Changing of the Guard & Royal London: A 4-Hour Historic Journey
4 hours
City Highlight Tours
London
Choose one of 7 locals available
Experience hosted by Sophie, Kemal & other locals
Private Tour
Carbon Neutral
Step into the world of kings, queens, and royal tradition on this immersive 4-hour walking tour through Royal London. Witness the iconic Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace and uncover the stories behind this centuries-old spectacle. From the elegance of St. James’s Park to the grandeur of The Mall and the royal history of Whitehall, your local host brings London’s majestic legacy to life with insider stories and fascinating details.
Destination
London, England
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
4 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, العربية, Türkçe, Français
Included
Private guide
1 Local snack or drink
All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral
6 reasons to book this tour
Can be 100% customized to your wishes
Get to truly embrace the culture of the city
Learn about Royal London
Connect with a knowledgeable local
Hear fascinating stories and insights
Discover cultural highlights & their local relevance
What you can expect
London is full of royal tradition and hidden history, and on this private tour, your local host will take you on a journey through the heart of Royal London.
With their rich storytelling and carefully selected stops, you’ll fully immerse yourself in London’s royal culture and dive into the world of kings, queens, ceremonies, and power. Discover how royal traditions, pageantry, and politics have helped shape London’s identity—from centuries past to today. After all, it’s the legacy and legends that make this city truly majestic!
One of the unforgettable highlights of this tour is witnessing the world-famous Changing of the Guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace—a symbol of royal ritual and precision. Your host will ensure you’re in the perfect spot to enjoy the pageantry while sharing its fascinating history and hidden meanings. It’s a must-see moment that brings centuries of tradition vividly to life.
As you explore the city's royal essence—its rituals, beliefs, stories, and ceremonies—you’ll see London from a new perspective. Take your experience to the next level and follow your local host through St. James’s Park, The Mall and Admiralty Arch, Horse Guards Parade, and Whitehall with Banqueting House. With each step, you’ll see how the grandeur of royalty blends seamlessly into the rhythm of everyday London life.
Your host is a natural storyteller, with a background in everything from history and politics to art and folklore. They’re excited to share royal anecdotes, little-known facts, and personal insights along the way. Want to personalize your route? Just ask—your host will be happy to tailor the experience so their London becomes your London.
Choose your local
Get to know these 7 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.
Sophie
The Friendly Raconteur
5.021 reviews
English
Kemal
The Photo Journalist
5.036 reviews
العربية・English・Türkçe
umar
Live Large in London!
5.07 reviews
English
Naomi
The Friendly Local
5.01 review
English・Français
Anthony
The Londoner
4.9237 reviews
English
Chris
The London Historian
4.9120 reviews
English
Tom
The Storyteller
4.9295 reviews
English
This is the plan
Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.
Meeting point
Meet at By the Canada Gate at Green Park - London to start your journey
Itinerary
This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.
Culture of the City
On this private tour, you’ll experience and discover London through its culture. Whether it’s focused on a tradition, a special part of town with a story to tell, cultural beliefs, or around a cultural activity that shaped the city into what it is - this tour will be a cultural awakening you can’t miss!
Guards & Royals in London
Your tour will focus on Royal London, a very important cultural subject in London. Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how made an impact in London, making you experience the city from a different perspective.
Cultural Highlights
As you deep dive into the subject of your tour, you’ll make stops to visit unique spots that will give you a full picture of the city. Visit St. James’s Park, The Mall, Admiralty Arch & Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall & Banqueting House, and more and see how these cultural highlights are part of the local life but have so much history behind them!
Storytelling Journey
As you discover the cultural side of London, you’ll be able to embrace it thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are reliving history in the present time.
Make it yours
Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.
Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.
Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.
Flexible cancellation policy
Feel confident booking
Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.
Change of plans?
Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.
Loved by travelers worldwide
Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.
Reviews from guests
Nick🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 July 2025
Our group of four (two couples) spent half a day touring London with Anthony and he was fantastic! Enthusiastic, funny, caring and extremely knowledgeable about all things London. He showed us the "touristy" sites we wanted to see and also many hidden gems that made our day super special. When we travel back to London, Anthony is our guide. :) Note, Anthony is a foodie and if you want to find the best fish and chips or fine dining he has the answers.Anthony is Amazing!
Nadine
(About local )
11 September 2025
We booked a four-hour tour with Tom for our us and our two children (aged 14 and 11). It was simply excellent! The time flew by and we had a fantastic time with him. Highly recommended!Unique experience with Tom!
