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Westminster Abbey and Changing of the Guard: Guided Tour of London's Iconic Landmarks
4.1
86 Ratings
Greater London
Experience the grandeur and history of Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard with our expert guided tour. Avoid crowds and gain valuable insight into this iconic British spectacle.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Westminster Abbey - Explore one of the world’s great churches, the site of royal coronations, and one of the most significant structures in British history in Westminster Abbey. This incredible 700-year-old building is a must-see for any visitor to London. It has welcomed Kings, Queens and statesmen, royal weddings, and state funerals. You will feel like British royalty as you enjoy a tour led by our expert local guide who will shed light on the most important and fascinating aspects of this great monument such as the Coronation Chair, the burial place of 17 British monarchs, and many of Britain’s greatest poets who lie in Poet’s Corner.
- Changing of the Guard - Your guide will lead you to the Changing of the Guards. This world-famous ceremony takes place either at Buckingham Palace or at Horse Guards Parade, depending on the day.
You’ll be in prime position to enjoy the best views at this crowded event. Enjoy commentary regarding the history and pageantry behind the ceremony. See the Queen’s Foot Guards drenched in their red tunics and unmistakable bearskin hats, march to Buckingham Palace together with the military band or the Household Cavalry. (Please be aware that the guard’s parade will not take place in the event of heavy rain).
What's Included
- Headsets provided for clear audio from your guide
- Intimate tour experience with small groups, max 20 people
- Skip-the-line access and entrance ticket included for Westminster Abbey
- Guided by an expert, English-speaking tour guide
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pick-up/drop-off
Additional Information
Retreat into history and bask in the magnificence of two of London’s most renowned landmarks with our comprehensive tour of Westminster Abbey and the Changing of the Guard. Dodge the vexation of packed observation points and missed views with our specialist tour guides, who will lead an engaging excursion through the complete ceremony, delivering crucial understanding of each aspect of this inherently British display.
- Unable to accommodate strollers and baby carriages
- Please note that Westminster Abbey is a working church and may close for special services at short notice.
- The Changing of the Guard will not operate in heavy rain and will be replaced with an extended walking tour
- Please note that the changing of the guard schedule may change and on different dates we will see either footguards or horseguards.
Location
1 The Sanctuary
The Sanctuary
Westminster Abbey & Changing of the Guard - 09:15 AM
Meet at Westminster Abbey. Look for the tall marble and stone column opposite the west entrance of Westminster Abbey. At the top is a figure of St George slaying a dragon. Your guide will be waiting with a City Wonders sign.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(86 Ratings)
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Marie_v
Jun 4, 2024
Great Tour - Excellent tour, we learned so much from Trudy, she is the best! She taught us so much about the history of Westminster and Buckingham Palace
Review provided by Viator
54aubreyf
May 10, 2024
Silk purse from sow’s ear - Unfortunately, the changing of the guard was initially cancelled for our tour. Luckily, we continued with our booking because Tim, our guide, made up for it 10 fold and then some. He spoiled us with his plethora of knowledge and took us to see so many wonderful things that made this tour an absolute highlight of our holiday. This tour also had audio assistance which made it so easy to hear Tim while navigating a busy Abbey without missing a single word. Thank you for an amazing experience! We will look forward to other offerings from this company!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mary_k
May 2, 2024
Excellent tour!! - The tour was easy to find right in front of Westminster! The tour was amazing Westminster was so cool I had no clue about all the history, we saw where many famous people were laid to rest. We saw the royal parade, went through the royal garden next to buckingham and also saw the royal horses dealing down the street.
Review provided by Viator
Kevin_b
Apr 27, 2024
Great tour - Mark was outstanding. Extremely engaging and enthusiastic with a deep knowledge of the subject. Would definitely highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Sally_m
Apr 18, 2024
Westminster Abbey - Visiting Westminster Abbey was wonderful. Our guide was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the Abbey
Review provided by Viator
Anonymous
Jan 24, 2024
Great guide and walking tour - Our Blue ribbon guide Linda was amazing and so knowledgeable. Very insightful and definitely a highlight of our short time in London. Horse guards was a bonus but walk through St James’s park with a frozen lake was definitely unexpected! Highly recommended
Review provided by Viator
Robrardin21
Jan 5, 2024
Great tour - Great and informative tour. Got to see all of the relevant events and Dave did a great job explaining everything.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fishercyndi
Jun 1, 2024
Poor experience - We had to wait over an hour to get in and our guide didn’t seem to know why we were held up. The Abbey was incredibly busy and it was very difficult to keep track of our guide and enjoy the Abbey. Highly recommend that she uses an umbrella or something that can tower over heads so we could keep track of her location. Her knowledge was average. Just not the experience we were hopping for.
Review provided by Viator
Larry_d
May 10, 2024
Terrible. - Terrible experience. This tour was apparently changed without any notification. Supposed to meet outside Westminster Abbey. No one there; again no notification. I require an immediate and full refund.
Review provided by Viator
Lawrence_c
May 10, 2024
Wrong information provided by Viator according to tour company - The tour company, CityWonder, says Viator provided the wrong meeting point information. As a result, we never met the tour guide and was not able to take the tour. I have not been able to reach Viator nor able to forward to Viator the email City Wonder sent to me that blames Viator for the incorrect information.
Review provided by Viator
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