Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard
The monarch's London residence; free Changing the Guard ceremony, paid summer State Rooms.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling with kids and you are traveling as a couple.
Why
- 01
Changing the Guard is free, ceremonial and very British — but you'll stand in a big crowd straining to see over heads, and it doesn't run daily.
Our read - 02
The State Rooms (gilded, grand) only open ~10 weeks in summer and cost a fair bit.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to London
A free box-tick of royal ceremony, best combined with a stroll through St James's Park.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard works.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard works.
History and culture matter to you
For history & culture, Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard delivers.
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, weigh it — Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard isn't cheap for what it is.
You only have one day
Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You are traveling solo
Solo, it depends on the day.
You care about the visual experience
For beauty & photography, Buckingham Palace & Changing the Guard is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- Free (State Rooms ~£32, summer only)
- Timing
- Arrive about 45 minutes before the ceremony; check the official schedule as days vary.
- Booking
- Free to watch the guard; summer State Rooms are separately ticketed and should be booked ahead.
- Allow
- 1 hr (ceremony)
- Getting there
- Green Park, St James's Park or Victoria Tube, all a short walk.
Consider instead
Sources and method (3)
- State Rooms open to ticketed visitors 9 July–27 September 2026; adult tickets £33 and must be pre-booked. rct.uk ↗
- Changing the Guard is free with no booking, typically Mon/Wed/Fri at 11:00 (schedule varies and can be cancelled at short notice). householddivision.org.uk ↗
- royal.uk ↗