Rob
(About local )
9 September 2025
Tom had great historical knowledge and recall of many sites of interest including the architect. He was also helpful in navigating the Tube strike for places we needed to go.Knowledgeable & Helpful
ingo.toelle🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
9 September 2025
What a wonderful experience! The tour with Naomi was spectacular. Her warm and friendly manner captivated us from the very beginning. She showed us London from a very personal perspective, and we saw so many places and heard so many stories we couldn't have lived in ourselves. She personalized the tour to our needs and we felt so welcome. Ideal for travelers who want to experience London intensively in the shortest possible time! Great experience and highly recommended!
Michael🇱🇺 Luxembourg
(About local )
9 September 2025
We went on a tour with Chris and we simply loved it! He showed us Shoreditch, Spitalfields, and also the City of London square mile. Chris is a real storyteller. He knows so much about the history of London and how to present it to his audience. You hang on his every word. He can adapt his tour easily to the needs and wishes of the group. Very flexible. We had an absolute fun time with him. Highly recommendable!Shoreditch tour with Chris
Sue & Bob🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 September 2025
Anthony was a great guide with knowledge and enthusiasm. We tried some excellent food and learned about the history of London. Time well spent!Great experience
Marc🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
8 September 2025
We had an absolutely fantastic experience touring London with Tom, The London Storyteller! In just a few short hours, he managed to weave together so much history, culture, and fun bringing the city’s stories to life while also making sure we saw so many of the iconic sites.
Tom’s knowledge is incredible, but what really stood out was how he made everything engaging and easy to follow. From the Tower of London and HMS Belfast to Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and even a stop at Borough Market, every moment felt special.
If you want to see London in a way that’s both informative and personal, we can’t recommend Tom enough. He gave us a day we’ll always remember, and we left with not only great photos but a much deeper appreciation for this amazing city.
London in 4 hours! Yes!
Naomi
(About local )
7 September 2025
Kemal took my friends and I on fabulous tour today to celebrate a special birthday - it was so interesting and his local knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and genuine love of the Brick Lane area meant that we learnt a lot and had a wonderful time. It was a perfect way to celebrate a birthday!A fabulous birthday walking tour!
Claudia
(About local )
6 September 2025
Sophie was a wonderful guide for our first day in London. She was friendly, energetic,
and very knowledgeable. We walked all over London and were able to choose places we wanted to return to by ourselves on our second day. We appreciated her flexibility with our starting time. Thank you Sophie for a fabulous tour!Great Overview of London
Ilene🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 September 2025
We had a great walking and hidden gems tour with Anthony. He showed us many places we would have missed. He had many stories to tell which made the tour very enjoyable. We highly recommend Anthony asa tour guideGreat tour of London
Michelle🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
2 September 2025
We loved our tour with Anthony. Plenty of laughs, lots of sights and information. Anthony has lived in London his entire life so his knowledge was fantastic. Had a great time. Thanks Anthony Anthony is your guide!
Jenna🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 August 2025
Chris gave us a wonderful tour of some of London's highlights! We loved it, and our 8 year old described Chris as "the best tour guide yet!" because of how he explained things for him to understand. Chris was reachable and flexible when our travel delays necessitated slight deviation in start time and location. We were so grateful for his time and expertise, it was a fantastic way to start our time in London!Fantastic!
Ilana🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
27 August 2025
Anthony is very knowledgeable about the history of the area and has many fun facts about all the nooks and crannies. He is very friendly and flexible in terms of making sure the tour meets your expectations. Overall it was a very enjoyable and interesting morning.Tour of East London
Tonya🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
26 August 2025
We had a great walking tour in London with Tom. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the city’s history really enjoyable. Highly recommend!Great walking tour with Tom
marc
(About local )
26 August 2025
Wir hatten eine sehr schöne und informative Führung mit Chris. Chris hat uns unter anderem auch den römischen Einfluß auf London aufgezeigt. So haben wir Dinge gesehen, auf die wir sonst nicht gestoßen wären. Die Zeit verging wie im Fluge. Wir würden jederzeit wieder eine Führung bei Chris buchenTolle Führung
Roman🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
26 August 2025
Chris was very personable and knowledgeable. He customized the tour perfectly to match our interests.Knowledgeable Local
Tiffani🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
24 August 2025
Our tour with Anthony was outstanding! He was prompt, engaging, and shared fascinating insights and little-known stories not found in history books. Anthony gave us a choice of touring traditional sights or a more local experience, we chose the latter and it did not disappoint! He showed us hidden gems only a true local would know. His food recommendations were spot-on, and it was clear he was familiar and respected in the neighborhood. All three generations on our trip found the tour enjoyable and Anthony a pleasure. We’ve taken many tours and Anthony was one of the best guides we’ve ever had!Top-Notch Local Experience
Lauren🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 August 2025
This was our 1st private tour and we certainly picked the right guide! Anthony was knowledgeable, friendly and funny. We will definitely be booking with him again when we return to London and will definitely recommend him to friends. Thank you Anthony for a great day! Anthony was fantastic!
