for families with children.

Bring something small to eat and drink. Food and drinks are not included, and the instructions directly recommend bringing snacks and something to sip. You should also carry an umbrella. London weather can change, and much of the experience takes place outdoors.

Comfortable shoes are essential. The route links Green Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, Downing Street, Parliament Square, Westminster Abbey, and the palace interior and gardens. Even if each stop is manageable, the total distance adds up.

The experience is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you need detailed information about the exact route or palace arrangements, confirm those particulars when booking, since the supplied details do not describe the access arrangements at each stop.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this for a first-time London visitor who wants a guided introduction to Westminster and has a trip scheduled during the palace opening season. It is also a good fit if you want famous sights, royal ceremony, and palace interiors in one half-day rather than arranging separate bookings.

Families can make it work, but plan carefully. Children may enjoy Big Ben, the guard ceremony, and the palace rooms, yet three hours of walking without a built-in meal stop can test patience. Pack snacks and choose comfortable footwear.

It also suits visitors who like a mix of live explanation and independent exploring. The guide handles the streets, while the audio guide lets you set your own pace inside the palace.

I would look elsewhere if you want a slow Westminster Abbey visit, a full interior tour of Parliament, a long lunch, or a tour guide inside Buckingham Palace. Those are not part of this experience.

Cancellation and booking points to keep in mind

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now-and-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately, which is useful when your London plans are still moving around.

The palace season is short, and the Changing of the Guard runs only on selected days. Check both details before choosing your date. The tour is offered in English with a live guide, while the palace audio guide is multilingual.

Should you book this Buckingham Palace tour?

Book it if you want a well-organized combination of royal London and Westminster landmarks, especially during a mid-July to late-September visit. The strongest points are the palace admission, garden access, small group, practical route, and guides such as Will and Jason, whose commentary was described as entertaining and clear.

Skip it if you want every Westminster attraction covered in depth or need a proper meal break built into the schedule. At $101, the value depends on using both halves of the experience: the guided three-hour walk and the roughly two-hour palace visit. For a first London trip, that combination makes the price reasonable, provided you are ready for a long walk and an outdoor start.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts five hours. The Westminster walking portion takes about three hours, followed by about two hours at Buckingham Palace, including the state rooms, gardens, and exhibition.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is outside The Ritz London at 150 Piccadilly, W1J 9BR. Look for two red telephone boxes and two souvenir stands underneath one of the Ritz signs.

How do I reach the meeting point by tube?

Use Green Park Underground station and take the left-hand exit. Follow the stairs or ramp out of the station and walk toward The Ritz Hotel.

Is the Changing of the Guard included every day?

No. It is included on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday tours starting at 10am. The ceremony is controlled by the British Army and may be cancelled during extreme weather.

Does the guide enter Buckingham Palace with the group?

No. The guide takes you to Buckingham Palace after the walking tour but does not accompany you inside. You explore the palace with the included multilingual audio guide.

What does the Buckingham Palace ticket include?

The ticket includes entry to 19 state rooms, access to the royal gardens, and the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition.

Is food included?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. You are advised to bring food and something to drink because there is no scheduled lunch break.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. The available details do not describe access arrangements at each individual stop.