Complete Westminster Abbey tour:
Coronations, guard changes, and the stories between
Destination
London, UK
Duration
3 hours
Tour size
Max 20
Language
English
Overview
Westminster Abbey has hosted every coronation since 1066. This Westminster Abbey tour puts you front and center for the Changing of the Guard, then takes you inside the Abbey with a Blue Badge guide.
- •Walk alongside the guards as they leave St. James's Palace, then watch the mounted Horse Guard arrive in full armor
- •Stand at the Coronation Chair where every British monarch since Edward I has been crowned
- •Trace the tombs of queens, poets, and prime ministers through the Abbey's Gothic nave with a Blue Badge guide
- •Hear why the bearskins are that tall, what the commands mean, and which regiment is marching, all narrated live through your headset
- •Skip the queue at Westminster Abbey and head straight inside, spending your time on history rather than waiting
What's included
- Skip-the-queue access to Westminster Abbey
- Blue Badge guide
- Headset
You will visit
- Parliament Square
- Big Ben (view)
- The Mall
- St. James's Palace
- Changing of the Guard ceremony
- Horse Guards Parade
- Westminster Abbey
- The Coronation Chair
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What to expect
Parliament Square: standing in the center of British power
Your guide meets you beneath the statues of Churchill and Mandela in Parliament Square, with Big Ben rising directly overhead. This single stretch of pavement sits between the Houses of Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Abbey, and your guide will tell you why that matters before you take a single step.
The Mall: soldiers, not performers
You'll walk to The Mall to watch the guards prepare for their march from St. James's Palace. Your guide will explain what you're seeing as it happens: these are serving soldiers carrying out a genuine duty, and every detail of the uniform, from the bearskin to the tunic buttons, marks their regiment and rank. You'll march alongside them to Buckingham Palace, then your guide positions you for the clearest possible view of the full ceremony. Please note: The Changing of the Guard does not take place every day and can be canceled at short notice due to weather or royal obligations. On days when the ceremony is not scheduled, you'll see the King's Life Guard Change at Horse Guards Parade instead. Your guide adapts the route accordingly.
"Everyone heads for the Coronation Chair. But Elizabeth I's tomb, just feet from her sister Mary's, that's the moment the Abbey comes alive."
Katie,
WalksDevour Blue Badge London guide
"I've watched the Guard Change hundreds of times. I still listen for the horses rounding the corner. You hear them before you see them."
James,
WalksDevour Blue Badge London guide
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Frequently asked questions
Our guides love answering your questions. Here are some things they’d like you to know before you arrive.
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