carlos🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
18 August 2025
Chris was fantastic! Lot of insightful tidbits of the city's history and landmarks during an almost 6 mile trek around the heart of London. Just what we where looking for and that will help us dive deeper exploring London on the remaining days of our trip. I would highly reccomend Chris if you want to learn about London. Great introduction to London
Megan
(About local )
15 August 2025
Voyumar was a fantastic guide! He is very knowledgeable and we learned so much on our guided tour today. He has a warm personality and made everyone feel welcome and included. I would highly recommend this tour, Uma has great energy.Warm and friendly guide makes for a fantastic experience!
Oksana
(About local )
13 August 2025
Our family had a wonderful day exploring London with Tom. He not only shared fascinating stories about famous landmarks like Westminster Abbey but also led us to hidden gems we’d never have found ourselves. His warmth, humor, and deep knowledge made the day fly by, and he tailored everything perfectly to our interests. Thanks to Tom, we experienced the real London and made memories we’ll treasure.Fantastic London Tour with Tom
Cindy
(About local )
9 August 2025
We had originally booked another guide but due to personal reasons, he had to transfer this booking to Kemal who flew especially from Istanbul to accommodate us! Kemal was very knowledgeable regarding all of London's history and works as a professional photographer to boot so we had amazing photos!! We managed to see Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, a traditional English pub, St. James royal park, .... all within 3 hours!!! Kemal is a definite guide we will recommend to friends!!!London in a nutshell
Seric
(About local )
9 August 2025
Phenomenal tour of the royal grounds around St. James. Umar was such a nice man with an amazing personality. So many random people along the tour stopped him and gave him so much grief claiming to be a part of the tour and he handled it all with such grace and resilience. Honestly, he’s an inspiration on how to handle insufferable, entitled people. I felt terrible for him to be dealing with that while he’s just trying to work. All in all, amazing experience. Umar was very informative. He has such a good sense of humor, and was an absolute pleasure to meet and be toured around by.
Best guide ever
Hendrik🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
7 August 2025
Our tour with Anthony was awesome! His enthusiasm and knowledge about London is amazing. We have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Loved how he could tell us all these little unknown facts and alleged rumours about different parts or buildings. Good combination of big tourist sites and hidden gems.Highlight of our trip - tour with Anthony
Dina
(About local )
3 August 2025
Tom was so knowledgeable about London distort. Before going to the Churchill War Rooms, Tom suggested going on a historical walking tour in the Westminster area so we’d have a more context before going in to the War Rooms. It was so helpful to have that background. Tom also had extensive pop culture knowledge, and answered so many of our questions. Definitely recommend a tour with him! Tom was great!
Larry🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
3 August 2025
Chris was extremely pleasant and knowledgeable. He showed us many hidden sight and out of the way gems. We’d never know this side of London otherwise.
He was great and it was a perfect way to get acquainted with this wonderful city.Super knowledgable
Andrew🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
1 August 2025
Anthony was interesting, engaging, and a wealth of knowledge - full of detailed stories about the lesser known history of London. We originally booked a ‘top attractions’ tour - Westminster, etc. However when we met he gave us an alternative option to go to a lesser known but deeply historical area - and we were so glad we chose the alternative! We walked around an area of the city that we never would’ve gone to and learned some fascinating history about some key lesser known sites. We also had two kids in tow- ages 9 and 7 - and Anthony consistently made efforts to keep them engaged with interesting - plus dash of morbidity - tales, which they loved. Overall I would highly recommend him, and the next time we go back we will definitely be booking a food tour with him as he also had a deep knowledge of all the great spots in the area (boroughs market was a highlight).Facinating and lesser known London sites
Ryan
(About local )
1 August 2025
Our tour with Anthony was superb. He is a wonderful, knowledgeable storyteller and took us to some amazing places in London. Awesome Anthony
veronique
(About local )
28 July 2025
Wij zijn met Anthony op stap geweest met ons gezin. Hij heeft duidelijk enorm veel ervaring en kan perfect inspelen op de behoeften van de klant. Ook stelt hij geregeld voor om een groepsfoto te nemen op de juiste en fotogenieke plekken. Een aanrader ! Top wandeling op maat in London!
