Castle Tours in London: The 13 Worth a Whole Day

1.Buckingham Palace: The State Rooms Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7,395 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $44Our pick

Enter Buckingham Palace through the State Rooms Visitor Entrance and explore its grand public rooms at your own pace. Your ticket includes a multimedia guide in nine languages, with paintings by Rembrandt and Rubens, Canova sculptures, Sèvres porcelain, royal furniture, and access to the Garden Café and palace gardens. Allow up to 2.5 hours.

“So cool to see them and also good not taking photos and being in the moment listening to the commentary. Very interesting. Walking in the steps of so much history.”

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2.Buckingham Palace & Changing of the Guard Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 2,971 reviews · 2 hours · from $26

Walk from Green Park to Westminster with a live English or French guide, passing St. James’s Palace, Clarence House, Lancaster House, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, and Westminster Abbey. The tour includes the daily Horse Guards ceremony and, on selected days, the Foot Guards in red tunics and bearskin hats. Guides such as Joanne, Chris, Angie, Jude, and Tim are praised for lively stories and smart viewing spots.

“Christopher was fantastic as a guide. He was super informative, witty, and was able to make sure we got a glimpse of King Charles arrival to Buckingham Palace. Would highly recommending this your tour to anyone who likes history and a walking tour that gets you around the area.”

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3.Buckingham Palace Entry & Changing of the Guard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 2,221 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $97

Begin at the Duke of York Column, follow a guide through the Changing of the Guard ceremony, then enter Buckingham Palace for the State Rooms and Royal Collection. Guides such as Aaron, Sophie, Joseph, and Katarina are praised for clear stories and good viewing spots. The palace portion uses official audio commentary.

“Our guide was absolutely amazing!!!! Knowledgeable and so entertaining!!! Palace was amazing!”

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4.Buckingham Palace: The Royal Mews Entrance Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 1,759 reviews · from $22

Visit Buckingham Palace’s working Royal Mews for a self-paced look at royal coaches, horses, and transport. See the Gold State Coach, Diamond Jubilee State Coach, Australian State Coach, and Irish State Coach, plus Windsor Greys when available. Your ticket includes a multimedia guide in nine languages and is best suited to a 1 to 2 hour visit.

“Loved seeing the Royal carriages. So much history up close. Definitely worth seeing and wasn’t crowded the day we went.”

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5.Buckingham Palace Entrance Ticket & Changing of the Guard Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,720 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $98

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Duke of York Column, walk through St James’s Park, watch a scheduled Guard ceremony when possible, then explore Buckingham Palace’s State Rooms at your own pace with an audio guide. Guides such as Louise, Aaron, Carla, and Marilyn add strong historical context.

“The changing of the guard the guide took us was not what most want to see, he took us to where the mounted guards start from. Then he just went another way instead of the front of the palace to see the change. It was a very expensive useless tour. You should just stand there on your own and buy tickets to enter since the guide does not enter with you anyway!”

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6.Changing of the Guard Tour by Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 1,655 reviews · 90 minutes - 4 hours · from $18Best value

Follow an English-speaking guide from the Duke of York Monument through the Changing of the Guard, moving between useful viewing points instead of waiting at Buckingham Palace. Personal headsets keep the commentary clear. Guides such as Angie, Louise, Natalie, and Ian add royal stories, humor, and practical crowd advice.

“Natalie was great! Told lots of stories in both a funny and informational way which made the tours very enjoyable!”

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7.London’s Palaces & Parliament Tour (See Over 20+ London Top Sights)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,609 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $30Top rated

See London’s royal and political landmarks on a three-hour walk from The Ritz to Westminster Station. Guides such as Ash, Mark, Tanya, Chris, and Christopher mix history with humor while covering Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Downing Street, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and the London Eye. The 10 AM route may include the Changing of the Guard on select days.

