London Sightseeing Tour: Guard Change with Tower of London Option
Description
See the best that England’s capital has to offer on a full-day city tour of London! Explore St Paul’s Cathedral with a guide, then make a photo stop at Westminster Abbey. Watch the must-see Changing of the Guard ceremony outside Buckingham Palace and have some free time for lunch around the UNESCO-listed Tower of London. Finish up with a sightseeing cruise down the River Thames. If you want to see even more, upgrade to one of two activities: a cream tea at Harrods restaurant or a London Eye flight.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Begin your London adventure with a scenic coach ride through the City of London, seeing iconic streets, historic landmarks, and famous squares
Step inside this famous London landmark with its breathtaking dome and rich history (Admission included)
Admire the stunning Gothic architecture of Westminster Abbey, where Prince William and Princess Kate were married, and snap photos of the iconic Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
Watch the traditional Changing of the Guard, a display of British pageantry. Guards from the Household Division, in scarlet tunics and bearskin caps, perform a precise handover accompanied by a regimental marching band. These iconic soldiers are elite members of the British military (Selected dates)
Explore the historic Tower of London, meet the Yeoman Warders, and view the Crown Jewels. Pass by the iconic Tower Bridge. (Admission included with full-day option)
Relax on a scenic cruise along the River Thames, taking in sights like Shakespeare’s Globe, The Shard, and London’s skyline. (Admission included with full-day option)
Enjoy spectacular panoramic views from Europe’s tallest observation wheel, the London Eye, overlooking the Thames and London landmarks. (Admission included with full-day upgrade option)
Finish your day with a quintessentially English cream tea at world-famous Harrods, complete with sparkling wine. (Admission included with full-day option)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- St. Paul’s Cathedral: Sunday tours cannot include a guided tour due to weekly services. Entry is usually possible but cannot be guaranteed.
- Changing of the Guard: Takes place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and daily from May to July. Schedule may change last minute or be canceled during large city events. If the ceremony does not occur, we still stop for a photo outside or near the Palace.
- Tour Schedule: Itinerary may change depending on St. Paul’s and Tower of London opening times and the Changing of the Guard schedule.
- Tour Duration: Approximately 8 hours for the full-day tour and 4 hours for the half-day morning tour (ends at Buckingham Palace).
- London Eye: Generally closed in January for annual maintenance. 2027 closure dates to be confirmed.
- Children: Travelers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Travellers who select the London Eye upgrade will have a short walk from Westminster Pier to the Eye after the cruise.
Reviews(2,710)
Did this tour with a friend during a short stay in London, it was a great way to see lots of sites in just a day!
Great day, Anna was entertaining and full of so much knowledge. We both loved this tour and highly recommend it. The Cream Tea add on was definately worth it as well!
The only reason I gave this a poor rating was at the time I booked I specifically said it MUST include the changing of the guard. The live agent doubled checked & said it definitely would be !!! I still questioned it because I thought it never occurred on weekends . He said it does only in summer months. So I went ahead & booked. I was VERY disappointed it did not! And was told it never does. I felt mislead. Plus I had to upgrade to full day excursion to fill in time. Other than the booking error we did enjoy the guided bus trip, St.Paul’s cathedral, Tower of London& the cruise. Our guide Carol was excellent. Very knowledgeable & entertaining. Richard our driver did a great job driving in the chaos.
You either get the Harrods or the Seine cruise but both even though your voucher states you participate in both. Very misleading. Also due to the extreme heat many of the activities either closed early or didn't operate
Wonderful experience seeing London with a very fun and knowledgeable tour guide. Would recommend this experience.
It was perfect. We visited exactly what we wanted to see. And the timing was perfect. A lot to do on your own.
Had Peter as a guide and he was very knowledgeable and a great guide. Very enjoyable day. Highly recommend it
This is a fun packed day meeting early in the morning and canvassing across London . We finished the day with a ride on the London eye . Our guide Peter was phenomenal. He was so well versed on the history of each location . His approach to teach and engage us was wonderful. He truly knows his stuff . He made us forgot about the heat , yet still encouraged opportunities to get water to stay hydrated during the heat wave London was experiencing.
Great excursion. St Paul’s cathedral , changing of the guard and Tower of London were fantastic. Our tour guide Peter was very informative and funny. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Great tour, we are amazed at how much we saw it just one day. We could spend several days inside the Tower of London,so much history.