Steven
(About local )
26 July 2025
Full of knowledge of the history and the aria. Took us to all the hole in the wall bars that we enjoyed very much.Fantastic guide
Bonnie
(About local )
22 July 2025
I truly appreciate how patient she was with all four of us. She guided us with breeze and knowledge of London! And tolerated all my kids! We had a great afternoon with Sophie!Sophie was fantastic!
Alexis🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 July 2025
We had a fabulous half day tour with Tom. He is incredibly knowledgeable, pleasant and accommodating to our interests. 1/2 Day London Tour
Shana
(About local )
21 July 2025
Amazing time. Voyumar was super engaging and witty. One of the best tours I have been on and highly recommend for all ages!
Amazing time
Codi🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
19 July 2025
We enjoyed our time with Anthony from the start until he left us at Trafalgar Square. The kids say our time with him and learning so much about London in such a short time was one of their favorite experiences of the trip. He gave us food tips, train tips, and safety tips to make our trip more enjoyable. Also, he has great stories! Bonus: he’s a super nice guy. Highly recommend booking with Anthony.London Must-Do
Peter 🇩🇰 Denmark
(About local )
19 July 2025
We had a great private tour of 4 hours with Anthony who clear not only knows every little corner of London but also loves the city and its little qwerky stories
We did both the classic sites with a bit of light digestable history lessons but also some of the lesser known local pearls
Me, wife and teenage son all really enjoyed it.
We would warmly recommend Anthony when you are in London Great Local Londoner
Deana
(About local )
18 July 2025
Anthony was an outstanding guide to his city. The day for uniquely built for us and our interests. I will do more trips with him on my next visit to London. Fun and engaging day!
Colin🇳🇿 New Zealand
(About local )
16 July 2025
We booked Kemal when we were home in New Zealand, having reviewed other reviews about Kemal and having checked out his photography online and in instagram.
This man is so modest about his accomplishments- everything online is understated. He has a great ability to engage with locals in Turkey in such a warm and genuine manner- people seem to do anything for him, allow him places and are happy for him/us to photograph them, showing their story and humanity. He has travelled to and knows so many countries- it’s not for nothing he was a staff photographer ( and executive editor) for National Geographic for many years. I don’t think we could ask him anything about Istanbul and the surrounding area ( we did two of his tours) which he didn’t know. He organised a car, and made recommendations for meals/ drinks (which were spot on- and we had as part of the tours). Not only that, he is very flexible to fit in with exactly what you want- just guiding, or going to places specifically for photographic opportunities.
He met us at our hotel- really takes away any hassle- and you really do get to see a lot more than if left to your own devices. He also has a “voice map” guided out of the Galata area of Istanbul- we didn’t know about that- suggest checking it out. We weren’t sure if Kemal was the same person as “Kemal Nuraydin” in instagram- he is. He is the same Kemal in “Terra Photos tours” ( website and instagram) as well. Also, to remove any potential confusion, he actually lives in London, doing the same work there, but has friends and family in Istanbul, so is always happy to fly over to do your guiding or tour. Sounds like we are advertising him, which we are- only because we think he is so good at what he does. Thanks Kemal! Colin Brown and Ruth Bijl , Auckland, New ZealandTHE BEST GUIDE and PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
Danielle
(About local )
16 July 2025
We had so much fun with Anthony. He knows London inside and out, and felt like an instant friend. He has a keen sense of humor, moves along at just the right pace, and shares fascinating stories and information. Anthony was so good at communicating, and helping design a four to show us the area of London we were interested in. We saw the Parliamentary areas together. Also, he nailed his food recommendations! We loved the pub, and he gave us some solid choices for our next day out to Borough Market. Anthony is Wonderful! An instant friend!
Clotilde
(About local )
14 July 2025
Thank you Anthony for being such an amazing, funny, interesting guide.
We had a wonderful time with Anthony who took us from Shoreditch to the Tower of London. Anthony knows London and its history very well, he goes out of the crowded paths to show you less touristy but very interesting corners. He is passionate about being a great guide and making sure that everyone is having a fantastic time.Anthony is an amazing guide!!!!!