“Intriguing stories, funny, comfortable with stops for refreshments every hour with guide Connor Simkins”

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8.Buckingham Palace Entry Ticket & Royal Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,010 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $93

Meet your English-speaking guide at the Duke of York Column for a short walk past The Mall, St. James’s Park, St. James’s Palace, and Clarence House. Then enter Buckingham Palace with a timed ticket, explore the State Apartments with the official audio guide, and finish in the garden. Guides such as Natalie, Lee, Michael, and Aaron are praised for lively storytelling.

“Except from a bit caotic registration process at the meeting point, the overall value and experience of the tour was great. Highly recommended to everyone interested in the past and present of British monarchy.”

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9.Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey & Big Ben Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 949 reviews · 5 hours · from $91

Meet at The Ritz London for a guided walk through Green Park, Pall Mall, Westminster, and Trafalgar Square. You’ll see Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, Horse Guards Parade, and Downing Street, then enter Westminster Abbey with a pre-booked ticket. Guides such as Will, Ash, Chris, and Ari are known for lively stories and sharp local tips.

“We enjoyed learning interesting facts that weren’t well known. We wish we had gotten a closer look at Buckingham palace.”

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10.Changing of the Guard Guided Tour at Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 941 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $19

Meet at the Duke of York Column for a 90-minute English walking tour through St. James’s. Your guide uses headsets and moves the group between viewing points for the Changing of the Guard, explaining royal customs, horses, uniforms, and local history. The walk ends outside Buckingham Palace. Optional upgrades add the Royal Mews and King’s Gallery.

“We have used Viatour many times in many different countries and have always found the tours to be excellent. However, we are extremely disappointed with the tour we undertook this morning to watch the changing of the guard while in London. Our guide was nice enough and did share historical information along the way, he was very slow moving which meant that we never actually saw any part of the ceremony. Additionally, the tour description noted that we would have a preferred viewing area which was absolutely not the case. By the time we arrived at Buckingham Palace after missing views at the two other locations we were so far…”

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11.The Kensington Palace Gardens Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 934 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $158

Meet your guide at Queensway Station for a gentle history walk through Kensington Gardens, past the Italian Gardens, Round Pond, Diana memorial, and royal landmarks. Guides such as Doug and Paul add humor and detail before you sit down for sandwiches, scones, cakes, and tea at the Orangery. Palace entry costs extra.

“We had a wonderful tour and tea with Doug at Kensington Gardens! Doug was so kind, friendly and knowledgeable sharing so much interesting information about the gardens and London.”

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12.Changing of the Guard Walking Tour in London at Buckingham Palace

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 919 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $19

Follow a guide from Victoria Palace Theatre through royal London to watch the Changing of the Guard from several well-chosen positions. Learn the story behind the ceremony, see Buckingham Palace, St James’s Palace, Clarence House, The Mall, and St James’s Park, then finish at Horse Guards Parade. Guides include Rachel, Mike, Matt, Connor, and Betsy.

“Great tour. Well done. Your guide very knowledgeable and helpful. My kids enjoyed it. Great viewing location”

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13.Kensington Palace Gardens Tour with Royal High Tea

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 325 reviews · from $160

Meet your English-speaking guide at Queensway Station for a gentle but substantial walk through Kensington Palace Gardens. Hear stories about Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Princess Diana, Prince William, and Prince Harry, then settle into the Orangery for tea, sandwiches, scones, and cakes. Palace entry and sparkling wine depend on the option you choose.

“Lively tour and nice explanation about the garden. Also, very nice garden. High tea was decent, but not superb:very noisy restaurant, scones were wonderful, tea was good, cakes were mediocre and I guess I dont care much for brittish tea sandwiches in general. The guide was funny and very Brittish ( in a good way:)). Entrance to the Palave was not included, I went there afterwards (would recommend). I was a lone traveller, it was me and a very friendly American family of 3.. I have enjoyed my afternoon! I would have like to hear even more stories about the garden and the palace though!Read more”

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