When the guard really changes at Buckingham Palace this fall and winter, where to stand for the marches, what happens in the rain, and which walking tours are worth booking.
Changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace (the "Changing of the Guard" to most visitors) is free, theatrical and, if you stand in the wrong place, mostly a view of other people's phones. Getting it right comes down to three things: the right day, the right spot, and a backup plan for rain.
The 2026 schedule: which days the guard changes
It isn't daily. The Household Division, which runs the ceremony, publishes a calendar, and for November 2026 it shows:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am: the full Guard Change at Buckingham Palace.
- Sunday at 10am: the Sunday Parade, when the Colour (a ceremonial flag) is incorporated into the inspection of the guard. Note the earlier start.
- Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 3pm: a Captain's Inspection only. No guard change at the palace.
The calendar showed no palace ceremony on Sunday, November 8, which is Remembrance Sunday. Dates can change, so check the Household Division calendar the day before.
What happens in the rain
The Household Division says ceremonies can be altered or cancelled at very short notice, especially in wet weather, and the decision can come as late as 10:45am on the day. One tour operator describes the wet-weather version as a shortened ceremony without music. Several of the walking tours below run in all weather, so you'll usually still see soldiers on the move, just with less pageantry.
The timeline on a guard-change day
From the Household Division's published troop movements for an 11am ceremony:
- From 10am: soldiers gather at St James's Palace and Wellington Barracks.
- 10:43am: the Old Guard leaves St James's Palace for Buckingham Palace.
- 10:57am: the New Guard marches out of Wellington Barracks.
- 11am: the ceremony begins in front of the palace and lasts about 45 minutes.
- 11:40am: the Old Guard marches away from Buckingham Palace.
The handover in the forecourt is only part of the show. The marches before and after are where you get close to the soldiers and the band.
Best viewing spots
The palace railings. The only place to see the handover inside the forecourt. The Household Division's advice is to arrive early, and once you're in place you're hemmed in for the duration. Worth it only if the forecourt itself is your priority.
The Victoria Memorial. The steps of the monument in front of the palace give a raised view of the columns arriving and leaving. Popular, so it fills up too.
The Mall and St James's Palace. The best place to watch the Old Guard and band march, with room to walk alongside. This is where most guided tours spend their time.
Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk. Watch the New Guard form up and march out just before 11am, with far fewer people around.
Wherever you stand, keep bags zipped: the Household Division warns that pickpockets work the crowds.
Is a guided tour worth it?
For this sight, yes, and the tours are cheap. The ceremony is spread across several locations, and a guide's job is to get you to the moving parts at the right moment rather than three rows back at the railings. Most tours deliberately skip the forecourt.
- Most reviewed: Fun London Tours Ltd, with 1,905 reviews, from $27. It starts at Piccadilly Circus and includes a chance to march alongside the guards; expect three flights of steps.
- Highest rated: Fantastic Walks, rated 4.99, a historian-led walk designed with a former Guardsman, from $39.
- Cheapest: See The Sights Tours, from $19. It covers the Old Guard, New Guard, Household Cavalry and band and ends at Horse Guards Parade, but involves about 3 miles of walking and isn't suitable for strollers.
Book for a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Some tours, like Top Sights Tours Group LLC's Westminster walk, only include the ceremony on their 10am departures on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, so read the listing before you pick a date.
Horse Guards Parade: the calmer alternative
The King's Life Guard, the mounted Household Cavalry on Whitehall, changes at Horse Guards Parade at 11am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, according to the Household Division. On weekends the duty officer inspects the guard there at 11am, and there's a dismounted inspection at 4pm every day. It's a good fallback if the palace crowds are too much, and a handy 4pm option if you missed the morning.
Windsor on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
On the days the palace has no guard change, the Windsor Castle Guard changes instead: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 11am, per the Household Division. If you're planning a day out of town anyway, see our Windsor Castle day trips.
Build it into a Westminster day
On a Monday, Wednesday or Friday, do the guard change in the morning, have lunch, then visit Westminster Abbey in the early afternoon; weekday last entry is around 3:30pm, and the Abbey is closed to sightseers on Sundays. With only one day in London, The Tour Guy's full-day tour folds the guard change, the Abbey, a Thames boat and the Tower into one itinerary.
For the rest of the area, see our Westminster tours guide. If the Tower is next on your list, read how to see the Crown Jewels without the queue and compare Tower of London tours.