Nick🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
14 July 2025
We spent a great few hours with Chris discovering parts of London we didn't know existed. His historical knowledge was fascinating but he also tuned the tour to our interests by showing us multiple places to eat, markets and generally places of interest. He was easy company and had many interesting stories to tell. We have already discussed returning for a tour of another part of London.History of London
Jon🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
12 July 2025
Chris was a wonderful guide. He was very energetic, knowledgeable and great with our kids (girls, ages 8 and 9). We did the walking tour the day we arrived, middle afternoon. This was a great way to get some exercise after a long flight and we couldn’t check-in yet anyway. Chris is a great guide and host - highly recommended!!Great way to start a London trip!
Barbara🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 July 2025
I can’t properly express how amazing our experience was. Anthony guided us on a 3 hour tour of amazing sites. I booked this tour because I knew I’d be overwhelmed by all that we wanted to see and do in London. This tour gave us a great taste of some of the most historical sites. Anthony’s knowledge of London and its history is so very impressive. I’m not a history buff, but he may have turned me into 1!Fell in love with London
Cindy🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 July 2025
Our walking tour with Sophie was great! She is very kind and patient with my kids, and also was very knowledgeable and animated about London. I would highly recommend Sophie !Wonderful tour
Taina🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
2 July 2025
My husband and I had a private Borough market tour with Anthony. The meeting spot was easy to locate. Anthony is really friendly and made us feel comfortable commenting and asking questions. I feel we sampled some of the best that the market offered. Anthony made the perfect high quality choices and we truly loved everything we ate. Along the way we got a bit of history which brought the area to life. We saw and ate many things in London, but the tour with Anthony was my favorite! I highly recommend this tour for everyone visiting. IMO it’s best to do it at the beginning of a trip. Thank you, Anthony, for a wonderful experience!A Delicious-Filling-Interesting-FUN Tour
Alina🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
1 July 2025
Our family of four (with two teenagers - 19 and 14) spent three unforgettable hours with Tom during our first visit to London. Tom is an incredible storyteller and allows you to get to know London in an engaging and relatable way. He introduced us to key landmarks like Tower Bridge, House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, and helped us orient ourselves on our first day in the city, so we could go back to some of his recommended spots. He also suggested a great pub circa 1663 near the area we stayed in and it was fantastic! Great food and ambience. Tom’s comment about London truly stuck with us - “London might not be the most beautiful city, but it’s definitely the most honest - as it’s not afraid to show the good, the bad and the ugly.” That really resonated - it’s truly such an eclectic city full of contrasts. Thank you Tom for helping make our first trip here so memorable! If you’re considering booking a tour with Tom - just do it and you’ll be glad you did!Highlight of our visit
Adrienne🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
26 June 2025
Sophie was energetic and enthusiastic! She kept our group entertained with great stories, insight, and knowledgeGreat walking tour
Gary
(About local )
26 June 2025
Fun and facts
Very informative and fun guide. Lots of fun. Very quick to find alternatives to see when things didn't go to plan, like the guards.Fun facts
Helene🇩🇰 Denmark
(About local )
25 June 2025
Despite the fact that 8 of us know London very well, Tom managed to show us loads of hidden gems and historic places. And this in an fun, fact full and interesting way.
We all want to re book Tom👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼The lesser known London
TAra
(About local )
24 June 2025
Umar is a wonderful guide to any adventure you wish to take. He's very knowledgeable and will make sure you have the time of your life. He is attentive to the needs of all the travelers in the group; everyone will feel valued and included. He took us around Scotland and England and adults and students had an amazing time. I would not only go on another tour with him again, I consider him a friend.You can't go wrong with Umar!
Andrea🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
21 June 2025
We had an absolutely fantastic time on our family walking tour through London, Bankside, Borough Market, the Underground, Parliament, and Westminster with Anthony as our guide! From start to finish, Anthony was engaging, funny, and incredibly easy to talk to, making the experience enjoyable for our entire family, including our teenage boys who can be tough to impress. His storytelling brought the history and culture of each location to life, weaving in fascinating facts with a perfect dose of humor that kept us all hooked. Anthony’s warm and approachable demeanor made it feel like we were exploring with a friend, and he effortlessly connected with our boys, sparking their curiosity and keeping them entertained. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide to show us the vibrant sights and flavors of Borough Market, the iconic Underground, and the historic landmarks of Parliament and Westminster. Highly recommend Anthony for an unforgettable London adventure!Fabulous time!!
Withlocals experiences
are always
Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
Without the crowdsExperiences designed to take you away from the crowds towards authentic local spots.